Chương 16: The trial and first day of school
-= Cliffside Forest =-
Why is it always so fucked up after waking up in the middle of nowhere? I'm not supposed to be affected by poisons, am I not affected by sleeping pills? What did she ever inject me with...
Pre-perfect. I'm in the woods. In my underwear...
And I'm covered in Red Juice.
Attention! The icy fury of an active...
No, no, no, it's the Grimms! Ok... Cookies...
Attention! Ice-cold fury dealt...
Ooh, that's another thing.
Tall trees surrounded me. There was a cacophony of sounds everywhere- birdsong, sounds of some insects and other animals.
But that was not what was worrying me right now. I needed to wash the syrup off me. It baits Urs. And the Urs are bad. *I can't wipe it off with leaves. I need water...
I concentrated on the sound...
...the sound of running water...
I found it.
I ran towards the water, releasing the threads from Levi and converting them into claws as I went. Diana took her lines along with her clothes. This is too bad; my fighting potential is now equal to my left arm...
Quickly running through the trees and bushes, I saw a gap between the trees; the sound of flowing water only intensified. Cautiously making my way to the bushes, I examined the area...
The four Beowulfs were lying near the water and panting. Then they smelled the scent coming from me and raised their muzzles.
Attention! The Hunter's aura is active...
Abruptly I burst out of the bushes and leapt up to the nearest Grimm, sinking my claws into its eye as I went.
One down...
The Grimms reacted to their new foe and sprang up from the ground to snarl menacingly at me, the death of a tribesman only angering them more.
Careful now; there are more of them...
I began to slowly arc around the rightmost Grimm...
He did not hold back first and ran at me, and from a distance of four meters, he made a mighty leap... And an enormous stupidity...
I step aside, and with all the speed of the werewolf's flight, I sink my claws into his side.
The second is ready...
The last two lunged at me simultaneously.
As I went, I jumped back, transforming the threads into a thin, sharp spike. On the left, Beowulf growled and lunged after me... To get a point in the eye.
The third is ready...
The last one I attacked already myself. Ducking under his left paw, putting the spike in his throat...
It feels good... Stronger...
I'm stronger now. I knew it, but feeling it in battle with a Grimm and knowing it myself... Two different things. And now I have to wash the syrup off...
-= Cliffside forest exit =-
Diana was on her way out of the forest but suddenly stopped and knelt in front of a tiny spider. The spider climbed onto the hand she had given her, and a feminine smirk appeared.
- Hello, Diana, did you put him to the test? - Llos asked the priestess.
- Hello, Great Mother. I sent him. - The girl replied unemotionally.
- Oh-oh, you're worried about this mortal?
- I... Yes. I'm worried about him. - The priestess knew Llos could sense a lie.
- Ho-ho, how interesting... What a wonderful feeling, isn't it, Diana? - replied the spider with a laugh. - My priest can't die in some forest. Diana, summon me when he returns.
- All right, Great Mother...
-= Somewhere in the woods of Cliffside =-
Who knew there were piranhas in that river? Well, I got cleaned up and caught some food with strings. Heh-heh, the piranhas were out of luck.
It was getting dark, so I decided to snack on these little fish.
I gathered some firewood and dry moss. The rest was a matter of a couple of minutes. After cutting one side of the wood with thread, I put the moss on it, then tied it and the lumber with cable.
Then it's simple... Start rubbing the wood quickly with the thread - not so hard as to cut it, but so that it gets hot from rubbing...
That's it... Hehehe, there's a fire, and now you can fry a fish...
Damn, fish! Even after she died, who knew she was so bony?! *Sigh* Bony but delicious... Ehhh...
Alright, I'll put out the fire, climb to the top of some tree, tie myself up there, and go to sleep.
-= Next morning =-
What is the most important rule of being in a forest full of Grimms?
Not to feel negative emotions. Grimms are baited by them, so I thought I was just out for a morning jog through the woods in my pants. I know I do; I practice! There, the thought of some bullsh*t immediately lifted my spirits!
Right... I need to find a higher tree and see which way I'm going...
Looking around from the top of the tree I woke up in, looking for other trees... Aha, there is one a couple of kilometres away from me. Well, let's run...
It's karma. It's just karma; why would King Taiju live there...?
Two giant snakeheads were staring at me now. One was black, and the other was white. Yes, King Taiju is a big double snake. Why "double"? Because the black and white heads come from the same snake, the same Grimm... The charges come from different ends of the same monster... On top of each muzzle was some kind of bone mask. The white head had a red cover with grey symbols, and the black head had a white show with red signs.
And now this f*cking thing was looking at me with gastronomic interest.
Hee hee hee... It was time to test my strength...
I activate my aura and rush towards the blackface at full speed. It opens its mouth and starts hissing.
*SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Well, what to do with you... We'll have to get rid of one of the heads quickly; it's hard to fight two at once... Oh! Let it swallow itself and then get out of the...
No, that plan's off. I saw the monster's teeth. A mouthful of razor-sharp fangs. But snakes don't have fangs like that... Fucking wrong, Grimms.
Ok... Then... We'll put her brain through her eye. Just like old times... It didn't do much good last time, but I should be able to do it now.
Get close to the snake and bounce to the right of its bite. Now quickly back to it, and... What a creature! Clever... it closed its eye when my spike approached, and Levi's strings aren't powerful yet. Oh well...
By this point, a second head had reached me, and I had to jump and manoeuvre all over the battlefield, which was pretty brutal. I had to transform the spike back into strings and help myself conduct by pulling myself towards the trees like Spider-Man... Hee hee hee... Except that three meters of rows is not the point, I can move faster myself, and I was only pulling myself while jumping - being in the air...
Here's an idea. Past times have proven that the dumbest and craziest plans have a way of working. Here we go...
Run out between the two heads, now run right up to one snake's face and jump onto it. Right, pushing off from its mask... Now help yourself down to the ground with the strings. Uh-oh, she's furious!
# SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Hehehe, it worked... There's a white one coming this way. Time for action...
I've been pacing in front of the blackface for a while now, waiting for the white one to approach...
Now!
I jump away from the black one and run towards the white one... A sense of danger trumpets the alarm, and I jump up, and the black snake comes full speed under me, meeting its other part...
Ok, now transforming Levi into a spike, then quickly closing in and finishing it off...
# Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
The black one's finished; the white one will be easier to deal with now, especially as she's also suffered from docking with her black half.
We simply and uncomplicatedly jump on her face and turn on the vibro on Levi... The spike has lit up in a grey haze, and it's buzzing. Now we stick it in her forehead!
*Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Hee hee hee... That was fun!
Vibrate requires my utmost concentration, so using it in combat is extremely dangerous for now but in the future... In the end, it will be one of my most essential weapons. I still need to get the skill associated with it... Especially since I can safely avoid cutting anything off, only activate it on Levi - Levi conducts aura much better and is easier to control...
Phew... The path to the tree is open; now I have to see where I'm going...
Well... The cliff. Seems to be that way, Vale, judging by the sun... I'll head for the cliff then!
-= Two hours later =-
I finally climbed it! There was no path to the cliff, and climbing the cliff... Looked for other madmen; even if I didn't die in the fall, it would still hurt. I had to find a way up and still climb a couple of times with Levi's help...
What a beautiful view from here... Yes... Remnant is a wonderful world... Wonderful, dangerous and crazy...
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed... A tomb? There was a rose carved on the burial stone, and underneath it was written:
"Summer Rose.
So I gently scattered...
The grave was fresh and well-groomed... And here I stand in my underwear... *Sigh* I mentally apologize to Summer for my appearance and head for the forest exit...
-= Cliffside forest exit =-
All the humans and fauns I encountered scattered in horror at the sight of me. Well, why? All dirty, scarred, scarred left arm and greyish skin. And in my pants. Fucking Terminator... Ahem. Somebody should have asked: "Young man, do you need help?" # Sigh #
Uh-huh... So Diane was waiting for me. I hope she got her clothes.
- Hey, brother. I was sure you could handle it. - to meet me.
- Yeah, hey, did you happen to get my clothes?
- Here you go, bro.
After a quick dressing, I turned my attention back to Diana.
- Kel'Gos, the queen, wants to talk to you. - She informed me.
- Good... Well, lead the way.
We headed back into the forest, where Diana found a spider in a tree, which quickly began to show a feminine grin.
- Hello Kel'Gos! Sia Mistress is pleased with your progress! You and the Priestess have done a tremendous job in five years... And this mistress is also glad that you, Kel'Gos, have not neglected the other Drow arts... YOU ARE Worthy!
- Thank you, Llos. But Diana did as much as I did during my studies. - I bowed and replied.
- Ah-ha-ha... All right, Kel'Goth... My Lady will reward you for your work with the rank of High Priest and grant you one wish... What do you want, Kel'Goth? Do you want power? Do you wish to leave this world? Tell this, Mistress...
What do I want? I want to save this world, but she won't help me. Llos has her own problems, as do the other High Ones... Then...
- I... I want Diana to stay with me, if that's ok with her, of course..." I answered what I was thinking.
I can achieve power on my own, but will I ever be able to find such a companion and teacher again? No. I have become very attached to her and don't want to let her go. Of course, if she wants to leave, then... Then I will accept her choice and respect it.
- AH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA..." laughed Llo with a resounding laugh. - YES! Yes! Well...' Lu'Zine, do you wish to stay with this priest?
- I... I wish..." Miko answered quietly.
- ok! Well, Kell'Gos, you amused me... You did not ask this mistress for power, help, or knowledge. But! You have chosen a good option. The right option. This mistress will reward you herself. I said! - The spider began to proliferate in size, and Diana lowered it to the ground, stepping back.
The spider stopped at a metre in size.
- Junior Priest Kel'Gos! I, Llos Queen of the Pit, raise you to the rank of High Priest. - energy began to be felt in the air. - As a reward for your accomplishments and progress, I shall strengthen your comrade in war. Come, Kel'Goth, and accept your reward! I said!
I approached the spider and looked back at Diana. She nodded, and I extended my right arm, knowing what was coming next. The spider dug into my arm, and I noticed the tattoo on my arm reappear. The next moment I was already falling into darkness...
-= After the dedication of Kel'Gos =-
- Daughter, are you happy? - The spider asked Miko, who was smiling at the boy's lying body.
- Yes... I am happy. - Slowly replied the priestess.
- Daughter, you have the right to decide what you do but don't follow in my footsteps. I made a mistake and betrayed Correlon; I can safely admit it now, after infinity, for I am insane, not stupid.
- Very well, Great Mother.
- And now I will leave. Help Kel'Gos on his way. - The grin disappeared from his face, and he began to shrink.
- I'll help him..." said Diana, clenching her fists tightly.
-= Seven hours later. Blood family home =-
I'm starting to get used to waking up like this... Which is not good. Such awakenings never bode well...
I was lying on my bed. My bed is full of my blood... I knew where it was going...
Attention! Your race has been changed! +25 to OZ and +25 to OB.
I opened my stats and was a little surprised by the race box...
Race: (O*? "S:#I;:!B%:K;#A;?
Health: 200
Stamina: 200
Diana sat on the chair beside the bed and stroked my hair, smiling at something.
- H... Hi..." I wheezed.
Diana immediately handed me a glass of water. After waiting for me to drink the water, she took a sip and gave me a mirror...
Strange...
I was sure my skin would become even darker or greyer, but... It remained the same colour. The heterochromia didn't go anywhere either, but with my red eye, I could see everything in red tones, and it hurt to look at the lamp's light. As soon as I thought it was painful to look at the lamp, my eye returned to its normal vision of the world...
My Ears... They changed their colour to gold...
- Diana, have I changed even more? - I asked.
- Yes, Art. You're fifty per cent Illytiri now. The change was inside, not outside... I can hear two hearts.
I put my hand to my chest and... Oh fuck! Two hearts. They won't let me do any tests, but if anyone finds out I was born with one heart and now have two... *Sigh* Questions will arise...
Great... at least I'm not black. That's a relief. Ehh... Wait, she called me by my name...
- You called me Artorias?
- You are now High Priest and equal to me. I may call you by your first name now. - explained the miko.
- I see... And my ears, why are they gold again?
- I don't know... It's the blood mixing. Aren't you glad?
- I am glad, but it's strange..." I lowered my gaze to Levi.
Levi! Are you all right?
Pet window:
Status: acceptance, excitement
Levi, you've got growths from the sides of your glove like... Like the paws of a spider...
Pet Window:
Status: consternation
Don't be scared, I like you even better that way, the main thing is that you're all right...
Pet Window:
Status: gratitude, acceptance
Yeah, I'll have to check the System windows.
Attention! The title "Junior Priest of the Spider Queen" has evolved into "Senior Priest of the Spider Queen"!
"Senior Priest of the Spider Queen."
Description:
You have been marked with her seal of Llos the Pit Queen; she will always know where you are and will be able to watch over you.
Spiders will not harm you.
Reputation with all Pantheons allied to the Queen of Pit - Respect.
Reputation with all Pantheons hostile to the Queen of Yum - Enemy.
You can ordain a Junior Priest.
You can communicate with Llos using spiders.
?:;O "SH:*??I%";B?; "A":*.
Attention! This title cannot be removed!
Congratulations!
What?
Your pet symbiote "Lefty" is evolving!
It's...
Congratulations! Your pet symbiote "Lefty" has evolved into a pet symbiote of the "Demonic Void Spinner" type!
Description:
The Demonic Void Spinner can absorb the essence of slain creatures, thereby improving itself. The stronger the enemy you kill, the more significant the improvement.
Warning. Your pet chooses its own upgrades. You can only choose the path of improvement!
That's... That's cool. And very useful... But... *Twitch of an eye* What kind of Pokémon reference is that?! *Sigh* Maybe we should finally use the memory wipe feature.
- Art..." Diana suddenly started. - Why, of all wishes, did you choose for me to stay with you?
- It's... It's pretty simple. - I smiled at her. - For so many years, you have become part of my life and family, moreover... How could I let such a beautiful girl go?
Miko smiled at my "inappropriate joke" and hugged me, whispering "Thank you" in my ear. Then she pulled away from me a little, looked into my eyes and...kissed me awkwardly.
I responded to her kiss, and after only three minutes, we moved away.
Diana was very red and breathing heavily, hiding her gaze from me, and after muttering, "You need to rest!" she jumped up and ran out of the room.
And I thought... I thought my life was getting more fun...
And I like it *sniffles*...
-= Present tense. The house of the Blood family =-.
We had a fun birthday party, and now I'm lying in my cot thinking about... Arrivals and problems...
"Flappy Grimm" has succeeded tremendously without advertising or other nonsense.
When adding it to the marketplace, I didn't create a description. I simply added a title, and in place of the report, I inserted: "Dip'Ist". And instead of a picture of the game on the marketplace, I added a photo of Nevermore.
Then I asked Alice to buy it and left a positive comment. Of course, she bought it and... Stuck.
Remnant has a semblance of a tweet - "MyProfile" - and you can share your progress on your network page in the game. Hehehe... My sister wrote that the game is fantastic and stuff.
Anyway, my sister is terribly popular on the social network. Once she wrote, "The game's awesome," people started trying to play it. It cost ten linen, and anyone could afford it... Anyone could afford it... Mwah-ha-ha-ha...
When people discovered it only had "Dip'Ist" in the description and a picture of Nevermore, they wondered if it was worth it. But Alice bought it and said the game was on fire, right? So it's worth something. Heh-heh-heh.
They all fell into my trap...
After a couple of attempts to hack my scroll, articles about "A mystical game that appeared out of nowhere and is eerily complex" started popping up online. Which in itself fuelled the interest of others... Anyway, the game became Remnant's "first viral duck". And my pocket began to fill with lions...
Remnant is lucky that the scroll is very hard to crack. Hehehehe...
Yes, I'm rich. Everyone plays it. Absolutely everyone. All four kingdoms. And so many different personalities are now looking for Deep'East, of course, to shake his hand... Or his throat. Hee hee hee...
I'm currently developing a multiplayer for it. The codename is "Burn Together!" Yeah, I'm evil; I already said that.
Now for the problems...
Adam was absolutely right. It's gone fucking wrong. Discrimination against fauns has reached a new level. They're going to be quietly slaughtered somewhere. Seventy per cent of the shops and cafes are off-limits, they can get beaten up in broad daylight, and no one will do anything. Not even the police. Nobody cares...
Adam gradually removed the leader, and White Fang became a terrorist group. Trying to go peacefully showed that nothing could be achieved that way. So Taurus decided to take serious action. Of course, I sometimes disagree with his methods, but if he needs help, I will. That's what I told him.
There's no other way. I know a lot of innocent people are gonna die. Adam knows that, too. He's decided to become the world's evil. Concentrate all the hatred on himself and lead his race to prosperity. And then die...
But if I have to help him... When I have to help him, I'll help in my own way, no civilian casualties...
-= Next day =-
- Hello, girls! - I said as I walked into the kitchen.
- Hi, Art. / Hi, Art! - They answered at the same time and smiled.
- Ok, I'm going to eat and run away! It's Signal tonight, after all..." I informed them, taking a seat at the table.
- Okey-dokey! Here's your tea! - Alice handed me the tea.
We ate, talked and said goodbye. I put the full yellow headphones on my head, plugged them into the scroll, turned on the music, and threw them in my pocket.
The headphones hid my ears perfectly. If they were still white, so would get white headphones and stand out even less. Other than the ears, I didn't disguise anything. I don't see the point. I am who I am, and I like who I am. I don't care what people around me think, and if they don't like something, I always have threads and Levi's.
Mainly, it's such a cunning plan for the future... Hehehe...
Apart from the yellow headphones, I wore a white hoodie, classic grey jeans and black trainers. A red glove covered my left hand, and a bandage wrapped around it. Well, and a single-handled black briefcase, which I threw behind my back.
Oh yes, I'm going straight into my second year. I took my first year as an extern. That's allowed. I had nothing to do in my first year of school anyway.
You go to Hunter School from twelve and study until you're seventeen. At seventeen, you enter the Academy. So you have to do five years of school. I knew all about the first year, so I decided to take the second, and when I had finished school, I would enter the Academy at sixteen, where I would spend another four years.
Shortly, I should find a master builder to teach me how to assemble weapons. I tried to beg for the concept of a suitable weapon for me at the Guardian Forum, but I was told I had to save the world on my own. How can I keep the world if I can't even think of a weapon? Actually, they're right, and now I'm guessing. That's all right, I've got four years. I'll think of another...
-= Signal Hunter School. Assembly Hall. Introductory speech =-
I stood at the end of the crowd of people. All the students in front of me were divided into three groups:
The first was the humans, and it was on the left.
The second was fauns, and this group was on the right, a tiny group.
The third was a mixed group, there were fifteen of them, and they were in the centre.
Mm-hm... What racial discrimination does to the intelligent...
*Sigh* Finally ended that dull introduction; for thirty f*cking minutes, the headmaster talked about friendship, equality and stuff... A bit more, and I'd have believed in a macaroni monster!
We were told to disperse to our classes... well, my class is "2-A", oops, that's to the right...
Hee-hee-hee... The atmosphere in the class was agitated because it's not often they transferred to the second year of school, and even one year younger... So, it's time to start the performance...
Making a look and a smile a little crazy...
- Artorias Blood? Please introduce yourself to the class. - asked the bald teacher.
- My name is Artorias Blood. Stay away from me. I'm finished.
- ...
- Um, well, you can sit in an empty seat.
Hee hee hee... Why did I do that? To weed out the weak and stupid. If someone wants to meet someone, they'll come over independently, no matter what I say or do.
As I walked to my seat by the window at the last desk, my gaze caught on a girl with golden hair.
Uh-oh... Strong... She's on my level. Hmmm...
Unexpected. Diana taught me how to tell an opponent's strength "by sight," after all. She reeks of danger and confidence. Ho-ho... She paid attention to me and waved... This promises to be interesting...
-= After the introductory class =-
Ho-ho-ho... I got people interested, after all. There were no fans in this class. Now I had eight people piled around me asking stupid questions like, "What's wrong with your skin?" or "Why are your eyes different," that sort of thing. I calmly replied that I had a contagious disease, and they were infected too. Some laughed, and some ran away in horror. How easy it is with people sometimes...
Hoo-hoo and this is already interesting, the girl with the golden hair... Now she is approaching my humble person with a smile...
- Hi-ya!" the girl came up and extended her hand to me. - Yang Xiao Long, shall we meet?
- Hi. - I shook her hand. - Artorias Blood, you can just call me Art.
Pretty. Her golden hair curls slightly and falls behind her back, reaching down to her waist. The tips of her hair are even lighter. The eyes are a delicate lilac colour. Thin golden eyebrows. The skin is pale white. A soft orange scarf is tied around her neck, and a brown leather waistcoat reaches down to her belly, where it ends, revealing a view of her navel. There is also a neckline in the chest area, from which a yellow-coloured tank top with some sort of pattern on the left chest, partially concealed by the waistcoat, peeks out. A thick leather belt, from which many pockets come off, underneath is a small pair of black gym shorts. The buttocks are concealed by a half-skirt, which comes away from the waistband and does not hide the front. On his feet are knee-high leather boots with yellow and grey... kerchiefs peeking out? The hands are concealed by black fingerless gloves. Two large gold bracelets on his wrists.
- Hooo, "just Art," why'd you start out like that with the class?
- They don't need to know about me. The ones who are really interested, they come to me. You did, didn't you?
- Yeah, yeah, you look weird. - answered the girl. - And since you got an externship in the second grade, you are at least bright and pretty strong...
I just smiled enigmatically.
- Art, your headphones are yellow, and I like yellow, so... Do you want to flick? - Yang asked a rather strange question.
- Nah, nah, nah, I don't fight or even have a gun. - Showed her an open briefcase and smiled.
- *Grrr* You're lying, I know. Well, that's ok, practice is coming up, and they have sparring sessions; that's where we'll swing it! - she declared.
Smile. Smiling is annoying. You should do that more often. She also has a temper...
Hee hee hee...
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