Lick. I shook my head at something wet and rough brushing against my face. Lick, lick. I shook my head again, trying to stop whatever was happening. Lick, lick, lick, lick. I groaned, “Stop.” LLLLLLLIIIIIIICK. I raised my right arm to push away whatever was brushing against my face, which turned out to be a terrible idea.
Pain shot through my arm, and my eyes shot open as I screamed. My vision blurred with pain as I looked around at the indistinct figures around me and the one white and blue figure on my chest. The pain subsided soon after, and my blurred vision cleared slowly as strong hands held me down and the blurry white figure danced on my chest.
Ding
High Pain Tolerance Lvl 1. Level up.
High Pain Tolerance Lvl 2
The notification was so good to hear as it lessened the pain so I could see what was happening. It was dark, and I lay beside a small pot hanging over a fire. Haze and Cami held my shoulders, Xiao held my legs, and Yuki yipped happily on my chest and proceeded to lick my face. “Ah, stop pllllth licking me! Pllth, ahh!” I spat and spluttered as Yuki’s tongue went into my mouth.
“Damn it! She’s awake. I can’t do anymore,” Cami cursed.
Haze picked Yuki up by the scruff and set her down next to her, growling, “Stay down!” Yuki’s ears flattened, and she did as she was told. Haze turned to me then, and my ears flattened as she glared at me. “What were you thinking!?” she growled, “You could’ve gotten yourself killed!”
I nodded, and in a horse voice, “Sorry, I just couldn’t let you die.”
“That isn’t up to you!!” Haze growled, and I flinched. Cami placed a hand on Haze’s shoulder to calm her. Haze took a deep breath and sighed, calming herself, shaking her head, “When I have my last fight is up to me and no one else. I choose what I fight, when I fight, who I fight, and why I fight. But … thank you.” My ears perked up at that, and Haze continued, “Thank you for fighting for me and saving my life.”
Shaking my head, “Don’t mention it. It’s what anyone would’ve done.”
“I wouldn’t,” Xiao interjected.
“Same,” Cami agreed.
“Well, aren’t you two heroic,” I said sarcastically.
“Oh, we are,” Xiao agreed, “We’re just not suicidal.”
I chuckled and looked down at my right arm. It looked like a mangled mass of flesh more than an arm. “What’s going on with my arm?” I asked.
“You overloaded your channels,” Haze stated, “When you punched the Basilisk, the chakra backfired and destroyed your arm and the channels in your arm.”
“How did that happen?”
“Basilisk scales are immune to magic. So when you released all that power at point-blank range, the scales redirected it and shot back at you.”
“But, I knocked it back?”
“That was just your physical hit. Magic and chakra may not work on it, but the magic still had a lot of force behind it. We were in the middle of healing you, but you woke up, and that stopped our progress,” Haze explained.
“Why does that matter?”
“Because of me,” Cami answered, “Haze’s Mother Nature chakra can heal your body, not your channels. My third core contains Restoration chakra. It is made of Dream chakra and Life chakra. It only heals people if they are asleep. And it does better at healing channels rather than healing the body.”
“Why not heal the body then the channels?”
“Because it will destroy your channels, leaving gaps. You would have to forge new channels connecting with the shattered pieces of your old channels and creating even more problems for you in the future. So, master Haze and I were working together to mend your channels as we mended your flesh. But can’t do that now that you’re awake.”
I nodded, “Yeah, sorry. Can’t help it.” Then I heard my stomach rumble loudly, and my face heated up, “Is there any food?”
Xiao chuckled and stood, “Yeah, we have some stew. I’ll get you a bowl.”
“Thank you,” I said as I slowly pushed myself up with my left arm, and Cami came to sit cross-legged behind me and pulled me back to lie down.
“You just rest here. I’ll feed you. Just relax,” Cami commanded.
“Oh, thanks,” I said as I lay my head on her soft thighs, “I’ve always wanted a lap pillow.”
Cami chuckled, “Well, I am a woman of culture. I will allow you to use my lap as a pillow for as long as you’d like.”
“Better get comfortable then, ‘cause I am not moving,” I teased, enjoying the softness. Xiao soon brought over a wooden bowl of stew with a wooden spoon. Cami took it and began feeding me small spoonfuls at a time. The stew was rich and robust, with soft root vegetables and tender meat. It tasted delicious, and I savored every bite as Cami fed me.
Much to my disappointment, the bowl was soon emptied, and now with a full stomach, I felt tired again. Yuki climbed onto my belly and curled into a ball of fluff as she got comfortable. I looked around the camp, and I thought, “Where are Leila and Shersha?”
Haze froze as her eyes widened in fear, “Ummm, I don’t know.”
My eyes widened as I stared dumbfounded at her, “You don’t know?”
“I don’t know!”
“How could you not know?!”
“I don’t know! I just forgot about them!”
“You FORGOT!”
“Well, they’re really quiet! I forgot!”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“I don’t care how reticent they are! You should’ve remembered them!”
“Baahh, I’m sure they’re okay.”
“How can you be sure!?”
“May I interject?” a deep rich voice said from out of nowhere, and I looked around wildly for the source of the voice. Everyone else did the same, and with a soft touch, a massive flaming lion landed behind Xiao, making him jump away in surprise.
I blinked, “You’re the lion that fought the Basilisk for us. You helped us escape.”
The lion nodded slowly, “I am,” the lion’s mouth didn’t move, but his voice rang clear in my head. The lion walked over to me, his bulk towering over the entire camp and his paws the size of my torso. His gleaming mane waved with fire and power. “Are you all right, little mouse?” he asked me, bringing his massive flaming head to mine. He appeared more than big enough to eat me in one bite.
“I’m not a mouse,” I countered.
The lion chuckled, “Right, my apologies. But are you all right?”
I gestured to my mangled arm, “I can’t use my arm, and it hurts like hell.”
The lion took in the sight of my arm and said, “So it would seem.”
“Hey!” Haze yelled, “Do you mind?!” I looked at Haze several paces away from the lion’s hind legs.
“Oh, my apologies,” The lion said and backed out of the camp so he wasn’t taking up all the space, “I sometimes forget how big I truly am.”
Haze sat down again, “So, are you a spirit beast?” she asked, not unkindly.
The lion nodded, “I am.”
“Why are you here? Did you beat the Basilisk?” I asked.
The lion shook his fabulous mane, “No, I could not defeat the Basilisk. I did manage to send it back to its home. It won’t be back in these parts for several generations. It will also help reduce the number of monsters in the area.”
Haze bowed to the lion, “Thank you for the assistance.”
The lion shook his mane again, “Thank me not. All I wish is to keep my home safe for now. But I fear that will soon change.”
Rising from her bow, Haze asked, “What do you mean?”
The lion sniffed at the air, “I feel it in the air. I feel it in the ground. An ancient evil has awoken, and it will strike soon. I do not know where it lay. I do not know what it is. But I know I must fight it.”
“Sweet,” I said, starting to drift off.
“That is why I saved you,” the lion said, looking at … me?
I blinked, “What? Me? Why?”
The lion chuckled, “It is not for some particular purpose but because you can contain my spirit. My power.”
“But I already have a spirit inside me.”
“And I’m not leaving!!” Fengbao yelled.
“Nore will I make you leave, dear brother of storms,” the lion chuckled, “She has two cores which I may fit within and a noble heart, but I must admit I am a little hesitant. For you are a monster, after all. Why, prey tell, should I consider you for a host?”
I thought carefully for the answer, “Because I’m kind. Because I protect my friends and my family. And because I chose the correct answer to your first question.”
The lion raised a flaming eyebrow, “True, but everyone could claim all those things. Why should I consider you for a host?”
I searched for a little longer, “I don’t know.”
The lion sighed, “That is unfortunate. I would’ve hoped for a better answer.” Then he turned and began to walk away.
“Because she needs you!” Fengbao yelled, and the lion froze.
The lion looked over his great shoulder at me, “Why is that, brother of storms?”
“Look at her,” Fengbao continued, “She is young and foolish. She has not the wisdom we have. But she will fight valiantly against whatever foes befall her. She will face any challenges that lie in her path. She will always put the lives of others before her own. If you were to join her on her journey, she would benefit from your millennia of experience.”
Considering the lion turned to face me fully and laid down, “This is all true. But will she use my powers properly?”
“I can learn. And I’ll learn fast,” I answered.
“But what if you don’t?”
“That’s for future me to fix. She’ll do an excellent job of it, too,” I chuckled.
The lion considered my words, examining a claw, “I will consider you. I make no promises while you are injured in such a way.”
“That is all I ask,” I said, as weakness took me, and I lay my head on Cami’s lap. Her soft warmth felt good, and I felt my eyes close slowly as exhaustion overtook me again, and I slowly drifted to sleep. Then Cami and Haze got to work healing me again.
***
Ding
Chakra combo acquired
Name: Zeana Si’enn; Title: The Endless Storm; Race: Deadly Zin; Cores: 6; Age: 9.
First Core 1: Lightning And Force Lvl 7
First Core 2: Water And Life Lvl 7
Second Core 1: Earth And Force Lvl 7
Second Core 2: Ice, Edge, And Force Lvl 7
Third Core 1: Air and Fire Lvl 7
Third Core 2: undecided
Skills:
Quick Advancements Lvl 9
High Pain Tolerance Lvl 2
Natural Abilities: Flight, Hard Skin, High Agility, High Dexterity, High Intelligence, Hivemind, Multiply, Genetic Alterations, Kitsune Form, Split Cores, Climbing Form, Tsudzurao Form, Quick Transformation.
Racial Abilities: Sin, Penance.
***
I blinked and was floating in a mass expanse of nothingness. Oh, I remember this place. This is where I first met Fengbao. Why am I back here again? I looked around and saw nothing but darkness. Of course, there’s nothing here right now. But maybe … maybe Fengbao brought me here.
“Hey! Why am I here? Fengbao?” I called out into the void. Then I felt warmth flow through my body, and a tiny spec of light in the distance caught my eye. It slowly grew in size as I felt the warmth grow until it felt like my body was on fire. Every nerve felt like it was cooking, and I wanted to scream, but at the same time, the burning fire within me felt soothing and calmed me down with its strength.
The light grew in size by the second as it got closer to me. Soon I was able to make out the details of the light. A mass of flowing mane, a large paw hitting the ground hard yet gently, and the tremendous flaming lion stood over me before I knew it. The lion appeared to me in my head as a mountain does to an ant. His great flowing mane shimmered and danced as he sat on his haunches and looked at me with kindness in his gaze.
“Oh, it’s you,” I stated the obvious, “What are you doing here?”
The lion chuckled, “I am still deciding whether to join you or not. I just have one final question before I do join you forever.”
I sat down and waved at him to continue, “Fire away. Pun fully intended.”
The lion chuckled again, “What is my name?”
I blinked, “Oh, right. If you join me, I must give you a name. I assume you’ve had many names, like Fengbao?”
The lion nodded, “I have indeed. Some call me a wonder. A guardian. A savior. Others fear me and call me a monster. But I feel you will be different.”
Stroking my tail in thought, I pondered what I should name this majestic lion. “Asla— no, a bit on the nose. Zeu— no, that wouldn’t fit him at all,” I mumbled, then asked, “What chakras do you have?”
“I am the spirit of Air and Fire. An Inferno spirit beast, if you will.”
I nodded, “Inferno core with Air and Fire. Lion names. Very noble sounding one would work best,” then I snapped my fingers as a name came to me. I pointed to the lion and said, “I’ve got just the name for you!”
The lion lay before me, so we were face-to-gigantic eye as he asked, “What shall be my new name, little mouse?”
“I am not a mouse,” I protested, “I’m closer to a fox than anything.”
The lion laughed deeply, rumbling, “My apologies, little fox. What might be my new name?”
I smirked and confidently said, “I shall name you Apollo.”
“Apollo?” the lion said, rolling the new name around his mouth, “Apollo. Apollo. The great and fearsome Apollo. Hmm. Why that name?”
“Because you’re a giant flaming lion. Think about it! The great and fearsome Apollo, the lion of the sun! It’s a great name,” I answered.
“Hmmm. Apollo, the sun lion. Yes, that does have a certain ring to it,” then with a smirk, said, “I accept. And will join you. For I, Apollo, spirit beast and lion of the sun, vow to protect you and pass on my knowledge.”
I smiled up at Apollo, “Good, I’m glad you’re with me now!” Then with a rolling laugh, Apollo grew hazy as I slowly left the dark voids of my mind and awoke to the early morning sun peaking over the horizon, still lying on Cami’s soft lap.
Looking down at my arm, I saw it was fully recovered. Cami must have worked through the night to fix my arm. I should thank her soon. I sat up, my body burning with aches and pain. Although my arm was healed, I can’t say the same about my sore muscles. Looking around the camp, I saw Xiao awake and doing morning stretches. He saw me out of the corner of his eye, and I gave him a broad smile and waved using my right hand. He smiled back, clearly pleased, and continued his stretching. My arm healed, a new day, a new core to learn to use, and several hundred more kilometers to go before our destination. I stood, ready for the day and the monsters I would soon face.