บท 4: Chapter Three - King of Monstrous Humanoids
/// Arthur Leywin ///
It's been 3 days since I suffered the "Daily Quest: Penalty". I immediately fainted after making it back to the real world. The elf girl,Tessia, kept crying and slamming my chest until I woke up. From that day I made sure not to forget the daily quests. Currently, we have set up a tent. I sat outside by the bonfire after making sure the girl was asleep.
"Stat Window." I muttered under my breath as a huge translucent tab, teal in colour appeared before my eyes. Just a second later, all of my information appeared on it.
Name: Arthur Leywin
Level: 13
Class: NONE
Title: NONE
Core: Bottleneck of Light Red
Passive Skills:
– Mana Rotation (10%)
– Unknown (Lvl: Max) (A/n: yeah boi. Only this matter)
– Tenacity (Lvl 2)
– Dragon Will (un-integrated: not usable)
Active Skills:
– Swordless Technique (Lvl 5)
– Swordsmanship (Lvl 15)
– Dash (Lvl 5)
– Fire (Lvl 5)
– Water (Lvl 4)
– Wind (Lvl 3)
– Earth (Lvl 2)
I gained the skills "Tenacity" and "Dash", after the penalty quest. Basically, tenacity gave my stamina a huge boost if I received a damage above a pre-set threshold and dash was a running skill. By mana being spent every minute I could have a boost in speed upto 50%. I tried using this technique to hunt in the past 3 days. While using it I came up with a theory. The technique Dash was used at a cost of huge mana consumption, while only giving a boost of 50%.
So I came up with a technique of my own. Walking towards the forest I looked back once more to make sure no beast came near the tent and harm the little elf girl. Once I reached the deepest part of the forest I stopped and looked around. Deep inside the forest an arrow formed in front of my eyes with a name attached at the base of the arrow.
Name: Skitter.
Class: D-ranked beast
Chances of survival: 60%
Description: Domesticated as draft beasts used to pull carriages over long distances through unsteady terrain with their strong claws. With a much greater endurance and strength than normal horses, skitters are a valuable asset for anyone that's able to afford their services
A single stray tear escaped my eyes and fell on my cheek as it slowly rolled down and fell on the dried leaves with a plop. All those years of sneaking into the library and gaining knowledge about everything went to waste. Shaking my head to get rid of the childish thoughts I refocused on the new information. The system had really outdone itself, making me surprised at once again.
The chances of my survival may be high but I was still in the body of a four year old. And I had a responsibility of taking the girl back to her home and then searching for my own parents. But I couldn't take the image of Sylvia's dying body as she was stabbed right in front of me and I couldn't even save her. I just stood there and watched her die. I was pathetic, being weak was pathetic.
[Player has learned skill: Intimidate]
[Player's innate proficiency with "Intimidate" was already at max level. 'Intimidate' has evolved. Intimidate->Bloodlust.]
[Player has learned the skill 'Bloodlust'. You are now able to physically manifest your aura and intent]
"Wait what?" I stood there baffled, my previous anger subsided as I heard the contents of my new skill. After giving it a brief read I walked closer to the Skitter.
"No pain no gain. Might as well try both things." I said as I visualised activating my new skill.
['Bloodlust' has been activated]
A sheen of blue seemed to surround my whole body and then extended in a dome shape. The surroundings became heavy, the branches of trees bending downwards, the smaller plants crushing under the weight of my skill. Even I myself could feel it, the overwhelming dread that even startled me who was the source of it. My eyes began glowing a light shade of azure as my visions became brighter. I could see everything as bright as day, despite the pitch black darkness that enshrouded the whole forest like a veil.
*grggghhhhhhh*
A low howl, almost a whimper brought me out of my stupor as I withdrew my intent. Looking forward I saw the Skitter looking down on me, its eyes shining in the dark. I could see the slight tremble in its legs as it looked at me with a feeling in its eyes that I knew so well. I had seen it so many times in my past life and had experienced the same feeling in that damned cave. Where that monster killed Sylvia.
Reaching for my back my hand touched the cold hilt of my dagger. With a swift move my dagger left its sheen as I pointed it in front of myself, its tip towards the beast. It took a step back and then another. The next moment it started running as it turned around. Letting mana flow from my core and augmenting my legs, I reached out for my skill mentally.
['Dash' has been activated.]
I felt a sudden strain on my core as a huge amount of mana drained from it. The next moment, the ground beneath me splintered as the world around me blurred. My max speed increased as I felt myself closing the distance in a split second. However, just like how I had managed to use "Swordless Technique" in small bursts, only at point blank I thought of using the similar theory in this regard.
I let mana augment only certain parts of my legs, the ones responsible for the quick movements. In a motor sequence I used mana on them in an order. I felt my muscles tear apart as an excruciating amount of pain built up from my core and legs at the same time. Ignoring the agonising pain, I focused on the prey in front of me. It hopped from one place to another, its movement agile and nimble.
Damn it!!
I cursed under my breath as I saw the beast running deeper and deeper into the bewitched mist. I focused on the same sequence once again, initiating it. The ground beneath me exploded as I closed the distance in delayed bursts.
['Player' has learnt the modified skill 'Burst Step'.]
"A little more…" I said in a strained breath as I used the technique once again. The splintering noise of my own bones breaking reverberated in my ears as I caught up with the beast. Pushing myself from the ground using wind mana, I jumped and flipped two times in the air. As I came closer I plunged my dagger in its neck, severing the carotid artery. Blood gushed out like a fountain from its neck. I fell right beside its twitching figure as it breathed its last.
Looking down I could see half of my legs blown up while the other was way too mangled to be called a foot.
"Open the reward box." I spoke out loud, my voice echoing in the deadly calm and silent forest.
[Unclaimed awards from today's daily quest.
– Full recovery.
– Stats boost.
Rewards will expire in: 1 minute, 05 seconds]
"Full….. r-recovery." A pained gasp escaped my throat as a thin, translucent sheen of subtly comforting blue aura enveloped my whole body. The aura covered me quickly and then concentrated on the leg area. My pants changed into screams as it started to remodel my bones. The amount of pain was the same for when my legs broke. However, without the adrenaline rush the pain increased 4 times. I bit my lip in frustration and grabbed the blades of grass around me, patiently waiting for this agonising pain to subside.
Deciding on to distract myself, I tried gathering mana in my core. My core thrummed and a piercing sensation invaded it.
['Sylvia's' draconic will is interfering with 'Player's' mana absorption and usage. Do you wish to integrate your will?]
Integrate? Can the system even do that?
"Yes, integrate." I managed to speak as my bones re-attached themselves and flesh knitted itself back into place.
Despite the mind-numbing pain I couldn't help but smile at my achievement. Although it did more harm than good, I can use it as a trump card. I extended my hand towards the full moon and put my hand just in front of it.
"I will become strong. I won't lose my loved ones this time."
/// Agrona Vritra ///
Clamours of curses and hollow threats and chains rattling reached my ears as I strolled towards the basement of Taegrin Caelum. I closed my eyes, deeply enjoying the agonising screams of the one I had chained down there. Reaching for the icy cold handles of the giant metallic double doors I opened it. A wave of blinding light reached me but soon died out. My gaze lingered from the door to the huge glass in front of me.
A warm smile graced my face as I saw the one inside it.
A fragment of brilliant light.
I couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the miserable condition of the one who had troubled us and been a thorn in our plans for aeons. My crimson red eyes glowed a lime green as I looked at the Ruler with a spiteful gaze. My hand went straight for the glass container in which the fragment of brilliant light was held captive.
"You won't succeed…. again" He looked down at me. Despite having an armour for face I could see and feel the pain that seethed from his voice as a by-product in an alchemy of rage and spite. The tubes around its body twitched as it let out a pained howl,
"You should worry about yourself, 5th brother." I spat, mocking him by his name that his brothers used to use for him.
The tubes twitched again as the divine light that always stuck to the rulers like a parasite started fading.
"You will be a battery for HER. And you will watch as we use your powers against your own brothers." I said as I turned on my heel and started leaving the place. The vritran scientists all bowed and went on both of their knees. I could hear the rhythmic taps on the ground as one after another heads started to slam on the ground prostrating towards me.
*grgghh*
A slight sound diverted my attention. Looking over my shoulder to my right I saw a "Goliath", my grand marshal kneeling towards me, his head bent down.
"What is it?" I asked, irritation visible in my voice.
"My king… the scythe… cadell. He is dead, gone without a trace." He managed to speak. Monstrous humanoids were not very good at communication by tongue.
"What do you mean by 'without a trace'?" I asked as I stopped walking and diverted my undivided attention towards him.
"We found his mana signature but we never found the body… It was in a cave in dicathen."
This was interesting. Someone on dicathen was able to kill Cadell. Although he was pathetically weak, he was still better than those damned humans residing in Dicathen. Was it the reincarnate? But he was too young to do that. And he was a human. Things could get troublesome now. Maybe there is a vessel of rulers in Dicathen.
I'll just wait for the Dragon and Shadow monarchs. This world is done for once the two walking catastrophes arrive. A victorious smirk formed on my face as I looked back at the ruler, being drained of his powers one last time as I left the underground laboratory.
The war will soon begin… and this world shall perish.
******************************
(A/n Can you guess which Monarch is Agrona. Also, in this fic, monarchs do not steal bodies but instead become one with hosts. Same goes for rulers… their vessels can fully harness their powers. As for the beast will integration without Virion, I have a plan for it. That's why I did it. Anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Until next time-
Sayonara)
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