Never thought that I would be on the other side of a fight in this place. I am used to my fights being the ones who attract other monsters and not vice versa. I usually stay far away from fights that aren't mine. Fights are the principal cause of death on the Great Wild, even ahead of ambushes and poisonous plants, and dying is not attractive, not for me at least, can't talk for some of the monsters around here.
As I am being drawn by not the sounds of a normal fight but one of epic proportions I make my way as silently as possible to the source. The day still young and the bright leaves of the trees glimmer with drops falling from them, reminding me of today's short rain in the morning. The cold mud slows down my approach as I am extra careful to avoid stepping on something undesirable while traveling through it.
Reaching a safe distance from my destination I can hear the battle still raging, the sounds echoing around as the small critters left the place in panic long ago. I position myself behind a tree and poke out my head to see the two contenders from their flank, far enough as to not be noticed but close enough for my meager sight to capture all important details. Before doing anything I scan the surroundings in search of opportunists and curious like me but find none. Either they are very good at hiding or smarter than me and didn't approach this battle at all.
I gaze upon the battle and something on my sight bothers me subconsciously but I forget about it as I feel a pressure wash over me, wait! I can feel two distinct of these 'pressures', hindering my movements. It would be difficult to get closer to them even if I wanted.
The contenders are very different from each other. For starters, one of them is a magical beast, not a simple-minded monster that uses spiritual energy unconsciously — like its opponent— but a simple-minded monster that uses external mana, not unconsciously but close, by instinct, I suppose. Even so, it's a little far fetched to think of them as being simple-minded after all I have seen in my stay here.
The normal one has a body that reminds me of the Mingan. A quadrupedal monster with a tail but with slightly larger limbs and a smaller body. It's over one and a half meters tall. Black fur with an unnatural tint of gold to it, calling the fur dark gold wouldn't make it justice. This monster is completely bloodied, though, dozens of small cuts and slashes decorate its body.
Despite its obvious injuries, it moves extremely fast, sometimes nothing but a blur that seems to disappear there and appear in another location. It avoids green spikes that bloom from the ground and thorny vines that crowd the space between the monsters, trying to trap and skewer it. Branches of the trees seem to suddenly take life and try to hit it when it gets too close to them.
The monster runs and jumps twisting its body in mid-air, making one acrobatic after another to avoid or to cut down the vines, getting closer and closer to its opponent and gaining new injuries with every passing second.
In contrast to its small opponent, the magical creature that wields the plant-like magic is humongous, around ten meters tall and twenty long. With a tail just as long as its body that ends on a rock-like protuberance that swings when its opponent gets too near. It has two strong looking legs and two strange arms; very thin and long in comparison with its body, with awkwardly positioned 'horns', three fingers ending in claws on each hand. Its skin is both gray and green—no, it's brown and gray but it has vegetation growing on its back and upper body so it looks greener than anything.
The magic beast is anchoring itself high against the trunk of a huge tree, sporting several injuries — not as many as the other but more nasty-looking — and bleeding, mostly on its tail and chest. It stays out of the reach of the black gold monster, controlling the battle with its magic from high in the distance.
I can feel them actively using their spiritual energy as they give their all to slay each other, the magic beast's spiritual energy feels calm and defensive. Meanwhile, I can feel the black gold monster's spiritual energy is full of viciousness behind its attacks. I continue to watch, the combat back and forth, my eyes darting from one figure to the other. The movements of the black gold monster although fast also seem sluggish.
The magic beast glares at its opponent, its eyes full of mockery. In the golden eyes of the normal monster can be seen defiance, conviction, and also resignation. It knows it is dead meat.
As the fight progresses before me something starts bothering me again, and then, I become aware of what is it. The mana density here is staggering. We are inside one of these super dangerous zones. I walked too carelessly in my way here. So stupid. But, what is behind the abnormal peak of the mana density then? I can't see anything out of the ordinary, aside from the beasts battling in a fight I can just dream of joining.
To my surprise something still keeps bothering me, nagging at the back of my mind.
It must be the fight between those two. Something in the fight seems off. I close my eyes for a brief moment to enter attunement with the world. After succeeding almost instantly I train my eyes on the fight again.
I watch the fight closely, and then the fight itself slowly goes to the background. I start to make out a shape. Between the monsters, I can see it from my unfocused eyes, there is something. My gaze avoided it during all the battle so far, as if refusing to acknowledge its existence. Each time that my eyes passed over it there was a blank space in my memory. A jump, so small, almost unnoticeable.
Suddenly, I can see what is there, whatever spell was taking effect, either broken or spent.
A stone. A glimmering white sword lie encrusted upon it. Without wasting time I sense for it with the attunement of the world. I sense magic on it. It must be some sort of magic item.
It doesn't seem to be the source of the density of mana tho.
Regardless, it's about time I get a sword, isn't it?. How to use a sword? Just stab with the pointy end, right?
The battle is yet to end, I won't be able to sneak there and take it without being seen or dying. Also, what if one of those monsters is some kind of guardian of the place?
If one of them is something like that it probably is the magic beast, it seems to have home advantage after all.
The black gold monster is panting heavily but still stands defiantly. It just retreated to the edge of the clearing but has its back to one of those hundreds of meters tall trees. Although thoroughly bloodied it still has no serious injuries but is clearly exhausted. A grim expression clouds its visage. At least that is what I make out of its animalistic features.
Idly, a thought crosses my mind, perhaps I am getting a little too good at reading the cues of these savage creatures.
It's time for me to retreat. Better if the winner doesn't get aware of my presence until the end. Better if it does not think that I am another contender. The black gold monster's head snaps towards my direction, its eyes fixed on me. I halt my retreat, for now, damn it. The monster's eyes go wide, from a defeated glimmer in them to a shine of hope in a moment. Next, it shot a pleading sound at me — it seemed pleading to me but maybe said: eat him instead! —.
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The humongous magical beast's eyes fell on my pitiful form as it becomes aware of my presence too. Of course, with my luck, something like this had to happen. It had to happen, right?
I suddenly stagger and almost fall to the ground. Did I miss a step? Impossible, I wasn't even moving! My head feels weirdly light. Some sort of link forms on my mind and feelings that aren't my own assault me, trying to convey a message. I am overwhelmed by them but still manage to make sense out of them. It's like a plea, a request, a trade. My help, in exchange for everything.
A sigh escapes my nose. It's not like I have a better option now, not one I can think of right now, anyway. It was the monster who warned the magical beast of my presence even if I came here on my own but I suppose that my chances of escaping are higher than alone.
I accept. I will help this beast.
I gasp as knowledge of a spell takes form in my mind.
More than knowing I can instinctively feel what it is. A summoning spell.
No more time to think about it, though, the magic beast started approaching me since the beginning. Should I use a spirit as a decoy? The opponent uses nature magic to control a lot of plants, that would just buy me a couple of seconds. Better than nothing.
No risk no gain. I chantless cast a spell, one that I have yet to improve since I came here but is still ever-deadly.
"Earth Lance."
Without moving my hands or giving any clue of my intentions the magical beast had no warning, the spell too abruptly cast for it to meaningfully react. Startled, maybe more from the sound of my voice whispering on its ear thanks to the Words of Power, rather than from the projectile itself, the monster moved slightly its head in shock, making the attack miss its blue eye and hitting its snout instead. The lance, which actually resembles more a javelin broke upon impact, leaving a small scratch behind. Almost no damage, damn it.
I didn't really injure it but still managed to make it very mad. It squinted its eyes at me and started to take a deep breath. Then, the black and gold monster bolted towards it, catching it off guard with what appears to be a full-strength charge, and then clawing and biting the magic beast's shoulder and neck, drawing blood with every strike.
The magical beast panics and rolls on the ground, flailing around and backing away to throw it off. It succeeds and once the black gold monster is not there anymore I take the opportunity to insta-cast Fireballs at it.
A new variation of Fireball, it reaches the speed of the Earth Lance spell. It's really deadly but the additional patterns to speed up the attack make the spell almost twice as costly as the original. I added even more extra mana while channeling it too, to strengthen the flames more. I still can cast more of them as I have more than thrice as many mana than I had when I arrived here.
Three projectiles made of magical fire make their way towards the beast. They are fast but not as fast as the Mingan or the black gold monster. Two of them miss it but hit the ground close enough for the small explosion to lick at it. The third one, though, hit it on the center of its back dead on. The monster lights up on fire, or at least the vegetation on its back does, and starts to roll on the ground again to extinguish the flames in the cold mud.
Product of my attacks, a fire starts around us, burning trees and branches, shrubs and plants. Doesn't really matter, it will not last long. The trees are very tough after absorbing so much mana over the years.
As the magic beast growls in pain and deals with its fiery predicament, the black monster escapes to the trees behind me. I run in the opposite direction, can't let this chance slip away. I make a run for the sword, as fast as I can move.
I hear a warning yowl from behind me, shortly after something gets a hold of my right leg, forcefully stopping my mad rush and making me fall to the ground face first. Grumbling in pain I feel teeth on my leg as I am quickly dragged back.
Just before I'm about to turn around and blast away the stupid animal that attacked me, it lets go and I turn around in time to see the black monster running away again.
As I notice that my leg has no injuries too, I hear a terrifying roar. It deafens me and shakes me to the core. Trembling, I stand up and glance back at the clearing. The magic beast spits fire from its snout, green fire. The sole sight sends shivers down my back. The green fire sweeps over the flames I started and they wink out of existence in a heartbeat, burning trees and ground alike with a haunting green flame, but leaving them unharmed. They don't produce even smoke, expending themselves shortly after.
The opportunity to take the sword is utterly ruined now and I am not taking any chances with these green flames, even though the green fire doesn't seem to burn plants I bet it will cook me well enough. As the monster deals with the fire I run as fast as I can manage, following the direction the black and gold monster took and hoping the magic beast doesn't follow.
Legs empowered by a generous amount of spiritual energy I catch up with the monster in just a couple of minutes. The poor animal beyond expended, no longer using its own spiritual energy. I take the lead and direct us in the direction of the group's resting camp. There we will be safe.
I hear a flutter of wings from behind us and prepare myself for another fight as I turn my head to glance at the newcomer. Flying monsters tend to have very nasty ways of hunting in the Great Wi-
"No way," My voice comes out as a croaked whisper.
The magical beast is flying towards us. That explains the weird thin and awkward limbs, these are wings with hands, not arms.
Without a second thought, we sped up our pace. No way I am winning a fight against that, not with the black gold monster expended like that. Our path becomes erratic, putting as many trees between it and us as we can manage. Fortunately, it seems we managed to lose the magic beast rather quickly. For a minute I neither hear nor see it again.
From nowhere, I suddenly hear air shifting place. I turn my head to look back and the world slows down to a crawl. A green Fireball of death right behind me. So close, less than half a meter away, it radiates no heat and produces almost no sound. Smaller than the barrage of flames the beast breathed before but still as big as me.
There was no time left. Maybe not even enough time to insta-cast a spell. But casting anything is still the better option. Better to take the chan-
The world shift around me. Trees, rocks, and clouds pass before my eyes for an instant. Then, comes an abrupt stop accompanied by the sound of crashing and breaking bones. My bones. I groan in pain but immediately forget all about it.
My train of thoughts pause. My expression, frozen. Eyes wide and mouth hanging open.
One of the Mingan stands in front of me. Proud and tall. An air of determination exudes from its very being. Baring its teeth at me. Grinning. Just like the first time I met it and every other occasion after it. Smiley. Green flames make their way through his back, turning his body black in an instant and into white dust in another. His amethyst eyes locked to mine every moment until the end. There were many things in them but I couldn't even see a sliver of regret in them. It died in but a moment.
I lied there, incapable of movement or even cry. Just staring at his ashes as they were blown away by the wind. I wasn't even close with him like with some of the others.
Why? Why do that?
I just kept thinking of the same thing once and again.
A soul-crushing roar snapped me out of my reverie. It didn't have the same effect as the last one. I barely felt it this time. I register the pain from my broken bones but ignore it. The black and gold monster stands at my side as if guarding me, seated on its hind legs. Impassive.
The magic beast fights the Mingan in a frenzy of motion, the creatures aren't as fast as the monster at my side but make up for it with their ridiculously raw power and long claws, cutting whatever plant is sent in their way with ease. Wary of so many opponents the magic beast jumps high and flies away. The Mingan give chase for a short while before coming back.
Then, everything goes eerily silent. One of the Mingan started to heal the weary black golden monster and another of them myself but I wasn't aware of it until after the fact.
I wanted to cry, to mourn, as the others were doing, mourning their loss but I can't. I can't even talk, words don't come out of my throat. My chest feels heavy. My throat tied.
Anger raised inside of me, a wave of anger directed to the magic beast, it killed him, but the anger was quickly washed away.
I am not stupid, I can't deceive myself so easily. The monster was defending its home, it's not even the black gold monster's fault either, it was me who decided to interfere in the battle. I was there because of me and only me. All my fault.
Smiley saved me and died for it. It's my fault.
Why? Why did he do it? We weren't even close, I wouldn't even call him a friend much less a pet. Why die a meaningless death?
No.
Who decides what is a meaningless dead?
I am sorry but I can't spite on his sacrifice.
I won't let his death be meaningless.
Don't make promises you can't keep; a whisper on the back of my head.
At this point, I finally started crying. Tears fell without stopping.
"I am sorry," I managed to say between sobs.
"This... I can at least promise that something like this... I won't let it happen ever again."
"Goodbye, Smiley," I whispered powerlessly.
I couldn't understand it and I didn't know what else to say. I could only cry.