Capítulo 14: Harmony in Chaos.
As Dian slept soundly, a figure dressed in fiery red, known as Avery, seethed with rage and frustration. She was accompanied by a companion, a teacher from their clan, whose brown skin and slim physique complemented his medium-length dark brown hair that swayed gently in the breeze.
"So, you still haven't enlightened me on what went wrong," her sidekick remarked, his voice tinged with curiosity. "My poison is flawless, impervious to all but one specific antidote, which I provided you. Unless Sura possesses unique healing abilities, she will require specialized treatment that she doesn't possess."
Avery paid little attention to her companion's words, her focus fixed on scouring the vicinity of the campsite where Sura had managed to elude them. Frustration gnawed at her, fueling her determination to locate their targets. "Niman, either be quiet or assist me in finding them!" she bellowed, her frustration echoing through the air.
"Hey, don't put the blame on me for your own failures," he retorted, reclining with his hands behind his head. "Besides, they're both isolated and poisoned, right? Shortly after being poisoned, Sura won't be able to utilize her shape-shifting abilities effectively. At best, she'll transform into a small critter before succumbing to a painful demise. So, what's the big deal?"
Avery's anger reached its boiling point as she summoned her flaming goggles, intensifying her search in the distance where Sura had fled with Nina and the enigmatic stranger. Meanwhile, Niman continued to ramble on. "I mean, she could use the Botanist skill orb she was supposed to reward her pupil with in emergencies like this. However, with her own poisoning, even with the Botanist skill, it's not as if it will magically reveal all the golden Karyda fruits in the vicinity. It's simply impossible, even for someone with an advanced level of Botanist. Only experts could accomplish such a feat, but she's just has the one at the basic level..."
At this point, Avery's anger surpassed its limits. "Will you just shut up already! I'm well aware of all that! What do you think I've been doing while tirelessly searching for you?" Avery snapped at Niman, her voice reverberating with frustration.
"I'm not going to help you until you explain why you're so concerned. Everything was foolproof. You were supposed to meet them under the cover of night, apologize for the earlier confrontation with Sura, prepare a meal together, poison the food, consume it with her, administer the antidote, enjoy some time together, and then eliminate them," Niman declared, his nonchalant demeanor fading into seriousness. "Oh, Phoenix of Manava, please enlighten me as to how you failed such a simple task?"
Avery turned to face Niman, her eyes filled with venom. "Damn it, I almost had her, alright? It's just that this human suddenly appeared out of nowhere, being chased by a horde of Demon hares and apes. I had to divert my attention and deal with that mess."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on a minute!" Niman exclaimed, unable to believe what he was hearing. "You mean to tell me that a bunch of Demon hares and apes scared you?"
"No!" Avery screamed at Niman, her voice filled with frustration and urgency. "I underestimated Sura's resilience when she shape-shifted and managed to escape with the spawn of Areiti and that mysterious human."
Niman's eyes widened as he grasped the severity of the situation. "Wait," he exclaimed, realization dawning upon him. "They have an ally who's unaffected by the poison! If they find even a single Golden Karyda fruit, the spawn of Areiti will survive and return to the clan. We will lose our lives, and not just us, but the entire Manava family will be doomed!"
"Stop talking and start acting," Avery snapped, pointing towards a tree with broken branches. "Sura transformed into a Demon ape and fled in that direction. I'll search over there. You need to gather reinforcements from the clan, seek help if necessary, but ensure that Sura and Nina don't make it back to the clan. Our lives depend on it." With their tasks assigned, they both swiftly set off to carry out their respective missions.
As the events unfolded, Dian found solace in a deep and rejuvenating sleep. It was only when the vibrant colors of the setting sun painted the sky that he stirred awake. Stretching his limbs, Dian realized that the exhaustion had lifted, and his body was no longer burdened with the aches and pains that had plagued him after his encounter with the Demon Hare.
Though remnants of discomfort lingered from the wounds he had sustained, Dian felt a renewed energy coursing through him before he checked his status card.
Level: 2
Exp: 14/20
Health: 78/87
Mana: 75/75
Dian's senses heightened, a flicker of realization igniting within him. Something was undeniably amiss. Recalling with certainty that his health and mana had previously stood at 70 and 60, respectively, a wave of astonishment washed over him as he discovered an unexplained surge. His health had surged by 17 points, and his mana had grown by 15.
Questions surged through his mind, weaving a tapestry of curiosity and speculation. Could this be a side effect of leveling up, a newfound boon gifted by his ascension? Or did it hold a deeper connection to his attributes and statistics, an intricate puzzle begging to be solved? Each possibility beckoned him into the realm of uncertainty, propelling him to delve deeper into the enigma that now manifested before him. To figure something out, he pulled out his stats.
Str: 8.5
Con: 7.7
Int: 7.5
Wis: 8.5
Agi: 10.1
Luc: 5.5
A sudden revelation struck Dian like a bolt of lightning as he meticulously examined his stats. The realization was undeniable—each and every one of his attributes had experienced a half-point surge. Elation mixed with a tinge of disbelief coursed through him, for he understood that with each level attained, he would be granted more than he had initially anticipated. Two additional points, freely available for him to allocate as he saw fit. Furthermore, a foundational enhancement awaited him, solidifying his progression. The system's persistent urging to level up now made perfect sense.
These augmented statistics were the very reason he had possessed unwavering confidence in his confrontation with the fearsome Demon hare. The transformation was profound, empowering him with newfound mental clarity, heightened reflexes, swifter movements, and an overall amplification of power and strength. The intricate web of his enhanced stats wove together a tapestry of prowess, bestowing upon him an undeniable advantage in the face of adversity.
Dian's gaze remained fixated on the screen displaying his stats, his scrutiny unwavering until clarity finally settled upon him. The reason behind the increase in both his Health Points (HP) and Mana Points (MP) was twofold—a combination of his stats and the level-up process. HP, in particular, derived its strength from his Constitution (Con) attribute, and with each level gained, an additional 10 Hit Points were bestowed upon him, in the end, he gained a total 15 points increase from each level and the rest from his training or exercise. As for his mana pool, whether it expanded due to his Intelligence (Int) or Wisdom (Wis) stat remained a lingering question, yet to be definitively answered.
Satisfied with his self-analysis, Dian gradually lifted the leafy veil that concealed their makeshift hideout, peering cautiously into the surrounding expanse. His eyes fell upon a diminutive demon creature known as the shell bug, leisurely sipping from the nearby lake. Aside from this curious critter, the sky began its transformation, the descent of the sun gradually painting the heavens with the hues of twilight.
A sense of contentment washed over Dian as he observed the encroaching darkness. With each passing moment, the trio would find themselves shrouded in a deeper veil of obscurity, granting them an added advantage in concealment and evasion.
With caution, Dian shed his camouflage and rose from his hiding spot, his movements deliberate and careful. Once more, he surveyed the surroundings, ensuring that no potential threats lurked in the vicinity. Satisfied with his assessment, he approached the unsuspecting shell bug, his Bone blade poised for a swift and lethal strike.
In one swift motion, Dian brought down his blade, cleaving the creature in two, a skillful execution that added another notch to his experience.
Exp: +1
A sense of satisfaction washed over him as he absorbed the knowledge that he now stood closer to his next level-up, with only a fraction of the experience bar left to fill.
Dian quickly put the corpse in his inventory, completely filling up all the slots before returning his focus to Sura and Nina, Dian's smile emerged, buoyed by the anticipation of further advancement. Nina lay serenely, slumbering beneath the comforting cover of leafy blankets, while Sura quenched her thirst with the Golden Karyda fruit, poison remnants still visible on her hand and leg.
"Good evening," Dian greeted, his voice a gentle murmur. Sura acknowledged him with a nod, a testament to their unspoken camaraderie in this perilous world they inhabited.
Dian's gaze flickered to the dwindling supply of golden fruits, realizing there was only one left. A thought occurred to him, prompting him to begin stretching his limbs while he spoke. "It seems we'll need to procure another batch of golden fruits soon."
Sura's response was swift, her voice carrying a hint of guilt as she interjected, attempting to halt Dian's train of thought. "N-No need," she stammered. "I-I'm sorry, I lied. Consuming the milk of the Golden Karyda fruit nullifies toxins within the body for a specific duration, while also bolstering resistance against toxins for the following hours. As we are now, both Nina and I will be able to endure for the next ten hours without issue. Furthermore, I can prolong that timeframe by assuming an insect form, and we have an additional fruit reserved for Nina's needs."
Dian paused his stretching, absorbing Sura's explanation. Placing a hand on his chin, he pondered their next course of action. Sura's apologetic tone lingered in the air, but before she could finish her remorseful plea, Dian gently interrupted her. "It's alright," he reassured her, his voice filled with understanding. "I understand, we all do things we think are right."
Dian shifted his attention to Sura, reaching out to claim the milkless Golden Karyda fruit positioned beside her. His Botany skill had enlightened him about the fruit's composition—the meat within the shell was not only edible but also succulent. With the inability to risk the ignition of a campfire for cooking, their sustenance options were limited to consuming fruits to appease hunger and thirst.
Having lost his makeshift knife during the encounter with the Demon hare, Dian was forced to awkwardly employ the bone blade attached to his arm to slice the firm fruit into bite-sized pieces. He took a satisfying bite, relishing in the juiciness, coldness, and refreshing sweetness that flooded his senses. The flavor resembled that of a regular melon, yet with an intensified sweetness that appealed to Dian's palate. Having endured a whole day without nourishment, hunger gnawed at him, amplifying the pleasure derived from this much-needed sustenance.
While savoring each bite, Dian detected a penetrating gaze fixed upon him. His eyes shifted to meet Sura's intense stare, but she swiftly averted her gaze, a subtle blush tingeing her cheeks. Amusement danced within Dian as he noticed a small droplet of drool glistening at the corner of her mouth. With a playful smile, he couldn't resist teasing her. "Hungry?" he inquired, his tone laced with amusement.
Sura's embarrassment flushed her cheeks even deeper as she admitted her hunger. The teacher, once revered and powerful, now found herself reliant on someone else to cut fruit for her. "P-Please," she stammered, her voice laced with a mix of bashfulness and need.
In that moment, Dian and Sura set aside the pressing concerns of their perilous circumstances. Nestled among the protective embrace of leaves, they immersed themselves in the simple pleasure of sharing fruit and exchanging whispered tales. In the tranquility of their secluded sanctuary, Nina slumbered peacefully, resembling a delicate doll in her repose.
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