Chapter 3
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Shit, that was a pretty intense day. After the success in our first hunt, we were so pumped with adrenaline that we continued hunting all day. The first few kills were pretty intense, but by the end of the day our teamwork was perfected and were hunting groups of four of those cartas’. Even little Lilly was starting to shake off her fear and come to the front and watch us.
We decided to call it a day when we noticed the sun was going down. Although we were pretty confident in our abilities, it’s no secret that the forest is over 10x more dangerous during the night. The more dangerous beasts are all nocturnal, that’s why I went along with the hunt in the first place. I might be reckless, but I wouldn’t willingly do something I knew would get me killed.
After we finally found our way back to the village, the other two headed home immediately, knowing if they were any later they’d get in trouble. I looked up at the sky and also decided I was in no better position, quickly rushing home. Man am I exhausted though, that was harder than training in the fields. It wasn’t just physically demanding, but even mentally I’m exhausted.
Walking up to the house, I can hear fathers voice as he praises Lynn. Ugh I just remembered why I was even out hunting in the first place. Roman was right though, it really did take my mind off things. Today actually turned out to be a lot of fun, I reckon I’ll go out a lot more. Anyway, Roman is still up on me by 6 kills. Damn show off.
Deciding to go through the back door so I can sneak to the bathroom, I’m pretty filthy at the moment and I’m sure mum will ask questions. Slipping through the backdoor, staying light on my toes, I sneak into the bathroom. Made it.
Stripping out of my torn clothes, I jump into the hot bath. Yeah, this is the life. Nothing like a nice warm bath after a day of hard work.
Finished up cleaning myself, I get out of the bath and dry myself off. Now I’ll just get dressed, grab some food and head to bed. Wait. Shit! I was too busy trying to sneak in that I forgot to get a clean pair of clothes. Looking down at my dirty, sweaty torn up clothes laying on the floor, I contemplate.
If I put them back on then I’ll have to just have to bath again, I’m going to risk it. Slowly sliding the wooden door open, I peak my head out looking both way down the halls. Safe. Using my hands to cover myself, I make a dash for my bedroom.
“Care to explain yourself?” Father’s deep voice sounds out from behind me, scaring the shit out of me.
How’d he get behind me, I even double checked.
“Well I forgot my clothes when I bathed, and I thought I’d be able to sneak into my room without anyone realising.”
“I care not for your antics Ares. Sneaking in at this time, and with the smell of blood on you. Explain?”
“Can I get dressed first?” It’s awkward talking to my father with only my hand covering my junk.
“Explain, now.” He’s really going to make me do this, huh.
“Umm well, I caught up with Roman today and we ugh … thought we’d shoot some birds. Guess that’s where the smell came from.” Wow, I need to work on my ability to think on the spot. That was just terrible.
Shifting awkwardly under father’s gaze, waiting for him to call me out on my lie and unleash.
“Go get dressed. Make sure you have a big meal and get enough sleep tonight. Tomorrow I’ll be testing your progress.” Dismissing me with a glance, father turns around and heads back down the corridor.
Ugh, great. He does this every time he comes home, only to ever tell my I’m not working hard enough.
“How’d he even know I was here anyway.” I couldn’t help but say out loud.
“Hahahaha even Lynn could sense when you entered the house. Dad would of knew where you were the second you were within 100 feet. Also doesn’t look like you got much to cover there hahaha.” Cass suddenly says, appearing randomly just like father.
Looking down I realise I’ve been naked in the hallway this whole time. Argh shooting Cass a glare, I sprint past him into my room.
“It’s cold, alright!” I slam my door, quickly getting dressed, not risking being caught naked again.
Losing my appetite, I jump straight into bed, exhausted from everything today. I lay in bed, thinking about my first hunt. It was definitely the most intense, but that feeling when my planned worked, Such an addictive feeling.
Reliving that moment in my head, the moment when the beast was only a few metres in front. That rush was invigorating. Actually thinking about it I got a few notifications from that, a few level ups as well. I got a few more of those during the day as well, but with all the rush of my first time hunting I completely forgot to see what those levels did.
Status Screen
Name:
Ares
Level:
6
Gender:
Male
Race:
[1] Tailed Fox
Stats Screen
+Strength:
19
+Wisdom:
14
+Agility:
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23
+Intelligence:
20
+Endurance:
21
+Charisma:
12
+Dexterity:
22
+Luck:
15
You have 30 unused stat points!
Hmm so my level is indeed 6, which means it must improve from killing things I guess. Kind of morbid really. Huh? 30 stat unused stat points and there’s plus signs beside all my stats... I wonder…
Testing out my theory, I try focusing on the plus sign besides intelligence.
Status Screen
Name:
Ares
Level:
6
Gender:
Male
Race:
[1] Tailed Fox
Stats Screen
+Strength:
19
+Wisdom:
14
+Agility:
23
+Intelligence:
21
+Endurance:
21
+Charisma:
12
+Dexterity:
22
+Luck:
15
Holy shit! It worked! I have 30, well 29 stat I can use on anything I want. That’s nearly over a 5th of my total stats!
But wait. Damn it, why’d I spend it on intelligence! Clearly a man has to be strong, not smart. Not wasting a second, I spend all 29 of my new stat points into strength. 48 strength, huh I don’t really feel different though.
I flex my bicep and poke it, hmm doesn’t look any bigger either. I dunno, maybe it takes a while before it works. Guess I’ll go to sleep and think about it tomorrow.
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“Wake up brat!” Jumping awake from the sudden noise, I look around in panic until realisation hits my face when I see Lynn standing in my room.
“Who said you could come into my room!” Half mad because I’m still tired and the other half because she let herself into my room.
“Trust me, I wouldn’t be in here if I didn’t have to. Papa told me to wake you up because he says it’s time to train.” Fuck, the sun’s barely out. Why can’t it wait until at least after lunch, ideally never.
“Well I don’t care, get out!”
“Or what? It’s not like I was planning to stay anyway.” Lynn turns around and leaves. God she’s annoying, always getting on my nerves.
I get dressed while imaging myself being stronger than my sister, showing her who’s boss for once. Ahh I can only dream… I know the difference with having one tail and three tails is just too different.
Smashing down breakfast, I head out to the training fields where Lynn and father should already be. I know if I’m late then I’ll be doing extra training all day, so I rush my pace. I near the training fields, wide green plains in the middle of the village where the clan trains the young recruits.
Technically everyone starts out as recruit, and we all have to train until we’re 18. At 18 we either recruited into the imperial forces or we’re deemed to stay in the clan and do odd jobs. We’re a military clan dating back to the earliest era of the empire, our ancestor the most famous field marshal in the empires history. The 8 tailed fox, Kana the war goddess. There have only been a three 7 tails in our long history, but the clans never had an 8 tail since the ancestor.
These training fields is where everyone starts off, from as young as 6. Then after a year, everyone will be split into three class depending on their skill; beginner, advanced and elite. Or more commonly known as one tail, two tails and three tails. Some really skilful two tails can be jumped up into the elite class, or one tails into the advanced class, but these are really rare occasions. The barrier between the number of tails you have is pretty much unbreakable, two tails can’t hope to compete with three tails.
It is possible to grow tails throughout our long life span, but each time the difficulty increases 10 fold. Most only grow an additional tail, rare cases some can grow two and the very off chance you might be able to grow three. So that’s why our talent for a warrior is assumed from birth, because the difference between being born with one and being born with 4 is the difference between the sky and the earth.
Even if I somehow were to fight all odds and grow three tails, that’d leave me at four tails. I’d no longer be at the bottom of the chain, in fact I could join the imperial forces as an elite. However, it’d be a waste for me to grow three as my starting point is too low. If Cass were to be able grow three, that’d make him a seven tail, which hasn’t been around in the past millennia. If the clan was able to produce a seven tail, we’d be able to rise even higher in prominence and finally stop hiding in the shadows.
So that’s the difference between my talent and my brothers, I’m not even comparable with him. If I can’t even be promoted to the advanced class in three years’ time, when I’m 15, I’ll lose my chance at ever being a warrior. I’d be forced into picking up a trade such as blacksmithing or healing, which are honourable jobs, but the clan truly respects warriors.
“Ares, are you going to stand around all day or are you going to over here like I asked?” His voice sounding as if he was right beside me, but I can clearly see him at least 100 feet away. Holding back a smart ass response, knowing that’d would just get me extra training I respond, “Coming Sir”. I quickly rush over to where Father and Lynn are on the field, running around a few others training.
“Hmph what took you so long?” Damnit, I know she’s trying to me into trouble.
“None of your business.” I retort with a glare.
“When you make papa wait it is you brat!” Shit, she didn’t hold back. I wonder what it’ll be this time, 100 push ups or 10 laps of the fields.
“Quiet. Both of you. Ares, if you ever want to become a real warrior then you need to take timings seriously. 1 lap of the village after we’re done here.” What the fuck, the distance going around the village is over 30km’s.
“That’s not fair!” Ugh, shouldn’t have said that.
“200 push ups before the lap. You must also learn to not speak back to your superiors, another quality that is essential to being a warrior.”
I bite my tongue and shoot a glare at Lynn, why must she take so much enjoyment in my misfortune.
“Now it’s been three months since I’ve last been back, show me what you’ve learned in this time. Princess, spar with Ares.” Great. This just gives Lynn a legitimate reason to beat me, a reason for father to be lecture me. How many times have we done this? It’s always the same result, father telling me I need to stop slacking off and train if I want to become a warrior. It’d be a blackspot to his name if one his children doesn’t even make the cut to be a warrior.
“Okayyy papa. Since I’m such a kind older sister, I’ll let you have one free hit.” Man why can’t father at least make me spar with someone a little closer to my level? I mean she does this every time and every time it’s like hitting a brick wall. She just smirks as if she doesn’t feel a thing before ultimately beating the shit out of me while father watches.
Lynn walks a few metres in front of me and puts her hands behind of her back, mocking me with her eyes. Fuck she annoys me. Might as well get this over with so, prolonging it’s just going to make it worse.
Drawing in a deep breath, I put all my power into my legs as I launch into a charge at my sister. The wind rushes past my face, if I wasn’t so focused on the punch I was about to unleash, I’d realise I was going faster than usual.
My sister’s eyebrows furrow as she watches me charge towards her, as if surprised by my sudden acceleration. I pull my arm right back and swing it into my sisters gut, awaiting the pain of my fist smashing against brick. However, I feel my sisters gut under my fist but unlike usual where my fist comes to a sudden stop, it is actually continuing forward.
A pained groan escapes my sisters lips as she’s forced to take a step back. Wait what, I actually forced her to take a step back? Since when have I gotten so strong? Unless… Last night, those stat points. Don’t tell me they actually worked? Wait, then this means I can actually hurt her. Maybe I won’t lose, maybe I can actually win this!
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