Several days passed since the scout was killed, and so far, nothing has happened, which is unfortunately the opposite of what I expected and is thus making me paranoid every time I hear something outside my influence.
I spent most of the time looking over Kohaku to see the healing in action, and summoning food for her to eat. I’d given her some extra fabric which she used for an arm sling, so if all goes well, she’d make a full recovery.
I looked over my level up notification again, and contemplated if I should summon another fox-kin yet, but I barely have nearly enough space for Kohaku, let alone two people.
My life as a core has been strange so far, and there’s been very little that I could do about it all. Form the moment I awoke in this crystalline body, stuff simply kept happening. These couple days are the longest break in activity I’ve had since my arrival.
First had been the system activation, filling my head with information about myself that looked more at home in a video game, then the soldiers who had given me a glimpse of the Tide, piled materials onto me, and left me. After that had been my introduction to Kohaku, and some peaceful time caring for her.
My meeting with the sorceress lady came after that and left me with a brief history that frankly seemed ridiculous until I remember the system was involved.
Then there was the scout, which was my first kill, as well as first encounter with the Tide not in a cage.
In total it was barely a month worth of time alive, and the most I’ve done is make a campsite.
It’s not all bad though, I got to spend time learning my newfound abilities and getting to know Kohaku, even if only for a few weeks, has helped me feel somewhat normal.
As night approached, I gave another feeling of gratitude to Kohaku, and her ear twitched again.
I rested my non-existent eyes.
By morning, I was able to tell that something was off, and it soon announced it’s presence.
Three shrill cries call out from a nearby hill, but by the time I look over, all I see is a black shape dash away.
Well, I guess that answers my paranoia, but I don’t exactly like it.
I begin thinking of how best to fight them in my current configuration, but before I could do much, Kohaku was up.
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***Kohaku***
I feel a sense of worry come from the core, and it only takes me a second to get up and realize what it is.
The Tide.
I’d been chased by one of their scouts some days ago, and now they know where both of us are.
I grab my dagger from under my bed and make my way to the doorway but was interrupted by the core creating a bar of metal across it. I spoke to the air.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
“I must defend you. it is my duty as a Chosen.”
Another wave of worry washed over me, but I insisted. “It is my purpose. It is the purpose of all Chosen by the dungeons.”
Once more, a wave of worry, this time mixed with concern.
I felt the presence of scouts of the Tide approaching.
With some effort, I pull the metal pole out of the dirt wall, deciding to bring it along.
“I will defend against them as long as I can. Live, strange core, and become a beacon of hope for others of my kind.”
I head out, to repay the core for my shoulder, my bed, and ultimately, my freedom.
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***Core***
while I unfortunately couldn’t convince Kohaku to stay using just emotions, something about how she'd acted seemed forced. nothing I could do about it yet, though.
From what little I know of the Tide, Kohaku was lucky to escape the first time with the scout. She won’t survive long, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Three shrill, laughing calls stretch out into the dark.
I was panicking, I had no idea what I could do to help fight, I kept glancing around my status page until I found exactly what could in fact help.
[Servants: Unit Promoting]
[Upgrade a Servant Species’ Class to a Higher Grade or Swap the Class of a Servant Species to One of Similar Rank in a Different Tree. This is Permanent Unless Manually Reverted to its Original State.]
I activated the skill, and before all of the classes even loaded, I selected [Squire], the first stage of the knight’s tree.
I could feel the ability travel down the mana tether towards Kohaku at the speed of light, and soon enough, I saw a blue notification that put my worries at ease.
[Servant has Been Selected for Class Change.] [Pending…] [Changes Applied. Levels Transferred.] [Spend Mana for Squire Gear? 30 Mana Cost.] [Squire Gear Acquired. Deploying.]
I felt the mana be withdrawn and speed towards Kohaku, and somehow it feels metallic, which is to say it tasted like copper as it went out. I just hoped it would be enough to keep them alive.
Once I was finished with that I felt and saw more of the creatures running around above my little bunker, and I began casting a wide absorb on their heels and feet to take them down. Some didn’t get affected, either by sensing my ability and jumping, or stepping out of my radius before it went off. The rest, however, were a different story.
Fourteen dog-like beasts all found their feet rapidly removed form under them, and soon I had a pile of furious, blood and mana thirsty hell hounds gnashing their teeth into my soil.
In a few moments my mana returned enough to absorb and consume one of the bodies, subsequently giving me enough to absorb more until I was left with some trampled grass and a few cautious sniffs from the scouting hellhounds.
[Drolkar, Lvl: 122 Hellhound Defeated]
[Friknor, Lvl: 115 Hellhound Defeated]
[Grindral, Lvl: 112 Hellhound Defeated]
[Fengror, Lvl: 109 Hellhound Defeated]
[See More…]
While I originally thought the first hellhound’s name was a fluke or rare instance, it seemed these ones also possessed names.
Perhaps there was more to this tide business than it seemed at first glance…