D was about to make his way towards the beam of light. The was just one problem and it was a rather big one. Charging into his clearing was a god damn Mammoth. When D glanced over his shoulder and took a good look at it *Ding* Mammoth level 4
Holy shit he thought it really is a mammoth I thought they were killed off over thousands of years ago. He tried to run out of the way but the mammoth was already in a full charge before he realized what was happening. *Boom* the mammoth stomped him into the ground as it ran over him. D hurt like hell, but he could barely believe he was alive. He should be flat as a pancake that thing has to weigh over a ton easy. It hurt like hell but he pushed himself off the ground. The mammoth went to turn and finally D saw an opening. This thing maybe was fast in a full charge, but it couldn't turn for shit.
"Come on big boy, let's see you try that shit again."
The mammoth was in a full charge again but this time D was ready. When the mammoth was several steps away instead of turning and running he leaped and rolled to the side. D could barely keep the grin off his face. When he jumped he must have flown 15 feet and rolled to a stop easy. He was like he was an Olympian. As the mammoth charged past he dove at it's side right hand cocked back.
Time to see what type of damage we can do, he thought. He smashed his fist into it. He hit with such force the mammoth let out a loud cry. He had hurt it but clearly it was no where near done.
Well I don't just have strength maybe I'm going to have to give this mana shit a try. I hope this beast isn't light based. The AI information said that was my manas weakness.
The mammoth had turned for another charge this time it's eyes were red. It also seemed to be moving faster then before. D was trying to get a read on the thing. Maybe these things had abilities of their own. As the mammoth came in D ducked to the opposite side as he did before no need to telegraph his attack pattern. This time when he jumped as it he tried to think about his fist being more powerful. He felt something stur in his chest, and if could have seen himself he would have noticed his eyes turned black with small amounts of purple for his pupils. His fist didn't glow, in fact it almost looked like a black so dark nothing could be seen except for faint purple sparks jumping around it. When his fist connected this time it was like a bomb had gone off. D was thrown backwards with the force of the blast. He bounced off a thick tree and tasted blood in his mouth. For a second he thought he had internal bleeding. Then all he could see was black and he actually passed out.
*Ding* Skill learned Mana Punch
*Ding* Exp gained 1000 - 200 Exp to reach next level
D was just coming to on the ground. He wasn't sure how long he had been out but the blood on his lips was dry and crusted, so it must have been a while.
He looked over to where the mammoth was but it was gone laying in the crater left behind was a chest. He took a good look at it and *Ding* Loot chest awarded for Level 4 mammoth kill.
"Nice" he said as he pulled himself to his feet. His ribs on his left side we hurt bad. Every breath was like sucking on razor blades, but he made his way over to the loot chest. Once he knelt down and touched it a message popped into his vision.
:Loot chest rewards added to INVENTORY: in your minds eye think INVENTORY to see items gained from loot chest.
D thought INVENTORY to himself and sure enough just like his status screen another screen popped up. Three items that's total bullshit, he thought. I just killed a mammoth with my bare hands. The items he received were minor health potion, minor mana potion, and a curved sword. He pulled the sword out of his inventory with an thought to equip it and it was in his hands. He studied it and was able to identify it. *Ding* mammoth tusk sword +3 slice damage.
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Nice D thought any weapon is better then no weapon. He wasn't sure if he could use his mana with a sword but that was a problem for later on. His ribs hurt so bad he decided to try the minor health potion.
He popped his sword back into his inventory and equiped the minor health potion. He then chugged it down. It tasted like chalk but as soon as it hit his stomach he felt a warm tingle spread out. Slowly he could feel the pain in his ribs go away. Breathing didn't hurt as bad, and he could walk without thinking he was going to topple over.
Man, I hope the guys are doing better then I am right now. Time to get moving towards that beam of light.
Torok watched the fight with the mammoth from his craft in orbit. He was glad D had returned to an area with bigger beasts then most others. The system that controlled the multiverse liked to challenge you based on your level. Torok could tell D didn't remember any of his training in the time dilation chamber. He knew that if he did he would have put that beast down with one punch. He also knew if D were going to rise to the challenge and control the closest territory stone, he would need to be higher level then he was currently.
Torok had almost choose Rob to be his champion. He fought well had a decent spark of fate in him like his brother. He was just more of a thinker than D. Still Torok was excited they were all actually headed towards the same territory stone. That meant things could get interesting. He was hoping to see them work together as a team. He knew most of the other champions were already in groups with friends or family. He also knew that meant they would come to depend on others before the could trust there own power. That made you weak. You could always use some help, but to know you own power trumped all was a bigger advantage in the multiverse. There was always power in numbers but he wasn't the most feared of The Ten because of his numbers. He was the most feared because the power he could bring to bare all by himself. He decided to check on on D's friends and see who was closer to the territory stone.
Rob, Dan, and Dave had been walking for almost and hour and they hadn't seen any more beasts. What the did see was a god damn minotaur that was level 4, and said fuck that and hid as it passed. Rob was glad he put some many points into perception. He had heard the thing stomping in the woods 100yards away, and was able to tell The Crew to move out into the thick tree line before it came into view. When the minotaur was well passed them Dan whispered " What the fuck was that thing"
"Minotaur the thing from that energy drink in the funny ass movie. Minotaur hahah" Dave laughed
Rob " I don't think we could have taken that down. We're going to need to find beasts or monsters closer to our level first."
"Fuck that with these boots I would have lumped that thing right in the nut sack. He would have dropped like a little bitch" Dave said
"We have no idea how to gauge our power based on our levels yet. We have to be smart and only pick fights we know we can win." Dan said
"Just because we beat some boars doesn't mean we can just toss ourselves in the ring with a monster like that" Rob agreed with Dan
"You guys are such bitches, we could have taken it." Dave shot back
Torok was beginning to like Dave. For one he was entertaining and two he seemed as though he was the one who was going to be pushing the group to fight more. He also knew that fight would have ended with all of them dead, but he was starting to like Dave all the same. "This is going to be a good integration" he smiled to himself. They had the makings of true warriors on a path to greatness. He hoped they would all survive long enough to make it to the territory stone. By his calculations they would get there just before D. Unless they ran into trouble.
5 miles on the opposite side of the territory stone D was finally feeling almost normal. He never thought he would live in a world like this, but the truth was he never quite saw himself living in the old world either. D and the guys weren't conventional by any means. They made their living practically breaking the law everyday. D and Dave would hustle pool most weekends as round the city. Rob and Dan made most of their money on the dark web. Growing up together they had been in more fights then they could keep track of. If D hadn't been kicked out of the building they all lived in for knocking out the landlord, they would probably be in this together already. He just hoped they were ok. He knew he brother was a tough bastard and if he was with Dave and Dan they were probably fine. A smile crept onto D's face.
"Those guys aren't gonna believe I took down a fuckin mammoth" he said to himself. Then he thought they better have a cool story of their own. I think I'll make it to that light soon. Probably only a few hours away now.