Rubbing his clawed hands together, Lowki tilted his head forward, his terrific grin beaming, “I’m going to enjoy this next part, foolish one.” The heat emanating from the imp had not increased further, but it was certainly noticeable. It gave me the impression that Lowki was trying to make us uncomfortable, though at this level it was easily bearable. “My first riddle… I flow like a running river, rarely seen, yet surely felt. I carve through stone, yet I am not a tool. I bite through steel, my teeth the lifeblood of the world. What am I?”
Before I could even begin to contemplate the answer, Stella’s message came blazing in.
Stella: Lava.
Damn, that was fast, I thought to myself, though I made no outward indication her message had come through. Not even a furtive glance at the chat window. Instead, I allowed the message to wash through me, being aware of what she sent in an instant. There was no way to know exactly how the fire imp would respond if he knew I was getting help from a powerful intelligence, so I made a show of struggling to come up with the answer.
My eyebrows furrowed together; my eyes searched the ground as if they could find the answer there. Looking at Stella, she caught on to what I was doing and shrugged. Then, as if inspiration struck, I snapped my eyes back to the imp and smiled broadly, “Lava.” In an attempt to add insult to injury, I rotated my shoulders as if warming up. “Actually, it wasn’t that hard.”
My efforts paid off, riling the imp even further. My hope was to throw Lowki off his game, dashing his supreme confidence. His narrowed eyes moved to me and then to Stella. Taking in another lung full of air, a heat haze washed outwards from Lowki’s small body. The temperature in the air rose higher and now felt like we were standing in a sweltering sauna.
“Two more to go, trespasser,” Lowki hissed as his wings once more a blur. Like staring at a mirage, heat waves outlined his bulbous form. “I’m just warming up.”
Lowki rose a foot in the air, coming to head height, before he continued. Perhaps he thought it made him look more menacing. “Like an arrow, I fly swift and true. I gaze down upon unsuspecting prey, my eyes as sharp as night. My aim is unerring within my deadly dive. My form a blur, even on the brightest day. What am I?”
Stella didn’t send an answer via chat immediately, though I had a good idea of what the answer could be. As I was about to answer, her message flashed in the chat window, but I once more allowed the information to flow into me.
Stella: Sorry, that took just a moment to ponder it out. It has several answers. It could be a hawk, a falcon, or a merlin, not to mention if this ‘bird’ goes after aquatic prey. Then, the answer may be a gull, osprey, or a kingfisher to name a few. It’s almost as if he is intentionally keeping it vague to slip us up.
I mentally agreed with Stella, she was on the right train of thought here, especially considering the quest name was ‘imp-possible.’
Xaz: Yeah, I think he is looking for any excuse to get us to fail the quest and be at his mercy. I’m going to try something, but we need to be wary of the third question for sure.
Rubbing my chin, I turned my eyes up to Lowki, “Tricky, tricky imp. Your riddle has more than one answer and you know it. So, I’ll hold you to accepting one of those, the System as my witness.” I made a show of looking up to the sky as if seeking assurance from the game’s AI. “The answer is a falcon.”
The ferocious imp wanted to argue, that was plain to see with his bunched-up face. He looked to be near boiling and exploding into a tirade, his ears twitching spasmodically. When actual smoke began wafting from his pointed nose, I became worried. Thankfully, he settled quickly and returned to his playful demeanor. “Fine,” The imp roared, the word bursting behind strained lips. “It matters not; you can’t answer my final riddle. No one ever has.”
“Stella,” I said as I looked inquisitively at my canine companion. “Did he just admit that his last riddle is impossible to answer. How is that fair? Are impossible quests allowed, Stell?”
A thunderous boom echoed across the plains, though not a hint of a cloud could be seen under the morning sun. Lowki appeared nervous for the first time, a tiny bead of sweat dripping off a sunburnt cheek. “What do you mean, quest?” Lowki inquired.
“Oh, didn’t you know,” Stella said to the imp. She had floated over to land gently on my shoulder, her face turned upwards as if instructing a schoolboy. “Xaz here is a Hunter.”
The implications of her statement had the imp’s eyes bulging. “What? No, that cannot be!”
Playing upon the fiend’s fears, Stella pressed forward. “Uh oh,” she said before tsk-tsking. Her voice had a matter-of-fact tone. “Creating an impossible quest without any intention of a Hunter being able to succeed will have dire consequences…” she said as she stared at the beast. “For you.”
I had no way of knowing if an impossible quest was allowed by the Game or not. Stella sure sounded confident, but she may have only been playing on the imp’s surprise he was challenging a Hunter and not some NPC. Still, I was thinking we were in the right. In almost any game I had ever played, it went against everything to have a true no-win situation. Kobayashi Maru aside, it simply wasn’t allowed. I could only pray it was true here and, if the bucket’s sweat pouring down his flame-licked face was any indication, it seemed to be the case.
Our inquiry struck true. The imp began trembling visibly as he made a furtive glance up to the sky. “No, no. Not impossible, of course!” Lowki cleared his throat a few times as if trying to buy himself time to think.
Trying to keep him on the back foot, I jumped in to eliminate him taking back the initiative in our verbal dual, “Ask me your third riddle, imp, or concede the quest.”
“Yes, yes, my final question. Of course,” Lowki’s eyes were darting side to side, obviously thinking as quickly as he could, but our words had struck a chord in the little beast’s chest. I could barely make out a vein on the side of his neck; it was throbbing furiously.
I took a step forward, breaking the stalemate of Lowki’s indecision. He blurted out his final riddle, obviously not the question he had originally intended to ask, “A mischief maker, eyes so bright. I flit and flitter, twirling in wicked delight. You dare not reach out, for my terrible flames will perish your might.” The imp looked at me with a puzzled expression, “What am I?”
A dry chuckle escaped my lips, I already knew the answer even before a message from Stella blinked in my vision. Our threat of System intervention surely knocked the wind out of this dervish who, even now, dripped with steaming gobbets of sweat.
“An imp,” I said with confidence. Stella bobbed her head at my pronouncement, a confident grunt coming from deep within her throat.
Lowki’s eyes bulged, the heat escaping his rotund body amplifying to dangerous levels. It caused me to take a step backward. Screaming to the sky above, Lowki’s emotions burst like a dam giving way, “No, that’s imp-possible! Blood and ashes! Never has one bested Lowki.”
The imp began smashing his head like a demented soul trying to punish himself. He turned several circuits in the air before coming to a complete stop. Though now a dozen paces away, not to mention facing away from us, his hate-laden words rung like a bell in the space between us. Heat and fury radiated from him in waves, “Cheat! You made me change my last riddle!”
The imp’s head turned slowly, though his body remained still. His wings were beating even faster with each passing moment. When his beady eyes reached mine, his head at an unnatural angle, I could have sworn actual fire danced within those darkened orbs. “Cheat!” His single word was uttered with such ferocity that the air between us vibrated. Lowki held so much anger and spite, that he seemed ready to explode at any moment.
Quicker than I could follow, Lowki turned in the air, flames fully sprouting across the entirety of his body, before he rushed at us. His maw was a gap, flame variably shooting from his mouth. Every muscle in his small body was taut with inner power. In a fraction of a second, Lowki was upon us. His entire body was encapsulated in a raging ball of liquid flames.
Holding my hands up to protect my face, my arms began to feel like I was inches away from turning into an erupting volcano. The sudden pain felt as if my skin was already melting away from its intensity. Movement from the corner of my eye hinted at Ripley lunging towards Lowki’s position. It mattered little though as my world was overthrown by heat upon heat. I was standing next to the sun. My closed eyelids did little to shield my eyes. It was as if I could still see my hands held out protectively before me.
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Then, suddenly, as if it was never there, it disappeared. The light, the intense heat was simply gone. So abrupt was the change, that I stumbled forward, having to brace myself against the onslaught. I opened my eyes, my arms still held up to protect my face. Lowki was motionless in the air, inches from my face.
His body was no longer immolated. Not a single course hair moved in the light breeze. In fact, I felt perfectly at ease, as if the sweltering heat from Lowki’s presence ended as if it had never been.
Lowki’s face was a mask of absolute outrage, but as far as I could tell, he wasn’t moving. He wasn’t even breathing. When I stepped to the side, his eyes didn’t follow me. Ripley was to the side, her great sword poised to strike down at the imp, but the sudden change of the battle had even given her pause. She wasn’t frozen like Lowki, but had stopped herself as the threat inescapably vanished.
Lowki’s nameplate, having noticed it once more, was flashing an odd color. None of the countless nameplates I had seen thus far approached what I was seeing now. “Ah, Stell, what just happened?”
As if in response to my question, a System message sprang up dead center in my vision. It was written in bold, blood-red letters. Far unlike any message I had seen before.
Notice! System Interrupt Initiated on Mob #4,447,352,400; Lowki, the Enigma Fire Imp. Reason: Violation of Quest Honor Bound Clause.
Violation: Mob #4,447,352,400 has attacked Hunter #1,342,918 in contradiction of Quest reward via “Imp-Possible”.
Notice! Quest compliance has been initiated. Stated Reward(s): experience points and mob #4,447,352,400 can be “called upon to provide aid” to Hunter #1,342,918 in “the completion” of a quest.
Notice! Quest rewards have been increased!
Notice! The Mob ‘Lowki, the Enigma Fire Imp’ will be re-appropriated into the service of Hunter #1,342,918.
Notice! Lowki’s memory, level, and form will be adjusted to align with Hunter #1,342,918. Please stand by while these changes take effect.
Before I could begin to get help from Stella from the bombardment of System messages, a blinding column of light descended far above Lowki’s still form. The pillar began as wide as the small creature’s body but soon expanded to more than two meters across. I unconsciously took several steps backward. The light was pristinely intense, nothing within visible. After a heartbeat, and without any warning, it flashed out of existence.
Blinking away an afterimage, it took a moment before I could once again lay eyes on the imp’s minuscule body. I was more than a little shocked to find something else entirely had taken his place. Golden feline eyes turned up to me and reflected sunlight there before fading to regular feline slits. With fur colored a rocky gray, a great cat crouched low below me. Its large tail twitched behind it as if he had awoken irritatingly from what had been a peaceful slumber.
I stared dumbfounded at the magnificent creature when the beast’s eyes shone with an inner green light. Peering closely, I could have sworn what I saw was scrolling computer code. The cat’s tail went still, and its aggressive posture calmed. The cat was heavily muscled, its massive paws sinking into the soft earth due to its considerable weight. As I watched, the cat sat down on its haunches and went still as another message popped up in my view.
Notice! Xaz the Hunter Killer has received a pet companion; Lowki, the Rockhopper Leopard.
Memory Modified – Reputation set to Loyal/Honor Bound.
Notice! The reward duration of a single quest has been significantly increased!
Duration has been set to ‘Permanent/Hunter Death.’
Pet level has been set to ‘Matched.’
Congratulations! You have received quest experience; 3,000. Thank you for your patience as the Quest, “Imp-possible,” was resolved.
“What?” I uttered after reading the entirety of the message twice over.
As the message faded from my eyes, the new Lowki walked over to me and brushed my hand. His shoulders came up to the bottom of my ribcage and the force behind the simple gesture rocked me backward a step. ‘Rock Hopper’ indeed, I thought. Though, considering the sheer weight of the beast, I was stumped on just how it would go hopping about. “Well, it is a cat…” I mumbled as I appraised our newest teammate.
My concern was quickly dispelled though when, from a complete standstill, Lowki leaped skywards. Angling his flight, he easily cleared over Ripley’s towering frame. The fluid move was designed to impress, unless I missed my guess, but only confusion and disappointment crossed the cat’s features when it turned around to peer at the implacable Ripley. “Well, I was impressed,” I mumbled, hoping to soothe Lowki's displeasure. I had to step forward, my hands raised, as Lowki had hunkered down, low to the ground, his butt wagging in the air as if about to pounce.
“Nope, no, let’s not do that,” I said as I moved closer to the stone-colored monstrosity. “Ripley’s our friend too.” My words got the desired effect, thankfully, as Lowki turned away from the unimpressed skeleton. Lowki didn’t know yet that Ripley’s only concern was the team’s safety and surely wasn’t about to react like a living being. Lowki’s playful demeanor reminded me of a kitten enjoying his first few days of life, looking to do nothing more than wrestle with a friendly sibling. Easily over four-hundred pounds though, Lowki was no kitten, and any attempt to ‘play’ would likely end up with Ripley in pieces.
Grabbing Lowki’s attention, Stella glided over to hover a foot away from the beast’s great maw. A soft growl issued from Lowki’s throat, seeming to resonate in my chest. The sound wasn’t threatening, more like Lowki was simply acknowledging Stella’s presence. “Hello there, Lowki. My name is Stella. I’m very glad to meet you.” Giving a small bow in the air, Stella did her best to appear friendly.
Lowki sauntered forward gracefully, rubbing his cheek against Stella’s drastically smaller form. Her sweet laughter filled the air around us, bringing some much-needed good cheer. After all, only a pair of minutes had passed with an irate hellion promising hellfire upon us. Having decided they were fast friends, Stella landed on Lowki’s head, looking no more than a proud mama bear.
“Seems like you two like are getting along,” I said as I walked closer to the pair. Laying a hand against Lowki’s shoulder, I felt the tightly corded muscles hidden under his rocky fur. Lowki certainly had strength in great abundance. “Glad to have you part of our team, Lowki,” I said to the cat.
Lowki’s response was to press a massive shoulder into me. While only a friendly gesture, it nevertheless caused me to take a long step backward to maintain my balance. I could only imagine the force Lowki would bear if he put his full weight behind him. Patting his great coat, I smiled brightly.
“He seems to like you too,” Stella said from her perch.
“That’s a good thing,” I responded. “I’d hate to be on the receiving end of all that muscle he carries so easily. He must weigh a ton but is agile like any cat I’ve ever known.”
Lowki’s fur was short and packed densely together. The texture was pleasant to touch, almost like I was petting a high-quality fleece blanket. I wasn’t sure how much protection it would give him in our battles yet to come through. Yet, the ruggedness of his muscles gave me the impression he had actual stone underneath his fur coat. Though, with how gracefully Lowki was able to move around our small valley, with Stella holding on expertly, he was the nimblest of any cat I had ever seen. The dichotomy of his overwhelming mass and feline mobility was something to behold. He was going to be a wonderful addition to our team and fighting potential. It was almost like someone had turned a Panzer tank into a flesh and blood-cat.
This line of thinking reminded of looking over Lowki’s character sheet. Knowing more details about his strengths and weaknesses would help us determine the best role he could fill in our little band. Even after a few attempts though, nothing popped up. At one point, I even called out heatedly, “Pet character sheet!” But, still, nothing. It would seem that even though the System had stepped in to change Lowki’s perspective, his statistics were going to remain hidden.
“Maybe try inspecting him,” Stella offered.
Sure enough, Stella’s suggestion finally garnered us some useful information.
Lowki, the Rockhopper Leopard (Level 11 – Pet of Xazorus)
Rockhopper Leopards are truly a rarity within the World. Some consider their presence a boon, a sign of good luck. Others though, see only a predator with unmatched strength. While oftentimes found in small hunting packs, an occasional solitary rockhopper leopard can be found wandering about for easy prey. Still, any Hunter worth his salt would be wise to be on the lookout for any hidden brethren. With fur the color of the stone it often attempts to emulate, these agile ambush predators are a force to be reckoned with. Gifted with a sharp mind, and the strength of a mountain troll, these nimble hunting cats are capable of taking down foes more than twice their size.
Current HP: 1200/1200. Current MP: 0/0.
Special Ability: Reinforced Hide
Leopard Ability: Solidifying Strike
Former Incarnation Ability: Take Flight
“He’s mine, right?” Stella asked hopefully. Lowki had made several vain attempts to dislodge her all the while. Somehow, clearly an Accelerator power, Stella’s paws remained firmly affixed, almost as if magnetized. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched while Stella easily kept her face pointing directly at me, regardless of the zigs and zags from Lowki.
“Ripley’s mine, so it’s only fair,” I responded in mock sincerity. Lowki didn’t know me well enough yet, so didn’t catch my obvious tone. Only my words registered as despair showed across his face. No sooner had I spoken when he came to an abrupt halt, his face pleading with me to reconsider. For a beast that weighed close to a quarter ton, his plaintive look was pure gold. Stella was so thrilled that she too missed my disingenuous answer. Perched proudly, she finally took her gaze off me, her closed eyes turned up to the sky. At that moment, I locked eyes with Lowki and subtly shook my head while mouthing, “Nah.”
Lowki smiled back at me, Stella none the wiser. I smiled back.
Our levity quickly evaporated though when the ground underneath our feet shook. As if some great weight was being slammed repeatedly into the earth, trepidation quickly wormed up our bones with each increasing impact tremor. Lowki’s ears pinned to his head. Stella took to the air, quickly coming to my side as we turned to the approaching threat. “What was that?” she voiced uncertainly.
Ripley took a fighting stance, her great sword held low and at the ready. With each pounding footfall, the image of a tremendous tyrannosaurus bearing down on us grew brighter in my mind. Then, I saw it, and my heart fell.
“I think I’d prefer the T-Rex.”