Chapter 8: Beginnings (8)
It was hard to explain how my power worked to them. Having to say that it was a Mutant power was a big help in itself, making the whole thing more believable.
Mutant powers are classified to be almost everything that is not the lightning, fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness or space elemental essence. These kind of mutations of the soul are quite rare, but not unheard off. About 0.02% of all awakenings turn out to be mutant soul essence.
But having that explained, it was nice to talk with them, we had a nice meal, and I learned a lot about them. My predictions were right, Marcus was a Martial artist, a Tank. Specialized in defense and protecting the team. He had Earth soul essence making him an almost a perfect tank.
Lily is a Lightning Arcane artist. High damage with massive consumption of elemental essence and low defense. But as long you give her enough time she will kill anything that comes her way.
Havier is a bowman. Surprisingly, he has Light elemental essence. Light and Darkness elements are considered to be very weak in the early stages, but later on, with appropriate training, they become so overpowered that not many can deal with them.
Jackson. He had fire elemental essence. The most stereotypical Martial artist there can be.
They were a team for a few weeks now, but they knew each other before, attending the same university previously. They can't be considered to be veterans, but some experience is better than none.
We all met the next day in front of the Monster Control Association building. Inside we each picked up Goblin subjugation mission. Everyone was given a body camera, a satellite phone and a map of the terrain. And in the case of Jackson, he also got a simple enhanced item, its only use was to make water, in case he puts anything on fire.
Body cameras are the best way to confirm the kills. And a satellite phone in case of emergencies, but help won't be free of charge.
Then we headed towards the Hunting Ground. Before entering everyone needed to identify at the outpost, this is done to make sure that everyone is kept track of. Finally, after that, we entered the Hunting Grounds themselves.
Algonquin Provincial Hunting Ground is considered to be one of the safer ones, with only weaker kind of monsters. It is mostly forest and some lakes with the most common monster here being goblins. With a general shape of a monkey, tail, fangs, moving on all fours, but hairless and having green skin. They are considered to be one of the easiest to kill monsters.
Being stronger than an average man, by themselves or in small groups are not much of a problem. Only if a horde forms they become troublesome. And coupled with their high reproduction rate, the general practice is to kill them on sight. Missions are always up to kill them, giving a lot of people work.
And their commonness showed, as five or so minutes after entering the forest, we met a group of four. Unlike normal animals, their perception is terrible making them easy to sneak up to. Slowly approaching them, we got into a formation, Marcus at the front and Jackson right behind him. Then it was me with Lilly and Havier, protecting them, in case the goblins go past Marcus and Jackson.
First to act was Marcus, with his shield protecting him, he charged forward. Knocking into the group of goblins, he gathered all of their attention. I could hear Lily murmuring something, and Havier nocking an arrow.
'Buzz, ZAP'
Lighting gathered in Lily's hands. She then extended them hastily, and a lightning arc shoot toward one of the goblins. At the same time, Havier released his arrow, and it pierced through the neck of another goblin.
Marcus was still holding one down, while another one charged towards Jackson, and he with his sword flaming red, swung at it chopping it into two.
"Marcus hold that one down for a bit more!" Jackson shouted. He looked at me and smiled. "Come here Dom, you take care of this one."
Hearing this my heart started to race, and my emotions swelled. I fought with Master many times, I bleed many times, but this was different. It was real.
The smell that was coming from the charred goblin, the sound of one of them choking on their own blood, and the pool of red that formed below Jackson. This was… a lot. I don't know how many times I have seen scenes like this on a screen, but this was different.
'I have to do this. Suppress the emotions and harden the heart. Don't let the fear take you over. Fight it.'
'Crunch'
I took the first step and walked towards Marcus that was holding down the Goblin. The soul essence in my body started to move, the closer I got the emptier I felt. My mind without any thoughts, with my body moving by itself.
Marcus released the goblin and pushed it towards me. My leg covered in the soul image moved fast and accurately striking the knee of the goblin. I continued to push down pining the broken leg to the ground.
I could see the goblin screaming but no sound made into my mind, he was trying to scratch at my leg, but the protection from my soul image didn't let it. Manifesting the soul image on my arms, I bent my body and grabbed it by its neck.
'Crack.'
It was over.
"You did well. Just don't think about it too much. It had to happen sooner or later, now at least your life is not on the line. There is four of us, each with a minimum quota of ten, so we have to kill thirty-four more at the least. Then we will hunt for the extra bonus, they pay per five so eighty – hundred twenty should be enough for today."
"Hundred twenty?!"
"Don't worry, they are usually in groups of ten or twenty, it is unusual to find a group so small. We will be done before evening. You should be so surprised, they bread like rabbits, maybe faster. Everyone check your equipment and let's go."
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