"Of course, I stumbled upon a psychotic witch whose idea of fun is casting spells that cause blisters and boils," Talax muttered to himself. "Couldn't I have met a nice elf maiden who enjoys cooking and delights in giving massages?" He shook his head forlornly, cursing his rotten luck once again. He was indeed ill-fated.
He had been following the tracks of the band of salamanders for close to an hour. His tracking skill easily picked up the fresh footprints of the lizards and the telltale signs of their prey being dragged along. He couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive about the size of the tracks.
When he thought about salamanders, his mind conjured up images of small, cute lizards that could fit in the palm of his hand. What he was following, however, was anything but small. The imprints were as large as his hand, and he could see the distinctive shape of claws.
Finally, he heard the faint croaks of the creatures and quickly dashed to the protection of the trees, activating his stealth. With slow, cautious movements, he approached the source of the noise, silently praying to find small, cute creatures rather than the menacing creatures his instincts warned him about.
Of course, that was not the case. Talax spotted three large lizards lounging in shallow pools of water that emitted wispy steam, and bubbles surged to the surface, bursting with a soft pop. The pools were surrounded on one side by a low rock formation with shadowy alcoves and recesses, while on the other side, they were lined with low vegetation for several meters, making a stealthy approach impossible.
The creatures were the size of small alligators. They had white, oily skin that resembled melted cheese and in some places turned translucent, revealing their inner organs. Talax stared in fascination at the intricate vessels that branched off and twisted, pumping blood towards a heart the size of his fist. The heart beat every so often and shimmered with a subdued light.
That was what Vesperine was after. The lambent heart was supposed to be quite precious, able to fetch several gold coins for each piece. Talax could see why; just watching the heart in action had him hypnotized. With every beat, it contracted and then, in the next moment, shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance.
He stood at the edge of their nest, protected by the last line of trees and hidden in their shadows. The fact that he only saw three creatures left him feeling uncertain. Vesperine had mentioned four adult salamanders and two juveniles. Seeing three of the creatures reassured him that these were the adults, and he wouldn't have the unpleasant surprise of dealing with lizards the size of horses.
He waited for what felt like an eternity, trying to formulate a plan of attack and keeping an eye out for any signs of the rest of the nest. The place remained eerily still, and he couldn't spot any movement around him. It led him to believe that the other salamanders were likely somewhere in the vast cavern, out hunting. At the edge of the pools, he noticed the remains of a half-eaten snake, its body mangled and its bones protruding in places.
Once he was reasonably certain that the rest of the nest wasn't in the immediate vicinity, he decided to act.
Still cloaked in his stealth, he opted for his tried-and-true approach of setting up the battlefield with Fog of Mystica. The spell would confuse and disorient the creatures long enough for him to use his bow effectively.
He began casting the five-second spell, words steeped with mana flowing from his mouth as his hand contorted into peculiar positions. The previously docile creatures suddenly sensed something targeting them and lifted their round heads, searching for the enemy.
Talax felt his stealth flicker and then drop, leaving him exposed. His eyes widened in fear as three pairs of predatory eyes locked onto his location. His concentration wavered for a moment, fear surging through him as he saw the creatures staring him down with menace. But he steeled his will and uttered the final words of the spell.
Just before the spell was completed, something peculiar happened. Instead of trying to close in and attack him, the salamanders emitted a series of high-pitched croaks, creating a piercing noise that temporarily left him disoriented, hearing nothing but a screech in his ears.
The next moment, a dense fog enveloped the salamanders' bodies, obscuring their vision and throwing off their senses. The creatures emitted distressing croaks as they struggled to find their bearings within the magical vapors.
Talax didn't waste the opportunity. He saw the confused creatures fumbling around, their feet splashing in the shallow pool, spraying mud all over each other. With a satisfied smile, he grabbed his bow and knocked an arrow. He closed one eye, taking careful aim at the salamander to the right. With an exhale, he released the arrow.
His gaze tracked the arrow's path as it sank into the squishy flesh of the salamander, lodging itself at the crook of its front leg. The creature emitted a painful screech, stumbling from the impact. To Talax's surprise, however, the salamander didn't retreat. Instead, it clamped down on the protruding arrow and tried to pull it out.
"So, that's how it is... Let's see if you like this," Talax muttered under his breath as he reached for another arrow. This time, he decided to use his Explosive Arrow ability. He had been trying to conserve his mana, but seeing the beast shrug off his initial attack, he decided it was time for a more powerful attack.
Mana flowed into the cocked arrow, testing Talax's patience, but after a couple of seconds, the arrow took on the ethereal, blue sheen of mana. The moment his ability was ready, he loosed the arrow.
With a faint whoosh, the arrow flew, and it flew true. A giddy expression spread across Talax's face as he watched his mana-charged arrow explode in the face of the salamander. The creature's soft skin offered little protection, and upon impact, its spherical face caved in, exploding into chunks of ruined flesh and blood.
The large body crashed into the muddy pool with a splash, and Talax felt the surge of mana, signaling another level up!
He tried to control his excitement and focus on the ongoing battle. He had taken down one salamander, but two more remained, their eyes promising him pain and death. The Fog of Mystica spell had elapsed, revealing him to the enraged beasts.
His eyes widened in fear as one of the creatures decided it had had enough of the annoying human and started loping toward his location. Fortunately, the salamander's short legs made it slow, giving Talax enough time to regain his composure and begin casting again.
With a few swift hand movements and a powerful incantation, a translucent bubble of water encased the beast's head. The salamander jerked in fright, desperately trying to rid itself of the restricting water, its panicked movements useless against the magical bubble.
"I don't think so, baby!" Talax yelled with a triumphant smile. However, that smile was immediately wiped from his face when the last remaining salamander emitted a croak. This croak was different. Its mouth extended, doubling in size, and with a faint burst of light from its heart, it produced a glowing ball radiating with mana.
Talax had been too busy gloating over having so expertly incapacitated his opponentthat he barely had the time to avoid the flying ball. He jumped to the side dodging the ball in the nick of time. A sigh of relief escaped him as the ball splashed harmlessly next to him, which was abruptly cut short when drops of the liquid landed on his leg.
He let out a faint whimper as the watery substance ate through his pants and seared his flesh. He felt a burning sensation, but at this point, he had been bitten, slashed, doused with venom, and hit so many times that that he was able to shrug off the stink of pain.
With a murderous glint in his eyes, he stared down the salamander, which was about to throw another ball of acid. Through clenched teeth, Talax seethed, "Now, I am really pissed! You ruined my new pants!"
The beast seemed to realize that it had irked the human and closed its gaping maw, looking around uncertainly. That moment of hesitation gave Talax just enough time to channel mana into another arrow and unleash his anger at the creature.
The arrow exploded into the sternum of the creature just as it raised its head, about to throw another ball. The salamander was nearly decapitated from the shockwave of pure mana, its body falling to the side. However, Talax noticed that it was still twitching, showing signs of life.
Since it was no longer an immediate threat, he swiftly turned his sights to the last living salamander. The spell was about to expire, and he wanted to end the battle as quickly as possible. He placed his bow back in its place and sprinted toward the thrashing creature, which was still trapped in a Bubble of confusion. As he ran, he unsheathed his sword and, without missing a step, lunged forward with the intention of decapitating the beast.
A hissing sound, like steam escaping from a giant teakettle, made him hesitate and he stumbled at the last moment. His sword barely scratched the neck of the creature, leaving behind only a thin line of blood that resembled a crimson necklace.
At that very moment, the spell ended, and he was doused with cold water by the exploding bubble. Sputtering and cursing, Talax regained his composure, the icy sensation helping him focus. His ears picked up the sound of heavy footsteps, and he began to curse anew.
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Behind the last salamander, the missing adult salamander closed in, and Talax's eyes widened at the size of the creature. It wasn't as large as a horse, but it was getting close, easily twice the size of the ones he had been fighting. To his creeping horror, he spotted two rows of sharp, jagged teeth lining each jaw.
Being caught in those jaws would be highly unpleasant, to say the least. Those teeth looked capable of chewing through rocks with ease, and he guessed that his limbs would be a much easier snack. Damn it! Could nothing go right for once?
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when the salamander nearest to him decided it was time for a snack and lunged at him. Seeing the approaching beast, Talax held little fear for the smaller creature attempting to maul him.
He jumped back, narrowly avoiding the clamping jaws, and raised his sword. Both his hands tightly gripped the hilt as he pointed his short sword downward. He thrust his weapon deep into the extended head of the salamander. The creature had barely enough time to comprehend what was happening before the tip of Talax's sword pierced its brain, causing its body to spasm uncontrollably.
With a twist of his sword, the salamander was no more and dropped to the rough ground. Talax had to brace himself, as his sword was still lodged inside the dead creature. With a strained groan, he managed to pull it free.
The larger salamander became enraged upon seeing its last nest mate fall and hissed again. But it didn't stop; it charged at him. Talax, tired and drained from the continuous use of mana, had barely the presence of mind to jump to the side. He fell to the ground, feeling sharp rocks digging into his sides.
The salamander, undeterred, charged at him while he was prone on the ground. At the last moment, Talax managed to raise his hands, still clutching his sword, and used it as a shield against the snapping creature. His sword was lodged at the creature's neck, barely holding back the salamander that was determined to crush his head like a grape.
The fetid smell of the creature's mouth assailed his nostrils, but offensive scents were the least of his worries. The salamander's sharp teeth snapped nonstop, mere centimeters from his face. The only thing preventing it from having him for lunch was the sword lodged parallel to its throat.
Talax's face turned red from the immense effort of holding back the creature. He attempted to find leverage with his legs to gain some advantage, but the slimy body made it nearly impossible. He huffed and puffed, feeling his arms on the verge of giving out when a deluge of blood suddenly cascaded onto his face.
He nearly choked when he inadvertently swallowed the thick, viscous liquid, sputtering uncontrollably in an attempt to clear his airway. His breath was forced out of him along with the last of the obstructing fluid when he felt the weight of the creature drop onto him.
Blinking several times, his brain struggled to piece together what had just occurred. As his vision cleared, he saw the unseeing face of the salamander and, on top of it, a masked face supported by two feminine hands.
"Motherf..." Talax began to curse, but the woman tsked, her finger wagging at him with a sly and condescending grin. "Oh, my dear, dear puppy! Such colorful language simply won't do. It's utterly uncouth, darling," she cooed, her voice dripping with mockery and amusement.
Talax narrowed his eyes, finally grasping what had just happened. Vesperine had swooped in to save him. How long had she been observing? Did she waltz in when the colossal salamander attacked, or had she been covertly observing from the very beginning?
His unspoken questions seemed to be answered as if she could effortlessly read his thoughts.
"Well, well, well," she purred, her voice laced with smugness as she leaned in even closer, her mask nearly touching his face. "You, my dear, earn a B+," she said with exaggerated enthusiasm, her tone as condescending as ever. "And that plus? Oh, it's for flair and style, just so you know. Your little spellcasting show was rather... surprisingly impressive, I must admit. Who knew you had so many spells up your sleeve?" She hummed melodramatically, her gaze drifting into the distance as if pondering the mysteries of the universe, or perhaps just reveling in her own absurdity.
"Now, when it comes to archery, you're passable at best, but your swordplay... oh dear, it's positively dreadful. Perhaps dear Walter could assist you." She tapped her chin thoughtfully with an elegant finger, all the while maintaining her exaggerated air of superiority. "By the way, I do hope you've stashed a bottle or two of wine in your pack because Walter, well, he's one crazy son of a bitch!"
Talax couldn't help but wnder how someone could out-crazy Vesperine herself. He couldn’t wait to meet another member of this apparent league of lunatics. At this rate, he might soon be an honored member of the insane and disturbed.
"Um..." Talax struggled to speak, the heeavy weight making it nearly impossible to produce sound. "Could... you... kindly move... over..." He wheezed with tremendous effort.
Vesperine, feigning innocence, placed her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide in mock astonishment. "Oh dear me, how dreadfully rude of me!" She then raised her head and barked with an air of authority, "Orc! Come hither and assist, my dear. Our beloved puppy seems to be in a bit of a bind."
With that, she turned away from Talax and announced cheerfully, "I'll be off to deal with those baby lizards. No need for my precious puppy to be scarred by dispatching small, defenseless creatures."
A deranged laugh trailed her departure, leaving Talax alone with the slimy carcass of the vanquished lizard. It had begun oozing a foul liquid, making him grimace in distaste.
He struggled in vain to dislodge the dead salamander, his hands slipping off the slimy skin. Each time he tried the dead animal slid dangerously close to his face. Frustration welled up until he heard a shrill voice that brought a smile to his face.
"Hey, sweet cheeks. Do you need a hand?" Qalo questioned with a smarmy smile, coming to his rescue. Talax couldn't help but chuckle at the comment. "That's not funny!" he admonished, but before he could continue, another voice chimed in.
"Oh, I find the cute pet names quite entertaining," Ferdinand interjected with a mischievous grin. Talax's eyes narrowed as he looked up at the noble, who stood there with his clean face and perfectly coifed hair.
"You... You are to blame! You were the one wanting to join with that lunatic!" Talax accused, pointing an accusatory finger at Ferdinand. The noble looked somewhat guilty but quickly stepped aside with a grimace of distaste when Qalo heaved and at last managed to free Talax from his slimy prison.
After taking a couple of deep breaths, Talax inspected himself and cursed vehemently. He was covered from head to toe in sticky goo. Raising his hand, he watched strings of the disgusting substance fall down like grotesque rain.
"Guh!" he exclaimed in disgust, sitting up and flicking his hands in an attempt to get rid of the nauseating liquid. As a last resort, he found a portion of his cloak free of the stuff and used it to clean himself off.
"Great. That's just great..." he muttered with a scowl, his furious eyes scanning the scene. He decided to clean himself in the shallow pool nearby. Franny had vanished as soon as Talax was free, and he stood at a safe distance, looking bored, with his hands clasped behind his back as if he were afraid of getting them dirty.
Meanwhile, Qalo remained beside the salamander, poking it with his foot and stealing glances at Vesperine, who was elbow-deep in one of the juvenile creatures, attempting to extract its heart. Talax immediately understood the half-orc's intentions and whispered a warning, "Don't even think about it. She'll skin you alive."
Qalo jumped in surprise and turned to Talax with a guilty expression. His tongue darted out to collect a strand of drool that had formed at the corner of his mouth, clearly betraying his intentions.
Talax shook his head at the orc in warning and proceeded to clean himself with the steaming hot water. It took him several tries to rid himself of the muck, but when he was finally clean, he felt like a new man.
Next, he unlocked his next gate, and a rush of mana surged through his body. The giddy feeling of power had him humming in triumph.
He had reached level 11!
With his two new tokens, he had the opportunity to unlock three new abilities. Without much thought he unlocked two abilities.
First blood: If your target is at full health, your first strike deals 20% more damage.
Passive
Talax decided to invest one of his new tokens into further enhancing his archery skill. His trusty bow had become an invaluable companion in his battles, and he knew the importance of maximizing its stopping power. With this new ability, he could now deal 20% more damage to his enemies when they were uninjured, ensuring a more lethal first strike in his encounters.
The second ability he used his precious token was,
Dancing footsteps: you gain the ability to perform swift, short-range movements to evade attacks, allowing you to sidestep or narrowly avoid incoming projectiles or strikes.
Active, Duration: 5 seconds, Cooldown 5 minutes
After some careful consideration, Talax decided to invest his remaining token in improving his defensive capabilities. While flashy powers and devastating attacks had their appeal, surviving the first critical minutes of a battle was of paramount importance. With "Armor of the Deep," he could now shrug off most minor damage, and "Mitigate" would grant him a lifeline against fatal blows. However, he recognized the need for a skill that would allow him to evade attacks that gradually wore down his health points.
Satisfied with his new gains and confident in his decisions, Talax decided to hold onto his last token as a reassurance for whatever challenges the future held. He then checked his core for any skills that had leveled up and noticed a few promising upgrades awaiting him.
Evasion skill, level 6
6% to reflexes, 6% to agility
Archery skill, level 7
7% to damage, 7% to aim
With a sense of satisfaction, Talax observed his small skill trees growing. Each battle made him stronger, his skills were steadily developing, and he was unlocking new abilities and spells. The anticipation of his next level-up filled him with excitement.
The time it took for him to get himself clean and check on his progress was enough for Vesperine to collect her loot from all the salamanders. With a triumphant grin, Vesperine presented two small jars containing the juvenile lambent hearts to Talax.
"Here, puppy. Consider it a gift from me, the benevolent queen of this adventure. Though, I must say, your contribution to the battle was... adorable, at best." She chuckled softly, her tone filled with playful condescension.
Talax offered a simple nod in response, refusing to be baited by her teasing. Undaunted, Vesperine continued, her eyes glinting mischievously. "You know, the big one was the mama, and those smaller ones you were tangling with were her... well, let's call them her adoring admirers. Mama was a prize catch, and I even managed to extract an acid gland from her. So, I guess you could say it was a successful day, thanks to me."
Talax carefully placed the small jars inside his pack and took precautions to prevent them from breaking by wrapping each one in leaves. He also protected the jar containing his deadly leaves for good measure. After a brief conversation, they decided to take a break and rest for a while. Talax was so exhausted from the battle that he fell asleep almost immediately. He was awakened a few hours later by Qalo.
"The woman said to get ready to move out," Qalo informed him. Talax blinked away his sleepiness and surveyed their camp. Ferdinand was already busy packing his numerous belongings, but Vesperine was conspicuously absent.
"Where is she?" Talax asked with a rough voice, still struggling to wake up.
Qalo scratched his head, looking somewhat uneasy. "She said something was stalking us and went to investigate. We heard a roar a couple of minutes ago, but now everything is silent."
Talax nodded, standing up. He didn't feel particularly worried about whatever might be stalking them. If he had to place a bet, his money would be on Vesperine handling the situation, as she often did.
He went about his business when he heard Franny’s sharp inhale.
“Uncle?”