“A bit? Oh, it’s totally a bit,” answered Iceria sarcastically. “Never mind the fact that it’s fifteen times larger than us. I mean, who cares about that?”
Zaelen yawned, instantly tired of the squabbling. He cracked his tail against the ground, snapping all the wolves to attention. “Same strategy with the other wasps. A little bit of size doesn’t make a difference,” he snapped.
Iceria and Cryos nodded before barking out orders to the rest of the pack. The wolves split into nine groups, each group focusing on a different wasp. The groups further split again in half. One half weaved in and out from the wasp, each time taking the chance to slash at unprotected parts of the wasp with fire-coated claws. The other half stayed further away, keeping the wasp from being able to focus on the first group by firing spells at it.
This strategy seemed to be working well; the wasp seemingly couldn’t hit any of the wolves. And then, an unlucky wolf stumbled while lunging in for an attack. The wasp didn’t hesitate to jab its stinger at the wolf. The other wolves quickly became disorganized, trying to save their packmate. Zaelen narrowed his eyes as he observed the wolf that had been stung. Black veins were quickly crawling over the wolf as he spasmed on the ground. Status.
Phoenix Wolf
Name: Zeirath
Status: Paralyzed, Weakened, Confusion, Poisoned
That... is a lot of status effects. He’s a goner.
|||Don’t you feel sorry for him? After all, he is a member of your pack|||
Even if I did, it wouldn’t do anything, would it? Or at least not anything good.
|||... ... ...|||
Zaelen watched as another wolf fell victim to the wasp’s sting. I didn’t plan to step in, but they’re all going to get killed at this rate. Zaelen got up and created a [Wind Barrier] around the wolves before pushing them back with [Wind Surge]. He glanced around. The other wolves seemed to be falling into similar disarray.
“FALL BACK!” he roared.
The wolves first didn’t seem to hear him, but they soon retreated, leaving the poisoned ones to lay twitching on the ground. Some struggled more than others. A few even tried to feebly get up and stagger to Zaelen, but they didn’t make it far before they collapsed again. Some had already succumbed. Around ten wolves. Zaelen started to put order back into the wolves that hadn’t been poisoned yet, blocking a few that tried to go back to help.
The wasp guards fluttered back to defend their queen, staring at the wolves though they didn’t seem like they were going to do anything. At least, for now. Zaelen started to walk toward the wasps, when he stopped at a poisoned wolf. He looked down at her. The wolf’s glazed eyes looked up at him in return, and he could see a moment of fleeting clarity come to her.
“It’s... my time now, isn’t it? You’ve come to end my life and send me off, like the all the alphas have done.” Even though her voice was barely a whisper, she remained calm. She gave a rasping sigh. “It was wrong to doubt you because you were of a different species. In fact, you’ve been better to us than a few of our alphas before.”
He bowed his head toward the wolf.
“You served the pack well,” he murmured.
She smiled weakly. “Do not let my death weigh heavy on your heart. I will always be watching over you all. Besides, I have lived a long, fulfilling life. My pups will carry on my legacy, and I can finally join my mate, wherever he is.”
Zaelen nodded. The wolf closed her eyes for the last time, a contented look on her face, before Zaelen sliced her throat. A blue healer padded to his side and healed the wound before arranging the body so she looked like she was simply sleeping.
“May you be happy, wherever you are,” murmured the healer.
Zaelen padded to the next wolf, and the next, and the next. He did the same thing to all of them; saying words of comfort before ending their lives. Soon, he was done, yet it seemed like years had passed. Howls of grief rose from the other wolves as they watched on.
Zaelen quickly pushed away the thoughts of the wolves’ deaths.
“Iceria, assemble all the magic casters and have them fire spells at the queen like we do with slimes. Healers, support me if I get stung. Cryos, no. Keep back. All close-combat is off limits.”
Zaelen was pretty sure that Cryos snapped back a retort, but he was already turning to face the guards head on. The guards had sensed that something had changed and were now flying at him. He barely managed to dodge as one of the wasps thrust their stinger inches from his snout. WHEN DID STINGERS BECOME SO POINTY?! They don’t need venom, they just need to stab you through!
|||I’m pretty sure that’s because of their size...|||
Exactly! Why do they need venom to go with it?! The golden drake unleashed a [Dragon Breath] in front of him at the wasps. The fire grazed the antenna of the wasp, and it faltered. Zaelen leaped, claws outstretched to rend. However, something rammed him in the side and Zaelen glanced down to see a stinger sticking into his tail. GREAT, NOW I’M GOING TO HAVE A DENT IN MY TAIL! Zaelen spun in mid-air with the help of [Wind Surge] and slammed down on the guard, snarling. He raked his claws along the wasp’s eyes, wrenching his tail from the stinger in the process. He stabbed deeper into the wasp, before using [Wind Slash] to cut off its wings.
Zaelen leaped away as another wasp flew in, its mandibles open. Zaelen did not doubt that it could likely crush bone. And I probably have a billion status effects now too! Just wonderful! Zaelen landed, checking his HP.
HP: 245/300
Status: Ash-Risen, Alpha of [Pack], Paralyzed, Weakened, Poisoned, Bleeding
Learned new resistance: [Paralyze Resistance Lv1]
Learned new resistance: [Poison Resistance Lv1]
Learned new resistance: [Weakened Resistance Lv1]
Well, looks like I was right! Yaayyyy!
|||At this point, I can’t tell if that was sarcasm or not|||
Oh don’t worry, I totally enjoy my life disappearing in milliseconds.
|||...I guess you still have some braincells in you|||
Learned new skill: [Flame Claw Lv1]
What did I even do to get that. Oh well.
|||Yes, I can see that you’re busy escaping getting obliterated by insects|||
I know, I’m SO proud of myself. Zaelen lunged to the side as a wasp snapped its mandibles at him. And then, fire spears smashed into the wasp. While the spears didn’t do much damage, it managed to disorient the wasp enough for Zaelen to turn. He activated [Flame Claw] as he slashed at the wasp, curious to see what it did. His claws suddenly blazed with a bright fire as he brought them down on the wasp. It gave a screech as Zaelen saw cracks crawl across the armor.
The other guards moved in unison as they heard their comrades’ screech. They buzzed furiously as their stingers flashed. One grazed Zaelen’s side as he darted out of the way. He slashed one of the wasp’s wings in return with the blades on his tail.
HP: 198/300
...I think my HP regen is disabled or something.
|||Actually, I’m pretty sure that it’s just because you have four status effects stacked on top of each other|||
Another wasp’s stinger grazed his flank, and Zaelen felt the paralyzing and weakening effect of the wasps’ stings finally take hold. It was suddenly like he was moving through water. Zaelen hissed in frustration as he ducked and yet he was too slow. A wasp latched onto his back, and Zaelen rolled, crushing the wasp beneath him. Yet this maneuver made him vulnerable. While the wolves’ fire spears held back two or three of the wasps, it wasn’t enough. The others piled on top of him, jabbing and tearing. Zaelen kicked out and felt his claws connect with a wasp as it was thrown away.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Zaelen stood back up and somehow managed to escape the wasps; even with his slowing effects. He ducked as a fireball whizzed above him, slamming right into the wasps behind him. More fireballs followed, hitting their marks. A small group of wolves, led by Cryos, dashed forward. Wait a second, didn’t I tell you to stay back?! However, he couldn’t admit that he wasn’t grateful. A blue wolf split from the rest; which rushed past the golden drake. Zaelen slowed as the wolf began to heal his wounds while the wasps were preoccupied.
HP: 243/300
Status: Ash-Risen, Alpha of [Pack]
“Good luck,” whispered the blue wolf before he returned.
Zaelen looked after the wolf for a second and then spun, using [High Leap] horizontally in a lunge. He smashed into one of the wasps flying in the air above the wolves. He realized that it was the wasp which had suffered the [Fire Claw] from before.
“GO BACK!” commanded Zaelen.
Cryos nodded and raced back with the wolves peeling off to join. Zaelen hung on to the wasp, careful to not get stung as it flailed around. He battered the same spot with [Fire Claw], and it didn’t take long for pieces of the armor to fall off, revealing soft flesh. The other wasps hung back, afraid to accidentally stab their comrade. Zaelen slashed at the vulnerable spot, and the wasp let out a screech. Soon, Zaelen felt it go still and start falling. He landed on the ground behind it before leaping again to avoid a wasp that had dived at him. It buzzed its wings furiously as it tried to get its stinger out of the ground. The six remaining wasps swooped at him, darting in and out. Zaelen sent a few [Wind Slash]s at the grounded wasp, slicing off its wings. He used [Dragon Breath] to ward off the other wasps for a second as he landed right on top of the grounded wasp.
Zaelen battered with [Fire Claw] for a few seconds before the other wasps closed in on him. He skittered away -
|||Like the ant you are|||
- and then sent a [Lightning Strike] at the grounded wasp. The crack of blue lightning appeared from seemingly nowhere, striking the wasp where he had weakened the armor. Even if it hadn’t, it still would have done some damage, as armor can’t stop you from being electrocuted. After repeatedly summoning lightning on the wasp while evading the others, the wasp eventually slumped to the ground.
Killed Aurexcarapax (Guard). Gained 500 exp.
Wonderful. Six more wasps to go!
MP: 85/300
The wolves can’t heal MP, right system? Zaelen smacked a wasp with his tail, the blades digging into the wasp’s flesh through a gap in the armor. When Zaelen tried to dislodge the blades, the wasp went with his tail, slamming into the ground.
|||How am I supposed to know?|||
Zaelen darted out of the way, whipping his tail around. It turned out having a speared wasp was quite useful. And the kabobbed wasp seemed too disoriented to try and get free. The wasp slammed into the others, smashing them into the ground. Zaelen sent a [Lightning Strike] or a few [Wind Slash]s at the wasps when this happened. Eventually, however, the wasp suddenly flew off his tail and crashed into the queen. The queen, screeching in alarm, probably thought this was an enemy, and promptly crushed the wasp guard between her mandibles.
Five to go! Zaelen decided that if his MP was almost gone, he might as well spend the rest. Using [Wind Slash] as many times as possible, Zaelen managed to cut or nick the wings of three or so of the wasps.
[Wind Slash Lv5] -> [Wind Slash Lv6]
MP: 1/300
Zaelen dived forward, shredding the wings of the wasps which had dropped onto the ground, ensuring that they would fly no more. Heheheh.
|||Technically, you could still use [High Leap]. It doesn’t cost MP|||
Hey, is the system being useful?! Thats mind-blowing! However, Zaelen took the words of the system into account as he rolled to the side. He whipped his tail at the wasp, slamming its head. The blades on his tail cut into one of the eyes, and black blood sprayed over Zaelen. ACKKK. It seemed that Zaelen was more worried about bug blood than the gigantic wasp still hovering over him.
Zaelen managed to shake some of the blood off, but much still clung to him. He gave a low growl of disgust before glaring up at the wasp.
|||Dude, didn’t you already get the wasps’ blood on you?|||
Not this much!
|||Sure, whatever you say. Whatever you say|||
The golden drake used [High Leap] to cling onto the wasp, furiously tearing at it. The wasp fell to the ground, writhing in pure panic. Soon, with a few last convulsions, it stopped completely.
Killed Aurexcarapax (Guard). Gained 500 exp.
Zaelen, this time, didn’t pause to celebrate his victory, quickly turning to attack the grounded wasps. However, the only airborne wasp left was becoming a big... hazard. No matter how much Zaelen tried to whack it with his tail or [High Leap] on it, the wasp evaded his attacks. Soon, even when Zaelen had finished a grounded wasp with his tail and the wolves’ fire had taken the two others, the wasp was still buzzing around his head.
Suddenly, a wolf, with fangs bared, dashed in front of Zaelen and leaped. Is it normal for wolves to be able to leap THAT high?! The wolf raked her claws across one of the wasp’s wings, making it flatter. She twisted in the air to fire off fireballs in quick succession before landing gracefully on the ground.
|||Check her stats if you want to know for sure|||
Aerofang
Name: Aeries
Level: 245/325
HP: 250/250
MP: 250/250
SPD: 400
STR: 250
Skills: [Gale Strike Lv3] [Wind Dash Lv4] [Skybound Lv2] [Fireball Lv5] [Searing Wind Lv3] [HP Regen Lv3] [MP Regen Lv4]
Resistances: [Fire Lv5] [Wind Lv6] [Light Lv1]
|||GOSH, you were CORRECT?!|||
|||That’s... let’s just say unusual, shall we?|||
Like how you usually are? Zaelen watched as the wasp suddenly turned tail (or stinger?), and ran. The queen gave a furious scream from where she watched. Zaelen wondered why the queen hadn’t done anything.
|||It might be because queens usually don’t do much – their main purpose is to give birth to more wasps|||
That should mean that she’s probably easy to kill... Zaelen used [High Leap] and jumped, aiming for the queen’s back. She tried to avoid, but she was too slow. Zaelen slashed off her wings and the queen fell.
“GET HER!”
At Zaelen’s command, attacks rained down upon the wasp queen; both fire and claw. The black wasp writhed in pain, her mandibles snapping. However, the wolves were too quick and the queen too slow. Soon, blood pooled as the queen’s movements slowed down to a twitch. Zaelen, who had been watching the fight, felt satisfaction bubble up inside him as he watched the wasp queen meet its demise. And once the head is cut off, the body dies on its own. The wolves padded away from the body to gather around their alpha. However, they weren’t celebrating. An atmosphere of gloom seemed to weigh heavy upon the pack.
⋆❖^⧫/-\⧫^❖⋆
Zaelen yawned from where he was lazing upon the grass, watching the silver and white kierin frolic amongst the wolves. They’d taken a break from traveling to rest and recover from the aurexcarapax battle. A sudden thought entered his mind. Hey, system, wasn’t there that one kierin who brought the eggs? What happened to him again?
|||Oh, I don’t think you were watching, but Cryos kicked the kierin out with the excuse that ‘he was too weak’|||
Why? Wait never mind, I don’t care. The contract was temporary anyway, so he’s not even my servant anymore.
|||JUST. HOW. MUCH. DID. YOU. MISS?! DO YOU NOT HAVE EARS?! ARE YOU DEAF?! OR DO YOU JUST HAVE TERRIBLE MEMORY?!|||
What’s with the sudden outburst? Did I forget something?
|||...Arghhhh. The kierin was speaking DIRECTLY to you! You even said yes!|||
To what?
|||He asked to become your permanent servant, and you accepted, to put it simply|||
...Why would he do that?
|||How am I supposed to know why anybody would choose of their own accord to be under an IDIOT like you?!|||
That would mean that I could check his stats, riiiiiiight?
|||And you can. Don’t try to prove me wrong. Go on; check them!|||
Cetalis Sicarious
Name: Servant Chicken
Level: 236/1500
HP: 3000/3000
MP: 1000/1000
SPD: 2850
STR: 2900
Skills (Condensed): [Nightfall Lv4] [Final Eclipse Lv2] [Shadow Slash Lv7] [Blade Strike Lv5] [Human Transformation Lv3]
Resistances: [Poison Lv4] [Bleed Lv6] [Darkness LvMax] [Light Lv4] [Weakened Lv3] [Paralyze Lv4] [Fire Lv2] [Ice Lv5]
Fine! You were right! Happy?
|||Heh. But I seriously want to know HOW the kierin got so strong in such a short time. Wait... is it possible that...?|||
Is it possible WHAT?!
|||...Meh. Never mind|||
...You do you. Zaelen glanced around at the wolves, which all seemed fully recovered. He called for the pack to come together. We’ve rested long enough.
“Is it time to move again?” asked Iceria.
Zaelen bobbed his head and got to his feet. The wolves fell in behind him as he started the journey once more.