A thunderous symphony of steel reverberated within the cavernous chamber as Brian lunged forward, seizing Mandrix's shimmering sword from the unyielding, icy floor. The environment trembled in anticipation, pierced by Sylas's bestial snarls, his razor-sharp talons cleaved across the tense atmosphere, hungry for their next prey. When the two combatants collided in a tempestuous confrontation, a cascade of brilliant sparks showered the battlefield and the pungent aroma of singed metal filled their lungs.
Sylas's stare glinted with malice, his mind scheming his next deadly move. Brian's chest pounded and sweat beaded on his forehead. The colossal blade trembled in his grasp, an oppressive weight he could only handle thanks to the recent levels that had boosted his strength stat. Without them, he wouldn’t even be able to hold Mandrix’s sword.
A primal roar erupted from Brian’s lips as he summoned every ounce of strength from the depths of his being. He refused to give in, to succumb to the unyielding pull of gravity and the maddening fatigue coursing through his limbs.
In that decisive instant, Brian hoisted the immense sword heavenward, his sinewy muscles flexed like liquid steel. The weapon's metallic aria resonated across the battlefield, carving a jagged trail of resistance. With unerring accuracy, its edge penetrated Sylas's abdomen, eliciting a nauseating crunch. Sylas's tortured wail of agony echoed hauntingly within the chilling chamber, a mournful lament reminiscent of a vanquished beast. The indomitable essence of Brian's resolve reverberated throughout the arena, his eyes ablaze with triumph, bearing witness to the dauntless spirit of a valiant warrior.
Mandrix strode toward Brian, radiating admiration. "Brian, that was incredible!" he boomed, the echoes of the battle still ringing in the air. "I thought we’d lost when I went down."
Brian, cautiously accepting the praise, extended Mandrix's claymore back to him. "Thanks, Mandrix. Here, take your sword."
Mandrix shook his head, and a grin started to form on his face. "No, keep it. You'll need it to keep protecting Valteria."
Lana approached the pair, her gratitude shining through her bright smile. "Brian, I can't thank you enough for taking care of those grivaxians. How can I ever repay you for protecting my home?"
Brian waved his hand dismissively, warmth in his voice. "There's no need, Lana. I'm just happy everyone's alright."
Her orbs sparkled with determination and placed a hand over Brian’s heart, "There must be something I can do."
A blush crept onto Brian's cheeks as he shifted uncomfortably. "Really, it's fine."
Sensing his discomfort, Lana leaned in closer, her tone soft and sensuous. "Brian, please, let me repay you in the only way I know how, as a woman." Her hand slowly slid down across his abdomen.
Brian's eyes fluttered open, drawn from slumber by an odd sensation pressing against his chest. His gaze fell upon the source of the curious weight: Lana’s head was nestled gently atop him. A flurry of emotions tumbled through Brian's being, and he realized with a start that this wasn't a mere figment of his dreams. Hesitantly, he raised his hand and tenderly placed it on Lana's head, his fingers grazing her soft hair. In a sudden, whimsical motion, Lana sprang upright, beaming with the purest, most radiant smile.
"Brian's awake, everyone!" Lana exclaimed with a burst of enthusiasm.
His face scrunched, “Damn it, why did you wake me up!”
“What’s with you?” Lana asked.
“Humm… sorry… I got startled. That’s all.”
Brian tried to stand, but his attempt was short-lived as an agonizing jolt of pain coursed through his leg, forcing him to tense his entire body. At that point, he noticed a relentless throbbing in his thigh synchronizing with the beat of his heart. There were too many notifications to go through them all, but apparently he was level 7 now and had 2 additional free points, which would most likely go to a random stat at some point. Seeking to appease his foggy memory, he looked through his surroundings.
His breath caught in his throat as his attention diverted towards the aftermath of the brutal battle. Strewn throughout the uneven ground lay the remains of the slain grivaxians, their grotesque bodies reduced to a sickening collage of severed limbs, spilled guts, and unrecognizable organs. There were several pools of purple blood mixed with Ilex's acid, which was still boiling the reptilian residue.
The monstrous bipedal alligators were vanquished, but the cave walls, now splattered with viscous purple gore, bore witness to the ferocity of the battle. Puddles of violet ichor shimmered under the dim light, casting eerie shadows across the macabre scene.
Overwhelmed by the sight of such carnage, Brian's breaths came in shallow, rapid gasps. The cave's oppressive atmosphere seemed to constrict around him, suffocating him. Brian's stomach churned as the stench of death invaded his nostrils. He clenched his teeth and covered his mouth, desperately trying to keep his stomach contents at bay.
Mandrix hobbled towards Brian, wincing with each step, and noticed the pained expression on Brian's face. "Hey buddy, you don't look too good. You alright?"
Before Brian could respond, his stomach finally rebelled. He doubled over, regurgitating all over himself as well as Mandrix's armor. The vomit splattered with a sickening noise, instantly doubling the stench in the air.
Mandrix recoiled, his eyes wide with shock. "Ah, what the fuck man!" He shook his armor in a futile attempt to clean it, making exaggerated gagging noises. "There’s like full chunks of whatever shit you ate! You are going to make me vomit too." He laughed with disgust, sounding like a dying accordion.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Brian gasped for breath between apologies. "I'm so sorry, Mandrix. I couldn't hold it in."
Mandrix waved off the apology, still chuckling. "I guess it’s alright, buddy. We won! I mean, who knew that screams were their weakness? Good thing you noticed it, right?"
Brian chuckled weakly. "Man, what happened to your voice?"
Mandrix smirked, his sound still hoarse. "Well, you try screaming non-stop throughout a battle with those grivaxians and see how your voice holds up."
"Both of you should take it slow. I did my best to patch you up, but I'm no healer. We really should retreat to Fort Luminar." Lana reached into her satchel and pulled out a small vial.
Lana handed Brian the vial that seemed to contain a soft glow within its translucent glass walls. It looked nothing like the typical health potions found in the RPG games he played. Its vibrant iridescent hues danced in the dim light, radiating an aura that hinted at rejuvenation.
“That will make you feel better,” Lana said.
“Oh, health potion? Awesome!” Brian’s excitement briefly overshadowed his pain.
Mandrix stood agape. “You brought potions? This will make things easier, give me one.”
“Actually, that was my only one. Use yours.”
“Oh come on,” Mandrix complained. “I don’t buy them. They’re too expensive, I usually just bring Serdna along.”
Brian held the vial up, his eyes capturing the light-show inside. The contents swirled like a tiny nebula, a constellation of healing contained in a glass universe. He popped the cork and the room filled with a crisp, refreshing scent that stirred his senses, making him feel more awake.
[Vitality Potion (Trace)] - A concoction of revitalizing elements, this potion rejuvenates the consumer's vitality and accelerates natural healing processes. Its contents shimmer with iridescent hues, indicating the potent restorative properties it holds.
Lifting the vial to his lips, Brian found the cool touch of the glass unexpectedly soothing. He tipped the liquid into his mouth, its sweetness akin to honey, with an unexpected sharp aftertaste making him twitch. It wasn't bad - it had layers of taste, like savoring a complicated recipe. An almost magical blend that sent ripples of restorative energy coursing through him.
As the liquid traveled down his throat and into his body, Brian felt an immediate shift. The intense throbbing in his leg receded like an outgoing tide, replaced by a tingling sensation that spread across his entire body. His gaze snapped to the wound on his leg, and he watched in astonishment as the torn flesh began to knit together before his eyes.
The ragged mess was reassembling itself. The shredded edges were pulling themselves together, muscles and skin reconnecting with a bizarre sense of purpose. His torn pants, stained with the grivaxian's alien purple blood, remained untouched. But beneath it, his skin was now smooth, devoid of any scars, as if the grivaxian's attack had never happened. All the pain, the throbbing, the burning - it was simply gone, replaced by a comforting warmth that buzzed pleasantly through his veins.
‘DING’ Your untrained potential has been harnessed. Constitution enhanced. +1 to Constitution stat. Untrained potential: 1.
Feeling the surreal effects of the health potion, he reckoned, must have been what triggered his increase in constitution. Not that he minded this time around, given his plans to allocate points to health. A faint smirk crossed his lips as he thought, Hopefully now I won’t pass out after every fight… or die.
Brian smiled, dumbfounded; he saw his vitality points sitting at full. "Thanks for your help, Lana."
“Unfortunately, it won’t help you recover your valtite. You will have to sit still for that.”
Mandrix glanced toward Ilex, who was resting against the cave’s wall. "Hey, Ilex, you wouldn't happen to have any healing acid mixtures, would you?"
Ilex raised an eyebrow and replied dryly, "Not really, but I haven't tried. Want me to pour some mild acid into your wound and test it?"
Mandrix gulped and made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "Uh, I think we'll be just fine. Hey, Brian, can you walk? We should investigate a bit more, but avoid any more battles."
Finding his body surprisingly light, Brian stood up. "It’s actually better than ever. My coffee withdrawal headache is gone, no back pain… Lana, I owe you a thousand."
Lana made a dismissive gesture.
Mere steps away from the party, a flurry of shimmering sparks danced in the air, as if enchanted fairies were performing a whimsical ballet. Their hypnotic twirls gradually coalesced into a swirling vortex of vibrant energy. The sparks continued their breathtaking waltz and a glowing outline of a figure began to take shape before them, its form solidifying like a sculptor's chisel at work. With a final flourish, the sparks dissipated, revealing Shinmu’s unmistakable face, standing there with an aura of mystique and a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Shinmu surveyed the scene before him, blinking slowly before turning his attention to the group. "Ah, we managed to defeat the Grivaxians," he said, nodding his head. "Good teamwork, everyone."
Mandrix stared at him, speechless for a moment, before suddenly erupting in indignation. "What the fuck, where the hell were you, Shinmu?" he snapped, his utterance trembling with anger. "You left us high and dry!"
Shinmu cocked his head to the side, looking genuinely puzzled. "Well, I time-leapt for a single nivosec to defeat them with my power. It worked, didn't it?"
Mandrix's face turned an alarming shade of red. "You were gone for a whole sol, you inattentive buffoon!" he shouted, clenching his fists.
As Mandrix and Shinmu continued their heated exchange, Brian contemplated his opinion regarding time travel, Time manipulation kinda sucks. He silently thanked the universe for not burdening him with such a troublesome power.
“Nevermind, I am done with you. You better earn your keep!” said Mandrix, still struggling to project his voice. “Brian, I will leave the decision to continue to you, do you have enough energy to tell which way to go?”
[Energy Level: Very Low]
“It seems I have recovered some. I can continue. We’ve come so far… I kinda need to see where this goes.” Brian chortled, “I can’t leave my introduction arc unfinished.”
“Perfect! New plan. Shinmu, you will not fight, you’ll be Brian’s bodyguard, stay behind him–,” Mandrix, barely able to finish his speech as a result of his strained vocal chords.
Shinmu snickered, "Why do you sound like a blorfalop tooting a garfrax?"
“Fuck you.”
Ilex's mouth twitched open, a suppressed laugh fighting to escape. But he managed to regain his composure, forcing his lips back into a straight line.