Griffin was a blaze of motion as he lanced forward with purpose, his expression incredibly tense as he tried to stretch his perception of his self— his breathing, his movement, the heavy thump-thump of his footsteps as he willed one foot after the next and most importantly, his awareness extending over the flaming sword clenched in his right hand.
A blur of emerald from the north-east reflected in his peripheral vision.
‘Can I kill it?’ He thought, relying on his instincts for a response. In the next instant, Griffin held his shield over his torso and waited for the Triwing to close in.
A moment before impact that his senses had allowed him to just barely pinpoint, Griffin flicked his shield hand downwards before slyly activating the Rune of Force.
WHOOM!
Instead of being buffeted away into the distance, the Triwing was blasted at a point-blank angle into the ground. A light crackle sounded out as it’s slender neck snapped at the moment of impact, dying near instantaneously.
Griffin’s lips curled slightly upwards as he was not denied a kill a second time, a small notification icon in the corner of his vision beeping in confirmation.
The chaos was only beginning though, as Griffin caught onto a second glimmer originating from his right.
Already having anticipated the onslaught, he swung his flaming sword in a wide, sweeping arc. The Triwing hesitated for the fraction of an instant, intimidated by the concentration of light and heat. Griffin had not accounted for such an anomaly, but it worked in his favor as the delay sealed the small creature’s fate, the tip of his flaming sword disemboweling the creature with ease.
Skidding to a halt, Griffin’s head swiveled from left to right like a frenzied animal running from prey.
Detecting no threat, he began to pick back up the momentum he had lost.
A few more kills and his strategy would start to pay dividends.
Just a few more kills…
Griffin screamed in pain as he lost motor control over his right leg, the back of it flaring up with terrible pain. A blur of motion snuck between his legs and fled forward, having accomplished it’s purpose for now.
He bit into one of the healing pills he had been holding in his mouth before he even hit the ground, though it did not preclude the event from happening.
The warm, soothing sensation of healing filled him as he desperately scanned the area in front of him, seeking the blur of motion that was capable of inflicting such frightening pain despite its diminutive stature.
Relief joined dread in realization as he spotted the vicious creature angling towards his now unguarded visage, aiming to end him once and for all.
A chill rushed up Griffin’s spine as he wondered if these beasts could claim experience from him the same way he did from them, taking away the raw crystallization of his every achievement in Aeldfane along with every proof that he had ever existed in this foreign land, alien planet.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
‘I don’t want that,’ He thought before finding the thought odd.
Was he getting attached to this world, despite it’s cold brutality and archaic customs?
Griffin gritted his teeth as he brought his shield before him, before invoking the rune of force on it.
A light thump was followed by a muted recoil as Griffin’s small shield sent the Triwing tumbling backwards at a slightly downward sloping angle. The tiny beast in its panic attempted to flap it’s wings to regain altitude, but ultimately failed due to the crooked angle it found itself in.
A notification popped up before Griffin, his expression easing in elation as he finally reached the next level.
[Status Upgrade in progress….]
[Name: Griffin Thorne
Age: 18
Race: Human
Calling: Apostle of Greed.
Class: Master of None - Novice (Unique)
Class Skills:- Analyze (Level 1), Flame Creation Lv. 1->2, Skill Thief Level 1 Slot (Martial Artist), Skill Thief Level 1 Slot(Alchemist), Skill Thief Level 1 Slot(Rogue).
Gifts: Gift of tongue: Common Verickan
Level: Level 6 (51.49%)-> Level 7 (11.53%)
Rank: E-
Statistics:
Physical: 5
Mental: 4
Proprioception: 2
Free points: 1
Soul Essence: 16/16]
[Would you like to loot Level 7 Triwing?]\
Completely ignoring the loot option, Griffin’s gaze hardened as he barked the mental command, ‘One free point into proprioception.’
He shuddered as once again, he was confronted with the sensation of an electric current coursing through his body, snapping his own senses into greater alignment. This time, the difference was as noticeable as it was profound, as Griffin felt his perception of the self thread the line between an exceptionally talented athlete and the supernatural.
Snapping back onto his feet, Griffin ignored the pain caused by his scabbing wound as he found his center of gravity easily, the balls of his feet primed for explosive motion before he arced forward.
Pain flared up and Griffin unhesitatingly bit into another pill, if only to dull the sensation for a few minutes longer.
As he sprinted towards the shimmering door in the distance, Griffin focused his senses on a single command.
Anything that moved into his personal space was an enemy to be culled.
Griffin’s flaming sword whipped out in palpable fury as he locked on to a speeding blur trying to ambush him from the south-east.
The cunning Triwing found itself bisected in half, it’s remains set on fire before it could harm a single hair on Griffin’s body.
The concept of time itself seemed to blur as Griffin found himself as a vengeful deity of flame, his sword lashing out left, right and even pivoting on the balls of his feet to defend an ambush from his behind with his Runic Shield of Force.
Dozens of Triwings died at his hands, at the cost of three more slashes—- one to his left arm, another to his right knee and a final one streaking across his back.
His healing pills were long spent as he finally arrived before the door that was to be his salvation.
Without breaking his pace, Griffin dived towards freedom.
[Calling Quest: Greed’s Sword completed.]