《An Animal in Sheep's Clothing》
Introduction/Chapter#1 Just Another Day Being A Locksmith
Introduction
Phillip Mauger was a simple young man, unlike most individual¡¯s in their early twenties in the 21st century, his goals didn¡¯t consist of seeking fame, money, or power. He just wanted to survive, enjoy nature; find people he could call family.
Although he was simple in his pursuits; goals his features were not.
Phillip has dirty blond hair that was shaved with the same color eyebrows; facial hair. His eyes were dark green; looked as though you were staring into an endless sea of Evergreen trees.
He weighed about 190 pounds, was 6 feet 3 inches tall; had pale white skin that looked like porcelain even though he spent his free time outside, hunting and fishing in Central California.
Growing up hunting and fishing, Phillip learned at a young age to appreciate, respect; value all life whether that be plants or animals. He felt all life had a purpose within nature; felt needlessly taking life was an inexcusable act that deserved punishment.
Phillip had a fairly typical childhood, but slowly disconnected from his family as he grew in age. This was mainly due to their religious values; fervent beliefs that ostracized other people who did not conform to their values; beliefs. His family¡¯s strange beliefs; values only pushed Phillip farther and farther away from them, while strengthening his passion for nature.
Due to his family relationship, Phillip spent more and more time in nature. After spending most of his childhood and young adult life in nature, he came to realization that there were no gods. He believed in (Charles Darwin¡¯s) philosophy about the ¡°theory of evolution¡±; believed humans were animals, not the creation of gods.
He felt this way because all animals grew to adapt; evolve to better suits the environments that they inhabited; believed this concept did not exclude the human race.
He came to believe gods were a fictions idea created by people who didn¡¯t understand the phenomena¡¯s that happened around them or were just true believers. He had nothing against people who believed in gods, he just didn¡¯t like to be force fed their values and ideas.
Due to his own belief an unrepairable rift formed between Phillip; his family, which led him to claim dependency at the age of 16. Because of this, he barely graduated from high school at the age of 17.
Because of his goals in life, Phillip never really indulged in the idea of going to college. He came to believe that a college degree would not help him in achieving his goals, but he did believe that having a stable job with flexible hours would help in him in achieving his goals.
With these thoughts Phillip ignored the callings of higher education; went into trade school as a locksmith at seventeen. After two difficult years within trade school he graduated at nineteen; was offered a two-year apprenticeship at a Mom and Pop locksmith shop.
Located, near the southern entrance to Yosemite Nation Forest, in the small town of Oakhurst, California. He took the offer without hesitation, to get farther away from his family, while attempting to achieve his goals; try to better understand nature as a whole.
Chapter#1: Just Another Day Being a Locksmith.
This Leads us to present day where Phillip Mauger, age 21 is preparing for another typical morning as Locksmith in Yosemite Valley...
*ring, Ring, RING, RRIIINNGG*
Phillips hand shifts from underneath the covers of his bed to grab his cell phone without looking at who was calling; answers the phone.
(Phillip) ¡°Hello?¡± *yawns*
(John) ¡°Phil we just got a call from Yosemite National Park. They requested you to head up into the valley and re-key gate locks at the northern point of the park beyond half dome, just like you did for the southern entrance last March.¡± Phillip¡¯s boss John Desparo stated
(Phil) ¡°Do you want me to head up now? I have Jimmy Reneta coming in to the shop at 7:30am to get his Harley Re-keyed.¡±
(John) ¡°Yup, the Park Rangers want it done sooner than later... Also, the Ranger who requested you for the job said that they¡¯ve been having some problems with Poacher¡¯s using those gates to illegally access that end of the park; I¡¯ll get Skip to cover the shop and help Jimmy out at 7:30.¡±
(Phil) ¡°I¡¯ll get ready and head up there; re-key the gates at the end of the park John. *long pause* But, isn¡¯t that part of the park where the park relocated some of the wolves from Yellow Stone, because of the bring back the wolves¡¯ initiative?... *shifts uncomfortably in bed*
(John) ¡°Yup it sure is, good luck *chuckles*. I call the rangers back and tell them you¡¯ll be heading up that way. Alright drive safe Phil; see yah at the shop later on today.¡±
Without responding, Phil hung up his phone; looks up from his bed and stares across the room at Colt his German Shepard and say¡¯s ¡°The more I interact with people the more I like you Colt.¡± Colt looks at Phillip with knowing eyes and proceeds to jump on Phillip, which forces him to get up out of bed; let Colt outside to go take a shit like every dog does in the morning.
Phil got Colt on his 17th birthday, he did his best to train Colt to become a good retriever due to the amount of bird hunting he consistently does; succeed for the most part. Colt¡¯s only issue is he hates other dogs with a passion, similarly to his owner¡¯s disdain for other people, mainly arising from his less than healthy family relationship.
With that said, even with his disdain for people, Phillip still gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, until they gave him a reason not to. Due to their mutual disdain for others of their own kind, Phillip and Colt have bonded considerably over the 4 years they¡¯ve known each other.
Phil considered Colt; Nature to be the only family he had, especially after being disowned by his parents and brothers because of his own beliefs; inability to accept the gods they worshiped.
After proceeding with the normal morning routine, Phillip begins to load up his truck for the job ahead. After finishing loading, he takes a sip of his coffee, while looking the clock on the dash of his truck, which reads 5:00am.
Phil jumps in his truck while whistling for Colt. Who comes running; jumps in the bed of the truck, meandering around the loaded tools and lays down in his usual spot right behind the cabin of the truck which is conveniently clear of tools.
Phil heads off like any normal day of work, heading to his first call of the day. Little does he know, it will be a day that changes his life forever¡
After a half an hour drive into the Yosemite¡¯s interior, Phil pulled up to the last Ranger check point; started checking in with the Rangers.
(Phil) ¡°Hello *yawns* Name¡¯s Phillip; I¡¯m with Oakhurst Lock & Key, I¡¯m here to replace the locks up north beyond half dome you want re-keyed. Is it fine if I head on through?¡± As Phil stares; reads the rangers name tag which reads (Dan)
(Dan) ¡°Morning Phillip; yes we got a call earlier telling us to let you through. Just be on the lookout for wolves, their wily bastards that¡¯ll stalk you for miles.¡± The ranger plainly states while waving Phillip through the small check point.
(Phil) "Thanks for the head up, if thats all i go get started on the locks"
Phil starts heading into most northern end of the park that was cut off to the general public, after re-introduction of the wolves into Yosemite National Park.
Phillip looked around as the sun began to peek through the immense Evergreen trees and other fauna that doted the landscape and began to think how lucky he was for being able to work in this National Park on occasion; to enjoy the beauty that was ever present around him.
The bird¡¯s started chirping accompanied by the sounds of small mammals rushing through the underbrush, started to trickle through the open windows of the truck. Phillip proceeded to check his rear-view mirror and check on Colt. Colt has his head stuck over the bed of the truck enjoying the wind blowing on his face; the fresh smell of Evergreen trees as the two continued on their way to the first gate.
As Phillip looked at the clock as he pulled up to the first gate, the clock read 5:55am on his dash.
He grabbed his tools from the bed of the truck; proceeded to re-key the first lock which was embedded within a huge steel framed gate. Due to the simple design of the lock he finished it quickly, without any issues arising.
He then began to load his tools back into the truck, but Colt began to snarl; growl at something off within the forest.
Phil continued to load his truck but never let his back face the direction Colt was barking. He knew something was around by tone; the way Colt continuously snarled at a specific spot within the forest off to the right of the gate he had just re-keyed. Looking around at the expansive forest in front of him, Phil saw nothing amongst the mighty Evergreen trees, so he continued to load his tools into the truck.
After Phil finished loading the tools, he walked over towards Colt who was still snarling into the forest. Phil reached down grabbing Colts collar gently, while pointing at the bed of his truck.
Colt looked at him, then back into the forest in front of both of them. Colt backed away from the forest; then jumped into the truck but never took his eyes off the forest to the right of the gate. Phil, immediately jumped in his truck; started driving off on his way to the next gate to re-key before anything could happen.
After 10 or so minutes of four wheeling down various dirt roads, Phil arrived at his next gate to re-key. He jumped out of his truck; walked over to back of the bed of his truck and pulled the tailgate down; began to scratching Colts head for a bit, while saying. ¡°Thanks Colt, don¡¯t know what that was, but didn¡¯t think we¡¯d stay around to find out.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Colt barked in an approving manner, then jumped out the truck and began to walk around; piss on everything as male dogs usually do. Phil began to unload the truck and glanced at the clock which read 6:06am.
After finishing unloading his tools, Phil began to start re-keying the lock fixed within the gate. While in the middle this process, Colt began to snarl; growl at something off in the forest behind Phil.
Phil immediately stood up; attempted to turn around and see what Colt was snarling at¡
*BANG*
Pain exploded throughout Phillips chest, it was so much that he almost passed out on the spot. Luckily the adrenalin that started pumping throughout his body saved him from immediately blacking out.
He then began to feel something hot run down the left side of shirt. As he noticed this he felt a severe pain that slowly wash over his chest in waves. Phil clenched his teeth from the pain, while looking down at his chest. He saw blood begin to start pooling underneath his light blue work shirt, that now had a quarter sized coin hole in it.
Blood began to drip down from the hole in his shirt onto the duff and detritus covered ground at his feet.
Colt continued to snarl; growl in the direction that the shot had come from.
Phil slowly began to slink onto the gate he was working on about 30 feet from his truck. His back was turned to the area the shot came from, while he tried to steady himself on the rails of the gate but was startled; frightened to see a huge grey wolf slowly walk out of the underbrush on the other side of gate staring Phillip Straight in eyes.
As, Phil stared at the huge wolf, he became in-tranced in the its ocean blue eyes that looked familiar but couldn¡¯t recognize where this feeling came from.
Realizing he was stuck between a rock and hard place, Phillip just fell to his knees while facing the huge predator, with only a steel gate; its horizontal bar¡¯s separating him from the apex predator.
Phil then used his left hand to immediately apply pressure on his chest covering the exit wound, as he screamed from in pain. Muffled screams can be heard through his clenched teeth (ahhhh)
Pain continued to flood over him in waves as he applied pressure to his wound that was on the lower left side of his chest in-between the two last ribs on the left side of his chest.
He then shifted his right hand around his back; felt the warm sensation of blood flowing onto his hand as he searched for the entry wound on his back. As he applied pressure to the entry wound on his back, he continued to stare at the huge grey wolf in the eyes. He guessed this wolf was pushing 150 pounds easy.
He then heard voices coming from behind him a way¡¯s off.
(Poachers POV)
Two men began running to where they believe they downed the wolf they¡¯d been tracking for several months, yet consistently lost due to threat of Rangers; Fish & Wildlife Wardens tracking them.
(Poacher#1) ¡°I know I shot that damned fucker, did you hear it scream!¡± the man stated as he began to start up the small hill, dotted with thick Evergreen trees that separated his line of sight from what he had shot.
(Poacher#2) ¡°are you sure!?!?! I thought I saw a guy stand up in front of the Mongrel at the last second Jeff!?¡± *doubt trailing within the man¡¯s voice*
As Jeff began to almost crest the top of the small hill; get a better view of the area he had just shot into, he saw white truck parked near where he had shot.
(Jeff) ¡°FUCK!! HENRY GET OVER HERE NOW!¡±
Hearing the yells emanating from behind him a way¡¯s off, Phil continued to apply pressure to both his wounds but didn¡¯t dare take his eyes off the wolf in front of him.
While starring into the eyes of the wolf, he soon felt the familiar sensation of Colt rubbing his head on Phillip hand, that was attempting to covering the entry wound on his back, getting a fair amount of blood and onto his fur in the process.
As Phil kneeled on the ground locking gazes with the biggest wolf he¡¯d ever seen while hearing the yells of stupid poachers that shot him. He felt a stifled laugh leave his lip¡¯s, but he started to cough up blood between his laughs as the pain continued to wash over him, he continued to laugh wildly as blood trickled from his mouth. As he laughed, he attempted to rhetorically ask questions; talk to himself¡.
¡°hahaha *coughing up blood, followed by hysterical laughter* I guess this is how it ends? Shot in the back by poachers. I guess this is it, I die here, in the dirt, like the animal I am.¡± As thoughts of dying ran throughout his mind, Phil began to think of Colt; instantaneously making a choice.
Phil then let go his back with his right hand, as he grabbed Colt by the snout; taking his eyes off the wolf to look at Colt.
He then brought Colts eyes level with his own, as he looked into the eyes of the most supportive family member he¡¯d ever he had; said ¡°Survive you damn mutt¡± As tears rolled down his face.
He recounted the times he spent with Colt over the last 4 years, how much happiness having Colt in his life had brought him; how alike the two were. Phil¡¯s gaze became cold and desolate like forest that suddenly had gone silent. He then hit Colt as hard and he could in the ass with his free right hand and screamed! ¡°GET OUT OF HERE COLT!¡±
Colt looked at Phil, then the wolf, and then in the direction of poachers. While whimpering, Colt took off like the bullet that shot Phillip and speeded off into the woods away from the truck, without looking back¡.
As Phil finished screaming, he felt something lick his mouth where blood trickled out, then it immediately wrenched down on his throat through gap in the horizontal bars of the gate he had been working on.
He felt his face get ripped forward; twisted to the side, as his face forcefully smashed into the gap between the horizontal bars of the gate. As he looked forward straight into the eyes of the wolf, that had its jaws wrapped around his throat. Phil continued notice something familiar in them, that he couldn¡¯t place¡
Surprisingly enough Phil didn¡¯t attempt to eye gouge the wolf in front of him or do anything to get it to stop, it appeared he just gave up, except he didn¡¯t. He desperately wanted to survive.
Phillip new with one shake of its massive head it could easily snap his neck, so he did not provoke the wolf further; attempted to be as non-threating as possible. He came into the wolfs territory willingly; now at its mercy.
Slowly putting his right hand back onto the wound on his back, he attempted to speak in immense pain, as wolf slowly crushed his throat; vocal cords along with it¡
¡°hhhhuuuuuunn *muffled coughs* huunn rrrhhhmmnndd tuff¡¡± The wolf just continued to stare straight into Phil eyes, as the muffled; broken words came out his mouth.
(Poachers POV)
As this happened Jeff and Henry looked from the atop of the small hill while watching with bated breath, as the events unfolded before them.
(Jeff) ¡°I shot him¡?!?! WHERE THE FUCK DID HE COME FROM!!!!¡±
(Henry) ¡°Clearly dumb shit! Now we are going to have to burry this sad fuck after he bleeds out, but that comes after we kill that damn wolf, we¡¯ve been after it for too damned long.¡±
(Jeff) ¡°DAMNIT HENRY! WHY DIDN¡¯T YOU SAY SOMEONE WAS IN MY SHOT!?¡±
(Henry) ¡°He stood up as you shot, dipshit! How am I supposed to stop a moving bullet Jeff? Any bright ideas?!
The men began to slowly advance down the hill, while looking at the man and wolf.
Phil couldn¡¯t hear a word either of the men said, nor had he seen that were staring intently at him; the massive wolf latched onto him. Phil was far more focused on the wolf tearing his throat out.
Instead of focusing on his escaping, he was entirely focused on trying to say something to the wolf but kept failing due to the sheer strength of the wolfs jaws that were clamping into his throat.
As blood began to flood into his mouth from inside his throat, making it difficult to speak, but he still tried in depression to survive.
(Poachers POV)
As the Poachers, began to advance closer to try to get a shot with their rifles at the wolf, which was biting onto the throat of the kneeling man in front of them. They heard his voice, it came out as only a whisper, he said something that made them stop and stare at the slowly dying man¡
(Phil)¡± run *cough* run you mutt *cough, spits blood* their hunting you, not me.¡± As blood trickled out his mouth he smiled a crooked smile, while bearing his bloody teeth at the huge predator in front of him.
Jeff and Henry stared in disbelief, why was the man in front of them trying to talk to the wolf that they¡¯d had been hunting? What would, mumbling into the wolfs face accomplish? The two men thought to themselves. They couldn¡¯t understand what the man was doing, they were just so baffled at this, they stared to laugh at the dying man in front of them.
(Jeff) ¡°HAHAHAHA¡± *laughing so hard he lowers his gun*
(Henry) ¡°AHAHAHA, he thinks he¡¯s the wolf whisperer!!!¡± *following suit in his fit of laughter, he lowers his gun*
(Phil POV)
As the huge wolf and I, continued to stare at one another in the eyes. I realized what was so familiar about the wolfs eyes...
They were a mirror image of my own eyes not in color but experience. Cold, desolate, and alone¡ The wolf and I began to gain a better understanding of how similar the two of us were with in this short exchange.
Just like Colt, we wanted a family, people we could trust and rely on; who accepted us for who and what we were.
As I thought this, the wolf suddenly let go of my throat. It looked at me, while appearing to nod its head at what I was thinking.
Then the wolf proceeded to zoom off in the opposite direction of the two men behind me, running significantly faster than any animal I¡¯d ever seen, while following the exact path that Colt had ran off to earlier.
(Poachers POV)
The sight of the wolf sprinting off at full speed brought Jeff and Henry back to reality as they stopped laughing.
(Henry) ¡±GOD DAMNIT, it got away AGAIN; all because you shot someone, DAMMIT JEFF!¡±
(Jeff) ¡°You didn¡¯t shoot at the son of uh bitch when it just ran off, so I don¡¯t want to hear your bitching Henry. We need to clean this shit storm up before the Rangers or the Wardens get here. I¡¯m sure they heard the shot; they¡¯ve already been patrolling the area, hell their might be some around here already.¡± He calmly states.
This surprised Henry, usually he had to be the calm and collected one with his stupid cousin, but his cousin was making a very valid point.
Then the two men began to quickly to discuss their plans of what to do with the dying man in front of them, that they both felt had costed them their long-awaited trophy.
The first plan they came up with was to leave the dying fucker to bleed out on his own; get the hell out of park. The second plan was to knife the dying man to not attract any more attention to them, then move him; burry him somewhere outside of the National Park¡.
(Phil POV)
I continued to stare through the steel gate into expanse of Evergreen trees where the wolf had run off to, then shifted my right hand to cover my more serious throat wound and apply pressure to it. While doing so, I listened to the plans the dip-shits that shot me, came up with.
A small smile appeared on my lips even though my life slowly continued to drain from my body. I couldn¡¯t help but smile; think.
Several thoughts continuously rushed throughout my head. The first is that an Apex predator, A wolf had understood me better than every human I had ever encountered in my life, even my fucking own Parents; siblings¡ On top of that, the wolf, had more decency and common sense than the two human scumbags behind me.
This just made my smile become distorted and wicked. Rather than fess up to their mistake; these scumbags are plotting how to best hide my body once I¡¯ve been stabbed or how flee the from the scene of my murder while letting me bleed out.
This is why I like animal¡¯s more than humans. Animals don¡¯t lie, they¡¯re not greedy; they don¡¯t kill for sport or because they can. Interaction¡¯s like these, only help to validate my utter disdain for most of the human race. {Author Note: Phillip believes humans are animals; in this instance is not calling them that for the purpose of identitfying the minute differences between humans and other animals.}
I then recalled the fact that I know not every human being is not a piece of shit, there are good people out there, I just have the shittiest luck with people...
I continued smile wickedly with my bloodied teeth showing; then I thought about the simple fact that at least I get to die in such a beautiful place, it was comforting thought.
I only hoped Colt would be adopted into the huge wolf¡¯s pack, by some stoke of luck or to make it back to the Ranger¡¯s checkpoint we passed on the way in. I just wanted the only living family I had to survive.
As I felt my consciousness start to fade, I thought of my death was inevitable, but didn¡¯t wish for life, or beg to escape my situation. I just accepted what was to come; was happy that the pain would go away; that my body would help to support nature long after I was gone¡
As I though this I felt something extremely hot grab onto my legs, it felt like someone was pouring boiling metal from a caldron on top of my lower legs. I then felt myself being dragged around like a rag doll through the detritus and duff of the forest floor; then straight into forest floor into a shining golden light¡.
(Poachers POV)
Jeff and Henry stopped talking; watched intently, as a pair of huge ethereal golden arms shot out from the forest floor.
The base arms stayed attached to where they had originally popped out of the ground while the forearms; hands continued stretched over to the kneeling man.
As soon as the hands wrapped around the man¡¯s legs, they forcefully dragged his lifeless body back to the arms bases and disappeared in a flash of golden light into the forest floor.
(Jeff) ¡°¡Troubled Breathing*¡¡¡±
(Henry) ¡°you saw that to¡. right?¡± his voice barely audible
(Jeff) ¡°¡¡ I wwah wah wish I hadn¡¯t, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever be able to un-see that¡..¡± the man whispered.
Henry ¡°Let¡¯s, take this as god almighty blessing us, for shooting that fucker. we need to get¡. ¡± Henrys voice was cut off by the abrupt sound of distant howls.
The howls emanated from where the huge wolf and dog had just run off to. As the sound of a single dog; wolf desperately howling permeating throughout Yosemite National park more; more wolves began to join in unison as the sound began to echo throughout the forest.
Phillips¡¯ dash clock read 6:10am¡
Chapter #2: A Man? In a Strange and Foreign Land?
Chapter 2: A Man? In a Strange and Foreign Land?
(Phil POV)
As the streaming golden light passed me at astounding speeds, I looked up to see an endless golden tunnel of light stretching out in front of eyes. I then began to force my head down to look at the other end of the tunnel to see what had pulled me into the endless tunnel of golden light.
As, the wind forcefully barreled down on my entire body, I was barely able to glance my head down, to see what was dragging me into this golden tunnel of light; it baffled me. Never in all my life did I think I would see what clearly in front of my own eyes.
A pair of ethereal golden arms with hands vastly bigger than any humans were tightly grabbing my legs from the base of my ankles to middle of my shins. The arms stretched into the far reaches of the endless tunnel of golden light that stretched out before my eyes.
The Golden hands that were clenched around my legs felt as though they were searing the skin; muscles that they grabbed. Noticing this I began to try to calm down and think¡
As I forced myself to calm down I began to contemplate the question whether I was alive or dead? I then felt the severe pain from my wounds begin to wash over me, for the first time since entering the endless tunnel. The pain, made me realize that I was still alive; that this was all real!!!
As I realized I was still alive, I felt excited; scarred, while trying to think of what to do next. I then felt the blood from my various wounds begin to start pouring out. I soon realized I would die in this tunnel if I didn¡¯t try to stop the bleeding from my wounds.
I shifted my right hand with as much force as I could muster, while reaching for my neck; tried to apply pressure to the various puncture wounds along my throat from the wolf that had torn my throat out. As my right hand forcefully wrapped around my own throat to apply pressure to the wound. Then the force of the air pressure continued to grow, pulling me farther; farther into the tunnel of golden light.
The air pressure began straining my right arm to its limits, the pressure continued to grow in strength, until my bones started to vibrate inside my body.
As I continued to look into, the never-ending tunnel of golden light, the light; wind began to whip by my face so fast that my eyes started tearing profusely from the oncoming air.
As I forced my eye closed, I lowered my left hands onto the exit wound on the left side of my chest to apply pressure. As I did this, I felt the air pressure suddenly slow while down, while my body slammed into solid ground. this made my eyes shoot open and stare in disbelief at what was before me.
(POV Holy Kingdom of Illengard) pronounced {ill-en-gard}
In Idevast the capital city of the Holy Kingdom of Illengard, the king addresses a small group of priests preforming a magical ritual.
(Fredrick Ackerson) ¡°Illengard has blessed us, the magic ritual is working! We will gain a Champion to fight the Demons; other Demi-Humans races! *AHAHAHA*. This is only the beginning!!¡± Fredrick laughs while thoughts of another Holy War beginning in the name of the Goddess of light Illengard, ran throughout his head.
(Hammond Light-Bringer) ¡°That she has, my king, hopefully this champion is as easy to control; manipulate as the last one was.¡± The High Priest of Illengard stated. While he; other priests continued focusing of the magic ritual the Goddess of light Illengard, had given to her followers so many years ago.
The current magic ritual that Hammond; several other priests were preforming only had one flaw. That was it could only bring one human from another world at time; until that being had died, another could not be summoned.
Luckily, The Holy Kingdom of Illengard had never had any issues arise from this flaw. The humans, they had summoned in the past were always willing to kill; slaughter the demi-humans of the world of Aredeaia. {Ar-e-de-aia}
(Alphie Shadowsnuffer) ¡°High Priest Hammond, I believe the champion will be arriving shortly, he has entered the magic portal to enter our world¡± the young priest states.
(Hammond) ¡°Good, prepare the Class Stone for the champions arrival¡± Hammond tells Alphie, In a cold tone.
Alphie waits for another priest to take his place in the magic ritual, then cuts the link that was siphoning his magic to support the magic ritual himself, other priests; high priest Hammond were preforming. He then walked over to a pedestal near the kings¡¯ throne, which held a white stone orb.
The orb Alphie proceeded to grab, was known as a Class Stone.
Class stones had the ability to give all races a [Class] in the world Aredeaia; were created by the many gods that helped to create the world of Aredeaia and its varying races. The gods themselves did not create classes though, classes were created by the magic of Aredeaia endlessly. This of course was not widely known fact but was still the reality of the world Aredeaia, even the gods had no control over what classes were created or given to individuals.
Classes could only be obtained by touching a Class Stone; all races took their young to a temple of their respective gods at the age 6 to obtain their class for free; because of this all individuals in the world of Aredeaia had a class.
Classes could not be changed once obtained but would develop over time as the individual grew and changed, this happened naturally without the need for a Class Stone. This allowed for significant variation amongst individuals with the same class.
Classes were given based upon the experiences the individual had gone through, their mental state, beliefs, and other factors that were unknown. Due to this fact, obtaining a specific class was very difficult.
Classes themselves could be divided into their categories of rarity normal, unique, and undiscovered. Any race could obtain a normal class. While unique class were harder to obtain, some unique classes were inherently linked to certain races. Such, as the Animal-kin Race, a race of Demi-humans, that could inherit classes associated with the animal they were.
Such as classes like the [Knight of Talons] or [Warrior of Claws and Fangs] could only be obtained by Animal-kin Race who belonged to specific animal groups. With that said it was not a guarantee that one would gain a unique class if they were an Animal-kin or another race linked to unique classes.
Unfortunately, this was not the case for the human race, they had no unique classes that were linked to their race but could still obtain unique; undiscovered classes. This was far rarer occurrence than that of other races that had unique classes linked to them because of their race.
The odds that Animal-kin would obtain a unique class was out of every 4 Animal-kin 1 would obtain a unique class, while the odds for humans were out of every 10,000 humans to 1 would obtain a unique class. The odds for any race obtaining undiscovered class were out of every 1 million individuals only 1 would obtain an undiscovered class.
Even with this being the case human still had access to enough classes; people to dominate and control two separate kingdoms in the world, with varying views; ideologies¡
One aspect that varied from class to class; even varied among the same class was the [skills] that class holder could obtain. In short skill gave passive and non-passive abilities to class holders. These abilities could range from a general understand of how to swing a specific weapon such as the skill [Sword Proficiency] or could give the class holder a better control over their sense like the skill [Enhanced 5 Senses].
Generally, skills were obtained when a class holder leveled up, when this happened they would be awarded Skill Points[SP]; Attribute Points[AP]. When a class holder obtained [SP] they could freely spend those points on skills that their class had given them access to or level existing skills up to higher levels. Other than buying skills with [SP], class holders could only gain skills by finding Skill Book¡¯s or randomly when completing specific actions. When either of these occurrences happened, it was not required to spend [SP]. Skill levels could be raise with [SP] or by consistent use of the skill.
Attributes were broken down into five categories [Strength], [Agility], [Constitution], [Intelligence]; [Wisdom]. These attributes determined the physical; magical capabilities of individuals; could only be raised with [AP] or by doing something related to the attribute, an example would be if you lifted weights for extended periods of time your strength would go up.
[Strength] and [Agility] were physical attributes that assisted in physical actions. [Intelligence] and [Wisdom] were magical attributes that allowed for the use of magic, its regeneration over time in body; also increased the natural amount of magic a body could hold. Constitution was a physical attribute that gave the individual more health; stamina¡
{Authors Note: I apologize for the long drawn out explanation, but I thought I would clarify the logic behind the systems I am using from the get go. There¡¯s also a few more aspects to cover but they are fairly self-explanatory, so I won¡¯t rant on them.}
(Alphie POV)
As Alphie picked up the class stone, a limp body crashed into the center huge room. The body of a bloodied man hung limp on the floor, yet the man¡¯s dark green eyes shoot open filled with desolate and cold look in them. As the man looked around in shock, blood poured onto the ground from various sever wounds the man had, as he locked gazes with Alphie.
As Alphie stared into the eyes of the bloodied man he became in-tranced in the man¡¯s dark green eyes.
(Hammond) ¡°Hurry Alphie, make him touch the class stone at once; use healing magic to treat his wounds, he must be saved!¡± the high priest stated in a loud but calm voiceThe tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Alphie was immediately broken from the trance from the High Priests voice; he ran to the bloodied man; forced the class stone into his hand. As he did the man began to scream in pain. Alphie just stared at the man while forgetting to heal him due to the blood curdling screams that the man cried out in.
(Phil POV)
As I laid limp on the ground staring at one of the figures in front of me. One of the other figures started to talk at the man I stared at in a language I couldn¡¯t understand. The man I stared at proceeded to run over to me while he shoved a white circular stone into my hand.
As the stone made contact with my hand, I felt a pain rush throughout my body that made my wounds feel like paper cuts. As I laid their I started to scream, as I began to scream I noticed the blood stop pouring form my wounds, which surprised me; stopped my screams for a moment.
(Phil) ¡°ahhhhhhhha * Screams Stop*¡±
As I noticed the blood stop pouring out, I felt my body began to rip and tear from within. It felt like every muscle, tendon, and bone slowly snapped and then began to reform in my body. The pain continued to wash over me as I began to regain control of my lifeless body I rolled lashed out on the ground in pain; began to scream louder from the immense pain that throbbed throughout every inch of my body.
(Phil) ¡°AHHHHHHHHHHHAAAH¡±
(Illengard King; priests POV)
(Fredrick) ¡°HAMMOND, WHATS HAPPENING TO THE CHAMPION?!¡± the king screamed at the high priest
(Hammond) ¡°My king I do not know what going on if I had to guess. I¡¯d say it possible that the pain he Is feeling is related to the class he is obtaining from the class stone, if that not the case I do not know what is happening to the champion we¡¯ve summoned. I would recommend that we use Skill [Inspect] on him and see if he gained a class and proceed from there¡± the high priest calming stated Calmly to the king
[Inspect] was a common skill that almost all classes had, as the skill grew in level it could identify more about anything within the world Aredeaia, the information provided by the skill would come back to the owner of the skill in their natural language. If the skill was used on a person, depending on the level of the inspect skill in comparison to the target individuals level you would be able to identify aspects from their Status. A person¡¯s status included Name, Level, Race, Class, Health, Stamina, Magic, Skills, Buff¡¯s, De-buff¡¯s, Attributes; Titles.
Several individuals within the room immediately used [Inspect] on the man flailing who let a continuous scream. This included the king; high priest but they were all surprised by the information that the skill brought up in front of them; due to the man¡¯s low level all of his Status information was easily accessible to the varying individuals.
[Status]
[Name: Phillip Mauger]
[Level: 1]
[Race: Homo-Sapien {Homo Sapiens: a race of animals that evolved into humans without the assistance of the gods}]
[Class: Shape-Shifter {Undiscovered Class}]
[Health:45/150 - 50/150]
[Stamina: 150/150]
[Magic: 0/0]
[Skills: Inspect-passive, Shapeshift-passive, Regeneration-passive, Scent Tracking-passive, {Claw; Fang Growth-passive}, Howl of the Pack- active {cost -50 Stamina}, Animal Instincts-passive.]
[Buff¡¯s: Regeneration]
[De-Buff¡¯s: Sever wounds {in the process of healing}, changing body, Non-Magical being ¨C Permanent {This being has never have magic within it; will never be able to use it}]
[Attributes: Strength-18, Agility-18, Constitution- 20, Intellegence-14; Wisdom-14]
[Titles: Child of Nature, The Last of His Race.]
Fredrick; Hammond; the other priests were dumb founded at three aspects of the man¡¯s status.
The first foremost was the man¡¯s race, which was a mystery, he was human but also something else, they¡¯d never seen before.
The second was his inherent lack of magic, this made them wary because all life on Aredeaia had magic, even the other Champions summoned from other worlds gained magic after obtaining a class.
The final aspect of his status that puzzled the group was his class, none of the men had ever heard of such a class. It was undiscovered class with no information about it, so [Inspect] could not identify what the class was capable of.
As they thought this the man screams became more enraged as he cursed; yelled at them in a language that none could understand.
(Phil) ¡° WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO ME!?!?!¡± as he body began to warp and grow unnaturally.
(Phil POV)
As I screamed at the men, they looked at me dumb founded. I then felt my body begin to rip; tear internally. My entire body began to grow unnaturally, while the of force from this rapid growth forced the skin to tear like an over-ripe fruit.
As my hands; feet grew their bones began to elongate, while the tips of my fingers; toes grew 6inch long claws. The balls of my feet; toes continued to grow as my heels shrunk back up to into my shins. As, I began to force myself up right into the standing position I noticed that I stood on the balls of my feet; toes that were nearly as long as my feet before the transformation; it felt natural.
I then began to rip the tear my skin from the entirety of my body excluding my head out of some uncontrollable instinct that I now felt rush over me.
As I did this, dirty blond fur began growing extremely fast while covering the areas of my body that had been freed from my human skin. While this happened my tail-bone extended about 7 inches forming a small; stubby tail that jutted from my lower back that hung down loosely between my ass cheeks that were now covered in dirty blond fur.
As my body continued to grow, I now stood at about 7 feet tall, even though I was slightly hunched over allowing my elongated arms to touch the ground. As I noticed this I felt my head and face continue to grow, while my new-found instincts forced me to rip the skin from my face; head. As I ripped the skin off my face, it like I was peeling dead skin from my body.
As I did, my face elongated and began to form into a long snout; jaws as my skull extended. I felt my nose become wet, while my human teeth began to fall out of my mouth. As my teeth began to regrow, my front teeth became 1 ? inch fangs, while my canines extend to about 2 ? inch fangs; my molars grew back their tops were slightly sharpened and jagged like a serrated knife.
I then noticed my ears extend; become elongated while becoming similar to that of a dog. As my face; head finished growing, I stared at my now transformed body that looked like a werewolf, while standing up straight taking it in confusion, excitement; fear flood my thoughts.
As I stood straight up I noticed I was just over 7 feet tall when standing fully erect while my long arms hung at knees.
As I looked my transformed body trying to understand what had just happened to me, I heard the men in front of me start yelling at each other while pointing at me. This didn¡¯t surprise me, in fact it was the most logical thing that happened since coming to this place. Rather than stick around my instincts forced me to look around the room for a way to escape.
While looking for a way to escape I notice the room I was currently in was immaculate, the main stones that constructed the room were type white marble with gold; ivory inlays depicting various scenes. The most noticeable scene was one with a giant golden woman with wings, her entire body was made of gold; appeared to emanating light. She appeared to be battling some type of beast with horns one that I was unable to identify.
While taking this in, I noticed a stained-glass window with the same woman on it. After looking at the window, I immediately ran towards stain glass window. That was about 15ft off the ground; about was 150 feet away from me but was surprised to see myself running on all fours. As I did this the two men simultaneously shouted at the other men in the room.
(Illengard King; priests POV)
(Fredrick; Hammond) ¡°DON¡¯T LET IT ESCAPE! WE MUST CAPTURE IT OR KILL IT!!!¡±
Alphie and several other priests move to intercept the now changed man, who now looked more monstrous than most Animal-kin.
Luckily, Alphie; the other priests surrounded the bestial man due to the difference in attributes but just barely. As they did, they began to pull out their swords; other weapons from their wastes while other priests began to ready their magic skills.
(Phil POV)
Men rushed at me from all sides as I barreled towards the window, but I soon found myself surrounded with weapons pointing at me, this cause me to stand up straight towering over the men. My instincts tried to force my body forward, but I wouldn¡¯t allow my body to move, I was already injured severely; had no idea how far I could get away from these people.
Hell, I didn¡¯t even know where the fuck I was. As I thought this, the men began to shout at me in a foreign language that I couldn¡¯t understand but got the gist of what they were saying. As I stared into the eyes of the men who surrounded me slowly creeping forward I saw only fear; hatred.
(Alphie: several other priests) ¡°DON¡¯T MOVE OR WE WILL ATTACK!!!¡± echoed in unison
The men¡¯s actions made me absolutely sure I didn¡¯t want to stick around in this place. I immediately went on all four as I let out a guttural growl unconsciously.
Then with all my strength in my arms and legs jumped, throwing myself at the window. Which was about 20 or so feet away now; 15 feet in the air. As I soared through the air, I felt something slam into my left arm; felt pain wash over me once again.
(Alphie) ¡°Continue to shoot it with your magic!¡± Alphie told the priests
As I looked at my left arm I saw blood pour from the gaping wound from some unknow force that had split my left bicep to the bone. My body then smashed through the window with the woman with wings; I felt my body fall several feet before my legs smashed onto solid ground.
I then heard a voice chime in my head.
[Pain Resistance] Skill gained.
As I landed; heard the strange voice in my head, I grabbed my left arm loosely in my right hand while doing so I felt the intense pain begin to subside. While looking around I noticed I was in some huge city, with thousands of people. The people looked at me in absolute terror while all shouting and pointing
¡°ANIMAL-KIN RUN!!!!!¡±
As I heard this I felt an instinct scream from my body, RUN!!! I immediately decided to run towards the nearest wall.
While running towards one of the high walls that surrounded the huge city I was currently trapped in. I began to hear bells start to ring throughout the city, not taking note of this I speeded off towards the nearest wall, as the distance between us continued shorten.
As I did, I heard more; more screams coming from the people that I speeded by. As I came almost to base of the high wall passing several houses and other buildings with business in them, I noticed a group of men blocking my way.
Rather than stop my momentum like earlier I just kept running on two feet, while preparing to jump at the wall knowing Id wouldn¡¯t make it to the top of the 35-foot wall. I readied the claws extending from my right hand; jumped with all my strength in my legs.
While I jumped over the men blocking my way I felt several arrows slam into various parts of my body. My body was unaffected by this; the pain coming from where the arrows had struck was significantly less than I had imagined it would be.
As my body flew towards the wall I stuck my right hand tipped with 6inch claws into the wall; proceed to do the same with my feet. I then proceeded to use my hands and feet to pierce the wall and climb to its top, while arrows continued to bounce off the wall; occasionally pierce my body.
Forcing my body onto the top of the wall I proceeded rip thee arrows imbedded into my flesh out, then forced myself to jump over the opposite edge of the wall. While my body fell I looked around to find a place to escape.
I noticed about a mile off to my left was a forest. My body barreled towards the ground; landed without breaking any bones in my legs but I still felt the jarring sensation of my bones cracking from within.
Between me and the forest there were several small farms; groups of houses. As I started to run rather than following the roads I just ran straight in the direction of the forest.
I then heard the galloping of horses, whiles yells emanated from behind me. My instinct forced me to continue running without trying to look back at the sounds.
As I ran through fields of crops, breaking small fences separating plots of land in the process. I looked at my left arm which somehow had started to re-grow the muscle that had been cleanly sliced through before.
I continued to run as fast as I could without looking behind me, I heard the horse gallops grow closer and closer as I neared the forest.
I then felt something hard smash into my back, throwing me onto the ground. While trying to force my body up I noticed the riders were already upon me.
My new found, instincts forced me to start howling from the ground while I felt my body become more exhausted; the voice echo again within my head again [Howl of the Pack -50 stamina].
This forced riders to a complete stop, even the one that had managed get close enough to smash me with a giant hammer he wielded. The horses or what appeared to be horse started shacking in fear; wouldn¡¯t move forward anymore, some of the horses began to try to buck they¡¯re riders as they attempted to flee.
While these events transpired I forced myself up; while my instincts forced me to jump on all fours and start running into the nearby forest, I looked at my left arm as I ran; noticed that my bicep had healed just enough to put pressure on my arm.
As I ran I heard the echo¡¯s, of other howls emanating in the distance of the forest, as I continued to run closer to it. The sounds of these howls continued to move closer and closer until two wolves with jet black fur came barreling towards me. They both looked confused when they saw me,; both stopped while looking at me from the entrance of the forest.
Rather than stop for the wolves in front of me just ran straight past them; heard them for some reason fall into line right behind me as we sped off into the forest. Leaving the riders speechless as they attempted to calm their horses.
I continued to run for a long time, then felt body give out; drop onto the ground. As thoughts of not having any idea where I was or what was going on run throughout my head. I felt my eyes force themselves closed, as I passed out from physical; mental exhaustion from everything that happened within the last hour.
Chapter #3: The Forest of New Beginnings
Chapter 3: The Forest of New Beginnings
As Phillip¡¯s body lay on the forest floor, the wolves stared at his body where he had collapsed from exhaustion. His body began to shift and change back to its original human form, which was why the two jet black wolves stared intently at him. As the wolves stared at him, they heard something come rushing through the forest¡
(Fredrick POV)
Fredrick, Hammond; other trusted nobles within the Holy Kingdom of Illengard are now having an emergency meeting trying to decide how to move forward, after the events from several hours ago.
(Fredrick) ¡°Fuck, what are we supposed to do?! That thing escaped and now went into the Forbidden Forest, we can¡¯t just lightly rush into that damned place! The number of monsters that roam that huge forest is one reason we can¡¯t just send a party of guards after it, but along with those damned monsters, an elder dragon is protecting the forest; is main reason the Holy Kingdom of Illengard cannot advance any farther to the north or the west!¡±
(Hammond) ¡°This is a difficult situation my King. Based off the reports the pursuers gave we know that it couldn¡¯t have made it far into the forest, why don¡¯t we send some groups of adventures after it? If they die by monsters or the dragon it¡¯s no skin off our own back, along with this they will not be suspected as spies if they are captured beyond the Forbidden Forest in the Kingdom of Elements to the north or the Animal-Kin Kingdom to west.¡± he Calmly states to the me.
(Fredrick) ¡°I think that a good start Hammond. What other suggestions do the noble families have to contribute?¡±
(Raffial Storm-Caller) ¡°I suggest we send a group of our assassins along with the adventurers, just in case they lose their nerve in completing the task. As the king; Hammond have already stated the ¡®other worlder¡¯ that was brought here with the ritual looks human, he may not speak our language, but he may be able to convince the adventurers to stop pursuing him. Almost all adventurers that live within the Holy Kingdom are not citizens to it, they¡¯re free to leave and go as they please; we cannot do anything about it. They help to eliminate monsters; carry out other contracts for our Kingdom but they are a-part of the Adventurers Guild, the only entity that is present in every Kingdom. If we put a contract through the Adventurers Guild, it makes keeping this issue quiet almost impossible.¡± Several other nobles silently nod their heads in agreement at Raffials words, while I stated.
(Fredrick) ¡°I agree that keeping this issue quiet will be difficult if we go through the Adventurers Guild, but if we don¡¯t, our only other option that will not be directly traced back to the Holy Kingdom is to go through the Black Market; higher bandits or other vagabonds¡. We all remember how things turned out the last time we conducted business with them?¡±
Several nobles began to shake, as they remember the horrible experience the Holy Kingdom had when they last hired through the black market for the last war with the Kingdom of Elements¡
(Fredrick) ¡°I¡¯m glad everyone remembers that shit show. If no one else has any suggestion for moving forward? This meeting is adjourned.¡±
I proceeded to stand up and walk past the other nobles while some stayed to talk; others immediately left to go on with their days. As I made my way towards the door of the meeting room, Hammond came up to me.
(Hammond) ¡°My king Alphie, wishes to speak with you. He has not left the throne room after the summoning; has been adamantly expressing his need to speak with you about something.¡±
(Fredrick) ¡°I will go to the throne room and see what your pupil wishes to speak to me about Hammond, just make sure the contract gets put up at the Adventurers Guild for ¡°Phillip Mauger¡± such a strange name; be ready to inform the Goddess of what happened. I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t be happy about the event that transpired but maybe she¡¯ll give us some insight into how to best move forward if our plans fail.¡± I state with a calmly to the high priest
(Hammond) ¡°Your right my king, maybe she¡¯ll know how to move forward, if our plans fail or have insight into what we summoned.¡±
I continued down the majestic corridors of the palace and eventually arrived at the door to my throne room. As I swing the doors to the throne room open, I see Alphie on his knee¡¯s praying. I walk over to him while I begin talking.
(Fredrick) ¡°So what is it you wished to talk to me about Alphie? You know I am busy with what transpired with the summoning earlier today.¡± as I put my hand on his shoulder.
(Alphie) ¡°Iiii Iiii *stutters; breaths deeply* I think we should not pursue that man. Something was off about him my king. This may sound na?ve, but we brought him into our world; we didn¡¯t have someone with a class that would allow us to communicate with him, *Breathes Deeply* granted we never needed to do so before. I don¡¯t know if he is human like the rest of our Kingdoms citizens, but he would be asset to us if we can get him on our side. He healed his wounds on his own after gaining his class; was on the brink of death¡ Along with that he was just as fast as almost every priest we had after he had transformed into that monster, even though we had 25 levels him... I believe if we continue to pursue him, it will only bring trouble to the Holy Kingdom.¡±
As Alphie speaks I just look off through the broken second story window the man had jumped through earlier while thinking¡. Several minutes transpire before I begin to speak.
(Fredrick) ¡°Alphie you may be right¡ but plans have already been put into motion. By the time we finish this conversation a contract for capturing ¡®Phillip Mauger¡¯ will have been posted through the Adventurers Guild. Even if we void the contract, the Adventurers Guild will know we are after him. The higher ups of that guild may use this against us as leverage or worse use him as you already suggested. I don¡¯t like this situation any more than you or your master; I agree with you that something was off about that man; his class¡ but we cannot do anything about that now. With that said, what we just discussed will never be mentioned again, am I clear? We can only move forward now, not backwards.¡±
(Alphie) ¡°as you will, my king.¡± He states quietly, as he walks out of my throne room.
As I continue to stare through the broken window while thinking on Alphies words; while wondering how our plan with the Adventurers Guild will pan out.
(Phil POV)
I was awoken by a sharp pain penetrating my abdomen. As my eyes shot open I saw the two jet black wolves fighting off 3, 6ft tall green men with small curved horns jutting out of their heads to my right, while one stood over me triumphantly with his spear stuck into my gut.
As the green being pulled it spear out of me, while attempting to thrust it again into to my chest.
As the spear moved closer and closer I felt my instincts forcefully take control of my body. My right hand moved to intercept it as my body began to shift, claws came out hands; feet while hair began to forcefully jut out from underneath my splitting skin. I felt my skin start to tear as I my right hand grabbed the spear just above the shaft.
I used the downward momentum of the spear to thrust it off to my left side into the ground, I used this chance to force my body from my back onto my stomach while still holding the spear into the ground; trying to stand. As I started to stand, I felt a fist slam into my back, this forced me down a little bit but didn¡¯t faze me as I continued to stand.
I then felt the overbearing sensation to rip my skin off. As I felt this I jumped back several feet from the being that stood before me, while ripping the skin from my body as it transformed. I felt my body grow as my sense, claws; teeth become sharper.
I now stood taller than the green beings that had attacked me; the wolves. I soon noticed the being in front of me was an Orc. They may not look like what¡¯s been described in fantasy novels but they¡¯re Orcs, their bodies consisted of green, greyish skin, a semi-human face with tusk like fangs jutting out from the bottom of their mouths, small curved horns jutting from the tops of their foreheads; hulking builds that would make body builders jealous.
Not wasting a moment, I felt my instincts drive me forward as I jumped onto the Orc freeing his spear from the ground, as I let out beastly growls as I jumped onto the Orc, while digging the claws in my now shifted feet into his thighs; forced his body to fall to the ground.
As we both fell to the ground, I wrapped my hands around the orcs wrist pinning him to the ground as he struggled. While shoving my toothy maw onto to the Orcs exposed throat. As soon as my jaws around its throat, I pulled back with all my might, nearly separating the Orcs head from its body leaving a gaping wound in its throat, where the Orc¡¯s spine was now exposed. I felt the warm blood spay over my face covering my dirty blond fur in the process.
I dropped the piece of throat from my mouth, while looking at the now dead Orc; thinking what the fuck! Am I in some fantasy world? Was the tunnel I was dragged into a portal to another world; WHY THE FUCK DO I HAVE THE SUDDEN URG TO START EATING THIS ORC?!
As these thoughts rushed through my head I looked at the two wolves desperately fighting off 3 more of the Orcs. I jumped up from the now dead Orc while roaring; charging the nearest Orc.
The roar I let out startled both the wolves; Orcs while making them all look away from each other, in my direction. Their reaction was to slow, as I used my hands to pick up the nearest Orc from behind; slam the Orcs huge body into the ground face first as I fell onto it with all my weight. I then lurched forward with my jaws open, while reaching the back of the orcs neck I clamped down and pulled back, severing its spinal cord; tearing a good portion of its neck out in the process. While at the same time tearing at its back with my claws sending blood a viscera into the air around me covering my dirty blond fur with blood and other bits of the Orc¡
After I tore the neck of the Orc; snapped its spine with my jaws, I stood up to face the other two Orcs while I spit the huge chuck of flesh; bone from my maw and began snarling. I then forced my body on all fours; ran towards the two orcs as they readied their crude weapons; advanced upon me.
As I rushed forward I saw the orc to my right swing it club while the other Orc tried to grapple me in attempt to hold me down, while the other could smash me with it club.
I lifted my right hand and used my claws to meet the Orc¡¯s crude club while using my left hand and claws to shred through the body Orc sticking my hand halfway into its torso, as my clawed hand entered the Orc I lifted it into the air, closer to my face; jaws while screaming!
¡°IVE ALREADY HAD A SHITTY START TO MY FUCKING DAY, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PULL THIS SHIT!!? I DIDN¡¯T WANT TO KILL YOU, BUT YOU FUCKERS STABBED ME WHILE I WAS PASSED OUT, NOW YOUR FAIR GAME!!!!¡±
As I clamped down on its head with my jaws I heard a *SNAP* and then blood began to flow into my mouth as its skull slowly cracked open underneath the pressure from my jaws.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
The orc to my right during this time was attacked by the two wolves. One jumped onto his back while biting into the back of his neck forcing him down onto the ground on its stomach. The other latched onto the arm wielding a weapon and began to shake it head violently sheering the skin and muscle on the arm. Within several second the wolves killed the orc.
As I stared at the scene in front of me I heard familiar voice ring in my head as I spit the nasty bits of Orc skull and brain from my mouth.
[ Level 2] [Gained 10-SP; 10 AP] [3 Young Orcs killed]
As the voice echoed in my head I just stood there, thinking what the fuck! First, I¡¯m shot by some poachers, had to scare away my best friend, then forcefully dragged to some fantasy world; now I¡¯m leveling up like my life is a fucking game? WHAT THE FLYING FUCK!!
My thoughts echoed through my head while my blood began to boil. I then felt a familiar yet strange sensation of something rubbing against my now transformed hands. As I looked down my body shaking in rage and confusion, I saw the two wolves, of a similar build to the one who ripped my throat out, forcing their heads underneath my hands. This started to strangely calm me down, while my thoughts drifted to Colt; tears started to well up in my eyes while I incoherently muttered.
¡°I¡¯m sorry Colt, I didn¡¯t know what else to do. It was either you or me; I was already dying¡.¡±
I silently fell to my knee as my body began to quiver and morph back into its human form. The wolves continued to rub my hands as emotions just continually washed over me in waves from all that transpired within the last few hours. As I kneel on the ground for the second time today in a somewhat broken state, my mind simply thought of one thing.
I¡¯m Free¡ Free of my Family, free of my shitty world. Free to survive; live as I damned well please. Free to make a new family; to become closer to nature. As these thoughts came into my head my tears stopped and my broken state of mind began to crumble away, while a small smile forms on my face, that was now caked in Orc blood.
Rather than stew in my own depression; situation it¡¯s better to move forward and on with my life. I¡¯m mean hell, I¡¯m a god damn werewolf! Who hasn¡¯t thought of wanting to become so supernatural entity in their life time; here I am with it handed to me on a silver fucking platter!!
As my thoughts and mood changed, I notice I¡¯m was naked; guessed this was from when I Shifted when I first arrived into this fantasy world. I then stood up and looked at the two wolves looking questioning at me while I simply stated.
¡°As I see it, we have two options go our separate ways; let this be the end of our wonderful little encounter or keep moving together as family, I don¡¯t know if you can understand me, but I want family I can trust through thick and thin, not some mutts that are going to run at the first sign of trouble...¡±
The wolves looked at me and then at each other, then proceed to start howling. This forced my body quiver against my own will and start transforming, I start howling in unison as the voice rings again in my head.
Title [Leader of the Pack] acquired, new title has changed the skill [Howl of the Pack] to [Howl of The Pack Leader].
As the voice echoes, I think if this is some fantasy world with levels, do I have some sort of Status?
As I think this, a picture form¡¯s in my mind.
[Status]
[Name: Phillip Mauger]
[Level: 2]
[Race: Homo-Sapien {Homo-Sapiens: a race of animals that evolved into humans without the any assistance of gods}.]
[Class: Shape-Shifter {Undiscovered Class Shape-Shifter: a non-magical class that allows its holder to adopt the forms of other life, in its pursuit for its own survival.}]
[Health: 100/150 {Regeneration} 105/150]
[Stamina: 150/150]
[Magic: 0/0]
[Skills:]
[Inspect Level (1): allows the user to gather information about items; life. The amount of information provided grows with the level of the skill}-passive.]
[Shapeshift Level (1): A skill that only the Shape-shifter class can use. The Skill allows the user to Shift in other forms, the forms will evolve with your understanding of the original life form. This skill may trigger unconsciously due to mental state or other reasons. Leveling the skill allows for better adoption of the transformed body by the class holder} -passive].
[Regeneration Level (1): Allows the body and mind to regenerate from physical; magical attacks, as the level increases so will your own ability to regenerate. -passive]
[Scent Tracking Level (1): Track other beings by their scent, your ability to do so will increase with each level of this skill -passive].
[Claw; Fang Growth Level (1): Grow claws; fangs while in your human or Shapeshift form. The sharpness, hardness, other abilities will increase and or come about, as the level of this skill increases in level -passive.]
[Howl of the Pack Leader Level (1): (Skill has changed due to new title acquired) Intimidate Non-predatory animals while communicating your intentions to your pack, current skill level gives low Strength and Agility buff to your pack. The effects of this skill will increase and grow as the level of the skill increases - active {cost -50 Stamina}]
[Animal Instincts Level (1): Your heritage is that of an animal, instincts are what kept your kin alive, in a hostile and unforgiving world. As this skill increases so will your connection to your animal instincts. -passive.]
[Pain Resistance Level (2): Your body has developed in a high tolerance for pain, the higher this skill level increases the more pain your body will be able to experience without passing out or going into shock. This skill does not eliminate the pain you feel, it only dulls it. -passive]
[Buff¡¯s: Regeneration]
[De-Buff¡¯s: Stomach wound {in the process of regenerating}, Non-Magical Being ¨C Permanent {This being has never contained magic; its body will never be able to store magic or use magic skills}]
[Attributes: Strength-20, Agility-20, Constitution-22, Intellegence-14; Wisdom-14]
[Titles: Child of Nature: You are a child of nature, not the gods. Nature will recognize this so will the gods; their followers.]
[The Last of His Race: You are the last of your kind, will your kind die or survive? This questions rests of your shoulder. Increases [SP] and [AP] gain when leveling up from 5 to 10]
[Leader of the Pack: While with your pack you gain +2 Strength, Agility, Constitution; your ability to lead your pack is significantly increased.]
[Skill Points {SP}-10], [Attribute Points {AP}-10]
[3 New Skill¡¯s Unlocked for reaching Level 2]
[Fang; Claw Mastery-: Gain a better understanding of how to use your claws; fangs to fight as the animal you are. As the skill level increases so will your understanding of your claws and fangs; your ability to use them in combat -passive. Cost 1-SP]
[Enhanced 5 senses: Your 5 senses grow sharper with each level of this skill -Passive. Cost 1-SP]
[Bottomless Stamina: Stamina is your only means of attack and defense. Strenuous movements cost little to no stamina, as this skills level grows all stamina movement will cost nothing; Active Skills that use stamina costs will be reduced -passive. Cost 1-SP]
Well that¡¯s a lot to take in. Not really knowing what to do, I just think, level up current skills to level 2; buy all skills available. I hear a Strange voice in my head ring [acknowledged].
I then begin to think of what to do with my [AP] while noticing that I have no Magic; the permeant De-Buff Non-Magical Being. After coming to the conclusion that intelligence; wisdom is related to magic skills and classes I just give up of them, until I can learn more about how they may be useful, why bother with them. I mean when you play an RPG you have to make a build; it seems my build consists of Strength, Agility; Constitution so why deviate. So, I think, put 3 [AP] in Strength and Agility; 4 [SP] into Constitution.
Yet again I hear the voice in my head [Acknowledged]. With this my Strength; Agility are now at 23 while my Constitution is at 26. I figured expanding my Health and Stamina is probably a safer route than becoming a glass cannon. I don¡¯t want to become a Tank, but I want to be able to deal some damage up close and not die in the process.
While in this process of spending my [SP]; [AP] my smile grows. As I start to think, this is really like an RPG, I mean have Attributes, Skills; Titles. I think I could grow to like this world.
As I sit kneeling smiling like a mad man in my Shapeshifted form as the wolves¡¯ stare at me, like I¡¯m crazy; I immediately state.
¡°I hope you¡¯re not regretting your choice, through thick and thin remember? We howled on it, so the deal is sealed; for the record all life is crazy, in its own way.¡±
The wolves start to nod in agreement while, continuing to look at me.
¡°I guess that you, telling me, it¡¯s time to move on?¡±
They nod again
¡°Well before we leave, I have something to take care of, you guys eat the Orc you killed in the mean-time.¡±
I walk over to a one of ta smaller trees within the surrounding forest and start using my enlarged hands and claws to dig into the ground. After about 5 min¡¯s or so of digging, I¡¯ve dug a big enough hole to burry a small car in, at the foot of the small tree.
I walk over to the first two orcs I killed; proceed grab them by the feet and drag them over to the hole. I throw the corpses of the dead Orcs in; burry them next to the small tree, while stating.
¡°looks like your lucky day tree, enjoy the extra fertilizer. We can¡¯t eat all of this before its spoils so it¡¯s better you have it; grow.¡±
The wolves had finished eating and starred dispassionately at me; whining while pawing the ground looking at where the two Orc corpse were buried.
¡°Come on, we have another one to eat so stop bitching at me, everyone got to eat including the trees; it¡¯s not like you can eat all of this in one sitting.¡±
The two wolves stop whining but look at me we serious eyes like I¡¯ve committed some grave sin. I say ¡°you can have the Orc that killed just let me rip some off some, so I can cook it later. They immediately forget the buried orcs and walk over to the Orc with a broken skull; begin eating the Orc.
Before they finish the Orc, I walk over and proceed to rip one of its leg off using my claws, severing the leg at the hip joint. I then say, ¡°go for it the rest is yours¡±. As they proceed to devour the orc.
After about another 5 mins the entire corpse is picked clean. I just think, they must have the Bottomless Stomach Skill, while chuckling to myself.
As the two wolves lay on the ground chewing the marrow from the Orcs bones. I say, ¡°we should probably get going, I don¡¯t feel like being found by those crazy people who brought me here, so let¡¯s move¡±.
I put the Orc leg in my maw; start running on all fours in a random direction as the wolves followed me. We continued to run for over an hour or so then stopped and took a break, while letting my stamina regenerate a little, then continued to run.
As I ran with the wind whipping past my face, I felt a strange sensation rise telling me to keep moving forward. As we moved through the forest at speeds probably around 25mph, I saw a clearing amongst the trees, where a huge lake was.
As we approached the lake I saw the wolves start look around as if something was watching us. Trusting their instincts, I stopped running skidding to a stop while spitting the Orc leg out of my mouth; began to roar as loud as I could, thinking I could probably scare away whatever was watching us¡
but was met with a deafening roar that shook the ground and nearly made my ear drums burst.
(Unknown) ¡°RRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!¡±
The forest went silent and a voice began to waft into my mind.
(Unknown) ¡°Leave my domain!¡± in stated firmly
I thought
(Phillip) ¡°The forest may be your domain but you sure as shit don¡¯t own it, no one does; isn¡¯t it common courtesy to give your name when talking to someone?¡± I thought back to the mysterious voice.
(Unknown). ¡°Interesting a beast that can be a smart ass.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°Well of course I¡¯m being a smart ass, your invading my mind without consent isn¡¯t that basically mind raping me? While I accept the fact, I may act and look like a beast last I checked, I¡¯m human being.¡± I thought as I chuckled to the Unknown voice
(Unknown) ¡°AHAHAHA, a beast that thinks its HUMAN! AHAHAAH¡±
As the Unknown voice continues to laugh I force my body to start Shifting back into my naked human form, while silently waiting for a response.
(Unknown) ¡°Hmmmm, you do not jest strange creature, you look human, but your race is not that of a human.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Well I guess technique my race is Homo-Sapien but that¡¯s a human from where I from; I¡¯m still waiting for your name...¡± I coldly state
(Unknown) ¡°It would appear Illengards foul magic didn¡¯t work as the last time¡¡± the unknown voice stated to its self, but still echoed in my mind.
(Unknown) ¡°Let me inform you young one, you are not considered a Human in the world Aredeaia. You lack two crucial aspects that make up humans. The first is you were not created by the Illengard the creator of all humans of Aredeaia. The second is you lack Magic in your body. Magic is a-part of all life created by the gods in Aredeaia from plants to animals. Even those who are foreign to this world acquire magic when they gain a class with you being the only exception to that. What a strange creature you are¡.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Thanks for the history lesson but I¡¯d appreciate if stop calling me ¡®beast¡¯ my names Phillip, granted I don¡¯t mind being compared to a beast there more honest than most humans. This is where you give me your name¡ I mean do I have to make this any easier for you.¡±
As I finish, the water on the huge lake begin to shiver; ripple as a huge form proceeds to come out of it, as laughter rings throughout my head. As I look closer at the form that is now exposed, it appears to be a dragon. Not a tiny one its huge, at least a football field long and more than half its body is still submerged beneath the water!
It''s body that I could see, consisted of two giant wings protruding from its back tipped with spikes at its joints, two front legs as big as a bus tipped with claws almost as big as my body, while its own body was covered in brilliant green scales that shimmered as the light bounced off the cascading water that fell from its body. Its head was just as big as a truck; lined with fangs that were about three and half feet long. I just starred awe struck at the massive dragon.
(Unknown) ¡°HAHAHA, you are right Phillip, humans are less trustworthy than beasts. My name is Oleden; I am the Protector of the Forbidden Forest.¡±
I just continue to stare at the massive green scaled dragon in awe at its size.
(Oleden) ¡°What, A goblin got your tongue?¡±
As the voice echoes in my head I¡¯m broke from stupor.
(Phil) ¡°Nope just sort of amazed at your size. We had big animals in my world, but you take the cake. So why are you protecting the Forbidden Forest?¡±
(Oleden) ¡°The Forbidden Forest is a barrier between three kingdom¡¯s, if I was not here the kingdom would go to war over the land and destroy most of the life the process. this is why I am the protector of the Forbidden Forest. But I was its protector long before the kingdoms came to power, I came to protect this forest because it expanded endlessly and had a myriad of life within it. I find the various life forms that inhabit this forest to be interesting; amusing.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Seems like a valid reason to become the protector of this forest. If it is fine with you I¡¯m going to camp out here for a while since I don¡¯t really know where I am.¡±
(Oleden) ¡°That is fine, you¡¯re an interesting creature Phillip, I¡¯m sure we can learn a lot from one another.¡±
The dragon stated in my mind as it flashed me a toothy grin and receded back into the water.
Chapter #4: Leaving the Forbidden Forest
Chapter #4: Leaving the Forbidden Forest
(Phil POV)
As Oleden partially exposed body receded back into the water, I realized how hungry I was. I walked back over to the Orc arm that I had severed, while sniffing it with my enhanced sense of smell.
As I sniffed the blood covered arm, I felt my instincts take hold and force me to start eating it raw against my better nature. As ate the arm ravenously I thought to myself, I at least wanted to cook it¡
As I ravenously ate the flesh from the arm I felt my hunger somewhat subside but still felt an insatiable need to eat. After finishing eating I thought, it wasn¡¯t too bad, even though it was raw¡
I felt blood drip from my face as I look at the cleanly picked arm that was now just bones, which I snapped into two pieces and threw to the two wolves, they proceeded to start happily crunching on them trying to reach the marrow inside the delectable treats.
After finishing I walked over to the lake Oleden resides in and started to wash my face with the crystal-clear water. I starred at my appearance, then forced myself to stand and walk back over to the wolves.
I starred at the wolves and attempted to think of what to do next I still needed to eat more food I knew my metabolism was going so fast that within an hour or two I would need to eat again; I had no idea how much I would have to eat to sate my appetite. Maybe it was a side effect of Shifting my form or maybe I just burned way too many calories¡
I also thought I needed to get out of this forest, to be farther away from the humans that brought me into this world. Maybe Oleden can give me some insight into where to go.
As these thoughts ran through my I began to shift my body and began to rip away my skin. As I shifted into my werewolf form I thought to Oleden who lay beneath the water.
(Phil) ¡°I¡¯m going out for a quick bite, I¡¯ll be back in a little bit. When I get back, I¡¯m going to need to talk to you. Also, are there any animal or other creatures I shouldn¡¯t eat?¡±
I soon felt Olden¡¯s voice echo within head.
(Oleden) ¡°No your fine to eat whatever you come across. Just be prepared, your level is low and there are strong monsters that reside within the Forbidden Forest. We can talk once you¡¯ve, returned.¡±
I thought back
(Phil) ¡°thanks for the heads up, you want anything to eat? It¡¯s the least I can do since your letting me stay here.¡±
I felt laughing echo within my head, as Olden spoke
(Oleden) ¡°AHHHAAHHHHA, no Phillip most dragons just absorb mana, that is enough to sustain us throughout or lives, I thank you for the consideration though.¡±
I thought back (Phil) ¡°Alright, see yeah in a little while.¡± As called for the wolves; we took off running on all fours.
I used my enhanced sense of smell to try to lock onto some prey. As the wolves; I ran through the forest I smelled something off to our right and redirected our course. I stopped near some under-brush and started sniffing, I soon smelt the familiar smell of Orc¡¯s, then started to run in the direction of the scent.
As we ran through the forest trailing the scent, we soon came upon several Orc¡¯s vastly bigger than the ones we had encountered earlier in the day. There were 6 of Orcs and they were about 8 and a half feet tall. One Orc was slightly taller and more muscular than the rest it had scars all across its body. Its tusks were about 7 inches long; it appeared to be leader of the rest of the Orc¡¯s.
Rather than carrying crude clubs like the ones before they had metal swords, while some had bows. They had similar features to the ones we had encountered early but they were all more pronounced.
They weighed close to 300lbs and were pure muscle, their horns were vastly bigger protruded straight out of their thick skulls, their skin tone varied from greenish grey, too pale grey.
Thinking of the best way to proceed forward, I noticed the formation of the Orc¡¯s. Four were grouped up while one lead the advance while another stayed at the back protecting from sneak attacks. The biggest Orc was situated in the middle of the group and gave orders to the rest as they advanced through the forest.
I decided to attack the two single Orc¡¯s first; then proceed to battle with the others with hit and run tactics due to being outnumbered. I looked at the wolves and pointed to the Orc in the back, as I rushed around the advancing patrol of Orc¡¯s rushing to the one in the front.
As I came to the front of the patrol I soon heard the wolves begin to take down the Orc in the rear. I forced myself to run as fast as I could while rushing the lead Orc who was turning to face the noise of in the rear of the Orc patrol.
As the Orc turned it neck I lunged forward clamped my jaws around the Orcs throat pulling it to the ground while shacking my head trying to snap its neck. I soon felt a small blade pierce my chest as the Orc forced a dagger into my chest.
As I felt this, I forced my left hand and claws to dig into its chest, but felt severe resistance coming from it. It felt like I was digging through concrete, but I didn¡¯t let up as I continued to shake my head and dig my hand deeper into the Orcs chest.
As I felt the Orc stop breathing I forced my body up and started running while howling. The wolves immediately new my intent thanks to skill [Howl of the Pack Leader] as it buffed them; they retreated into the forest away from the oncoming Orc¡¯s. leaving the Orc patrol in a dazed state.
The wolves and I regrouped about a half mile away from the Orcs, I pulled the small dagger imbedded in my chest out; watched as the wound slowly closed itself. I then looked back at the wolves and howled again; they joined in as we rushed off again to attack the patrol again.
When we came upon the Patrol they had not retreated and stayed where we had initially engaged them. Rather than having the wolves head in first, I thought, I would go in first and distract the group while the wolves could sneak attack an unsuspecting Orc. I howled my intentions to the wolves and they nodded as they headed off to get behind the patrol.
The Orc patrol noticed my howl; began to look into the forest trying to find where my howl originated from. As they looked around I began my attack.
I rushed forward through the underbrush and barreled at the group of Orcs on all fours.
As I neared the Orcs they started grunting and snarling incomprehensibly as I charged them.
One Orc with a bow retreated as 3 with swords advanced towards me as I rushed them, with their leader amongst them. As I rushed forward I used my hind legs to push off the ground as with as much strength as I could; lifted my both my arms aiming at two of the Orcs throats while soaring through the air; attempting to use my jaws latch onto the shoulder area of the third biggest Orc.
Both of my claws connected with the Orc¡¯s throats but the third big Orc in the middle managed to dodge out of the way of my snapping maw. I used my momentum to force both of the Orc¡¯s I had torn into onto the ground while howling, pushing my clawed hands deeper into their tough leathery necks as the both breathed their last breaths.
As the two Orcs collapsed the third swung his sword at my neck trying to decapitate my head from my body as I sat hunched over his now dead companions. I moved my body making the Orc miss its intended target and the smash into my left shoulder almost cleaving my left arm off.
I yowled in pain as the Orc removed its weapon from my shoulder as blood poured from my deep wound; readied to swing its sword again. Using the time while the Orc wound up to swing at me again I lunged at the Orcs forearm holding its weapon, using my jaws I held the Orcs arm; weapon at bay while tearing into it, trying to mangle its arm so it could no longer use its weapon.
As I clamped down on the Orc¡¯s arm I saw the two wolves tear into the throat of the Orc holding a bow behind the biggest Orc. Seeing this, I used my non-wounded right arm and shoved my claws deep into the leader Orc¡¯s throat. As I did the Orc grabbed my hand at the wrist; pulled it out of its throat while holding my arm in place. The Orc then proceeded to bite into my own neck with its huge tusks while lifting me off the ground, while swinging me around trying to snap my neck.
I used my clawed feet to dig into the thigh of the Orc in attempt to minimize the damage I would receive but was surprised to see the wolves running at the huge Orc as he swung me around.
I continued to dig my feet into the Orcs thighs as one wolf jumped onto the back of the Orc while biting into its neck and spine. The other wolf latched onto its left ankle and attempted to force the Orc to the ground by pulling it foot out from underneath it.
Using this moment, I let go of the Orcs arm; tilted my head horizontally opening my toothy maw. I shoved my jaws around the Orcs head and heard a *Crack* as I broke its skull as I clamped down around its skull.
The Orc eventually stopped struggling against the three of us; fell on top of me as it breathed its last ragged breath.
Laying underneath the massive body I struggled to squirm out from underneath it, only using my non-injured right arm. I eventually got out from underneath it and stared at the gaping wound the huge Orc had cause with a single strike from its sword, realizing that Oleden was right, as the familiar sensation of pain flowed throughout my entire being in waves.
I thought to myself, I¡¯m currently at the bottom of the food chain¡ Yeah, I survived this encounter even if was outnumbered but that was only thanks to my speed and shitty planning. Hell, I didn¡¯t even follow through with my original plan of using hit; run tactic on the main group¡
If there were more Orcs, I would be dead. If the Orcs had seen us on our second approach, I would be dead. If the Orc¡¯s noticed us before our initial attack, I would be dead. If I had not moved out of the way of the big Orcs swing, I would be dead. A lot could have gone wrong luckily it didn¡¯t but still¡
I need to be smarter than this, my new life may have game like elements in it, but I cannot respawn; there are no extra life¡¯s. I have to use my intelligence and skills to the best of my abilities, I thought to myself as I collapsed onto the ground sitting down.
As I sat down I moved my body over to biggest Orc we had killed and started using my claws to remove its tattered clothing; armor that covered its chest and shoulders. I then proceeded to start bite into the Orcs limbs taking huge chunks of flesh as blood began to pour from the fresh wounds. After picking clean its upper limbs I moved to its chest.
I then started to use my right hand; claws to split the Orcs chest open; pulled its heart out; started to eat it while working my way down the Orc as I continued to eat it in a daze.
I continued to eat; didn¡¯t stop until I had devoured almost the entire Orc. I looked first at my left shoulder and limp hanging left arm, its wound started to regenerate but I still couldn¡¯t move my left arm. I also felt blood trickle down my neck as the wound slowly closed.
Then I noticed the two wolves engorging themselves on separate Orcs. Almost mimicking how I ate the Orc.
I moved over to another Orc and repeated this process while the wolves went to a single Orc and started eating it.
After finishing our meals, I figured that it would be best to take whatever we were going to eat for later and get back to the lake, who knows what else is prowling about the Forbidden Forest. As I thought this I stood up; I walked over to the only untouched Orc and sliced both of its legs off while calling over the wolves, who had now finished picking clean the Orcs they had been eating; were now focused on sucking the marrow from its bloody bones.
I tossed them each a leg and they picked them up within their mouths. I then forced my body back into its naked human form and noticed a bow that the Orc had. It was fairly well crafted, and it had 3 dozen arrows still in the quiver on its back that it failed to use due to being ambushed by the wolves.
I picked the bow up and strung it across my back then did the same with the arrows. I then extended my claws from my right hand without shifting my form, this meant my claws were only about 3 inches but were still sharp. Using my claws, I dug into the left forearm of the Orc and made a fairly big hole in it.
I then slid its right arm into the hole in its left arm and then stomped on it right arm snapping the bones near the wrist that extended from the hole in the left arm. This would allow me to bend down and puts its arms over my neck and arm and carry it. Before doing this, I used my right hand to gut the Orc and pull out its intestines and other organ¡¯s I wouldn¡¯t be eating.
After finishing gutting the Orc, I bent down and lifted it over my head and pulled right arm through the hole carrying it like a satchel; started walking back to the lake. As the wolves; I started walking back to the lake I heard the voice in my head start ringing.
[3 Adult Orcs slain, 1 High Orc Slain] [You are now Level 3] [Gained 10 SP; AP] [Skills Regeneration, Howl of the Pack Leader; Scent Tracking are now level 3]
After seeing this I again dumped 3 AP into both Strength, Agility; 4 AP into Constitution Attributes. I also used 4[SP] to level up the three skills I bought to level 2, along with the [Pain Resistance] skill I had neglected up until this point. I then thought of my Status as the picture formed within my mind as I continued to walk towards the lake.
{Authors Note: I fucked up, I forgot about the Pain Resistance skill the MC acquired in Chapter #2¡ Sorry about that, I added it in this chapter after realizing my mistake. I¡¯ll go back and put it into Chapter #3 status to make it clearer for readers.}
[Name: Phillip Mauger]
[Level: 3]
[Race: Homo-Sapien {Homo-Sapiens: a race of animals that evolved into humans without the any assistance of gods}.]
[Class: Shape-Shifter {Undiscovered Class Shape-Shifter: a non-magical class that allows its holder to adopt the forms of other life, in its pursuit for its own survival.}]
[Health: 110/220 {Regeneration} 125/220]
[Stamina: 168/220]
[Magic: 0/0]
[Skills:]
[Inspect Level (2): Allows the user to gather information about items; life. The amount of information provided grows with the level of the skill}-passive.]
[Shapeshift Level (2): A skill that only the Shape-shifter class can use. The Skill allows the user to Shift in other forms, the forms will evolve with your understanding of the original life form. This skill may trigger unconsciously due to mental state or other reasons. Leveling the skill allows for better adoption of the transformed body by the class holder} -passive].
[Regeneration Level (3): Allows the body and mind to regenerate from physical; magical attacks, as the level increases so will your own ability to regenerate. -passive]
[Scent Tracking Level (3): Track other beings by their scent, your ability to do so will increase with each level of this skill -passive].
[Claw; Fang Growth Level (2): Grow claws; fangs while in your human or Shapeshift form. The sharpness, hardness, other abilities will increase and or come about, as the level of this skill increases in level -passive.]
[Howl of the Pack Leader Level (3): Intimidate Non-predatory animals while communicating your intentions to your pack, current skill level gives low Strength and Agility buff to your pack. The effects of this skill will increase and grow as the level of the skill increases - active {cost -50 Stamina}]
[Animal Instincts Level (2): Your heritage is that of an animal, instincts are what kept your kin alive, in a hostile and unforgiving world. As this skill increases so will your connection to your animal instincts. -passive.]
[Pain Resistance Level (2): Your body has developed in a high tolerance for pain, the higher this skill level increases the more pain your body will be able to experience without passing out or going into shock. This skill does not eliminate the pain you feel, it only dulls it. -passive]
[Fang; Claw Mastery Level (2): Gain a better understanding of how to use your claws; fangs to fight as the animal you are. As the skill level increases so will your understanding of your claws and fangs; your ability to use them in combat -passive.]
[Enhanced 5 senses Level (2): Your 5 senses grow sharper with each level of this skill -passive.]
[Bottomless Stamina Level (2): Stamina is your only means of attack and defense. Strenuous movements cost little to no stamina, as this skills level grows all stamina movement will cost nothing; Active Skills that use stamina costs will be reduced -passive.]
[Buff¡¯s: Regeneration]
[De-Buff¡¯s: Throat, left arm; shoulder wounds {in the process of regenerating, Left Arm non-functional}, Non-Magical Being ¨C Permanent {This being has never contained magic; its body will never be able to store magic or use magic skills}]
[Attributes: Strength-28, Agility-28, Constitution-30, Intellegence-14; Wisdom-14] { Str, Agility; Con have +2 due to the title: Leader of the Pack.}
[Titles:]
[Child of Nature: You are a child of nature, not the gods. Nature will recognize this so will the gods; their followers.]
[The Last of His Race: You are the last of your kind, will your kind die or survive? This questions rests of your shoulder. Increases [SP] and [AP] gain when leveling up from 5 to 10]
[Leader of the Pack: While with your pack you gain +2 Strength, Agility, Constitution; your ability to lead your pack is significantly increased.]
[Skill Points {SP}-6], [Attribute Points {AP}-0]
As I looked over my status I saw the [Inspect] Skill; face palmed myself as I continued to walk back to the lake. I mean fuck I could have used that; would have had a better idea of how close to my own level the Orcs; High Orc were.
As we continued to walk back I started to use Inspect on just about everything we walked by, it didn¡¯t level up, but I noticed several similar plants to my own world such as Aredeaia Thistle, Aredeaia Sword-Ferns; Aredeaia Conifer¡¯s.
After about 15 mins I arrived back at the Oleden¡¯s Lake; Immediately heard his voice echo within my skull.
(Oleden) ¡°It appears you are injured; it looks like you succeed in your hunt for food. What did you come across?¡±
I thought back
(Phil) ¡°Just a few Adult Orcs; a High Orc. It was a tough fight, but we managed to gain the upper hand.¡±
(Oleden) ¡°You are very strange creature Phillip, it¡¯s surprising you defeated A High Orc; several Adult Orcs at your current Level. You may have a Skill that heals you but do not take that for granted, this world if most likely very different from your own world. Attributes and skills dominate this world, if your own attributes weren¡¯t so high you would have surely died¡¡±
(Phil) ¡°Thanks for the info but what do you mean my Attributes are high for my level? I only get 10 [SP]; [AP] per level.¡±
(Oleden) ¡°That¡¯s what I mean, all life only gets 5 [SP]; [AP] per level, even myself¡. Not only that your attributes should have been at 1 when you came to this world but were already fairly high; you even gained several Skills immediately upon getting your undiscovered class, which is unusual as well. If I had to guess, it is because your body was not able to contain magic, it was given higher attributes than normal; given several skills to help you survive by the System. I¡¯m also sure that your title [Last of His Kind] also has a role to play in this. Typically, any level 2 would struggle to do what you did, minus some higher creatures like Dragons, Chimeras; Griffins to name a few, races such as ours gain attribute quicker when we are younger.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
(Phil) ¡°Well I guess I should be thankful I didn¡¯t get magic; that I got an undiscovered class instead.¡±
(Oleden) ¡°Speaking of your class, what is it? I¡¯m still unable to Inspect its contents, even though my level is vastly higher than your own.¡±
(Phil) ¡°It¡¯s called Shape-Shifter, from what it states the class description basically mean¡¯s one who adopts the form of other beings in pursuit of its own survival, it allowed me to change into what is called a Werewolf in my world. I¡¯m guessing it has something to do with the fact that my only real family member in my own world was a dog; I was almost killed by a wolf when I was brought to this world¡¡±
(Oleden) ¡°Interesting¡ we never had such a creature in this world called a werewolf, maybe the system gave you such a class because of your familiarity with it.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Hey sorry to change the topic but I¡¯ve been thinking I should probably leave the forest. I need to find a place that I can get farther away from the people who brought me to this world. Any suggestions on where to go to?¡±
(Oleden) ¡°So the Holy Kingdom is chasing you, makes sense since Illengards Ritual failed them. I would say head west if your fine with exposing your other form; race to others. To the west is the Animal-Kin Kingdom, they should accept you since you are not a part of the Holy Kingdom.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯s what the people in that city called me when I jumped out of that palace. What are Animal-Kin?¡±
(Oleden) ¡°Makes sense they would assume that, you look somewhat similar to one in your other form. They are a race of beings who have characteristics of different Animals and Creatures. Some look like human dragons, others look like birds, some look like predatory animals such as Wolves, Felines; Chimeras. Most look more human than your werewolf form though. Some have the ability to change into a form of the animal they originated from, but they lack the human characteristics that your form has. If a wolf Animal-Kin had the skill [Animal-Form] their form they would just become a big wolf rather than a bi-pedal wolf such as your own form.¡±
(Phil) ¡°¡. *silently contemplating*¡. That works for me but any advice and how I should communicate with them? It¡¯s not like I can speak their language, You¡¯re the only being besides the wolves that I can actually communicate with¡.¡±
(Oleden) ¡°Hmmmmm, you can talk to the wolves very interesting. Use this, I no longer need it.¡± he stated as his head came out from the water, he then spit a book at me.
(Phil) ¡°What this?¡± I thought as I picked the book up; stared at Oleden massive head protruding from the lake.
(Oleden) ¡°It¡¯s a skill book, a very rare item. Open it and you¡¯ll be able to speak to any higher being¡¯s in Aredeaia in their native language. I do not believe you will be able to speak to plant life but any race you encounter you should be able to speak to them, minus a few such as Orc¡¯s, Goblins; other species that are born from corrupted magic. I no longer need it due to my [Telepathy] skill I¡¯ve acquired, you should have more use for it than myself.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Thank you Oleden, really. I sincerely thank you for all of your wisdom; this skill book.¡± I thought as I opened the skill book as some mysterious force washed over my body as the voice of the system echoed in my head.
[Skill gained] [Communication- passive] [This skill has no level; you cannot increase its level like other skills, once learned it will allow the holder of the skill to communicate with all higher beings of Aredeaia.]
As the voice stopped echoing, I spoke to Oleden, but what came out was a strange sound that mimicked the roar Oleden had scarred me with when we first met.
(Phil) ¡°I will see you again friend; I thank you again for all that you have done for me.¡± as I began to leave Oleden¡¯s loud voice echoed through the air in a roar.
(Oleden) ¡°You are not free to go yet Phillip, the book I gave you has a price. With that said I will not stop you from leaving but I would advise you sit and listen, there is still much you do not know about Aredeaia. As I stated earlier I find you amusing so we will have an exchange of information, the images and emotions I seen; felt in your mind have peaked my interest, this is the cost of the skill book you have been given.¡± Oleden stated sternly.
I turned around and sat down on the grassy ground while looking at Oleden with a friendly look while stating.
(Phil) ¡°I¡¯ll happily answer your question¡¯s Oleden, it is the least I can do for all you¡¯ve done but I would prefer from now on you don¡¯t look throughout my memories without my consent; from now on call me Phil we are friends, are we not? With that said I expect that what I say to you will not be mentioned to anyone or anything am I clear?¡±
(Oleden) ¡°You are foolish to trust so easily Phil; make demands of a dragon. Life in this world will be greatly different from what I¡¯ve seen of your own world. It is unforgiving and violent, you should be more warry of other¡¯s, but I do accept you as friend. I also understand why you wish for some of the contents of our conversation to never be stated again, so the remainder of our conversation will take place in our minds if that is fine with you?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Haha, maybe olden maybe I am to na?ve, but everyone deserves to be judged as an individual not by the actions of those that came before them¡ Yes, its fine for our conversation continues in telepathy.¡±
Oleden¡¯s voice began to echo in my mind.
(Oleden) ¡°The gods of this world watch you Phillip Mauger, some are displeased with your action¡¯s and existence as a whole, others are unsure of your intentions. You must be aware of this going forward. They will monitor you every action and word, looking for more reasons to exterminate you, looking for weaknesses to turn you to their side, or even just be honestly curious about you as a being.¡± Olden stated coldly within my mind as he continued speaking.
(Olden) ¡°The god who created my race, Advinia will likely be listening in on our conversation. She is not like most gods of this world, she only watches her children, the dragons and rarely associate with the other gods. You do not have to fear what you say being stated again but you do deserve to know she seen what I have seen; felt in your mind and will be a-part of this conversation.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Well thanks for the honesty¡ I¡¯m going to be blunt, whether gods are real in this world or not I will not acknowledge them, nor do I give a shit if they watch me, it will not cause me to change how I act or operate as a person.¡± I stated coldly as I continued thinking.
(Phil) ¡°Gods didn¡¯t exist or help to create my race, nature did. It gave us the tools to thrive and survive and we as a species abused natures gift to us, becoming the apex predators of our planet while slowly destroying. We developed higher thinking, science; technology but still fought, and killed each other aimlessly over different fake ideologies, cultural beliefs, or even the color of our skin¡¯s. I imagine with gods these issues are only exacerbated. I only believe in one thing Oleden, Death. It comes for us all even gods, whether they understand this or not I do not know. A wise man from my world in my world once said, ¡°with strange eons, even death may die.¡± Your gods may not understand this; even if there is a god of death in this world, it does not know what it meddles with; neither do fully understand it but I do know that death comes for us all in the end. While were alive we can only survive; pursue our goals. I am free of my world and that is what I will be doing with my new life in the world of Aredeaia, with or without the consent of the Gods that rule over the races that live here...¡±
(Oleden) ¡°Hmmmm, that is a lot to think about Phil. What do you mean nature created you; why do you believe death can even claim and immortal being¡¯s? We do have a God of Death, but he only governs over mortals, his name is Necrosis; holds a similar belief of your own of not judging the dead but to say he is does not understand his powers as the god of death is a bold statement.¡±
(Phil) To answer your first question, from what others have discovered on my planet. All life was created due to one simple fact, luck. All life on my planet evolves, not directly so but through our offspring. Both parent¡¯s genes are split amongst their children, due to this fact, all life thrived on my planet. The strong survived and the weak died in the beginning. As life continued my species evolved from apes over the course of time. As we evolved, we lost the strength of our ancestors; gained the traits of those who were smart enough to survive. Our intelligence only grew over time; So, did are greed; ability to destroy. This is how humans became to be the ruling species of my planet, Earth; how nature created us.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Let me say this now before addressing the next two questions. I do not know if I¡¯m correct nor do I really care, what I¡¯m going to tell you is my opinion and belief about what you asked nothing more.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Moving onto your second question, your gods may be immortal but let me ask you and your god a few questions to ponder upon. Your gods may be immortal but they all can still die can they not? All life dies, it¡¯s the one rule that applies to all life equally, even the gods of your world. You or I may not know the means in which the gods are able to die or even capable of doing so but what¡¯s to say something stronger than a god couldn¡¯t kill them? Would they still be immortal then? If gods do exist why wouldn¡¯t something stronger than them likely exist as well? I could be completely incorrect in my belief; the rules and logic that governed my world may not apply here but I would highly doubt that to be the case.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Moving to your last statement on why I believe Necrosis is not able to control Death. Death is not a god, it¡¯s a rule. He may be able to control some aspect of mortals Death, but he cannot cause the death of gods as you already stated; those that may or may not exist above the gods. That is why I believe he does not understand what he meddles with. Rather than a power he dabbles in a rule that governs everything that is alive. That like saying gods can turn back time, which they cannot I would assume. To say that gods are not alive is to say that they do not exist at all is my personal opinion. Just as your second question this may not be the case; I could be completely wrong but again, but I highly doubt that to be the case. Hell, your god is probably laughing at my stupidity and views but who knows¡¡± I stated, as I caught my breath, A voice other than Oleden¡¯s echoed in my head as I finished
(Advinia?) ¡°Amusing Phillip Mauger, I would keep your opinions; beliefs about these matter¡¯s to yourself. Some of the other gods would not allow you to willing spread such knowledge.¡±
I smiled at Oleden while saying
(Phil) ¡°Thanks for the heads up, Advinia I presume? Oleden, do understand why I believe such things? If your god warns me to keep my opinion; beliefs to myself?¡±
(Oleden) ¡°You are very amusing Phil, I didn¡¯t expect Advinia to speak to you. She rarely speaks to her own children, so to tell you to keep quiet shows there is some truth to what you say. What questions do you have for me?¡±
(Phil) ¡°I have quite a few but for the moment, which way is west. I don¡¯t know in which direction the sun rises in your world, so I cannot ascertain where I¡¯m going?¡±
Rather than answering Oleden used his exposed head to point off to the left-hand side of me, while I thought to him.
(Phil) ¡°The only other question is you said early that most dragons only eat mana, what did you mean by that? Was that a hint that some of your kind eats other mortal beings?¡±
Oleden didn¡¯t speak, Advinia did, her voice echoed in my head my head while holding a hint of grief.
(Advinia) ¡°Some of my children fell into temptation just like any would. I gave my children the ability to grow without needing substance from others because of their size and power, if they had to feed on other life to grow the world of Aredeaia would be a barren wasteland. Some of my children decided magic wasn¡¯t enough to sate themselves. As they consumed mortal races they absorbed their magic, the magic inside these races slowly changed and corrupted my children. They are now similar to Orcs; Goblins they lack the ability to think properly they are only driven by their insatiable hunger to consume magic.¡±
(Phil) ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that¡ family is never easy to lose. Especially when you had one that actually cared for your existence in the first place¡¡± my thoughts drifted to my own family and their disdain for me.
(Phil) ¡°I do not have any more question at this moment, do you or Oleden have any question before I leave?
(Oleden) ¡°Not at this moment you¡¯ve given me much to think about Phil, I cannot speak for Advinia though.¡±
I just sat for about two mins and never got a response from Advinia, so I guessed she didn¡¯t have any questions or was to upset at what I had asked. I stood up and spoke to Oleden in his Draconic language.
(Phil) ¡°Thanks for everything Oleden, I won¡¯t forget what you¡¯ve done. I¡¯ll come visit you again after I¡¯ve grown stronger; we can continue our conversation then.¡± I headed off with the wolves in the direction that Oleden had pointed with his head.
(Oleden POV)
As Phil walked away I questioned my silent mother.
(Oleden) ¡°Was he correct in his beliefs; opinions? Or is he just insane?¡±
(Advinia) ¡°Yes he is correct, eldest child. His race is far too Intelligent for their own good¡ I¡¯m just glad you made it clear to him when you first met that he isn¡¯t human¡ if worked together with Illengard, I¡¯m scared to think of thee destruction they could bring upon this world. The image in his mind of the earth, it looked horrid, his species destroyed their planet, poisoned it; reshaped it as they pleased. The machines of war they made were astoundingly proficient in their purposes, I fear that what he knew as a nuke could kill most your siblings; maybe even you¡¡± she stated coldly
(Oleden) ¡°Then its good I became his friend, such a strange creature you are Phil. I wonder if he comprehends how big of a problem his existence is?¡±
(Advinia) ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t child, I would say that it due to him being na?ve, but he is smart so maybe it¡¯s just the way he is. I¡¯ll inform your siblings of him, what they do with that information is up to them. Hopefully they¡¯ll go the same route you did. If not, he seems to be someone who does not judge the whole based off a single part.
(Oleden) ¡°Indeed mother, I would wait to inform them though. Some might be tempted to kill him as he is low level; I doubt that would turn out well with his class, he might even be able to turn into one of us if he kills one of us. Even though I could not read the contents of his class¡¯s it appeared to me that only a portion of it has activated¡ he will only grow stronger and stranger as his class develops.¡±
(Advinia) ¡°You may be correct eldest child, but my children come first. What they do with that knowledge is ultimately up to them. I can only warn them of this new race that walks among them.¡±
I knew that things would be hard for my new friend but also knew he would survive, Phil was a strange creature that defied the common sense of Aredeaia.
(Phil POV)
As the wolves and I continued to walk through the forest to the west, I stopped and looked at the wolves while having the feeling several sets of eyes were staring at me. Rather than let this unsettling feeling control how I acted I looked at the wolves and said.
(Phil) ¡°Your both well over due for some names.¡±
The wolves just sat down and stared at me curiously while wagging their tails. I looked at the pair and it seemed they were a mated pair of wolves.
(Phil) ¡°your both have black fur, but I think the names Sun; Moon are fitting for you.¡± I named the male Sun; the female Moon; asked ¡°are you satisfied with those names¡±
Both wolves shook their head in agreement showing they were satisfied with their new names. I motioned for us to continue while thinking about everything that happened since coming to Aredeaia. As we continued to walk through the forest.
After several miles of walking I dropped the Orc Satchel and divided it up between the three of us. As we ate I thought that I should probably make a pair of pants, before heading into a town or city. I didn¡¯t think me arriving naked anywhere would turn out to well. So, I decided to go hunt again and try to make a pair of pants from the skin of some animal.
After finishing eating; I shifted my form and howled to Sun; Moon expressing my intentions. They both stared at me weirdly, almost trying to say, why do you need to cover your body with the dead skin of another animal?
I just shrugged; ran off while Sun; Moon followed behind me.
We continued to the west while hunting for an animal big enough to become a pair of pants. I eventually found the scent of some unknown animal; figured any pair of pants is better than being naked¡
As I followed the scent trail we came to a clearing. Several animals that appeared similar to White tailed deer were feeding in the clearing on the local fauna. I searched the heard for the sick or old in attempt to not kill a young animal with the rest of its life ahead of it. I spotted a huge buck with brown and grey hair all over its body denoting its age and experience. I dropped the bow and quiver I carried in my now shifted form.
I pointed at the animal causing Wolf and Moon to circle around so we could box the animal in. As they got into position I let out the skill [Howl of the Pack Leader] as I rushed forward on two legs, through the heard of deer startling the ones nearest me cause them to jump several feet into the air and run away.
The Older buck took off towards the right, the direction that Sun was in. As I chased the deer, Moon popped out to its left causing the buck to head directly at Sun, while it continued looking back at the two of us chasing it. As it starred at us while we chased it, Sun jumped out of a thicket onto the old buck and latched onto its neck while dragging it to the forest floor, as I arrived the old animal struggled for its life.
I used my non-injured hand with single claw stabbed where I believed it heart to be. The struggling buck, died quickly. As it did I said ¡°Sorry, your life will sustain us; make me a pair of pants¡¡±
I called Sun off the now dead buck and used my claws to cleanly make a slit along the bottom of its mangled throat; used my right arm to grab the buck and lift it so the blood could drain from the dead animal. As the blood pooled on the forest floor Sun; Moon lapped it up like drinking water.
After draining the animal of blood, I began lining the buck, preparing to skin it. I used my claw and made a V shape coming down from both its limbs then connected each of the V¡¯s at the point. Then drew another line, from its front legs to its mangled neck making a circle around the non-chewed on part and did the same to each leg.
After finishing I tried to use my left arm that was now semi-functioning. Using both my arms I began to peel the skin from the buck, trying to not destroy the hide. Starting at the limb I pulled the skin back to the body from the circles I had cut around the ankles. Then same from the neck down pulling the skin from its carcass.
After pulling the hide off I began using my right hand and a claw to scrape the excess flesh from the hide, feeding it to the Sun; Moon. After completely cleaning the hide of flesh I soon realized I couldn¡¯t make a pair of pants without a needle and thread¡
Rather than letting this obvious fact bother me I turned the hide inside out while making small slit in several areas, allowing the limbs to stretch through and be tied in knots allowing the hide to be wrapped around my body making a leather kilt or skirt of sorts.
Before actually tying the still bloodied pelt down I shifted my form back; grabbed the bow and the quiver I had dropped before chasing the buck; strapped it across my back. Then proceed to tie the pelt around my waist.
I then walked back over to the buck and used my claws on my right hand to decapitate it head giving it to Sun; Moon. They both gnawed at the flesh on the buck¡¯s neck. I then proceed to make a back pack from the deer carcass by slicing flesh from the ankles making holes in the upper legs. Then I shoved the hind legs through the holes and snapped the legs I slid through.
After making my meat pack, I hefted it over each shoulder and continued to walk in the direction Oleden had pointed making my way towards the Animal-Kin Kingdom.
We hiked endlessly through the Forbidden Forest com; eventually coming across another Orc patrol.
As we neared the patrol the I could smell their scent, so I decided to try to take them on. My arm was now almost fully healed only 3 hours had transpired since I was wounded but we had covered several miles in are trek.
I hefted the deer carcass into a small tree to save it; then looked at the wolves as I took the bow into my left hand and stung an arrow from the quiver into the bow, while motioning the wolves to follow.
As we came neared the advancing patrol, I saw this time there was only four Orcs in total. Using [Inspect] Skill on them I was able to see their levels but nothing else since the skill had yet to level up.
All the Orcs were level 15; were adults. I didn¡¯t know how far their level was from the original patrol I had fought so, I still was wary of them after getting my injured by the High Orc. I pointed at two Orc¡¯s for Sun; Moon to attack. Then pulled my pelt off and put it on the ground to not destroy it if needed to shift into my other form.
I waited for Sun; Moon to circle around the patrol and get into position near the Orcs they would be attacking. To signal them I used my go to skill [Howl of the Pack Leader] and shot and arrow at the nearest Orc.
The arrow pierced the Orc in the chest, but not near its heart. As this happened Sun; Moon ran from the underbrush while jumping at two Orc and clamping their jaws around the surprised Orc¡¯s necks and pulled them to the ground with their momentum and strength.
They both began to shake their heads violently trying to snap the Orc¡¯s Spine¡¯s.
I drew another arrow from the quiver and shot the same Orc again, this time the arrow stuck the Orc in the throat and it fell the ground struggling to pull the arrows in its chest and throat.
I advanced closer to the Patrol of now one capable Orc while gaining its attention in the process; pulling another arrow from my quiver.
The Orc drew its sword while charging me, I drew the arrow back in the bow and shot it at the advancing Orc. This time the arrow fell dead center where I had aimed straight into the Orcs heart.
The Orc dropped like a sack of potatoes and I proceeded to sling my bow over my shoulder; advance to the first Orc I had shot while extending my claws in human form.
As I neared the Orc, fear could be seen in its eyes; I pitied the creature. As I came near the Orc shoved my clawed right hand into its throat before It could move. It died quickly; this simple fact gave me comfort.
I nodded at both wolves and they began to eat the Orcs they had respectfully killed. I began gut the two Orcs I had killed, while shifting my own form; dropped my bow; quiver while eating their corpses. When I arrived at the second Orc both Sun; Moon had devoured both Orcs. In astonishment at all over are endless appetites, I split the last orc amongst us and we ate overfilling our stomachs.
I then shifted my form; walked back over to my bow, quiver; fur kilt as I put them on again and began heading back to where I had stuffed the buck carcass into a small tree.
After getting the buck carcass and not hearing the system echo in my head. I retrieved my belongings; we proceeded to continue walking west as the sun began to set, on my first day in Aredeaia.
We continued to walk through the night and thanks to my Skill [Enhanced 5 Senses] my ability to see in the night was increased drastically. Walking through Forbidden Forest I looked up and the foreign stars; realized how far from my earth. The Big Dipper was nowhere in sight; neither were the other constellations that I had come to know.
This excited me, the simple fact that everything was new within the world of Aredeaia, made me shake with excitement like a child getting a gift for the first time. I became so excited that my instincts forced me to start howling at the several small moons in the sky; even in my human form the sound that came from me was closer to that of a wolf than a human.
Sun; Moon joined in and we howled for several minutes as my excitement only grew. As I stopped howling I started to run to the west in anticipation of what was to come.
I also thought about what Oleden had warned me about, that I was too trusting¡ I came to the conclusion that I would better to hold my views about being giving everyone the benefit of the doubt that I encountered unless they gave me a reason not to, but I also told myself to take not trust anyone until I was sure they wouldn¡¯t screw me over.
I assumed the common sense of Aredeaia differed from that Earth. I was unaware about just about every aspect of this world; felt people could easily take advantage of this fact.
These thoughts continue to role in my head; I soon noticed how far Sun, Moon; I had traveled without stopping. Immediately I stopped and looked around at Sun, Moon; the surrounding forest. I noticed that the trees began to grow thinner and I regretted the fact that I was so focused on my thoughts rather than the environment that I had trekked across.
I knew I could be attacked at any moment but felt that our sense¡¯s as a pack would allow us to locate anything long before it came too close.
Rather than letting these facts bog me down I just acknowledged them; told myself I need to be more aware. I¡¯m responsible not only for myself but as well as my new family.
We continued to walk at a steady pace, neither Sun nor Moon appeared to be tired, so I figured walking through the night would be fine.
After traveling about 50 miles from the lake the trees of the Forbidden Forest started to grow thinner; thinner while being spaced farther apart. We continued without encountering any life, this was to are advantage allow us to travel unimpeded.
After another 25 miles the sun had risen, and I noticed that the Skill [Bottomless Stamina] was truly amazing. I could walk much faster than I originally; the distance I could cover was unconceivable to what I could do before. We continued as the sun continue to rise into the sky.
Since the Sun was now almost above our heads I dropped the deer carcass I still carried and cut off the hind legs; pulled the heart out of the chest cavity and gave the rest to Sun; Moon.
We devoured the portions quite quickly then continued to head to the west. As we walked I started to hum my favorite song ¡°Goodbye Old Friend¡±. As the sun reached the middle sky, I decided that we should take a longer break.
As we sat down Sun; Moon curled up next to each other and began sleeping. I figured they were tired from our long trek, so I would keep watch as they slept. For some reason I didn¡¯t feel tired at all, so I leaned against a small tree while listening to the bird¡¯s chirp; enjoying the sounds of nature around me.
After about 45 mins I began to smell something unfamiliar in the woods around us a-ways off. I put both my hands-on Sun; Moon stirring them from their deep slumber. They immediately started to sniff the air and letting out a low growl.
This surprised me they were generally quiet, so thought they must be familiar with the smell that was off to our left coming from the way we had just come from.
Soon I began to hear voices that I could barely make out.
(Unknown) ¡°look at the size of these tracks, these are dire wolves!¡± someone said with excitement in their voice.
(Unknown) ¡°Yes they sure are but there¡¯s a human with them, it must have a taming class¡¡± the other voice stated dryly with clear displeasure in its voice.
The contents of the conversation gave me flash-backs of the Poachers who had shot me as I looked down at the bullet scar on my lower chest that hadn¡¯t healed like the rest of my wounds.
My Instincts began to force my body to change into my werewolf form. I forced it down as I pulled my bow off my back as I started growling unconsciously. As soon as I had pulled my bow off I strung an arrow into it; my instincts continue to try to force me from my original form. I then started howling using my skill [Howl of the Pack Leader] to communicate my plan to Sun; Moon.
The voices quieted; I looked at Sun; Moon who spaced themselves on either side of me. I started rushing towards the location of the voices howling again signaling Sun; Moon to circle around and prepare for the worst. I wouldn¡¯t attack these people if they didn¡¯t give me a reason, but I still had a disgusting taste in my mouth just thinking about what had transpired with the poachers.
If These people were after my family or they gave me a reason I would kill them without hesitation.
As I neared the scent of the people who had come from behind us I waited for Sun; Moon to get into position; walked forward towards the scent of people.
As I walked forward I saw three people, not humans about 75 feet in front of me. due to the scarcity of the cover both the group what I guessed to be Animal-Kin saw each other. They group began talk when they saw me.
(Unknown) ¡°I thought it had Dire Wolves with it?¡± the women with feline feature questioned
(Unknown) ¡°Maybe it killed them? Inspect it Jarold and find out if it¡¯s a tamer.¡± the man with Feature like a bull stated.
A man with Bear like features stepped forward; exclaimed
(Jarold) ¡°Inspect says it¡¯s not human!? Its race is Homo-Sapien? ¡ IT HAS A UNDISOVERED CLASS?!??¡±
I just continued to walk towards the group, with my bow drawn; I spoke at them in a loud and clear voice while continuing to advance.
(Phil) ¡°Why do you stalk my pack¡± I coldly stated
(Jarold) ¡°IT CAN TALK?!¡±
Before they could continue their useless banter, I snarled at them loudly in humanly letting my fangs and claws come out unconsciously.
(Phil) ¡°WHY DO YOU STALK MY PACK!!! WHY DO YOU TRACK US!!¡±
The group was just stared, rather than continue this game I threw my bow on the ground and let my kilt fall to the ground from around my waist. I force my form to shift as ripped my skin away allowing my form to be exposed.
(Phil) ¡°DO NOT MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF, YOU ARE FOLLOWING MY PACK LIKE WE ARE SOME PREY TO BE HUNTED! IF YOU DO NOT GIVE ME A GOOD REASON I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND!¡± I snarled inhumanly as my pointed my long claws at the group.
The women with feline features just starred awe struck. The man with horns like a bull started to lift a huge two-handed axe preparing to fight. The man named Jarold stopped the bull like man while saying.
(Jarold) ¡°its talking to us don¡¯t provoke it any further, Ahben.¡± While the Bull Animal-kin just stared at his companion.
I started to snarl louder and louder while until Jarold started speaking again.
(Jarold) ¡°We are not tracking or hunting you, we are patrolling our borders; came across your packs tracks¡ What are you?!¡± the man forced out.
(Phil) ¡°Your [Inspect] Skill already answered your own question, you know my race; name¡ I may look human, but I am not.¡± I growled at the people in front me, then asked. ¡°Your borders, does that mean I finally reached the Animal-Kin Kingdom? I questioned Jarold.
Chapter #5: Leaving the Forbidden Forest Part 2
Chapter #5: Leaving the Forbidden Forest Part 2.
As I questioned Jarold and his group, they looked at one another questioning my previous statement.
(Jarold) ¡°Yes, you are on the border of the Animal-Kin Kingdom. Do you not know where you are and why do you come to our Kingdom?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Why would I know where I am? I have no map, am I supposed to magically know which fucking direction I¡¯m going? I just came through the Forbidden Forest because I heard that your Kingdom was in this direction.¡± I thought talking about Oleden would only bring trouble, so I kept the fact that I met him to myself.
The group just stared after I finished talking in shock, while the Jarold stated¡
(Jarold) ¡°You came through the Forbidden Forest? You do realize the only creatures in there are an Elder Dragon and magically tainted creatures?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Never saw an Elder Dragon {I lied}, but if you are talking about the damned Orc¡¯s and Deer like creatures, I met plenty of those. Damned things are a pain trying to kill me while I was passed out, damned High Orc almost chopping my arm¡ They taste good though.¡±
The feline woman yelled out (unknown) ¡°YOU ATE AN ORC HOW STUPID ARE YOU?! DO YOU REALIZE THEY WILL TAINT YOUR MAGIC?! NO HIGHER BEING CAN EAT THEM ONLY ANIMALS CAN EAT THEM WITHOUT BEING AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THE BLESSING OF ERENREA¡±
Jarold chimed in (Jarold) ¡°Take a breath Amina. He clearly doesn¡¯t know about that!¡±
I looked at the group while stating calmly (Phil) ¡°Why does that matter? I don¡¯t have any magic, so how could I become tainted by them?¡±
The group mouths just hung open. They couldn¡¯t grasp what I had just said.
(Phil) ¡°Jarold did you not pay attention when you inspected me? Did you see any magic in my status? Did you not see the De-buff ¡°Non-Magical Being¡±? I¡¯m not the creation of your gods, Nature made me what I am.¡± I stated.
(Amina) ¡°You do realize what you¡¯re saying!? The only life created in Aredeaia that is not a creation of the gods are magically tainted creatures!¡± she blurted out without thinking
(Phil) ¡°I would appreciate if you didn¡¯t lump me in the same category as Orcs. Along with that did I ever say I was born in Aredeaia?¡±
The group of three all looked at each other in shock and astonishment.
(Ahben) ¡°Then how did you get to here?!¡± the bull-man blurted out.
(Phil) ¡°Fuck if I know? One minute I¡¯m dying, the next minute I¡¯m being dragged through some golden portal of light into your world.¡± I coldly growled to the sky, not looking at the group.
The group of Animal-Kin stared at me in disbelief. Jarold was the first to speak.
(Jarold) ¡°Your saying a god brought your here?¡±
(Phil) ¡°I don¡¯t know, nor do I care what brought me here. What I do know is I am not some creation of your gods, nor will I respect them. The only thing I respect besides nature is death.¡± I stated coldly.
As I finished I thought to myself stating to these people that Illengard and her Kingdom brought me here would probably cause problems. So, I said just enough so the gods who might be watching me could figure out who brought me here.
(Ahben) ¡°Are you implying the god of death, Necrosis brought you here?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Did I say that? No, I didn¡¯t. I said the only thing I respect besides Nature is Death. Don¡¯t lump death in the same category as some god.¡± I stated, implying that death wasn¡¯t the domain of Necrosis.
(Ahben) ¡°What are you even saying?! Necrosis is the god of death, the keeper souls!¡± The bull-man exclaimed.
(Phil) ¡°You may not understand what I¡¯m saying but your god of death does. That is all that matters.¡±
(Amina) ¡°You act like the gods are watching your every move?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they? I was not created by any of them, nor do I obligations to them. I am a mystery an enigma to them. Along with that, I walk the same planet as they¡¯re children, so why wouldn¡¯t they not keep an eye on me? If they didn¡¯t I would be quite surprised at their stupidity.¡±
The group just looked at me in silence. Rather than let the conversation continue on this course I slowly shifted my body back into its human form.
(Phil) ¡°If you¡¯re not hunting my pack I have no problem with you.¡± I stated as I pulled my kilt up and started howling.
Sun and Moon walked out from the thickets almost right behind the group. As they walked by the group they let out a low growl. Sun and moon walked to either side of me, I then started to rub and scratch their heads as their tails began to wag vigorously.
This startled the group, they became more on edge realizing they had been in so close to the pair of dire wolves without even notice. Jarold spoke out again.
(Jarold) ¡°How did you tame two Dire wolves?!¡± he questioned.
(Phil) ¡°I didn¡¯t, tame Sun and Moon. Their apart of my pack, they follow me because I¡¯m also a wolf, just a little different from them. Look I don¡¯t know you or trust you, I accept the fact that you are patrolling the Animal-Kin Kingdoms border; admire that fact. But Rather than continuing to stand here and talk all day, show me the way to your Kingdom. We can continue our conversation as we walk, if you need to take me to your superior do so. I want to get some actual cooked food in my stomach get some beer or what-ever it is in you have in this world; start my new life in this world.¡±
The group was surprised by what I said but acknowledge what I said.
(Ahben) ¡°He¡¯s right, we need to take him to Keenheim. He¡¯s not an adventurer or a citizen, on top of that he is a new race. When we get back to town, we should inform the King, he can send someone to come inspect him, we can proceed from there.
Jarold; Amina both nodded while starting to walk to the west following Ahben. The group motioned me to follow them so Sun, Moon; I started after them.
As we followed the group I notice that they all wore similar amour with a short cloak that had a sword and shield with the face of a what appeared to be a lion in the center, with a snake coiling around the sword.
As we walked I asked the Amina about the crest.
(Phil) ¡°Amina correct?¡±
(Amina) ¡°Yes, what is it?¡±
(Phil) ¡°What up with the crest on your groups cloaks?¡±
(Amina) ¡°It¡¯s the crest of the Animal-Kin Kingdom. We are part of guards for the town of Keenheim, a town on the border of the Forbidden Forest. Are job, is to check people entering the kingdom, while making sure to stop tainted monster from getting too close to Keenheim.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Sounds like a necessary job to protect the town. Those Orcs were sly, they seemed fairly organized when I came across several groups patrolling the forest. the even had that High Orc leading them in that one patrol.¡±
(Amina) ¡°What do you mean organized, they just roam around in groups looking for food within the forest?¡±
(Phil) ¡°They had a formation, every patrol I came across had one Orc in the front, with one in the rear around a main group. That seems like their organized to me.¡±
(Amina) ¡°That¡¯s not normal, they usually just run around in groups¡¡± Jarold chimed in.
(Jarold) ¡°Shit¡ looks like a High Orc evolved into A High Orc King. When we get back to the Keenheim we need to tell the Adventurers guild.¡±
(Phil) Adventurers Guild? High Orc King what the hell are you talking about?¡± I questioned?
(Jarold) ¡°The adventurers guild is a Guild that formed several hundred years ago, they are stationed in every Kingdom. They allow the Kingdoms Government, citizens, and other adventurers to post contracts for a fee. Groups of Adventurers will accept the contracts and completed them, but they will not participate in assassination. The guild is neutral in politics and will not participate in wars. They only help with threats that would affect the city they¡¯re stationed in, such as bandits attacks, magic tainted monsters or other creatures that attack the towns. Magic tainted monsters evolve as they level, this allows them to become stronger and smarter. This is how the High Orc King came into existence¡¡±
(Phil) ¡°Thanks for the information I appreciate it, since I do know much about how things work in Aredeaia.¡±
(Ahben) ¡°What was the world you came from like?¡± he questioned me.
(Phil) ¡°It is way different than Aredeaia. It is fairly peaceful and there are no gods or magic. There was only a single intelligent race Homo-Sapiens, we evolved from apes over time not in the same way the Orcs evolved. As timed passed my race became the rulers of our planet known as Earth. Since there were no other intelligent races like on Aredeaia we ruled uncontested. Rather than other races like in Aredeaia, we had differing skin color, ideologies, beliefs this is what we waged war over. This is still the case today¡ that basically sums up the basic difference between our worlds.¡±
(Ahben) ¡°You evolved from Apes?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Yup, that¡¯s why my race has opposable thumbs, five fingers; toes. We didn¡¯t evolve like I¡¯m guessing Orcs did though. Over time we gained more intelligence because those of my race who survived had to be smart enough to not die looking for food, this continued over thousands of years. What I mean by evolved is are offspring inherited the traits of the parents. This allowed traits of those who survived to be passed down, that¡¯s what I mean by evolved. It¡¯s not like we leveled up then just magically evolved one day.¡±
The group had stopped walking and just stared at me.
(Ahben) ¡°Well I guess that means your closer to an Animal-Kin than human.¡± He stated happily
(Phil) ¡°I would appear so.¡±
(POV Adventurers sent by the Holy Kingdom of Illengard)You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
A group of 15 men and women silently walked through the Forbidden Forest whom were all humans. One man led the group. He walked through the forest carefully, if one payed close enough attention they could see he was using some type of magic to make the tracks on the forest floor more visible to the naked eye. He was integral to finding the contracts target Phillip Mauger.
A man from the main group quietly talked to the man leading the group of seasoned adventurers.
(unknown) ¡°Edwin, how far ahead is he?¡±
(Edwin) ¡°I don¡¯t know, his tracks changed. You all remember the area near the entrance to the forest where I said it looked like a fight had taken place?¡±
Most of the group nodded, the ones that did were a part of the group known as the ¡°Blood Hounds¡±. The ones that didn¡¯t nod, were a different group of adventures that had joined them on the contact against their wishes, but the guild had demanded that the contract required more than the group of eight that made of the ¡°Blood Hounds¡±.
(Edwin) ¡°well I didn¡¯t think anything of it at the time but the target ¡°Phillip Mauger¡± tracks changed. I thought it was because he had a pair of wolves following him, but it is clear now that his own tracks have changed, the tracks are more like that of some type of animal¡ He been running from what I can tell on all fours for the last several miles, only taking short breaks. Since we passed that lake a way¡¯s back his tracks have turned back to that of a human, but his speed is astounding. According to the contract he should be only level 1 but he is moving faster than us¡¡±
(Unknown) ¡°what do you think caused his tracks to change?¡± a member of the Blood hounds asked Edwin.
(Edwin) ¡°I don¡¯t know Irvine, according to the contract the targets human. If I had to guess the target is not human but an Animal-Kin¡ The fact that he is going towards the Animal-Kin Kingdom only helps to validate this fact.¡±
The group continued to walk following Edwin, the group who had joined the ¡°Blood Hounds¡± continued to stay quiet.
(Irvine) ¡°If that is the case, shouldn¡¯t we inform the guild?¡±
(Edwin) ¡°No, not yet if we do find out the target isn¡¯t a human, but until we know that is the case, we will continue to follow the target.
Several murmurs could be heard from the group that had be joined the ¡°Blood Hounds¡± but they said nothing directly to the group. The entire group continued on until the found another gory scene blood, guts; bones picked clean were scattered about everywhere.
(Edwin) ¡°What is this guy, I think he ate Orc¡¯s!!¡± Edwin had leaned over and pulled a huge Orc skull from the ground. The skull was crushed, and several huge fang marks could be seen penetrating different areas of the crushed skull.
This cause the entire group of adventurers to start talking amongst themselves. They all knew no race created by the gods could eat magic tainted creatures without being transformed into a one, so why would someone willingly, do so?
(Phil POV)
Our group had traveled several miles. We were making good time, but I still felt like we are going at a snail¡¯s pace. Since I gained the [Bottomless Stamina] I could run for 30miles without even breaking a sweat.
Rather than complaining I kept this to myself, these guards seemed like good people, but I wouldn¡¯t trust them until they had earned it.
We had continued to talk the entire time. I would ask about certain things about Ardelia. While the guards would ask about things from earth.
For the most part I never mentioned tools beyond what had been created in this world, I discussed science, philosophy and the history of some of the early cavillations that had been on the earth. I never went into subjects like technology, weapons, or other aspects that could possibly impact Aredeaia like they had Earth.
I felt that introducing new things into Aredeaia was a sure-fire way be put on the gods shit list. I also felt why spoil another world with earths way of doing things? I also figured keeping my way of thinking was fine, but I needed to learn how common sense operated in Aredeaia.
This was why the majority of the question¡¯s I asked were about common sense. I asked about money, people, and society. While also asking about general things like if it was right to help those in need, to treat other respectfully and so on.
I found out generally, at least in the Animal-Kin Kingdom, common sense was fairly similar to earths. Even the things that didn¡¯t seem like common sense to me, were apart of common sense of earth at one point or another.
Such as prisoners of war being forced to work in chain-gangs, violence was common and accepted, and death at an early age was likely for those who weren¡¯t part of nobility within a kingdom.
I also found out that within the Animal-Kin Kingdom slavery was banned and that anyone found with a slave was killed, even nobles or royalty. This fact surprised me, while also making me laugh at the thought, that It took my own country almost 100 something years; countless wars to figure out that simple fact.
Throughout out our conversation we walked coming closer to the town known as Keenheim.
As we neared the town I picked up the all too familiar scent of Orc, because of this I asked the guards about it.
(Phil) ¡°Are Orc¡¯s supposed to be this close to Keenheim?¡±
My question caused the group of guards to come to a halt. Ahben responded.
(Ahben) ¡°No they are not, why do you ask?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Because there¡¯s a group of them about a half mile over there. *pointing in the direction of the scent*¡±
(Ahben) ¡°looks like will be making a detour.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I¡¯ve worked my appetite from this walk, I¡¯m sure Sun; Moon are feeling about the same. I¡¯d rather not have to pay with my non-existent money for a huge meal, granted I still would like to get a hot meal and some booze. You guys can follow and help us out if we need it.¡± I stated as a toothy grin appeared on my face.
My carefree tone surprised the group and they stared as I started striping my kilt, causing me to blurt out while throwing my kilt over my shoulder.
(Phil) ¡°Come on don¡¯t look at me like that, it¡¯s either this or tearing my crappy hand made clothes if I have to shift my form.¡±
The group said nothing, but still looked at me like a was crazy for going naked into a fight.
I sniffed the air and got on track following the scent of the Orc¡¯s. From the smell I could tell this group was fairly large. They probably had ten or more Orc¡¯s in this patrol. As we continued to travel I told the group of guards to stay back unless they wanted to kill the patrol.
Amina responded (Amina) ¡°Phillip, I don¡¯t know why you think you can take a group of ten Orcs on but were not leaving you to fight them on your own. We have an obligation to get you back and show you to our King.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Hey it¡¯s not like I have a death wish or anything far from it. I just thought since I misunderstood your intentions earlier, I¡¯d help you all out with your job as recompense.¡±
(Jarold) ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯s normal for the people we come across to act that way. Most don¡¯t even listen to us or try to kill us¡ it usually doesn¡¯t go well for them, but we appreciate what you¡¯re saying though.¡± He responded
As we neared the Orc¡¯s I put my finger to my lips and pointed ahead of me. I began to look at the weapons the guards carried. Ahben had a huge axe, Amina carried a bow with two short swords at her waist, while Jarold carried a Long Sword at his waist, with a crossbow and several bolts in a quiver on his back.
After taking note of this I took off my equipment setting on the ground near a tree. I also motioned for the group to come over while I whispered.
(Phil) ¡°Your group circle around to the left, I¡¯m going to draw their attention while sending Sun; Moon to their right and from behind. You will know when to attack, just wait for me to draw their attention. Also, don¡¯t put your lives in danger for me, I heal quickly so If I get injured don¡¯t think about it just keep fighting.¡± I stated
This surprised the group; it appeared they were not happy with my plan or surprised at what I said. Rather than call me out they just went off, to my left walking stealthy through the forest. I thought to myself that maybe they wanted to see what I capable of.
As they made their way to left I let out a howl, causing Sun; Moon to run off to my right understanding my intentions. My howl alerted the Patrol of Orc, but they didn¡¯t stir they thought they were being stalked by just pack of wolves rather than people and just looked in my direction.
The patrol was about 400 yards in front of me, I could barely make their shapes out as they walked in and out of sight between the tree cover.
This also allowed the group of Guards, Sun and Moon to sneak around them more easily. Rather than wait I started to rush forward through the trees heading towards the group of Orcs without changing my form.
As I rushed through the trees I made no attempt to do so sneakily, so they patrol new something was heading towards them. As I rushed the patrol I used my [Inspect] Skill, I soon knew that the group was mostly Orcs at level 15 while it had two High Orc¡¯s at level 18.
As I popped out of the sparse trees the patrol looked at me in confusion, they quickly realized I was not carrying a weapon. I was only about 200 feet from the group, when I stopped; started roaring and forcing my form shift while I ripped my skin from my expanding body.
This cause more confusion in the patrol, they¡¯d never seen a creature like myself. As shifted my body I stopped roaring and let out the skill [Howl of the Pack Leader] buffing Sun and Moon while telling them to kill the Orcs furthest away from the group, then run away and repeat the process if they could.
As I howled I saw a bolt and several arrows shoot out from my left. I waited for them to hit their targets which caused even more confusion amongst the group. I used this moment to charge the High Orc¡¯s in the front of the patrol.
The patrol of Orcs was also spaced out evenly, unlike the patrols Sun, Moon and Myself had come across before.
{Author Note: Confusion is not an ailment, or de-buff. It just means being literally confused, which slows your reactions, like in reality.}
Before the patrol of Orcs could realize what was happening covered the gap and launched myself on top of the High Orc in the front of the patrol. I used my hands struggling to pin its arms down while shoving my toothy maw around it¡¯s skull cracking it before it could retaliate.
I then jumped onto the nearest Orc, repeating the process. As I did several arrows and two cross bow bolts buried into the High Orc and killed two Orcs out right.
Seeing the injured High Orc with several arrows pined into it, I rushed through the patrol and slashing with my claws rushing past Orcs, towards the now injured High Orc. As I neared one Orc swung it swords cutting deep into my back, but it didn¡¯t stop my frenzied rush, my mind was on focused on how much damage the first High Orc I came across had caused, and rather than letting it recover I barreled towards the now struggling High Orc.
As the High Orc pulled an arrow from its chest, it looked up as other Orcs screeched and yelled at it, but not soon enough. As it lifted it head I grabbed its right arm wielding its weapon with my left hand, burying my claws into it.
In the same moment I turned my head grabbing it by the throat while shoving my right hand deep into its stomach. I then began snarling while lifting the High Orc into the air with my arm and face.
Several Orc¡¯s now turned towards me while slashing their swords but were met with Sun; Moon launching onto the right two Orcs, onto their backs and taking them down by the neck and ripping their throats out.
Only 3 Orcs and the High Orc in my jaws were left. Two of the Orcs were swinging their swords tearing into my back and left side, while one looked in horror as Ahben rushed it; slammed his Axe into its skull killing it on the spot.
During all of this, I began to shake my head vigorously tearing deeper into the High Orcs neck while rattling its brain in its Skull. I then Heard a *SNAP* as I broke its spine and It lay limp in my jaws.
I then threw the dead High Orc onto the ground while roaring. The two Orcs who continued to cut into me with a flurry of attacks stared in horror as I ducked past one their strikes while taking the second and shoving my right hand into its throat.
As I went strike the last Orc a cross bow Bolt and Arrow buried into its chest, so I just it pushed it over, onto the ground forcing the arrow and bolt further into its chest. as it struggled I yelled to the Jarold and Amina.
(Phil) ¡°It¡¯s your kill, and Amina sorry for killing the High Orc but they¡¯re too much of a pain to leave unchecked, one almost took my arm off so I¡¯m not letting that happen again.¡±
As I shouted I looked at the blood coming down my dirty blond fur. I had several hig gashes across my body, but they all slowly began to force themselves closed as they regenerated.
At the same time the group of guards was already running at me trying to shove a bottle with some green liquid in my hands but stopped as my wounds slowly closed to their astonishment.
(Ahben) ¡°What the fuck?! How are your wounds closing if you don¡¯t have magic?!¡± he spurted out.
Jarold just stared in astonishment.
(Amina) ¡°Maybe, he has a skill that heals him?¡± Amina asked
I then heard a voice chime in my head [Achieved Level 4] [ 10 SP and AP Gained] [2 High Orcs and 2 Orcs Killed] [No Skills have Leveled] [No New Skill Available for Purchase]
I used my [10- AP] immediately and as usual put 3 into both [Strength-31] and [Agility-31], while putting 4 into [Constitution-34]. I saved my SP not wanting to think about which skills to level up.
{Author Note: I thought instead of showing the entire Status like I previously have been I would just show the total Attributes values. I figured since I¡¯m only increasing the attributes in this chapter why show the entire status? I still plan to use the status, just not when I just increase the MC Attributes. Let me know what you think about this change in the comments.}
I then heard the voice [Acknowledged]
As they talked, I rubbed my hand across my back while I noticed a wound that was severely deeper than the rest. I looked at one of the sword cuts on my arm and watched as it slowly mended back together.
I then stated as I laughed (Phil) ¡°Yes, it is a skill and I told you all that I heal quickly, haha¡± I thought to myself, they either care about me as a person or just getting me back to their King, only time would tell which was the case.
(Jarold) ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding¡¡±
(Phil) ¡° Nope and well I¡¯m starving after that, haha, I¡¯d looked away if you¡¯re not prone to gore.¡± I said with a toothy smile, ¡°OOHH, I almost forgot in my fervor. Is there type of trophy you can take so you can sell it?¡±
Ahben chimed in, (Ahben) ¡°you can sell their horns, based on their length and width the Adventurers guild or Kingdom will pay handsomely.¡±
I walked over to each of the Orcs tearing their heads off and throwing them one by one, over to the guards. As I finished I stated (Phil) ¡°You can do so while I eat, divide it up as you see fit.¡±
I then grabbed both High Orcs and tossed them on top of one another. I moved about grabbing the remaining Orcs and laid them down next to each other calling over Sun; Moon. I pointed to the pile and gave them the go ahead to start eating as the pleased.
I walked over to the high Orcs gutting them as I previously had then eating them both in a matter of several minutes. When I finished I looked over at Sun and Moon, who both looked like swollen balloons. Laughed as I looked at my own swollen gut then proceeded to laugh even harder.
They had devoured the remains of Four Orcs apiece, this made me laugh and question where the hell all that food went? Was it because we traveled so far yesterday? Or were they just chow hounds? I would may never know¡.
After finishing we rolled are selves over to the group of guards who had finished pulling the Horns from the Orcs and High Orcs heads. They just stared at us and the flesh stripped bones that were the Orcs and High Orcs.
(Ahben) ¡°How the in the gods names did you eat that much?! Your wolves ate 4 Orcs apiece and You 2 High Orcs in Less than 10 mins, in one fucking sitting?!
I just stared at the Sun; Moon who looked almost exactly like a fat Wolf from a Manga I used to read, I then started to hysterically laugh as I continued to role on the ground, I managed to force out two wods between laughs.
(Phil) ¡° AHAH, Bottomless, AHAHA, Stomach, AHAHA¡±
As I stopped laughing at my internal thoughts, shitty joke, and collected myself. I ran off in my shifted form and grabbed my equipment, then came back in my original form, while stating.
(Phil) ¡°sorry about that, I¡¯m sure you are all ready, so let¡¯s head to Keenheim.
We then started to head back to Keenheim, it was fairly quick apparently, we were only about 6 miles away from it. We all moved quicker than before trying to get to the town. After about 2 miles the forest disappeared and rolling hills dotted the landscape with huge mountains in the distance.
As we crested one of the rolling hills, Amina walked over and handed me four horns while saying ¡°Here¡¯s the High Orc¡¯s horns and don¡¯t worry about killing the one I shot, I landed a few arrows in it but I wouldn¡¯t have killed it. When we get into town will all go to castles quarter master and sell them. Will then go to the garrison, then head to Lord Elbuck¡¯s Castle, He should be able to contact the King through his court mage.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Thanks, and sound like a plan.¡± I then stated loudly ¡°Don¡¯t fuck me over, I¡¯ve already been fucked over by the whoever brought me here, you seem like good people so I¡¯m warning you in advance.¡±
The guards all looked somewhat astonished at me, it appears they actually did care about what happened earlier, but it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry.
(Phil) ¡°Look I¡¯m not trying to be an asshole, I¡¯m just being honest and upfront with you now.¡±
(Jarold) ¡°Fair enough, but just so you¡¯re aware if we wanted to ¡°fuck you over¡± we would have done so when you had your back turned to us when fighting the Orc patrol.¡± He stated
(Phil) ¡°Fair point¡¡± I said I my voice trailed off while I thought I might have just fucked up a little bit.
We continued on walking in silence as we eventually came to a road. Amina broke the silence by saying
(Amina) ¡°You have every right not trust us, but you¡¯re going to have to trust someone at some point¡¡±
(Phil) ¡°You are very right Amina, you have earned my trust, just don¡¯t abuse it.¡±
(Amina) ¡°We won¡¯t, same goes for you Phillip.¡± She said with a smile.
(Ahben) ¡°Well since that awkward moments over, this is the road leading back to Keenheim. It¡¯s not like the roads in the interior of the Kingdom, it loops around the Forbidden Forest to North for trade with the Demon Kingdom. We should be about a mile away from the town.
Chapter #6: Meeting the Animal-Kin Kingdoms King Part 1
Chapter #6: Meeting the Animal-Kin Kingdom¡¯s King Part 1
(Phil POV)
As our group continues forward along the road leading away from the Forbidden Forest, the signs of civilization become more and more apparent. The first aspect of this is the small farms that are raising animals while others appear to be growing a myriad of vegetables, grains, and fruits.
As I walk with the group of guards some of the farmers stare at me, others continue about their daily routine. We continue to walk along the dirt and cobble stone road, in the distance I see big walls. The walls seem to be similar to that of the city I came to Aredeaia, but fairly smaller.
From my current distance, they look to be about 20 feet tall. As we come closer to Keenheim, I start to see houses dotting the outskirts of the walls. The houses some seem to be made similarly to log cabins while others have a more modern aesthetic and are made of a verity of stone, wood; other material that I¡¯m unable to recognize.
As I stare at my surroundings Jarold looks at me and says.
(Jarold) ¡°Try not to cause any problems, Humans frequent Keenheim, some even live here but a lot of the Animal-Kin within the Kingdom hold disdain for humans. Most are associated with the Holy Kingdom and due to how the Holy Kingdom kills Animal-Kin within their borders, atomicity has risen within the Animal-Kin Kingdom.¡±
(Phil) ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, if worse comes to worse ill just shift, that should make them calm down.¡±
We continued to walk while talking
(Jarold) ¡°I would be careful doing so, you already have an undiscovered class and are a new race. You should be accepted within our kingdom but who knows, some might not agree with are opinions.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Being honest, I don¡¯t really care what others think of me, if I did I would be a hell of a lot different than I am today. I thank you for the warning though.¡±
As we continued forward along the road, more and more people could be seen using it. As we passed them some stared, others cursed, most just didn¡¯t say anything and kept to themselves.
Even with all of this going on I still felt the gaze¡¯s, I had felt in the forest upon me. As I did before I just didn¡¯t acknowledge them I felt doing so would just bring about problems, I probably couldn¡¯t handle as of yet.
As I finished thinking I realized we were at the one of several the entrance gates to Keenheim. Surprisingly enough we didn¡¯t need to stop, as we passed the open entrance to the gate Ahben just shouted at one of the several posted guards that the group had returned with an important guest.
The guard he shouted at looked at me, I smiled at him letting my fangs extend outward between my pursed lips. This caused the man to look away and continue dealing with the groups of people going into the city.
As we walked I allowed my claws to grow out. I thought that by doing this I would appear less human; in doing so draw less attention. It worked for the most part, but several individuals just stared harder as they saw my claws come out of my fingers and toes.
As we walked into the town, I realized it was closer to a city than a town. If I had to guess it was probably about 6 miles in wide in all directions. The walls formed a huge circle around the town and had several archer towers stationed around to keep watch on the surrounding country side.
As we continued on I noticed some people watching me as the guards, Sun, Moon; I walked. The people were all human, they all had a verity of weapons and armor. Some had spears, others had great swords, others carried long staffs with gems affixed on them. Rather than guessing who they were, I just asked Amina while pointing directly at them.
(Phil) ¡°Any idea why those people are staring so intently at me? Do I look like a delectable treat to be sampled?¡±
As she turned around she noticed that my fangs and claws were out and stared at me as well.
(Amina) ¡°They¡¯re probably wondering who and what you are. When you walk around with a fur garment, have a human appearance yet have claws and fangs like an Animal-Kin and have a pair of huge dire wolves following you around. It draws attention, also they¡¯re adventurers so I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be informing the guild of your appearance in our Kingdom.¡±
As she finished I just waved at the people staring at me while continuing on my way with the guards, this surprised the group intently staring at me as they all turned around and started walking in a different direction.
(Phil) ¡°What¡¯s the deal Adventurers Guild? You act like their controlled by a single group of people? Shouldn¡¯t there just be a guild master at each location that runs each guild? Or is some committee controlling them all?
(Amina) ¡°They have a Board that controls each guild stationed throughout different kingdoms. I don¡¯t know much about the Board other than the fact that each board member is strong enough to rival a kingdoms army.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Hmmm, good to know. Thanks for the information Amina.¡±
As we finished talking we arrived at a castle, it wasn¡¯t exuberant or flashy. It was more along the lines of a humble abode with several separated sections. It was still a huge building, but it did not look like your typical castle.
Jarold led us in through into the building on the right as we walked in he stated.
(Jarold) ¡°This is the Armory and where you can find the Quarter-Master Harold and just about anything you¡¯ll need. Just don¡¯t piss the Harold off, he¡¯s a bit eccentric and has control over who is able to get weapons and other items from the Armory.¡¯
We continued forward through the building and eventually found a man sitting behind a desk. The man name Harold looked like some type of reptile but still had very human features. He had brownish scales covering every visible part of his skin, slits for pupils, and a tail that stuck out of clean armor.
As we walked near Harold he took his eyes off a book he had been staring at and look in our direction. His gaze immediately fell on me as he hissed. I guessed the man was inspecting me,3 so I did the same in return.
[Name: Harold Brown-Scale]
[Race: Animal-Kin, {Serpent}]
[Level: 25]
[Class: Poison Eater]
????....
As I used Inspect I noticed most of his status was unavailable, I guessed this was because of the level gap between us. I also guessed that you could get a person¡¯s Name, Race, Level, and Class no matter what level the [Inspect] Skill was.
As I did Harold¡¯s eyes burrowed into me, yet his face was left in a state of shock. So, I just said
(Phil) ¡°Seems my own status is just as mystifying as your own Harold Brown-Scale.¡±
Harold looked at me, the shock left his face and more of an inquisitive expression formed.
(Harold) ¡°Indeed Phillip Mauger, I¡¯ve never seen any race like your own, nor someone who has a class that I couldn¡¯t inspect but the fact you don¡¯t have any magic is what surprises me the most¡¡±
(Phil) ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t get to upset, I don¡¯t think anybody can [Inspect] my class. If you interested in my origin I would suggest you come when I explain this Elbuck and your King. Also, I was told you¡¯ll take these. *handed over the two High Orc Horns*¡±
(Harold) ¡°hmm, yes I can. Did you kill these yourself?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Yes, with the help of Jarold, Amina, Ahben, Sun, and Moon. Also, they said you have different items available here. I¡¯d appreciate it if you could bring me a real pair of pants, just take it out of what you¡¯ll give me from what the horns are worth.¡±
(Harold) ¡°I can do that, do not require a shirt, Armor, or shoes?¡±
(Phil) ¡°No I¡¯m good thanks for the offer though. Just thought an actual pair of pants would be better to meet royalty in.¡±
Harold didn¡¯t reply he just walked off behind his desk into a big room, I guessed it was a part of the Armory that didn¡¯t have expensive items or weapons. When he returned he had a pair of brown leather pants, they were short but would work for my purposes. He stated as he handed me the pants and small pouch.
(Harold) ¡°Here the pants and what you are owed, I gave you a coin pouch because it looks like you don¡¯t have one, it¡¯s my gift to you.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Thanks Harold, I appreciate it. Make sure to swing by if you can when I talk to the Elbuck.¡±
(Harold) ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to do so, it all depends on if I can get my replacement to cover for me.¡±
(Phil) ¡°if you can¡¯t I swing by and talk to you so don¡¯t fret Mr. Brown-Scale.¡±
Amina, Ahben, and Jarold just watched the exchange in shock. Usually Harold was not talkative or friendly, but he had been both with Phillip. The group handed over their horns and Harold gave them their money and we were once again on our way.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Amina said, (Amina) ¡°Were heading to the Barracks next, you can change there. By the way what did you do to Harold?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Great, I like my kilt and all, but getting into some actual pants would be a lot more comfortable. I didn¡¯t do anything? Is he not like that usually?¡±
(Amina) ¡°After that will be heading over to Lord Elbuck, you will have to talk with him before he summons the King or has an advisor of the king come. Hahaha, no Harold usually keeps to himself so its surprising you two hit it off so well¡±
(Phil) ¡°Sounds good, any advice? I was just trying to no cause problems.¡±
(Amina) ¡°Just call him Lord Elbuck, he worked hard for his title and position. He¡¯s not like most Nobles so you shouldn¡¯t have to much trouble.¡±
(Phil) ¡°That good, I¡¯m not really a fan of entitled people so that¡¯ll make this go more smoothly.¡±
We continued to walk out of the Armory and around the big central part of the castle. We eventually came to a big building on the left-hand side of the central part of the castle. The group of guards led me inside and we walked up several flights of stairs and arrived in a room, the group started to strip off they¡¯re armor, Jarold told me.
(Jarold) ¡°Change here then will head over to the Lord Elbucks castle.¡±
Rather than reply back I just nodded and striped out of my fur kilt and put my pants that I had gotten from Harold on. They were well made leather pants, they only came down just past my shin¡¯s and had a drawstring around each leg and the waist. After getting into my pants I put my coin pouch around my waist with a leather cord Harold had given me, I also strapped my quiver and bow onto my back and readied myself to meet Lord Elbuck.
After I finished I walked outside the room to give the group some more privacy while Sun; Moon accompanied me. We sat by the stair waiting, it only took about 5 min then the group came out completely changed. They all had a different set of armor on and clean clothing.
Rather than talk we continued on in silence, we walked down the stairs and back to the big central building that made up the castle. When we walked in the building was not like I expected it was more like a hunter¡¯s cabin. There were a plethora of huge animals and magic tainted monsters mounted on the walls.
Some I couldn¡¯t recognize others just seemed like huge versions of animals from earth. What stuck out to me was the giant wolfs head. Its head was easily as big as a couch, the sight of this caused Sun; Moon to emit a low growl.
I turned to them and rubbed they¡¯re heads while trying to comfort them, I couldn¡¯t blame them, that was one of their own mounted on the wall as a trophy, but I understood it.
We continued through the big castle until we arrived at a room. The group knocked on the door and a voice echoed ¡°Come in¡±
A huge man sat on a chair within the back of the room. It was not decorated like the rest of the house it was fairly fancy and had a long table at its center. I guessed this was where Lord Elbuck had meeting or talked to guests.
The man facing us had huge antlers coming from his head. He also had brown fur covering most of his body but had the general appearance of a human. I guessed this was Lord Elbuck. He continued forward and sat down at the table and waved his hand for us to do the same while looking at the group of guards and me, then began to speak.
(Elbuck) ¡°Jarold, why does your group escort this man and a pair of dire wolves into my castle?¡±
(Jaorld) ¡°We found him coming out of the Forbidden Forest my Lord, the rest would be best explained by him¡±
Elbuck raised an eyebrow he didn¡¯t expect this group to act as they did. They were one of the best scouting units in his garrison and rarely ever made him deal with people brought into the Animal-Kin Kingdom.
(Elbuck) ¡°Well if that¡¯s the case so be it. What is it that¡¯s you need to meet me in person?¡± he asked looking at me.
(Phil) ¡°I need to meet you to meet your king, plain and simple. I also thought It would be in my best interest to introduce myself to the lord of this land.¡± before I could finish Elbuck cut me off
(Elbuck) ¡°hahaha, why do you need to meet the king?¡± he said half laughing half being serious
(Phil) ¡°I need to meet your king, because I¡¯m an almost extinct race. My name is Phillip Mauger the only Homo-Sapien on Aredeaia¡±
This caused Elbuck to look at me more directly I guessed he was inspecting me. So, I just started talking while he was doing.
(Phil) ¡°look I¡¯m not a being created by your gods, someone brought me here before I could die on my own world. I¡¯m not a fan of dying, but I¡¯m also not a fan of denying death what its owed¡ when I say death I¡¯m not talking about your god Necrosis. I¡¯m talking about a rule an unspoken law. Death claims all that is alive at one point or another, that¡¯s a simple fact.¡±
(Phil) ¡°But that¡¯s not why I¡¯m here talking to you or why your guards thought I should meet your king. I¡¯m here because I¡¯m not human, nor am I an Animal-Kin, but in all honesty, I¡¯m closer to you as a race than humans, due to my class. Your guards figured that getting me here was in the best interest of the Animal-Kin Kingdom. I¡¯d wager that your kingdom would want some unknown race on its side rather than fighting against it. From what they have told me your kingdom seems to be a fair place, more so than the Holy Kingdom of Illengard. So rather than going to a Kingdom or race that I have no connection with I thought It would be a safer bet to accompany your guards and come introduce myself to you and your king.¡±
Elbuck didn¡¯t say anything he just sat and stared at me, it looked like he was lost in my status or just trying to figure out what to do next. Suddenly he called out.
(Elbuck) ¡°Rina teleport to your master and tell him and the king, they need to come to my lands quickly. If, they ask why just tell them something has come up and I need there advisement immediately.
A flash of blue light was all that I saw as the woman named Rina teleported away.
(POV Conrad, King of the Animal-Kin Kingdom)
As I sit on my throne I thought about how my kingdom could win the coming war with the Holy Kingdom. I knew that after their last defeat the Holy Kingdom of Illengard would not stay silent for long. Their champion was strong, but he lacked the ability to lead the army under his charge. He had been too young and lacked experience, yet they still made him go to war. On top of this he had seemed to appear out of nowhere.
As I thought this a flash of blue light appeared next to Amir my court mage. Amir didn¡¯t move so I assumed he knew who had teleported into the throne room. What came from the blue portal of light was Rina his student.
She had learned all the magic she knew from Amir and admired him greatly. She couldn¡¯t master all the magic he had acquired over the years but became very adept in teleportation magic and this was the reason he proposed her becoming the Elbucks court mage.
As she came out of the portal her face was pale, she just said.
(Rina) ¡°Lord Elbuck requires both of your assistance in his land. He needs your advisement on an issue that has just come about immediately.¡±
(Amir) ¡°What is wrong Rina?¡±
(Rina) ¡°It¡¯s not Holy Kingdom that¡¯s all I can say. I would advise you both to come now!¡± she blurted out.
(Conrad) ¡°So be it, let us go Amir, your student wouldn¡¯t come here unless she agreed with Lord Elbuck.¡±
A flash of blue light appeared again, and we had set off. Both Amir and myself were confused but we knew something weird was going on. When we arrived in Keenheim castle, Elbuck, a group of his guards and a man with two dire wolves and only a pair of pants on was seated in his meeting chamber.
(Conrad) ¡°What is this about Elbuck?¡±
Elbuck and the guards immediately kneeled before me. The man with only pants on just stayed seated while smiling at me. Elbuck looked at me a said.
(Elbuck) ¡°I asked Rina to bring both of you here because of Phillip Mauger. It would be better for him to explain...
I noticed Amir start using telepathy on the man sitting down but the man stood up and pointed at Amir and calmly stated.
(Phil) ¡°This will make things go easier but if you try to root around in my memories, I will have to kill you.¡±
Amir was taken back by this. I stated
(Conrad) ¡°Don¡¯t threaten my court mage or you will regret it.¡± The man didn¡¯t even look at me. he just looked at Amir as his skin started to rip and he let out a low growl that did not match his human appearance. The wolves sat up off the ground behind the man and started to growl along with him
Amir just nodded, as it looked like he started to see things from the man¡¯s memories. The man sat back down and closed his eyes. the wolves both matched the man and sat back down on either side of him.
Amir¡¯s face shifted and struggled to keep up with what the man was showing him. His face paled and his face looked like it saw unspeakable horrors. This exchange happened for several minutes before Amir just looked at the man in utter silence unable to speak. The man opened his eyes and looked at me and spoke.
(Phil) ¡°My name is Phillip Mauger, everything I¡¯m going to tell you your court mage can corroborate but what I said still stands. I¡¯m sorry our introduction has to be like this but there are things in my mind that will only destroy Aredeaia. I showed your court mage what happened to my own world when this knowledge was widely known and accepted by my race. After what he saw I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t repeat certain things I showed him, he knows what wars looked like where I¡¯m from and how different it is from your own on this world.¡±
Amir blurted out
(Amir) ¡°I will, I promise you that. *his body shuttered as he recalled the horrible images he was shown*.
(Conrad) ¡°What did he show you Amir?¡±
(Amir) ¡°He showed me what war without magic looks like¡. Magic can kill hundreds even thousands but that¡¯s nothing compared to what he showed me Conrad, nothing at all! Whole sections of continents were destroyed, millions of people killed in an instant...¡±
(Phil) ¡°Don¡¯t worry Amir, I don¡¯t know how to make those weapon¡¯s, nor do I ever want to. I do know how to make others that are still dangerous to your world, but that¡¯s not why I came here I didn¡¯t come to threaten you. I came to introduce myself and tell you how I got to Aredeaia.¡±
(Conrad) ¡°What do you mean got to Aredeaia?!¡±
(Phil) ¡°use the [inspect] skill on me that should clue you in.¡±
I used the [inspect] skill and was surprised be on all belief. The man who sat before me was not human.
His race was Homo-Sapien, he had an undiscovered class that I couldn¡¯t inspect, had no magic at all; on top of all of that had a strange title that alluded to him not being created by any gods.
I just stayed silent looking over the man Phillip Mauger in front of me.
(Phillip) ¡°Look I¡¯m sorry that our introduction to one another has gotten off on the wrong foot but understand I mean you no harm. I¡¯m going summarize how I got to Aredeaia.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°I was attacked and dying in my world earth. I¡¯d been gravely injured, but a pair of golden hands drug me into a portal of golden light. I was brought through the portal too the Holy Kingdom. As I laid dying in their throne room, I was given a class. My class allowed me to heal my wounds but also transformed me, because of this I was attacked by the Holy Kingdom of Illengard because I was not human. They pursued me to the Forbidden Forest; I eventually made my way to your kingdom where I met up with a group of scouts and was brought to Keenheim. That about sums it up.¡±
(Amir) ¡°He is not lying my King he showed me this.¡±
(Conrad) ¡°The Holy Kingdom brought you to Aredeaia? How did they do this?¡±
(Phil) ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯d guess with magic but who knows you have gods in your world, maybe Illengard helped them.¡±
As he finished speaking a Pair of golden hands shot out from the ceiling, they wrapped around Phillips throat and lifted him off the ground. I womanly voice yelled in anger throughout the room.
(Illengard) ¡°YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT QUIET MORTAL!¡±
(Phil) ¡°HAHAHA, so you finally show yourself you damned wench! I¡¯ve felt your disgusting gaze upon me since I left your shitty Kingdom. I hope you know you just fucked yourself by coming here! Now these people and the other gods watching me know what you did.¡± Phillip yelled out
(Illengard) ¡°YOU FAILED YOUR PURPOSE, YOU CALL ME A WENCH, AND THREATEN ME! I SHALL MAKE SURE YOUR SOUL IS DESTORYED FOR SUCH MOCKERY MORTAL!¡±
(Phil) ¡°My soul? HAHAHA, GOOD LUCK YOU TAVERN WENCH!¡±
(Phil POV)
As I sat lifted off the ground staring at the hands that brought me to this world I just started to laugh uncontrollably. I then felt something cold on my throat, it then became freezing I felt like the life was draining from my body. I thought this was Illengard doing, but she soon started yelling in pain.
(Illengard) ¡°WHAT ARE YOU DOING AHHHHHHHHHHH!!¡¯
She soon let go of my body and I fell to the floor and smacked my head onto the ground. The freezing sensation kept persisting only growing more and more. I felt like my body was beginning to freeze over. As I laid on the ground I started to hear something, at first it sounded like a whisper, it then formed into a horrid cacophony on laughter and screaming.
I then heard the voice of the system in my head [YOU HAVE BEEN MARKED BY DEATH], [Gained titles: The One Who Escaped Death, Death¡¯s Hound] [Skill [Claw; Fang Growth] has changed to [Claw; Fangs of Death]
The screaming and laughter became distorted as a voice echoed throughout the room. A black body came from out of the ground. It grabbed me off the floor with its right hand and lifted me to eye level. As I looked at it I noticed it wasn¡¯t black it was the same color as Outer-space, its body had stars floating within it. it then began to speak.
[DEATH] ¡°Interesting, A world where someone uses my power without my consent¡ You have been marked child of Nature. You escaped me and were brought to this world where god¡¯s mettle with things they do not fully comprehend or understand. Show them their mistake show them why you fear and respect me.¡±
As the figured finished talking it dropped me and disappeared into nothing.
I just sat on the ground breathing heavy trying to come to terms with what just happened. I couldn¡¯t believe Death just saved me, it was also hard to believe that it was sentient. I just assumed it was law, not a being of some kind, but I guess I was wrong about that.
I also thought about how it had hurt Illengard a god! I guessed that had something to do with what death was, I guessed it wasn¡¯t a god but something completely different, something older, something that had been around since the beginning of time.
I then looked around the room and saw everyone in the room was staring at me with their mouths agape. I just started talking in between my heavy breaths.
(Phil) I think that shows you who brought me here, it also looks like DEATH isn¡¯t too happy Necrosis is using his powers.¡±
I then looked at up at the ceiling and shouted to the gods.
(Phil) ¡°YOU STUPID TAVERN WENCH, I WAS GOING TO LEAVE YOU AND YOUR KINGDOM ALONE, NOW IM COMING FOR YOU! I DON¡¯T CARE IF I HAVE TO RIP APART YOUR KINGDOM, I WILL MAKE YOU PAY! THEN AFTER I KILL YOU I¡¯LL GIVE YOUR CORPSE AND SOUL TO DEATH! *Deep Breath* I ADVISE THE REST OF YOU GODS TO STAY THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY! THE WENCH BROUGHT ME HERE, THEN TRIED TO KILL ME, THIS IS HER MESS NOT YOURS!¡±
I then stood up and sat back down at the table. Trying to control the rage that fumed within me. I grabbed my emotions swirling around in my head and shoved them deep into my stomach and just sat breathing trying to calm down.
Chapter #7: Meeting the Animal-Kin Kingdoms King Part 2
Chapter #7: Meeting the Animal-Kin Kingdom¡¯s King Part 2
(Phil POV)
I just sat at the meeting table in Elbucks castle not noticing the King, Elbuck, their Court Mages, and the group of guards whispering about what had just happened. I knew that I had to calm the boiling rage in me It felt like the anger that was not my own. As I finally calmed down I began to hear the groups whisperings.
(Conrad POV)
What was most surprising about everything that had transpired was Phillip just decided to sit back down, after being dragged to the ceiling by Illengard then being picked up again by some mysterious being by the throat. He looked like he was just breathing but if you looked hard enough you could see he was just sitting trying to control his breathing while trying to calm himself down and thinking about something. I thought about how furious he¡¯d gotten after the mysterious being left and his statement to Illengard, then one of Elbucks guards began to speak.
(Jarold) ¡°Why is Illengard so interested with Phillip? Why was she so mad that he spoke about how he got to Aredeaia? What was that black figure and What does it want?
(Elbuck) ¡°Jarold, I¡¯m guessing its based off of what Phillip implied, that Illengard brought him to Aredeaia with the help of her followers preforming some ritual. How that ritual works I have no idea, nor do I have any idea why Illengard would be so upset with Phillip just saying it out loud. Maybe it has to do with the other gods in Aredeaia, but ultimately we don¡¯t know.¡±
(Conrad) ¡°I agree Elbuck, Illengard probably didn¡¯t want Phillip to say anything because Illengard isn¡¯t the only god watching him. He¡¯s said openly a few different times that he was not made by gods and doesn¡¯t really respect them; after this can you really blame him? I¡¯ve never seen a god descend merely to try to silence someone from speaking, it¡¯s an eye-opening experience to say the least¡¡±
(Amir) ¡°Conrad my King, I would have to agree. If Phillip wasn¡¯t made by the gods of Aredeaia then that¡¯s all the more reason the Gods felt they needed to keep an eye on him. If she wasn¡¯t supposed to bring someone from another world, she wouldn¡¯t want them talking about it informing the other gods of her own actions. Look at what popped out when he was about to die. What that mysterious being said is puzzling, it sounded like he was upset that our gods didn¡¯t understand what they were doing, it acted like it was dealing with children not gods. Not only that It said something was meddling with its power without its consent. I fear Necrosis is the god it was referring to, what that means I do not know but I do know Phillip won¡¯t sit idlily by.¡±
(Conrad) ¡°Your right Amir, but rather than guess what Phillip will or will not do let us wait. He is still trying to take in what happened and can we really blame him? A god descended and tried to kill him for merely speaking, then a mysterious being gave him a task to complete that pertains to our gods. Let us wait and see what he plans to do from here.¡±
The group of individuals decided to sit back down at the table, they all just watched and waited for Phillip. One thing they all noticed is that he had a black chain now around his neck. It wasn¡¯t a physical chain, but It looked as though it was now a part of his skin.
After starring at the mysterious chain, they just continued moved back to starring at Phillip¡¯s face. At first it looked like he was just breathing but then he began to smile, it became bigger and bigger. As his smile grew the whites of his eyes began to become pitch black.
The group began to mutter amongst themselves wondering what was happening, but Phillip said nothing. He just sat looking at a single point at the wall in front of him, this transpired for over 10 mins then he began to look at the each of the group and his gaze finally landed on Amir and he began to speak.
(Phil POV)
(Phil) ¡°Amir can you use your telepathy skill so that all of us can talk?¡±
Amir looked just looked at Phillip in the eyes which were now pitch black with dark green iris¡¯s. Amir finally responded.
(Amir) ¡°Yes I can.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°Good do so.¡±
Amir used his telepathy skill and linked the group together, so they could speak with just their thoughts, but he feared what Phillip might show the others. As he finished images began flash before their eyes while trickling through the groups heads. At first it was just people they had never seen but then the people picked up strange tools. They were then showed war, thousands of people using these tools, killing one another.
They group just shook in terror they had never seen so many corpses. They all were of men, they were blown apart by these tools or pierced by balls ranging from as a big a person¡¯s head, to as small as a finger-tip. The group was shocked that such a tool could cause so much death.
As the images flashed before them they soon realized that these were not Phillips own experience they were from several books. The images had text around them they could not read but it was clear that they were not things Phillip had done, just a record of what had happened, but then images were cut off by him.
He then asked in the telepathic link.
(Phillip) ¡°Do you have Dwarves in Aredeaia?¡±
Conrad answered first
(Conrad) ¡°We do but why does that matter? After everything that happened that¡¯s the first thing you ask?!¡±
Phillips smile only grew as he heard this he responded calmly.
(Phillip) Good and yes, it is. Also, since were using this skill I¡¯m sure the god that created the Animal-Kin race is listening and is very interested in my intention whether they will respond is up to them, but I will say this to them. I¡¯m coming for the tavern wench, she will be made an example for the rest of you. No one escapes death, that applies to you gods as well.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°With that said, I have no issues with the rest of you. Unless you decided to support the tavern wench that is. Now, where are the dwarves, King Conrad? Do they have their own kingdom?¡±
The group was shocked, why would Phillip believe their god Crenith their god would be listening to their conversation? From what they knew about the telepathy skill only those who were linked could hear the conversation, even with these thoughts Conrad responded to his question.
(Conrad) ¡°Their Kingdom is far to the west past our own kingdom, with that said we have a few dwarven emissaries within the capital of our Animal-Kin Kingdom.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°That¡¯s great, I¡¯m guessing dwarves are known for their craftsmen-ship or am I wrong?¡±
(Conrad) ¡°yes they are? Why does that matter though? They are not known to help others they are prideful in their creation and they seldom build items for outsiders of their country. We have a dwarven craftsmen in our Kingdom, but he won¡¯t build anything based on requests, he only builds items he wishes to, he refused to build me weapon at one point.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°HAHA, this is great, things will go more smoothly with one of their craftsmen. I¡¯m guessing my plan will be able to come about faster than anticipated. Moving forward, is there a type of magic that forces decomposition to happen?¡±
(Conrad) ¡°Yes there is, the Demon-Kin Kingdom has such magic but they just like the dwarves won¡¯t give away their secrets.¡±
Conrad guessed he wanted to know of the race capable of using the magic he had referred to, so he just included them within his response.
(Phillip) ¡°this is great, my plan should be able to come about in a month or two rather than several years ahahaha. Also, that fine I don¡¯t want their secrets, I want their expertise and help, that¡¯s it. As long as they hate the Holy Kingdom and our willing to help our cause, that¡¯s all that matters. Now King Conrad I have a request for you and your court mage, cut the link so we are the only ones able to hear it. After I¡¯m done you can reconnect us all.¡±
Amir did this and he and is king waited for Phillip to start speaking.
(Phillip) ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t like the holy kingdom, from what I heard from Jarold, you¡¯ve fought several wars with them, they also enslave your own kind that they capture in the wars and within their kingdom. Is this true?¡±
(Conrad) ¡°Yes they do, there are several large clans of Animal-Kin enslaved along with other races such as Demon-kin and Dwarves included.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°what idiots do they want the entirety of Aredeaia to fight against them? It would appear so. If that what they want, then that¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen if all goes according to plan, A war in which this world has never seen. I¡¯ll tell you both my plan if you agree to my request¡¯s, after that point you will be considered my allies, but you will have to follow through with a few demands pertaining to knowledge from my own world.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
(Phil) Onto my request, Amir I need dead bodies fresh preferably. I also need a place to put them in the earth far away from any city in a place that is dry. Next King Conrad I have a bit of difficult request for you. I need ground water, feces, and urine in mass. I need them to be transported to where location the bodies will be in mass.¡±
The two men just stared at Phillip the couldn¡¯t understand what he needed corpse¡¯s, piss, shit, and water for, but they just responded.
(Amir) ¡°I can get you corpse¡¯s¡ will magic tainted monsters work?¡±
(Conrad) ¡°I can get you the other items as well, we can just make a latrine and make the army use it and transport it to the location we find for your corpses. The ground water will be a little more difficult to find but we should be able to do so.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Yes Amir they should work. Great, you will tell no one of this ever. What I going to make is what like what I showed you but far worse. I¡¯m planning on making something different, but it will cause just as much destruction or more as what I showed you earlier. I will next need to meet the dwarf craftsmen in your kingdom. Then I will need to find a Demon-Kin who is capable of using decomposition magic. Then I will go to their Kingdoms to ally them with our cause. I¡¯ll say this only once, I will be keeping the construction of what I¡¯m going to make to myself. I don¡¯t want it used ever again after I¡¯m done, if you try to recreate it you will be my enemies am I clear?
The two men nodded
(Phil) ¡°Amir you can reconnect everyone if you don¡¯t mind¡±
(Phil) ¡°That¡¯s good, now onto my telling you my plan. I figure due to how the Holy Kingdom Operates your kin are not the only ones being used as slaves as you stated. I¡¯m sure this is the case for all kingdom¡¯s, so I plan to unite you all and go to war with the holy kingdom. I don¡¯t plan on killing every human, but I do plan on destroying the kingdom the tavern wench built. Once that¡¯s done I¡¯m going after her I should have leveled enough by then that I should be capable of doing so.
(Phil) I¡¯m not going to lie, you¡¯ll lose a people in this war and it will be like nothing this world has ever seen but once it¡¯s done you should be rid of the Holy Kingdom for good. If all goes to plan when I visit the other¡¯s kingdoms I plan on getting them to sign a peace treaty on your behalf, in doing so hopefully this world will never have another war but I¡¯m not going to guarantee that.¡±
Conrad and Amir just starred at Phillip, he had done a complete 180 on creating things from his own world and now was going to war with their kingdoms mortal enemy he also planned to build the weapons of his country to help them not fight against them. This fact pleased them both, they also did not disagree with his standpoint on them not knowing how they were created, they believed that the less they knew about the construction of such weapons the better off Aredeaia would be.
Conrad had only one question
(Conrad) ¡°I think that your plan is fairly sound, its fairly general, but I believe that with the help of weapons from your world we should have a clear advantage over the Holy Kingdom if we are going to start this war. My only question is will you be contributing troops? War Is numbers game even if we unite with the Demon-kin, Dwarven Kingdom we will still lack numbers over the Holy Kingdom. They have 4 times the amount of land, and 5 times the amount of people in their army as any given Kingdom. Even if we follow through with your plan we will still be lacking in numbers.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°Hmmm, I planned for them to have more than people than us, but I didn¡¯t realize there were that many ready to fight within the Holy Kingdom. I have a solution to this issue, but It will take time to make it happen. I¡¯d say it would add another 5 or 6 months to my plan but it¡¯s still feasible. For your own clarity ill just make my pack bigger, so I¡¯ll need to locations that wolves live in your kingdom, and the others once they sign onto this. If I can do that I¡¯ll make a big enough pack that it should be able to contest with their numbers.¡±
The group of people excluded from the conversation just starred lost in what was being said. While Conrad and Amir continued to speak with Phillip.
(Conrad) ¡°That could work! Do you really think you will be able to control that many wolves though?¡±
(Phil) ¡°I don¡¯t control them, they just follow me because were family at this point at least Sun; Moon. Other wolves should be similar to a degree, so I shouldn¡¯t be too much of an issue as long as I can find food for them. I could also recruit them and leave them where they¡¯re at then call on them when the time comes. In doing so the amount of food I would need wouldn¡¯t sky rocket.¡±
(Conrad) ¡°Sounds like a good plan, I would go with the latter of the options just because it would be difficult to accommodate that many wolves within a given kingdom, the only issue would be gathering them when the time comes.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, ill figure something out long before we go to war. Now, if you could tell me Dwarven craftsmen in your kingdom I¡¯ll head over to him once we finished, then ill head to the Demon-Kin Kingdom find a mage they¡¯re and discuss our plan, then do the same in the Dwarven Kingdom. If possible, I like to have Amir or someone else with the Telepathy skill around when I do so go to the kingdom¡¯s I feel that would be the best option in keeping this secret from the Tavern wench (Illengard). Before that happens though I¡¯ll need to level up a bit while you guys start gathering what I requested of you. Is there place I could level up fairly fast around here?¡±
(Conrad) ¡°Sounds like a start, Phillip Mauger we will support you and your plan to destroy the Holy Kingdom, from this moment forth you are an ally and citizen within our kingdom. you are not required to pay taxes, but I still want you to follow our laws, no one is above them not even myself or you.¡± The king exclaimed
(Conrad) ¡°Amir and I will look around for a way to communicate with you over distances it shouldn¡¯t be too hard to find. Once find a way, I can send Amir to use his skill whenever you need it.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Sounds fair to me, my king. Just a heads up I¡¯m not going to bow or kneel ill acknowledge your position but I¡¯m not bowing.¡±
(Conrad) ¡°That is fine. Unless you need anything else from Amir and myself we will be leaving to prepare what you asked. Elbuck can tell you where the dwarven craftsmen is.
(Phil) No, Thanks for asking though. Also, thanks for helping me, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do this without King Conrad, I sincerely appreciate your help. I hope our mutual goal succeeds.
(Conrad) ¡°As Do I Phillip Mauger, we will speak soon. Until then I bid you fair-well.¡±
Conrad and Amir both disappeared and Elbuck, Rina, Amina, Jarold, and Ahben were all just staring at me in in shock and trying to understand what I had discussed with their king. Elbuck was the first to speak.
(Elbuck) ¡°well I guess a lot has transpired, Phillip you said something about leveling up fast. We have a dungeon near by the would be of great use to you. From my understanding within the dungeon there are several species of Wolf and other creatures. Along with that the king mentioned you wished to meet the Dwarven Craftsmen within our kingdom. He is further within the Kingdom in the city of Areffheim. I believe once you are ready to head in that direction that Jarold, Amina, and Ahben would be happy to accompany you if that is what you desired. They can also show you the location of the Dungeon we have near Keenheim.
(Phil) Damn lord Elbuck you¡¯re on top of it, Thanks for the information. If anything, else comes up ill come to you. For the time being if I need to get word to the King I feel your Court Mage Rina will be the quickest way to do so, as long as Rina and yourself do not mind?¡±
(Elbuck) ¡°It¡¯s nothing really, and I don¡¯t mind but you I cannot speak for Rina. I may be her Lord, but I am no one¡¯s master.
(Rina) ¡°I do not mind, and I appreciate you asking me.¡±
(Phillip) ¡°It is no big deal, it just common courtesy¡± I said with a friendly smile.
I then stood up and stretched; said
(Phil) ¡°before I go to the dungeon or anything I need to go back to the Forbidden Forest. If Jarold, Amina, and Ahben wish to accompany me that¡¯s fine if not I understand. I¡¯d also like to get some warm food, beer, and a goodnight sleep before heading out.¡±
(Elbuck) ¡°We will have a bed moved to their courters, so you can stay with them, as long as they do not have any objections?¡±
Jarold, Ahben, and Amina just nodded, they were still dazed and confused after all that had transpired.
(Elbuck) ¡°Then your accommodations are decided, if you wish to eat just head by the kitchen and tell them I sent you, they¡¯ll happily give warm meal and some ale.¡±
(Phil) Great I¡¯ll be heading over there then; you guys want to come with I¡¯m sure you¡¯re hungry as well¡± I looked at the group of guards and Sun; Moon who were both dozing off since the room had become quiet.¡±
Jarold responded
(Jarold) ¡°yeah¡ will lead the way to the kitchen and mess hall.¡±
(Phil) ¡°WOOOHOOO warm food and ale!
We then all left the meeting room and walked to the mess hall. As we did I decided to take a look at my status.
Name: Phillip Mauger]
[Level: 4]
[Race: Homo-Sapien {Homo-Sapiens: a race of animals that evolved into humans without the any assistance of gods}.]
[Class: Shape-Shifter {Undiscovered Class Shape-Shifter: a non-magical class that allows its holder to adopt the forms of other life, in its pursuit for its own survival.}]
[Health: 110/220 {Regeneration} 125/220]
[Stamina: 168/220]
[Magic: 0/0]
[Skills:]
[Inspect Level (2): Allows the user to gather information about items; life. The amount of information provided grows with the level of the skill}-passive.]
[Shapeshift Level (2): A skill that only the Shape-shifter class can use. The Skill allows the user to Shift in other forms, the forms will evolve with your understanding of the original life form. This skill may trigger unconsciously due to mental state or other reasons. Leveling the skill allows for better adoption of the transformed body by the class holder} -passive].
[Regeneration Level (3): Allows the body and mind to regenerate from physical; magical attacks, as the level increases so will your own ability to regenerate. -passive]
[Scent Tracking Level (3): Track other beings by their scent, your ability to do so will increase with each level of this skill -passive].
[Claw; Fang of Death Level (2): Grow claws; fangs while in your human or Shapeshift form. The sharpness, hardness, other properties will come about as the level of this skill increases in level. Your Claws and Fangs are now stained black and will siphon the souls of those you kill, the souls you take will be given to Death -passive.]
[Howl of the Pack Leader Level (3): Intimidate Non-predatory animals while communicating your intentions to your pack, current skill level gives low Strength and Agility buff to your pack. The effects of this skill will increase and grow as the level of the skill increases - active {cost -50 Stamina}]
[Animal Instincts Level (2): Your heritage is that of an animal, instincts are what kept your kin alive, in a hostile and unforgiving world. As this skill increases so will your connection to your animal instincts. -passive.]
[Pain Resistance Level (2): Your body has developed in a high tolerance for pain, the higher this skill level increases the more pain your body will be able to experience without passing out or going into shock. This skill does not eliminate the pain you feel, it only dulls it. -passive]
[Fang; Claw Mastery Level (2): Gain a better understanding of how to use your claws; fangs to fight as the animal you are. As the skill level increases so will your understanding of your claws and fangs; your ability to use them in combat -passive.]
[Enhanced 5 senses Level (2): Your 5 senses grow sharper with each level of this skill -passive.]
[Bottomless Stamina Level (2): Stamina is your only means of attack and defense. Strenuous movements cost little to no stamina, as this skills level grows all stamina movement will cost nothing; Active Skills that use stamina costs will be reduced -passive.]
[Buff¡¯s: MARKED BY DEATH: NO ONE BESIDES DEATH, CAN CLAIM YOUR SOUL, ANY ATTEMPT TO DO SO WILL SUMMON DEATH TO PUNISH THOSE WHO MEDDLE WITHIN HIS DOMAIN.]
[De-Buff¡¯s: Non-Magical Being ¨C Permanent {This being has never contained magic; its body will never be able to store magic or use magic skills}]
[Attributes: Strength-41, Agility-41, Constitution-44, Intellegence-24; Wisdom-24] {Str, Agility; Con have +2 due to the title: Leader of the Pack: +10 to all stats due to title: The one who escaped Death.}
[Titles:]
[Child of Nature: You are a child of nature, not the gods. Nature will recognize this so will the gods; their followers.]
[The Last of His Race: You are the last of your kind, will your kind die or survive? This questions rests of your shoulder. Increases [SP] and [AP] gain when leveling up from 5 to 10]
[Leader of the Pack: While with your pack you gain +2 Strength, Agility, Constitution; your ability to lead your pack is significantly increased.]
[The One Who Escaped Death: You escaped the clutches of Death, an admirable but ultimately pointless feat. you gain +10 to all Stats.]
[Deaths Hound: You are Deaths Hound, Find the souls that escape your masters reach! You gain ????? but cannot use ?????]
[Skill Points {SP}-16- {6 after upgrading}], [Attribute Points {AP}-0]
{Author Note: Marked by death buff only means Phillip¡¯s Soul cannot be taken, not that he cannot die.}
As my status popped up I realized I had gotten quite a bit from my experience with death, + 10 to all attributes, the fact no one could take my soul besides death, and the question marks in Deaths hound title were also very interesting. I was also surprised to find out I had a total of [16-SP]
Since I only had 11 skills, I figured I would put a point into each of them besides [Inspect]. This brought [Howl of the Pack Leader, Scent Tracking, and Regeneration] to level 4 and the rest of my skill to level 3.
By the time I had finished looking at my status I realized we were already within the kitchen and had been served food. The group had been staring at me as I mindlessly followed them around inspecting my status, but they had somewhat expected me to do so after all that transpired today.
After eating and drinking our fill, we went back to the Jarold, Ahben, and Amina¡¯s big room. Once we arrived we all said our goodnights and immediately hit the sack. As my mind floated off to dream, I could only think how nice it was to sleep on an actual bed.
Chapter #8: Heading back to the Forbidden Forest Part 1
Chapter #8: Heading back to the Forbidden Forest Part 1
As I woke up I saw the sun had not risen, I also noticed both Sun and Moon laying on either side of me on the bed that was brought into the room. I looked around and noticed that no one else was awake, rather than wait for them to get up I started getting dressed and headed towards the kitchen.
After a brisk walk I arrived at the kitchen and mess hall, I noticed that most of the cooks were hard at work preparing for breakfast. I walked over and asked.
(Phil) ¡°Good morning, any way I could get some breakfast early?¡±
A short pudgy woman who was human came over and answered.
(Cook) ¡°It a little early Sir, but if you go sit down we will get you some food. Do you have any preference?¡±
(Phil) ¡°No mam, I¡¯m not cooking so whatever you bring me I will happily eat.¡±
(Cook) ¡°Haha, if only everyone was as easy to serve as you. Your food should be out shortly.¡±
The portly woman walked back into the kitchen and started to think about what I had dreamed about, while scratching Sun and Moon heads. I couldn¡¯t recall much from my dream, but I remembered the feeling rage.
This bothered me, I tried to grab the feeling and shove it within the depths of myself, but it didn¡¯t work, if anything it only made it worse. I soon noticed that I had stopped petting both Sun and Moon and my Claws and fangs started grow out.
Looking at them I noticed that they were now stained black all the way through. This fact intrigued me, but I still felt the feeling of rage wafting throughout my body. Rather than let this feeling control me I started petting both Sun and moon again.
The feeling on their fur and their innocent looks began to calm me down. I was still baffled by the overwhelming feeling of rage. I knew that I needed to get it under control, my actions up until this point within Aredeaia were purely emotional, I was acting like a child not a grown man.
I knew I had a valid reason for doing so but a phrase echoed within my head, ¡°the only action¡¯s you have control over, are your own.¡±
By this time the portly woman had come back over and was looking at both Sun and Moon. Before I could say anything, she said (cook) ¡°would your companions like some food as well?¡±
The fact that she asked me this surprised me, but rather than look a gift horse in the mouth I politely replied.
(Phil) ¡°Yes mam, if it¡¯s not too much trouble it would be greatly appreciated.¡±
The woman just smiled and walked back into the kitchen after handing me big bowl of eggs mixed with other ingredients mixed within it. I immediately started eating, by the time I was about half way through the huge bowl of eggs she had brought over similar bowls and sat them on the ground.
After finishing chewing the food in my mouth I said (Phil) ¡°Thanks you mam¡±.
She just waved her hand and said (Cook) ¡°It¡¯s my job, and it¡¯s always nice to serve those who are respectful.¡± She then walked back into the kitchen without another word and continued with the other cooks getting ready for the breakfast rush.
As we sat eating, Jarold and his scout group walked into the kitchen. They weren¡¯t surprised to see me, and they all just started laughing. Amina stated, ¡°I told you he would be here.¡±
They all went over to the kitchen and place their orders a came over and sat down next to me.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
I stopped eating and looked at Amina and said, (Phil) ¡°what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±
Amina stared at me and just started laughing, Jarold and Ahben snickered as well. after they had stopped laughing Amina said ¡°Since we met you that¡¯s about the only consistent thing about you is eating absurd amounts of food. So, when we woke up we knew you¡¯d be here eating¡±.
She stated while the others nodded their heads in agreement.
I said (Phil) ¡°I guess you¡¯re right, but everyone¡¯s got to eat simple as that¡± I said and began to stuff my face again which caused another laugh from the group.
By the time I had finished they had all gotten their food and started eating. Looking at their bowls of food I notice my own was substantially larger. This made me get up and go find the portly lady within the kitchen.
I walked over and found her within the kitchen hard at work and just put several coins next to her and said(Phil) ¡°thank you¡±. Before she could respond I walked out of the kitchen and sat back down with the group.
I began to talk to them about what I had planned for today. as they ate.
(Phil) ¡°My plan for today is to go back into the Forbidden Forest, will probably be gone for several days. I have to go talk to someone before I continue on the path that I¡¯ve set out on. We will be walking to the center of the forest. I¡¯m pretty sure if you guys are up for it we can look for the High Orc King along the way we should be able to kill it. We should also inform the Adventurers guild since we forgot to yesterday after everything that transpired. Sound good?¡±
For the most part they all nodded, Jarold finished a mouth full of food and said (Jarold) ¡°if were planning on taking on the High Orc King we should probably get some more people to come along. We have no idea how big the horde it¡¯s made could be and how organized they are.¡± He said as he continued to eat.¡±
(Phil) ¡°I¡¯m fine with that, my only quip with that is that when I meet my friend if others are with us, I¡¯ll be going alone.¡±
The group just stared at me, then looked at each other. Amina asked (Amina) ¡°why can¡¯t anyone else see your friend?¡±
(Phil) ¡°Let¡¯s just say he¡¯s not found of unannounced visitor¡¯s.¡±
The group continued to look at me but gave up when I said nothing else. After they finished eating I said, (Phil) ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting outside since I¡¯m all good to go. Take your time packing and bring whatever you¡¯ll need for a few days possibly a week or two at the most.
The group nodded and headed back to the room. Sun, Moon, and myself waited outside for about 20 mins before they arrived. They¡¯re were 3 extra people with them. Ahben said (Ahben) ¡°this is another scout group that basically do the same thing as us in a different part of the Forbidden Forest¡±.
Ahben pointed at small woman wielding a Mace an shield who had black Fur and small pointed ears and said (Ahben) ¡°this is Cinta, she is a leader of the scouting group¡±
I put my hand out and said (Phil) ¡°Great to be working with you Cinta, I¡¯m Phillip. Has Ahben told you the details of our little excursion?¡±
(Cinta) ¡°Nice to meet you as well; yes, we know the detail of our excursion. We plan to go into the Forbidden Forest and take down the High Orc King that you have found evidence about, we will also be meeting someone you know within the forest, but we will not be accompanying you to meet whomever it is your meeting.¡±
(Phil) ¡°that about sums it up¡± I moved forward and introduced myself to the two others within Cinta¡¯s group.
One was a tall slim man named Albert, he looked like some type of unknown reptile, he had scales all over his body wielded two swords at his waist. The others were a woman named Helia, she was Hawk of some type, she had a beak on her face, bird like feet with four huge talons on either foot, and feathers all over her body. Rather than having wings for her hands they were feathered covered arms with fingers similar to that of a human. She wielded a huge bow that was almost a tall as her. Surprisingly she lacked arrows to shoot from it though.
After our introduction we all headed for the adventurer¡¯s guild to inform them of the High Orc King. Cinta had stated, (Cinta) ¡°Even with our current group depending on the size of horde we do not know if we will be able to handle it.¡±
We decided because of this it would probably be wise to go inform the adventurers guild about the issue. Helia also interjected (Helia) ¡°Since this issue has the possibility of affecting the guild they will not charge the kingdom for posting a contract.¡±
We walked through town and eventually arrived at a fairly large building with a huge sign posted outside of it. The scout groups walked in and I followed. they went straight for a counter lined with several individuals posted to help in the process of making bounties and quests. Jaorld walked up to a woman sitting down at the counter and simply said (Jarold) ¡°we came to inform the Adventurer¡¯s guild that there is a High Orc King within the Forbidden Forest, Lord Elbuck wished us to inform you since this issue may affect your guild as well as or city.¡±
The woman just stared with her mouth agape as Jarold turned around and walked away I was little surprised by this but followed the group as well. when we got outside I asked Jarold, (Phil) ¡°what was that about? You didn¡¯t really give them much information to go off of.¡±
Jarold turned around and had a scowl on his face, he said (Jarold) ¡°The adventurers guild is not a part of our kingdom, they will not gain information that are lord Elbuck has not given us permission to give them.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Come on Jarold, I get that but whats up? The scowl gives away your utter hatred for them. I don¡¯t have a right to say anything to you after how I acted yesterday but I still would like to know what¡¯s up with you buddy.¡±
We continued walking on our way out of town, before Jarold spoke again. (Jaorld) ¡°The adventurers guild is not someone you can trust Phillip, they¡¯re only interested in protecting themselves and making money, yes they help kingdoms out, but it is only a fa?ade that helps to further their goals.¡±
(Phil) ¡°Fair enough but is that the only reason that your mood is as fowl as mine was yesterday after I got to meet the tavern wench?¡±
My question caused him to smile and laugh, (Jarold) ¡°hahaha, I really can¡¯t believe your calling ¡°her¡± a tavern wench Phillip, but your right. No that isn¡¯t the only reason I hate the adventurer¡¯s guild. They left my family for dead after we had made a contract through them, that¡¯s why I hate them, their no better than common mercenaries in my personal opinion.¡±
(Phil) ¡°I¡¯m sorry Jarold. Your right they are not anything but mercenaries that accept contracts from anyone.¡± I said as I patted him on the back.
We continued to walk and exited the city, our group stopped. Far in the distance we could see the outline of the Forbidden Forest waiting for us.
Chapter #9: Heading back to the Forbidden Forest Part 2
Chapter #9: Heading Back to the Forbidden Forest Part 2
(Author¡¯s Note I¡¯m trying out a new way to do Dialogue since a few different readers have said it¡¯s a little clunky as it is. Let me know what you think of this change in the comments.)
(Phil¡¯s POV)
We continued walking until we had reached the border of the Forbidden Forest close to where I had originally met Amina, Ahben, and Jarold. Once we had had entered the Forbidden Forest the mood of our group drastically shifted.
We had been talking about different things as we trekked across the meandering plains but once we got near the forest the atmosphere of the group completely changed. Everyone got tense and prepared for our first task, Hunting the High Orc King. I figured this would be a good chance to test out my current strength and level up but I still felt and gnawing sensation in the pit of my stomach.
I could not place where or why this feeling had come about, even Sun and Moon looked around uncomfortably as we proceeded to enter the forest. As we continued to walk through the forest the sparse trees began to thicken enclosing around us limiting our view of our surroundings and causing the unspoken tension to only rise.
I thought to myself that this wasn¡¯t good, in any way shape or form. To go into a fight with so much on our minds would only hinder us, so I decided to try to alleviate some of this tension from the group by stopping and resting for a while.
I said to the group ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys stop for a while, I know it¡¯s early but rather than walk into a trap as we are we should rest up and clear our heads. I know that Sun and Moon need to get some more food so they will go out and scout the way while trying to find something for them to eat. If we find any Orcs will come back and get you if we don¡¯t find anything within an hour or so will come back to get you guys. Does sound ok to you guys?¡±
Jarold replied ¡°I don¡¯t have any problems with that, you seemed to be doing fine before we encountered you in this forest just be careful. What about you Amina, Ahben?¡±
Amina said, ¡°I agree we''re all on edge and taking a break might help clear our heads, so you won¡¯t get any complaints from me.¡±
Ahben said ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of splitting up, but I agree we¡¯re all on edge so if you want to scout ahead do so. I don¡¯t know what it is, but the forest seems different than when we were here yesterday¡¡±
Albert the reptilian Animal-Kin said nothing but stared daggers into me while dropping his gear and taking a seat on the ground.
Cinta said ¡°I agree with you Ahben the forest is different than usual, but we should press on regardless of this fact. We need to finish this excursion sooner rather than later we need to get back to our posts.¡±
Helia rebutted ¡°Your right Cinta, but we can¡¯t complete our mission efficiently if were on edge plain and simple. Also, I¡¯d like to go with you, Phillip. I think that it would be best if we stay in groups. I know you have your Dire wolves Phillip, but they cannot communicate with us if something happens to you. The forest also has verity Magic tainted monsters within it. You may believe you''re capable of handling yourself, but you¡¯re still a whelp who is only level 4 Phillip. Granted you have some strange class and race but that won¡¯t help you when you come face to face with a high-level creature or magically tainted monster.¡±
Cinta looked at Helia, then nodded while shrugging her shoulders in an exasperated motion. She then proceeded to walk over and plop down next to Albert while taking her backpack off.
I looked at Helia while saying ¡°If you want to tag along with me you are more than welcome too, just don¡¯t blame me if you can¡¯t keep up if we find some prey.¡± I started taking my pants off and dropped my bow and quiver.
Helia, Cinta, and Albert all looked at me as I stripped. I looked over at Jarold and said, ¡°you didn¡¯t tell them, did you?¡±
Jarold replied while not looking in my direction ¡°Nope, your business is your own Phillip. haha,¡± he snickered while Ahben and Amina joined in.
I looked at Cinta¡¯s group, sighed and just said: ¡°It¡¯ll be easier if you all just watch and wait to ask your questions after I¡¯m done.¡±
I looked at the group and just let out a deep breath. I felt my body start to slowly change, my claws began to their full length which was now pitch black, my blackened fangs extended from my mouth and began to grow longer as well. I soon felt my skin become tight around my body, as it grew in height and girth. My skin then began to rip at its seams. I felt my face elongate and my nose starts to become wet.
I soon felt the urge to rip my skin off from my body as I did I felt the stares from the group. They looked horrified yet enthralled as my body shifted and changed.
After ripping the skin off my fur began to grow out from every orifice on my body. One thing I immediately noticed was that the brownish parts of my fur hand now become jet black. This fact made me look over my body inquisitively.
I unconsciously said, ¡°why is my fur black?¡±
Jarold responded ¡°It happened when we were at Lord Elbucks Phillip. Your hair changed Color the same time your eyes got that black tinge and that weird chain wrapped around your throat. You didn¡¯t notice?¡±
I replied, ¡°I noticed the chain and my eyes changed but not that my hair color did as well¡¡±
Helia said, ¡°I thought we were the ones who were supposed to be asking questions, haha.¡± This caused all of us to laugh a little bit while loosening the mood.
I said, ¡°your right, go ahead and ask your questions.¡±
Albert stood up and continued to stare daggers at me and just said ¡°What the fuck are you? My family has explored Aredeaia and I¡¯ve never heard of any race from my family that matches your description.¡±
¡°I¡¯m a Homo-Sapien, to sum it up quickly my race evolved from apes, I¡¯m not human. The reason I can turn into a wolf is because of my class. My answer probably only leaves you with more questions but I¡¯m not going to go into further details at the moment about where I¡¯m from so just leave that topic alone for now.¡± I replied.
Albert continued to stare at me and asked ¡°How can you transform? You said it has something to do with your class I¡¯ve never heard of such a class that allows someone to change their species, has anybody else?¡± he said while looking around
Cinta nodded her head in agreement with Albert yet again and stared at me. Jarold and Ahben just watched while smiling at me. While Amina and Helia looked questioningly at me. No one spoke to answer Albert''s question though.
I looked up at the sky in my werewolf form and just sighed. ¡°Look, Albert from my limited understanding of classes there are some classes that have yet to be given out by Class Stones am I right?¡±
Albert nodded
¡°The class I got probably falls into that category, I¡¯m willing to bet that none of you can read what my class is correct?¡±
Albert muttered ¡°Yes¡±
¡°My class is called Shape-Shifter. It allows me to adopt the forms of other beings that I understand. I know Canines better than my own race, so I¡¯m willing to bet that¡¯s why I take on the form of a Wolf rather than something else.¡± I replied.
¡°How do we know you¡¯re not lying?¡± Albert questioned me.
¡°You don¡¯t. Trust is earned not given so I¡¯m not going to ask you or your group to just outright trust me or believe me, that would be stupid because you won¡¯t. What I will ask is Rather than judge me based on your what you think I am, judge me based on my actions if you still believe I¡¯m lying to you after that so be it, nothing I can do about it, but ask yourself this what do I gain by lying to the only race of people helping me in Aredeaia?¡± I stated
Albert just continued to look at me but sat back down and thought about what I said. Helia looked at me and asked, ¡°why are you more familiar with Canines than your own race?¡±
¡°because my family abandoned me, rather than try to open myself up to my own race I got a dog. My dog didn¡¯t lie, he didn¡¯t judge, and wasn¡¯t greedy that¡¯s why I¡¯m more familiar with canine¡¯s than my own race.¡± I growled through my teeth.
Helia took a step back and realized she had touched a sore spot before she could speak I just said ¡°look I¡¯m not upset or mad. I just don¡¯t like thinking about what my family did to me because I wasn¡¯t willing to believe what they did. I apologize if I scared you, but I can¡¯t really control how talking about my family makes me feel, it just brings up a lot of old emotions I¡¯d rather not deal with.¡±
¡°¡ I¡¯m sorry that happened to you, and no need to apologize I just figured you needed space.¡± She said
¡°Don¡¯t be sorry, that happening made me who I am today. I may hate my parents and brothers, but I do thank them for what they taught me.¡±
The group just stared at me inquisitively ¡°I learned from my family that you should only give your trust to those than earn it, and that everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt until they give you a reason to doubt them.¡±
Albert nodded and looked at me. Ahben, Amina, and Jarold smiled at me and I smiled back. Cinta and Helia just looked at me with what I guessed to be more questions.
Cinta stood up and walked over to me and pointed her finger at the chain around my neck, ¡°why do you have a marking of a chain around your neck, why are the Whites of your eyes black and why did you not know your own hair color?¡±
I just started laughing as I answered her, ¡°haha, nothing gets passed you does it. Look I my appearance changed when I met the being who will collect my soul. I got several titles one of which is [Deaths Hound]. I¡¯m guessing my body changed because of the titled or because Death did something to me. I don¡¯t know which is the case but that¡¯s why I didn¡¯t know my own hair color.¡±
Cinta looked at me like I was stupid, ¡°Death? Necrosis is Death, so did you meet him?¡±
¡°Death, Death isn¡¯t a god, It¡¯s a universal law. Necrosis is using that law to his benefit without its owner¡¯s consent. That law applies to everything that is alive and that Law lives in the form of Death. It may not make a whole lot of sense but just ask Jarold, Ahben, Or Amina they got so see Death and I¡¯m sure they will never get what it looks like.¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Cinta looked at me then turned around and looked at Ahben, ¡°is he lying Ahben?¡±
Ahben shook his head, ¡°No that thing was horrifying, and it hurt a god¡.¡±
¡°It hurt a god?! Which one!?¡± she questioned as her mouth hung agape.
I replied, ¡°The Tavern Wench.¡±
Jarold, Ahben, and Amina started laughing.
¡°You have some guts calling a goddess a tavern wench, which god?!¡± Cinta pressed with a hint of rage in her voice.
¡°ILLENGARD, THE FILTHY TAVERN WENCH!¡± I shouted to the sky
Cinta¡¯s rage left her face but she was still surprised, she couldn¡¯t believe I was saying such a thing out loud.
Sun and Moon restlessly pulled my fur telling me they were hungry.
¡°Look a lot of shit happened that your group doesn¡¯t know about rather than recap my adventures let¡¯s just move on. If you don¡¯t have any other pressing question I¡¯m going to scout and get food for my pack.¡±
The group stayed silent and I took that as my cue to head out. I looked at Helia, who stood up dropped her pack and grabbed her unique looking longbow and we set off to scout and hunt.
As we set off into the thick trees within the forest, I asked Helia, ¡°Why don¡¯t you carry in arrows for your Long Bow?¡±
As we continued walking she replied, ¡°I make them from magic. My class is called Magic Archer, it allows me to make different arrows from magic and shoot them from a magic bow. My longbow is such a bow and does not require the need for physical arrows.¡±
Helia pointed to the several veins that ran across her bow all of which came to center around the handgrip.
She stated ¡°This is Magic Iron Ore, it is what makes this bow a magic bow. Ore allows for my own magic to be condensed and made into different types of arrows. The arrows shot depending on what type of magic I use can vary from Electric to Fire and a verity of other types.¡±
We continued to walk as the thick trees passed us, I replied ¡°That¡¯s awesome! Are there a lot of people with your class or is a unique one?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a unique class, not many Animal-Kin have it, and I haven¡¯t heard of another race besides Elves and Some Animal-Kin having it.¡± Helia said.
¡°Their are elves in Aredeaia?!¡± I blurted out.
¡°Yes¡ How don¡¯t you know that?¡± Helia questioned me.
¡°Uhh, being honest I don¡¯t really know what races are here in Aredeaia. I¡¯ve met humans, Animal-Kin, and I know Demons and Dwarves are here but had not heard anything about Elves.¡± I stated.
Helia just looked at me questioningly without saying anything. I ended up not speaking either and silence overtook us as we continued to walk amongst the tall conifer trees and thick underbrush.
We continued walking like this until we were about two miles away from where everyone had stopped, at that moment I began to smell something coming from our right. I pointed in that direction and lifted my finger to my lips indicating to Helia to be quiet as we continued forward through the thick forest towards the direction of the scent''s origin.
As we continued, Sun and Moon began to sniff and let out low growls. Their low growls cued me into what the scent we were following was. It was a race of intelligent beings, Sun and Moon had only done this once before and it was when I had encountered Jarold¡¯s group.
After figuring this out I stopped and whispered to Helia, ¡°I don¡¯t think where coming up on magic tainted monsters I would say it¡¯s people.¡±
Helia looked at me for a long while before speaking and said, ¡°I¡¯m curious to how you know that, but let¡¯s move forward and see if we can¡¯t get a glimpse of what¡¯s where following.¡±
I just nodded to her statement pointed at my nose, then continue to move slowly through the underbrush that was about 4 feet high. As we creeped through the underbrush I eventually went on all fours and let out a low growl telling Sun and Moon to advance to our left and to not attack unless I did first.
They both slinked off to our left and disappeared within several seconds. Helia looked inquisitively at me as they ran off but said nothing. As we pressed forward I eventually could tell we were coming very close to the origin of the scent and pointed ahead in its direction to inform Helia we were coming close to whatever it was we were following.
As we crept through the underbrush we soon heard the sounds of arguing.
¡°Edwin you lost its trail didn¡¯t you!?¡± a man shouted
¡°No, I didn¡¯t just give me a minute¡. It seems to have changed its form again, its tracks are now human again we need to be careful. Our contract asked us to bring this target back to the Holy Kingdom but was now in the Animal-Kin Kingdom¡¯s territory and if we are attempting to kidnap one of their citizens, it could lead to an all-out war because of the Adventurers Guild. Do you dip-shits know how the board would respond if they found we were responsible? Do you now understand the severity of what this contract is asking of the Adventurers guild?!¡± Edwin rebutted the man
What the man said bothered me, ¡°Changed its form¡±. I turned to Helia and whispered, ¡°go get the group, I¡¯ll try not to engage until you bring them here, but I can¡¯t guarantee they won¡¯t find me while I¡¯m waiting.¡±
¡°Agreed I¡¯ll go get them, we''re dealing with adventurers so don¡¯t do anything stupid, it also sounds like they¡¯re on a contract within our kingdom for the Holy Kingdom. One of them seems to know the severity of what they are doing but who knows what the others will actually do. Be careful¡± Helia whispered back as she began to sneak back through the underbrush towards the direction we had come, towards where the others were resting.
I slowly changed my stance and brought myself low to the ground and waited and continued to listen to the argument in front of me.
(Edwin¡¯s POV)
¡°That doesn¡¯t matter Edwin, we were given a contract by the Guild if you¡¯re too afraid of what will happen because of that take your pathetic Blood Hounds and leave. We no longer need your assistance in completing this Contract!¡± A man with Blond Hair said angerly to Edwin.
I replied, ¡°You really don¡¯t get it do you Remy. The guild asked us to complete this contract in a specified group size if we don¡¯t follow what the guild asked of us we will be punished! Are you fine with that? Do you really want to incur the wrath of the Board because you think you¡¯re doing the right thing! We need to gather more information on our target to find our if he is a citizen, the guild division in Keenheim should have information on our target, Phillip Mauger. If they don¡¯t we can just send word back to the guild and wait for further instructions after we¡¯ve told them what has happened so far, or do you have other plans that are not following regulations?!¡±
Remy rebutted ¡°How do we even know they went this way? Or what you¡¯ve been telling us is the Truth? How could an Animal-Kin eat magic tainted Monsters?! You just have been saying more and more unbelievable shit since we started this contract.¡±
Irvine coldly said, ¡°You were their Remy! You saw the Orc Skull, you saw tracks change and everything else that happened on this shitty contract! Now you decided to question Edwin¡¯s leadership and integrity? What¡¯s wrong with you, your group kept quiet until now, and now that we''re close to our target you decided to have a pathetic argument with us. Seems to me you have some ulterior motives for doing this contract.¡±
¡°Look at you Irvine pulling shit out of your ass trying to pin this on my group. Did we ever say we agreed with Edwin''s opinion about the Orc skull he found or how the tracks changed?! No! We didn¡¯t, we just went along with what the ¡®expert tracker¡¯ said!¡± Remy shouted
¡°You just said it, Remy! Edwin is an EXPERT TRACKER!!!! You are not, nor is anybody in your damned group so keep your mouth fucking shut and let Edwin do his job. If you want to go off on your own do so, But we will be telling the Board once we get to Keenheim that you were unwilling to follow the leader that they designated! Stop bitching or fall into line!¡±
Remy ground his teeth while he looked at the 6 men and women following him. He looked over at myself and the 7 that followed me. He simply said, ¡°Kill them and make it look like Orcs did it.¡± his voice lacked compassion or any sympathy he was going to try to kill us!!
All of the Bloodhounds drew their weapons at the same time as Remy¡¯s group, but everyone stopped as a loud howl that was to close for comfort broke the tension of the two groups. The howl reverberated throughout the Forest and was responded to by two other howls in the distance.
I immediately looked in the direction of the first howl but could see nothing, I heard something moving within the underbrush and looked at Irvine who brought up his bow, nocked an arrow and fired at the noise within the underbrush.
As the arrow sailed through, into the underbrush, as the arrow disappeared into the brush a low growl began emanating from where the arrow had just been shot. The growl grew louder and louder, the underbrush began to shake and soon what-ever Irvine had shot at began to move towards us.
I yelled to the Bloodhounds, ¡°Get ready, Irvine and myself will keep what-ever is overhear at bay, Natasha, Grey, Bedlum, Anthony, Bushwick, and Elena keep an eye on those fuckers and kill them if they move!¡±
As I finished another howl bellowed out from in front of Irvine and myself. Irvine was to my side of me with his bow at the ready, as I unsheathed my long sword.
As the sound of howl wafted over us I soon felt fear run throughout my body. I then noticed the Forest became dead silent, the dead silence this early in the afternoon was eerie, it sent shivers down my spine. Everyone waited for what felt like an eternity. I then saw something sail out from out of the underbrush and land in front of Irvine and myself, it was the arrow Irvine and shot covered in blood!
(Phil¡¯s POV)
After hearing the conversation that took place and seeing these adventurers draw their weapons on one another I knew which side I would be helping, but I felt an arrow fly straight into my shoulder from one of the people I was going to help.
I let out a low growl and pushed forward through the underbrush and I ripped the arrow free from my shoulder as blood trickled from the wound as I crawled through the brush. I started howling to let Sun and Moon know to go find Jarold and Cinta and lead their groups here.
I threw the arrow back at the two in front of me, then charged from out of the brush on all fours. As the arrow landed in front of Irvine and Edwin and used my powerful arms and legs to jump over them landing behind them, and in front of the group of six of their companions.
I immediately let out an ear-piercing roar; charged at the man name Remy. Before he could swing his sword, I was on him like stink on shit. I grabbed him around the throat and lifted him off the ground in front of his companions as I stood to my full height.
No one spoke, No one screamed or made a sound these were seasoned adventurers. The only sound that could be heard was Remy gasping for air as I choked him with my right hand and stared at the six others under his command.
I calmly said as I stared Remy in the eyes, ¡°You will die today Remy, you shouldn¡¯t have taken my contract, neither should the Blood Hounds. At least they didn¡¯t decide to out-right try to kill me, but you, on the other hand, it¡¯s clear as day that you¡¯re working for the Holy Kingdom.¡±
Remy''s eyes bulged as he heard me speak as I choked him, he tried to speak through his gasps so released the tension around his throat, so he could speak.
¡°Your contract?!¡± he sputtered out before tightened my grip around his throat again.
¡°Yes, little Remy, my contract. I am your target Phillip Mauger and now you¡¯ll become my food.¡± I said as I lifted the man up and wrapped my jaws around his head.
*SNAP* *CRUNCH*
I threw Remy¡¯s corpse and decapitated head to the ground pointed at the group of his companions as blood came out of my mouth, ¡°You have two choices. Die like your comrade or deliver a message to those who hired you in the Holy Kingdom. What your choice?¡±
Two of Remy¡¯s group threw down their weapons and slinked onto the ground. The other four raised their weapons and charged while screaming ¡°FOR ILLENGARD AND THE HOLY KINGDOM!¡±
As the group of four charged me I thought to myself at least I gave them choice¡
As the group charged me I didn¡¯t move I just waited for them. When they were close enough to start swinging their weapons on me I used the skill [Howl of the Pack Leader]. This caused the group to falter in their assault.
I used this moment and dug my clawed hands into the two closest to me. I then lunged forward and snapped my jaws around another¡¯s neck severing his head from his body as I ripped a piece of his spine and his throat from his body.
The fourth attacker managed to regain his composure and swing his long sword at my exposed neck. I twisted my body narrowly avoiding getting hit in the neck, as his long sword dug into my shoulder.
As the man tried to pull his long sword from my shoulder blade, but I freed my hands from the two corpses that they had pierced and lunged at the man pinning the man to the ground in front of his two companions who had given up.
I slowly pushed my maw towards the man''s head and covered it in its entirety with my mouth began to bite down.
*CRACK* *CRUNCH*
As I cracked the man¡¯s skull looking at his two companions in the eyes I lifted his corpse up in my mouth and spit it out in front of them.
¡°You two made the right decision, Tell the Holy Kingdom to hide your kids, hide your wives, hide your husbands cause everybody¡¯s getting raped out here!¡± I spewed out as I started laughing uncontrollably.
The man and woman on the ground just stared at me in horror as I laughed like a maniac.
¡°HAHA, I jest, just forget what I said about raping, sometimes you have to enjoy the little things in life¡ but now I am getting off-topic, I didn¡¯t start this shit show, the Holy Kingdom did when they brought me here and their god tried to kill me. Tell those that hired you DEATH is coming to the Holy Kingdom and nothing can stop it, not even their filthy tavern wench of a god!¡±
The man and woman were still shaking in their boots as I spoke to them, ¡°Get going, go on get! Remember to deliver my message and remember I gave you a chance, more so than your kingdom gave me, so get on outta here, go on get!¡± I said as I shewed the two away with my hands.
The man and woman got up and ran off into the woods faster than I had ever seen any person run before. I let out a laugh as I turned around and stared at the Blood Hounds who all stood with their mouths agape in shock at what had just happened.
This only caused me to laugh more as I began to hold my stomach because I had laughed so much in this wonderful little encounter.
As I continued laughing both Sun and Moon came bolting out from behind the group and circled around them on either side letting out a low growl as they came over to me. As they approached me I let out a low growl to let tell them to start eating the corpses of the men and women I had just slaughtered.
They happily ran over to the corpses and started vigorously tearing into them. As they did I grabbed Remy and severed his leg off and started munching on it like a piece of jerky while looking at the Blood Hounds.
Gasps could be heard coming from the group as they watched the people they were traveling with start getting torn apart by wolves and myself.
¡°rroook *Cough, Cough, Spit* I should know better than talking with my mouth full but hey I¡¯m still a little hungry. So, look I heard your conversation earlier and I know your after me, rather than explain this shit twice wait for the group I¡¯m traveling with *CRUNCH, GULP* and ill inform you of what happening *CRUNCH, GULP*, Sound like a plan?¡± I said as I took chomps of Remy¡¯s leg
¡°HE IS EATING A HUMAN; HOW DO WE KNOW HE¡¯S NOT BIDEING TIME TO EAT US LATER!¡± Elena shouted at her companions.
¡°calm down Elena, I know how you feel¡ they were traveling with us, but they wanted to kill us and were going around the guilds back. Let¡¯s just wait for the time being before we start going off starting a fight.¡± Irvine said as he put his hand on Elena
¡°Good, looks like you are pretty smart Irvine, but Edwin damn, you tracked my ass all the way from where I entered the Forbidden Forest. (CHOMP, GULP) looks like you have some pretty good skills or are an amazing tracker, either you have my respect for that and the fact you didn¡¯t just try to kill me like this dipshit.¡± I said as I pointed to Remy¡¯s half eaten leg.
¡°Ummm, thanks I think¡. Why aren¡¯t you trying to kill us? you ate those Orcs early shouldn¡¯t you be going crazy?¡±
¡°HAHA, those guys tasted a little foul and gave me some indigestion *CRUNCH, GULP* but it¡¯s a little hard for them to taint me, *CRUNCH, GULP* when I don¡¯t have any magic to be tainted. Look Jarold and Cinta groups should be here shortly, so hold off on your questions until then.¡± I said as I finished Remy leg.
I then walked over and shoved my hand into Remy¡¯s chest and pulled his heart out then tossed it into my mouth. As I turned around a looked at the now horrified group of adventurers and let out a sigh.
¡°Jezz I guess I am really lost my table manners since I came to this world, haha¡± I said chuckling as I started to shift my form back my naked human form. As my body shrunk and fangs turned into teeth, gasps could be heard as the group stared at me in awe as my body transformed.
I then plopped down on the ground and sat cross-legged and waiting for Jarold and Cintas groups to arrive¡.
Chapter #10: The HORDE
Chapter #10: The HORDE
(Phil¡¯s POV, Human Form)
[5 Humans killed] [No Skills have leveled] [No Skills are available for Purchase]
The voice echoed within my head.
As I sat cross legged Edwin and his group just stared. They were all confused by my appearance and were just awestruck by the fact I now looked human.
As the group stared at my blood covered body I looked behind myself, I saw Sun and Moon just eating to their hearts content. The occasional sound of a bone breaking could be heard but other than that, there was no sounds.
As we all sat waiting for Cinta and Jarolds groups to arrive Irvine decided to break the silence.
¡°Why did you eat Remy? Are you not human?¡± Irvine questioned me.
¡°I ate Remy because I was hungry, I probably eat 5 times as much as a human in a single day. As for me being human, I¡¯m not. If I was the same race as you I wouldn¡¯t eat you but I¡¯m not. Ultimately, it¡¯s as simple as you eating an animal that you¡¯ve hunted and killed, it¡¯s the same to me. The only difference I see from eating Humans and Orcs is I can understand one of you.¡±
¡°But humans are intelligent, Orcs are not, that¡¯s not the same!¡±
¡°Maybe, maybe not. Do you know Orcs are not intelligent? Seems to me they are, they¡¯re currently patrolling this very forest in a verity of formations. On top of that they have a King, just because we lack means to understand them doesn¡¯t make them not intelligent. Along with that how do you know Sun and Moon are not intelligent? * I pointed at the them* Wolves fight in coordinated packs and teach their young how to hunt and survive. Seems their intelligent to me.¡±
¡°There just beasts, nothing more nothing less, there¡¯s a difference between us and beasts.¡± Irvine replied.
¡°Maybe to you but not to me. I¡¯m an animal, I wasn¡¯t created by some god, my species evolved into what we are without any help, we had to fight to survive and that¡¯s what I am doing. I¡¯m not going to go out of my way to kill humans and eat them, but if they try to hunt me down or hurt my pack I will kill them and eat them just like any other animal would.¡± I stated
I turned around to eat more from Remy¡¯s corpse, but sun and moon were already eating from it. I let out a long sigh, and mumbled ¡°I¡¯m still fucking hungry, I sort of feel like this appetite is a curse.¡±
As I finished mumbling Cinta and Jarolds groups came running through the underbrush. They were surprised to see me just sitting down next to several cleanly picked corpses and a group of horrified adventurers.
Helia looked around and stared at me. ¡°I thought we agreed for you to wait Phillip¡¡±
¡°Hey, it¡¯s not my fault they decided to start fighting each other, I just decided to help the people who weren¡¯t trying to hunt me down and kill me for the Holy Kingdom. Look since I¡¯m going to have to explain some shit to the adventurers why don¡¯t you guys sit down I and I¡¯ll run through what happened when I was brought to this world, that should help to clear things up with these adventurers and clarify some aspects to Cintas, Helia, and Albert.¡±
Cinta, Albert, and Helia looked at me inquisitively
¡°Brought to this world?¡± Cinta questioned me
¡°Yup, just sit down for story time. It shouldn¡¯t take too long, and I rather get this out of the way sooner rather than later.¡± I replied
Cinta and Edwins groups just looked at me and waited.
¡°So, here¡¯s the short version. I¡¯m not from Aredeaia, I¡¯m from a planet called earth. I was just doing my job and ended up almost dying thanks to some idiot poachers. In that process I was dragged into a portal and dropped into the Holy Kingdom of Illengard. At the time I couldn¡¯t speak your language. The Holy Kingdom gave me a class and tried to heal me¡± I pointed to my scar on my lower abdomen.
¡°When they gave me my class from that stone thing I started to shift into my werewolf form, Because of this they decided to attack me. I fled into the forbidden forest after being shot with arrows and chased down by some guys on horseback. I made my way through the Forbidden Forest fighting Orc patrols and ended up in the Animal-Kin Kingdom meeting Jarold¡¯s group, they brought me to Keenheim. That about sums up my adventure in Aredeaia so far.¡±
Edwin spoke first ¡°Your saying the Holy Kingdom of Illengard summoned you?¡±
¡°Yup, they were doing some shit with magic as I came out of that golden portal, so I guess they did.¡± I replied
Edwin didn¡¯t say anything and just sat thinking to himself
Bedlum spoke next, ¡°So, your saying they summoned you then tried to kill you? That doesn¡¯t make a lot of sense.¡±
¡°I agree but I don¡¯t try to understand stupidity. From what I¡¯ve heard the Holy Kingdom isn¡¯t the nicest place for Non-humans. Why would they spare me from that treatment, they summoned me and after they gave me a class they understood we weren¡¯t the same race, then tried to kill me.¡± I replied
Albert spoke to me next, ¡°You not even a race from this world¡ that makes sense why my family didn¡¯t know about your race. Why did you hide that fact earlier?
¡°haha, if you were with Jarold, Amina, and Ahben when we met Lord Elbuck you would understand. Ask me more about it when we get back to Keenheim, I¡¯ll tell you there.¡±
¡°I will¡± Albert replied with a glint in his eyes
Anthony one of the Bloodhounds spoke, ¡°We still have a contract to bring you back to the Holy Kingdom.¡±
I looked at the man named Anthony, ¡°I¡¯m a citizen of the Animal-Kin Kingdom, does that change your stance on the matter?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± He replied
¡°Good.¡± I stated
The woman Elena just stared at me with hatred in her eye. I guessed she wasn¡¯t too happy that I¡¯d eaten a human, but I didn¡¯t let her opinion bother me. I have too much on plate to worry about besides some adventurers opinion of me.
Edwin spoke again, ¡°We have to report this to the board members.¡±
I whistled, ¡°So who are these board members? I¡¯ve heard some interesting things about them.¡±
Edwin replied immediately and without hesitation, ¡°I cannot give you any information about the board. It¡¯s against regulations to do so.¡±
¡°Well that¡¯s a bummer but I expected as much¡± I replied.
¡°Any questions you have Helia, Cinta?¡±
They both shook their heads saying no they didn¡¯t which slightly surprised me, but I wasn¡¯t going to press.
¡°Time to find the High Orc King, I¡¯m still hungry.¡±
¡°Are you ever not hungry?¡± Jarold questioned me as we laughed.
¡°Nope.¡±
Edwin looked at us and said ¡°A High Orc King?! Did you tell the guild and why are you going to fight such a thing with so little people!?¡±
Jarold looked at Edwin with disdain while saying, ¡°We don¡¯t want people who will run away half way through their contract, we already informed your guild, they can do as they please.¡±
Edwin looked over at Jarold with a questioning gaze ¡°We¡¯ve never abandoned a contract half way through.¡±
¡°You may not have but that¡¯s what your guild does.¡± Jarold stated coldly
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
¡°Look, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re going on about, but we have to get back to guild and plan for this properly, you can go off on your suicide run if you so please.¡±
¡°Suicide run? Ha, I just took five of you out in less than two minutes, you were the ones on a suicide run and you didn¡¯t even know it. We know what were up against, we are better off than you were before I saved your asses from in fighting, you best remember that Edwin, Irvine, Natasha, Anthony, Bedlum, Elena, Anthony, Bushwick, and Grey of the Blood Hounds.¡± I said to Edwin
Edwin looked at me startled by what I had said. He realized he and his group were no longer welcomed and decided to leave.
¡°Thanks for your help Phillip, we will inform the Board of your actions and make sure the contract posted by the Holy Kingdom of Illengard is taken down.¡± Edwin replied
¡°Thanks, I rather not have to kill anymore adventurers, I don¡¯t have a problem with you.¡± I said with a smile showing fangs
His group stood up got their things and headed off towards Keenheim.
Cinta and Jarold groups started to get their gear ready and I was given my gear and pants by Helia. Once we had geared up again, Jarold and Cinta both started talking.
Cinta ¡°I think we should split up and search for the High Orc King, we can cover more ground and be less noticeable while looking through the forest.¡±
Jarold replied ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of splitting up, there is too much that could go wrong. I know we monitor and patrol the Forbidden Forest but like you said earlier to Phil, their many beasts within this forest. It not just the Orcs we have to worry about.¡±
Cinta, ¡°I agree but if we don¡¯t split up we will be looking for the Orcs for who knows how long. We need to get back to our post!¡±
I interrupted to the two as the discussed our current situation.
¡°I¡¯m with Jarold, but who¡¯s to say we can¡¯t fan out to cover more ground that way instead of completely splitting up? If we¡¯re completely split up and we come across the High Orc King who knows how long it will take us to find one another, if we fan out in a formation we could cover more ground and still roughly know each other¡¯s positions. If we do that we can easily contact one another and inform one another of what happening.¡±
Cinta, ¡°That makes sense¡ Let¡¯s do that.¡±
Jarold ¡°I¡¯m on board with that as well, how do you purpose that we group ourselves?
¡°I say that that we each separate a half mile apart in a line, I can be with Sun and Moon. Cinta can be with Helia and Albert, and Jarold can be with Amina and Ahben. I¡¯ll be in the middle and your two group can be on the outer edges. We can have Sun and Moon in-between each of your groups searching for the Orcs scent trail, so we are not missing anything. If we do that I can have them eitherstay in-between your group¡¯s and myself or zig zagging back in forth between each of your two groups and myself. It¡¯s up to you how we do it.¡±
Cinta and Jarold looked at one another and both nodded coming to a silent understanding.
Cinta asked, ¡°Can you communicate with Sun and Moon?¡±
I replied, ¡°Yes, I can.¡±
Cinta stated, ¡°Then have them stay in-between Jarold¡¯s and my group. If you find anything tell them to come and get us. We will do the same if we find anything, I¡¯ll send Helia to find you and I¡¯m guessing Jarold will send Amina.¡±
Jarold nodded then said, ¡°Everyone be careful we don¡¯t know what we will come across so stay together. If anybody finds the High Orc King wait for the entire group to meet up before going into action. We need to plan our assault properly if we want to succeed and come up out of this without any injuries. If you come across a Magic Tainted Monster and need help send a runner.¡±
Everyone nodded and began doubled checking their gear. I strapped both my quiver and bow across my back and pulled my pants on. Getting ready to start the search for the High Orc King.
Our groups looked at one another than separated. I looked at Sun and Moon who had picked clean the Remy¡¯s Corpse. Then howled at them to get in-between our groups and try to sniff out the Orcs but not engage if they found them and return to me or the closest group if they did find a scent trail.
Sun and Moon both howled, I could feel their discomfort from being separated from one another but they both nodded after howling and ran off after each group to get into position.
I waited for about 5 minutes before I decided to head out, I figured each group would need some time to get into position before we headed off.
I started off and for a while encountered nothing trekking through the dense forest and underbrush. As I continued forward I stayed silent and just admired my surrounding while looking for tracks and constantly sniffing the air.
This transpired for several miles, but I found nothing. Eventually 3 hours and about 15 miles later I caught wind of something. It didn¡¯t smell like an Orc, but I was still hungry and felt like I should check it out. I let my blackened fangs and claws retract from my mouth, hands, feet, and pulled my bow and a single arrow of my back in preparation.
I advanced through the dense forest low the ground constantly smelling the scent trail. It led to my right towards Cintas group, I then heard a howl in the distance. It was Sun, he had found something that wasn¡¯t and Orc but needed help.
I took off at a dead sprint in his direction and howled back telling Moon to stay in position and I would help Sun. I covered the distance between us in a matter of minutes. As I came closer I could smell blood, I soon heard growling and a fight going on.
I advanced and moved recklessly towards the sounds emanating from the forest. I soon came upon Sun, fighting a huge Snake. It was at least 10ft long and had grey scales covering its body. I immediately drew my bow and fired at the snake¡¯s face aiming for its eye.
Unfortunately, I missed, and the arrow bounced off the scales of the huge snake face as it let out a hiss realizing it was being attacked from a different direction. It swung its massive head around and struck at me bearing its fangs.
I dove to the side, while throwing my bow. As I hit the ground I unbuckled my quiver and stood up. The massive snake did not give me lee way though it immediately struck again, as it launched itself again at me. This time I just dodged rather than diving to the ground.
As I dodged to the left the snakes huge head I shoved my clawed right hand forward aiming for its eye. This time my I hit the mark, but I was unable to free my hand from its eye socket. The Snake used the to its advantage and swiveled its head in attempt to bite me. As the snake tried to bite onto me I jumped over the snake and began straddling it. I used my free left hand to dig my claws into the skull of the snake, while using my clawed feet to dig into the sides of its neck, attempting to use the leverage to free my hand from its eye socket.
The massive snake wasn¡¯t having it though it began to roll on the ground. Sun seeing this used the moment to attack the now exposed underside of the massive Snake. He lurched forward and bit into the middle of the snake¡¯s underbelly, then ran away holding onto a chuck softer scales and meat he had ripped out.
The snake continued to thrash around an I continued to straddle it like a bull rider. I continued attempting to free my hand, as I did, I had an idea form in my head. I then began to use my leverage to not pull my right hand out of its eye socket but to dig further into its skull towards its brain.
As I did the this the snake writhed and rolled trying to crush me. Using all my strength I could muster held on while continuing to shove my hand further and further into the Snakes skull. I then heard a loud (CRACK) then the massive Snake went limp.
As the snake went limp I switched my efforts from digging in to its skull to pulling my stuck hand out. As I did this I looked over at Sun, surprisingly the sly wolf wasn¡¯t injured. I then heard another (Crack) and felt my hand slip out from the skull of the Massive Snake. I then let out a howl telling Sun and Moon to continue.
[Juvenile Basilisk killed] [Achieved Level 5] [10 SP and AP Acquired] [Claw¡¯s; Fangs of Death increased to level (4)]
Name: Phillip Mauger]
[Level: 5]
[Race: Homo-Sapien {Homo-Sapiens: a race of animals that evolved into humans without the any assistance of gods}.]
[Class: Shape-Shifter {Undiscovered Class Shape-Shifter: a non-magical class that allows its holder to adopt the forms of other life, in its pursuit for its own survival.}]
[Health: 220/280 regenerating 228/280]
[Stamina: 200/280]
[Magic: 0/0]
[Skills:]
[Inspect Level (4): Allows the user to gather information about items; life. The amount of information provided grows with the level of the skill}-passive.]
[Shapeshift Level (4): A skill that only the Shape-shifter class can use. The Skill allows the user to Shift in other forms, the forms will evolve with your understanding of the original life form. This skill may trigger unconsciously due to mental state or other reasons. Leveling the skill allows for better adoption of the transformed body by the class holder} -passive].
[Regeneration Level (4): Allows the body and mind to regenerate from physical; magical attacks, as the level increases so will your own ability to regenerate. -passive]
[Scent Tracking Level (4): Track other beings by their scent, your ability to do so will increase with each level of this skill -passive].
[Claw¡¯s; Fangs of Death Level (4): Grow claws; fangs while in your human or Shapeshift form. The sharpness, hardness, other properties will come about as the level of this skill increases in level. Your Claws and Fangs are now stained black and will siphon the souls of those you kill, the souls you take will be given to Death -passive.]
[Howl of the Pack Leader Level (4): Intimidate Non-predatory animals while communicating your intentions to your pack, current skill level gives low Strength and Agility buff to your pack. The effects of this skill will increase and grow as the level of the skill increases - active {cost -50 Stamina}]
[Animal Instincts Level (4): Your heritage is that of an animal, instincts are what kept your kin alive, in a hostile and unforgiving world. As this skill increases so will your connection to your animal instincts. -passive.]
[Pain Resistance Level (4): Your body has developed in a high tolerance for pain, the higher this skill level increases the more pain your body will be able to experience without passing out or going into shock. This skill does not eliminate the pain you feel, it only dulls it. -passive]
[Fang; Claw Mastery Level (4): Gain a better understanding of how to use your claws; fangs to fight as the animal you are. As the skill level increases so will your understanding of your claws and fangs; your ability to use them in combat -passive.]
[Enhanced 5 senses Level (4): Your 5 senses grow sharper with each level of this skill -passive.]
[Bottomless Stamina Level (4): Stamina is your only means of attack and defense. Strenuous movements cost little to no stamina, as this skills level grows all stamina movement will cost nothing; Active Skills that use stamina costs will be reduced -passive.]
[Buff¡¯s: MARKED BY DEATH: NO ONE BESIDES DEATH, CAN CLAIM YOUR SOUL, ANY ATTEMPT TO DO SO WILL SUMMON DEATH TO PUNISH THOSE WHO MEDDLE WITHIN HIS DOMAIN.]
[De-Buff¡¯s: Non-Magical Being ¨C Permanent {This being has never contained magic; its body will never be able to store magic or use magic skills}]
[Attributes: Strength-44, Agility-44, Constitution-48, Intellegence-24; Wisdom-24] {Str, Agility; Con have +2 due to the title: Leader of the Pack: +10 to all stats due to title: The one who escaped Death.}
[Titles:]
[Child of Nature: You are a child of nature, not the gods. Nature will recognize this so will the gods; their followers.]
[The Last of His Race: You are the last of your kind, will your kind die or survive? This questions rests of your shoulder. Increases [SP] and [AP] gain when leveling up from 5 to 10]
[Leader of the Pack: While with your pack you gain +2 Strength, Agility, Constitution; your ability to lead your pack is significantly increased.]
[The One Who Escaped Death: You escaped the clutches of Death, an admirable but ultimately pointless feat. you gain +10 to all Stats.]
[Deaths Hound: You are Deaths Hound, Find the souls that escape your masters reach! You gain ????? but cannot use ?????]
[Skill Points {SP}-9 after leveling skills], [Attribute Points {AP}-0]
{Author Note: Marked by death buff only means Phillip¡¯s Soul cannot be taken by anyone besides Death. He can die but his soul will go to Death, but if someone tries to steal his soul Death will be summoned.}
Seeing I got 10 SP and AP I used my AP to dump 3 points into Strength and Agility, and 4 into Constitution. I then used 7 SP to bring my remaining skills all to level 4 and saved the remaining 3, making my total unused SP 9.
I didn¡¯t know when I would get another chance to buy skill¡¯s, so I didn¡¯t want to spend them all. I felt having some in storage so to speak would only benefit me. I also figured if I was in pinch I could level up a skill or two to help me out.
I then heard a sound (GRRRUMMBLE) I looked around then down and realized it was my stomach rumbling. I then proceeded to rip several pieces meat off Basilisk then carved the heart out and ate it on the spot. After satiating my hunger, I grabbed my gear and ran off.
As I ran I howled, then heard howls respond back. The howl¡¯s said Jarold¡¯s group had found tracks, and they were following them with Cintas group. I rushed speeding through the forest as fast as I could as I neared the group I slowed down and finally found them.
Jarold ¡°Where were you?¡±
¡°Found a Juvenile Basilisk and leveled up.¡± I responded
¡°More like you ate it, you still have scales around your mouth.¡± Jarold stated while everyone snickered
I felt like a child getting caught putting their hand in the cookie jar¡
¡°uhhh I was still hungry, and it was in-between Cinta and myself thought I¡¯d take a look. Never mind that though, you found some tracks?¡± I replied trying to change the subject
¡°We did, but It was thanks to Moon finding a scent trail and leading us. Looks like a Trail to the Hordes main camp. It¡¯s well used, and we¡¯ve seen several patrols using it.¡± Jarold replied as he patted Moon on the head
¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve been busy, let¡¯s find this encampment.¡±
Our groups now reunited and began to creep through the dense forest off a way¡¯s from the used path created by the Orcs, trampling the underbrush continuously.
We continued for another 3 miles like this until we came to a clearing, dozens of shacks lined the clearing not allowing a clear view into the interior of the encampment. As we pressed forward Helia whispered, ¡°We should get to higher ground, so we can scout the area out better.¡±
We all nodded and started heading for a mountain that shaded the clearing. After 20 or so minutes of hiking up the small mountain we arrived near the summit. We gazed off into the clearing and were surprised to see at least 200 of Orcs within the clearing¡
Chapter #11: UNCHAINED part 1
Chapter #11: UNCHAINED Part 1
(Phils POV)
We continued to look out over the clearing, at the expansive horde. Jarold and Cinta immediately began to talk back and forth as we all looked out over the horde.
¡°We need to go back to Keenheim and get reinforcements, the horde is too big for our group to take on.¡± Jarold said.
¡°I agree we were just sent by lord Elbuck to scout, not to attack a horde of this size.¡± Cinta replied
¡°Sounds like you two have already decided. You go back and get reinforcements, I¡¯ll do my own thing until you get back¡± I replied with a smile.
¡°What do you mean do your own thing? You should come back with us Phillip.¡± Jarold replied.
¡°I¡¯ll just have some fun with the Orcs that¡¯s all, maybe try to find the High Orc King, lure some Patrols away from camp, have a few fulfilling meals and enjoy the forest. Along with that what if the horde moves, or goes on the offensive? Someone needs to be here, why not me?¡± I replied to Jarolds question
Jarold looked at me like I was a little off then said, ¡°You plan to fight a horde of 200 something Orcs by yourself, until we return with reinforcements?!¡±
¡°Who said anything about fighting them all? I just want to let them know they¡¯re not that high up on the food chain is all. If they see a giant wolf eating their kin their less likely to assume it¡¯s a people or adventurers invading it¡¯s just some beast. If that¡¯s the case they¡¯ll likely just send hunting parties after me, when that happens I¡¯ll whittle down their forces. I would assume having less enemies to fight would be advantageous to the group you bring back, don¡¯t you?¡±
The group stood silent in front of me thinking Jarold started to speak but was cut off by Cinta
¡°You are right, but can you handle it? You¡¯ll be alone and be fighting outnumbered.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t be alone I¡¯ll have Sun, Moon, and another friend in this forest. You have to fight to survive, that¡¯s the law of Nature. I¡¯ll be fine just get going and don¡¯t worry, I need to gain some levels anyway, so this works out for us all.¡±
The group of scouts looked at one another and shrugged, Amina walked over and gave me a hug and said ¡°Be safe Phil.¡±
Jarold said ¡°don¡¯t get in over your head Phillip, we still have more work to do after this.¡±
Ahben looked at me and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid Phillip, your strong but not strong enough to fight off that many Orcs.¡±
Helia just stared at me as Albert walked over and said, ¡°Don¡¯t go dying on me now Mauger I have more questions to ask you.¡±
Cinta looked over and said, ¡°good luck Phillip, you¡¯ll need it. Let¡¯s move out, the sooner we get back to Keenheim and get reinforcement the sooner we can clear this horde out.¡±
The two scouting groups got back together and started getting ready to head out as the sun set and it became dark. As they did I started striping and getting ready for the long few days I would have. I looked over at Sun and Moon as they looked back at me then I watched the group finished walking down the hill I began to shift my form in the darkness.
Rather than the unusual I felt and strong pain emanate from deep within my body, I started to clench my teeth as I felt my body began to stretch unnaturally and soon I couldn¡¯t hold the overflowing pain coming from within in my body as I fell to the ground. As my body continued to stretch and fur began to sprout I started screaming in pain, but it came out as an intense howl, yet it was drowned out by another sound.
A Chorus of voices sprang up from nowhere but everywhere, they all sang in tune and sang the same words. I couldn¡¯t understand them as them but as soon as I noticed the voices singing they died down then I heard horns, then drums, followed by the sounds of stringed instruments. A cacophony of music sprang up into the forest, it continued, and I soon felt it reverberate throughout my entire body as it continued.
It sounded like classical music composed by Wagner, Chopin, Or Beethoven but angry, it stirred me. I couldn¡¯t understand the Chorus of angelic voices, but they sounded like a call to arms, the horns sounded like hunting horns, the drums sounded like war drums and the strings ringed out into the night like the calm before the storm.
As my body finished shifting I soon felt the tension rising in my body an uncontrollable compulsion to move forward, onward, to fight!
(Jarold¡¯s POV)
Why is Phillip doing this, does he have a death wish? As I thought this I noticed a strange light within the sky an Aurora. At first it was primarily green but then other colors began to mix into it yellow, purple, red, blue, orange, and black they all began to mix.
As the colors mixed the Aurora grew and grew slowly covering the night sky. It continued to grow expanding along the sky, as it did a low sound could be heard. It sounded like singing but it was almost so inaudible that I could barely hear it. As I stared at the sky I slowly lowered my head and looked around at the group.
Everyone even Cintas group was dumb struck just looking at the sky, as I looked at Cinta she lowered her head and looked back at me and spoke.
¡°What going on?¡± she asked
¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve never seen such a sight¡ can you hear it though?¡±
She closed her eyes then began to listen her eyes immediately shot open and looked back at me.
¡°It¡¯s voices, they¡¯re singing its sounds like, but the sound is too low for me to make out what they¡¯re saying, I also think I hear music¡¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what going on, but we need to hurry back to Keenheim and get Reinforcements.¡± I said
¡°Agreed.¡± Cinta replied
We slowly began to move out, but the Forest was quiet, it seemed like there was a rising tension within the forest.
As we started moving, howls started to emanate from all direction in the forest.
(Olden¡¯s POV)
As I laid beneath the water I began to hear something emanating from the forest causing the Animals and magic tainted monsters too become silent. As I listened it continued then a I noticed a cascading light in the sky, it had a myriad of colors but the color¡¯s green and black seemed to be at odds.
One would grow and the other shrink then the opposite would happen, this continued until I heard Advinia, my mother voice echo within my head.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
¡°Can you hear it Olden?¡± she asked
¡°I hear something, but I cannot make out what it is mother¡± I replied through my thoughts
¡°its music, but I cannot understand it nor can the other gods. It continues to grow louder, I am surprised you cannot hear it eldest child¡¡±
¡°I hear it, but it is too quiet for me to make out what is being said.¡±
¡°it is the opposite for me my child, its loud enough to reach all the gods but we cannot make out language the voices speak or how the music is being made¡ It has caused an uproar amongst the gods, we¡¯ve been looking for its origin, but It seems to be coming from the Forbidden Forest. I think it has something to do the child from earth you met. He came back to the forest and found a Horde of Orcs.¡±
¡°Hmmm¡±
¡°What is it my child?¡±
¡°Look at the sky mother.¡±
The colors continued to clash in an ever-changing Aurora. Black almost purple colored, then green would light up the sky.
As I looked at the sky from beneath the water the silence of the forest was broken, howls began to echo far and wide from within the Forbidden Forest.
(Fredrick POV, Holy Kingdom)
I sat looking at the ceiling thinking about Hammond had said after he had finally heard back from Illengard. He said the Goddess sounded distressed and she said to kill the summoned being no matter what it took. As I laid thinking a hurried knock came at my bedroom door followed a loud voice, ¡°Your majesty you need to see this! Hammond sent me to get you, something is happening within the Forbidden Forest!
¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± I threw my robe on and rushed out of my room and was rushed over to the western end of the castle where an outside patio was on the second story. When I arrived, Hammond was standing outside waiting.
¡°Your Majesty look¡± Hammond said as he pointed at a cascading light that was covered a good portion of the Forbidden Forest. The light had hues of red, blue, yellow, but was primarily green then would shift to primarily black.
As we stared at the light a low hum began to reach our ears it was almost completely inaudible, but we could barely hear it. We couldn¡¯t make out what the sound was, but It was wafting over the castle and its entirety.
Hammond and myself continued to stare off into the distance but Hammond¡¯s face shifted and wrinkled. I looked at him, but he just looked through me, this continued for several second then he was brought back to reality.
¡°Illengard said to stay away from the Forbidden Forest and to continue to prepare to kill the Phillip Mauger¡¡±
I just continued to look out over the forest, but silence brought about by the low hum was soon broken by a unison of howls coming from the Forbidden Forest.
(Lord Elbuck POV)
After sending Jarold and Cintas scouting patrols out I looked out over the Forbidden Forest thinking about what news they would bring back. I had told both Jarold and Cinta to not engage and to come back for reinforcements after finding out where the Orc King was, but to keep this from Phillip Mauger.
He seemed to have a short temper and like to fight and after he became a citizen of the Animal-Kin Kingdom I was tasked by King Conrad to keep an eye on him and keep him alive¡
As these thoughts ran through my head I stared at a sudden change within the evening sky, a cascade of lights came into existence followed by a low hum that could be heard coming from the Forbidden Forest.
¡°Rina.¡± I called out
¡°Yes, Lord Elbuck? Wwwhat is that?!¡± she stated as appeared next to me and looked at the same sight I saw.
¡°I don¡¯t know, but go inform the King and your master about it, I don¡¯t know what happening, but they should know after what Phillip did I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if some gods had descended again¡¡±
¡°Right away Lord Elbuck!¡± she stated as she disappeared in a flash of light.
Why does all of this crap continue to happen in my nice quiet border town I thought to myself. Then howls began to come from the Forbidden Forest.
(Conrad¡¯s POV)
I had just sat down to eat dinner as a flash of light appeared within my dining room. Followed by a nervous looking Rina.
¡°King something is happening within the Forbidden Forest, Lights are coming from the forest along with a weird humming noise that cannot be made out. Lord Elbuck wished me to come inform you of this.
¡°Hmmm, have Amir go back with you and check it out and report back to me your finding.¡± I said as I thought about the fresh hearty steak that sat in front of me.
¡°At your command my King¡± Rina replied then disappeared again.
Eat first then deal whatever was going on within the Forbidden Forest was the first thought that came mind as my stomach began to growl¡
(Phil¡¯s POV)
My body lurched uncontrollably forward, it felt like my heart would burst with how fast it was beating but I continued forward against my own will. I thought to myself where am I even going?
I ran on all fours and barreled through the underbrush of the forest faster and faster straight down the mountain.
No, No, NO, im not trying to pull a god damn LEOROY JENKINS I made a plan for a reason! I thought as I tried to gain control over my body but to no avail¡ the cacophony of music continued as I ran down the hill. Soon enough I had come to the bottom of the small mountain and my body was going straight towards the clearing filled with the Horde of Orc¡¯s.
My mind continued to race trying to think of a way out of this, but I couldn¡¯t do anything, I felt like a passenger within my own body, it was a truly terrifying feeling not being in control of my own body.
As terror started to set in I just thought to myself fuck it, you can¡¯t swim against a raging river you have to go with the flow! As I thought this I felt myself freed from the passenger seat and now in the driver¡¯s seat in control. I tried to stop but couldn¡¯t, I felt this compulsion to go forward, onward, to Fight!
As I raced forward I hoped I could just straight through the clearing and keep going forward, maybe taking out a few Orc¡¯s along the way, but I had a nagging doubt that this wouldn¡¯t be the case.
As I rushed forward coming closer to the clearing I looked to my left and right looking for Sun and Moon I couldn¡¯t see either of them, so I let out a howl saying to stay away, and not to come but was surprised at how loud my howl was.
I then noticed I was several times larger than normal and my body was covered in completely black fur. As I thought this I heard several howls respond back. The howls continued in unison and all acknowledged my command to stay away.
I noticed I was about 1 min from reaching the clearing, so I thought myself status, maybe I could find out why this was happening.
Name: Phillip Mauger]
[Level: 5]
[Race: Homo-Sapien {Homo-Sapiens: a race of animals that evolved into humans without the any assistance of gods}.]
[Class: Shape-Shifter {Undiscovered Class Shape-Shifter: a non-magical class that allows its holder to adopt the forms of other life, in its pursuit for its own survival.}]
[Health: 220/280 regenerating 228/280]
[Stamina: 200/280]
[Magic: 0/0]
[Skills:]
[Inspect Level (4): Allows the user to gather information about items; life. The amount of information provided grows with the level of the skill}-passive.]
[Shapeshift Level (4): A skill that only the Shape-shifter class can use. The Skill allows the user to Shift in other forms, the forms will evolve with your understanding of the original life form. This skill may trigger unconsciously due to mental state or other reasons. Leveling the skill allows for better adoption of the transformed body by the class holder} -passive].
[Regeneration Level (4): Allows the body and mind to regenerate from physical; magical attacks, as the level increases so will your own ability to regenerate. -passive]
[Scent Tracking Level (4): Track other beings by their scent, your ability to do so will increase with each level of this skill -passive].
[Claw¡¯s; Fangs of Death Level (4): Grow claws; fangs while in your human or Shapeshift form. The sharpness, hardness, other properties will come about as the level of this skill increases in level. Your Claws and Fangs are now stained black and will siphon the souls of those you kill, the souls you take will be given to Death -passive.]
[Howl of the Pack Leader Level (4): Intimidate Non-predatory animals while communicating your intentions to your pack, current skill level gives low Strength and Agility buff to your pack. The effects of this skill will increase and grow as the level of the skill increases - active {cost -50 Stamina}]
[Animal Instincts Level (4): Your heritage is that of an animal, instincts are what kept your kin alive, in a hostile and unforgiving world. As this skill increases so will your connection to your animal instincts. -passive.]
[Pain Resistance Level (4): Your body has developed in a high tolerance for pain, the higher this skill level increases the more pain your body will be able to experience without passing out or going into shock. This skill does not eliminate the pain you feel, it only dulls it. -passive]
[Fang; Claw Mastery Level (4): Gain a better understanding of how to use your claws; fangs to fight as the animal you are. As the skill level increases so will your understanding of your claws and fangs; your ability to use them in combat -passive.]
[Enhanced 5 senses Level (4): Your 5 senses grow sharper with each level of this skill -passive.]
[Bottomless Stamina Level (4): Stamina is your only means of attack and defense. Strenuous movements cost little to no stamina, as this skills level grows all stamina movement will cost nothing; Active Skills that use stamina costs will be reduced -passive.]
[Buff¡¯s: MARKED BY DEATH: , UNCHAINED: You have been set off you leash by your master, Fulfill the Task You have been given! +25 Strength, Agility, Constitution while UNCHAINED, your altered form grows, ????? is now active!]
[De-Buff¡¯s: Non-Magical Being ¨C Permanent {This being has never contained magic; its body will never be able to store magic or use magic skills}]
[Attributes: Strength-44, Agility-44, Constitution-48, Intellegence-24; Wisdom-24] {Str, Agility; Con have +2 due to the title: Leader of the Pack: +10 to all stats due to title: The one who escaped Death.}
[Titles:]
[Child of Nature: You are a child of nature, not the gods. Nature will recognize this so will the gods; their followers.]
[The Last of His Race: You are the last of your kind, will your kind die or survive? This questions rests of your shoulder. Increases [SP] and [AP] gain when leveling up from 5 to 10]
[Leader of the Pack: While with your pack you gain +2 Strength, Agility, Constitution; your ability to lead your pack is significantly increased.]
[The One Who Escaped Death: You escaped the clutches of Death, an admirable but ultimately pointless feat. you gain +10 to all Stats.]
[Deaths Hound: You are Deaths Hound, Find the souls that escape your masters reach! You gain ????? but cannot use ?????]
[Skill Points {SP}-9 after leveling skills], [Attribute Points {AP}-0]
{Authors Note: Unchained or Unleashed which do you like better? Also, think of the buff as a dog being off its leash¡ but still being indirectly controlled by its owner. PS- if your wondering where the buff comes from just remember the black chain around the MC neck.}
Unchained Buff? WTF mate! As I thought this I realized I had already ran into the clearing¡
As ran through the clearing, I destroyed several tent¡¯s and poorly made cabins that dotted the outer area of the clearing. This garnered the attention of the massive Horde of Orc¡¯s sitting around several open fires.
At first the Orcs just stared, this happened for about 30 seconds, then loud grunts and several stood up and grabbed weapons and headed towards me.
I then heard a voice echo within my skull, ¡°SHOW THEM WHY THEY NEED TO FEAR ME CHILD OF NATURE, DESTORY THE HORDE, GROW MORE POWERFUL & FUFILL THE TASK YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN!¡± as the voice cut out, the music grew louder and louder and caused me to act.
As the 20 or so Orc¡¯s ran towards me I launched myself forward. I swung my arm and then realized the extent of my growth.
I was now closer to 10 and ? feet tall and my claws were almost a foot long my fangs had also grown several inches.
As I swung my arm I tore through the 5 Orc¡¯s, decapitating them. As I did several had closed the distance and began swinging myriad of weapons at me. several swords, axes, and spears tore into my flesh.
Using both mu arms In separately I started swinging at the Orcs that attacked me, as this happened the entire Horde of Orc¡¯s began to rise and watch. As I swung my right hand down I cut through two more Orcs as my Left came down I grabbed another tossed in into my maw.
An unsettling *SNAP, CRUNCH* rang out as I spit the now dead Orc onto the ground and began to kill the remaining Orc¡¯s that continued to slice at me with varying weapons.
I continued tearing the Orc¡¯s apart until there were none of the original group that attacked me. I then turned and faced the now armed Orc Horde and saw several wolves on speared through the middle and roasting on fires.
I felt a fire grow within me, my nerves felt like they were on fire, I felt bile in my mouth, the sight sickened me. I then opened my mouth and roared as I felt anger wash over my body.
*RRRRRROOOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR*
Chapter #12: UNCHAINED part 2
Chapter #12: UNCHAINED Part 2
(Phil¡¯s POV)
*RRRROOOOAAAARRRR*
As I finished roaring I felt my body rush forward on all fours, I knew this wasn¡¯t a good idea, but the sight of the wolves skewered over fires made something within me snap. I rushed forward my body barely under my own control as it did I felt something slam into my chest.
The momentum of the object stopped me dead in my tracks, as I looked down I saw a spear imbedded within my chest. Since I already stopped I stood up now dwarfing every Orc in sight. As I stood the began to form a circle around me. I noticed this, while reaching down I ripped the spear from my chest.
I watched as the wound began to close but It wasn¡¯t fast enough, I said ¡°put 4 SP in Regeneration!¡±
As I finished the familiar voice echoed within my skull.
[Request Acknowledged, 4 SP put in {Regeneration} Skill] [{Regeneration} is now level 8]
As the voice finished talking I looked down at the wound but it already closed but blood was still there. Rather than just dropping the spear that was thrown at me a grabbed it like a javelin. I lifted the spear holding it close to the its head, as I did I rotated my right arm in a similar fashion to throwing a baseball.
As my arm arched over my head I released the spear throwing it at a group of High Orcs that stood separated from the group that had encircled me. The spear sailed through the air and met its mark.
The spear penetrated one of the several High Orcs and went all the way through him, its momentum allowed it to continue going forward as it slammed into another High Orc directly behind the first it had penetrated. The second-High Orc the Spear had hit struggled to pull the spear out of its gut, but I could no longer pay attention to the High Orcs as the Horde continued to enclose their circle around me, coming closer and closer.
Rather than wait I rushed forward into the circle of flesh, as I threw my-self at the barrier of Orcs I felt several more spears slammed into me by the surrounding Orcs, but I pushed forward. This caused the spears held by the Orcs to be pushed all the way through me.
As I continued forward I felt the familiar sense of pain wash over my body, but I wasn¡¯t paying any attention to it as I lashed out with my claws at several of the Orcs who had speared me. I continued to lash out with my claws, I began to cleave them apart separating their appendages from their body. I continued pushing forward through the circle biting into Orcs and ripping limbs or heads off as I swung my arms again and again, cleaving, a path forward through the encirclement straight towards the group of high Orcs.
As I rushed forward in a crazed state I began slash with my claws at the Orcs necks separating their heads from their bodies. All they while I continued to feel getting stabbed, sliced, and cleaved by Spears, Swords, and Axes, but my wounds would heal just as fast as they were brought about.
As I continued forward I felt several spears get thrown into me making me look like A, oversized porcupine with quills poking out of it.
Using my long arms and clawed hands I began to swipe in all direction causing the closest Orcs to be decapitated and causing other Orcs to move farther away from me. I used this moment to start grabbing the spears imbedded within me and ripping them out. I pulled 5 spears from my back and then started pulling the ones from my chest and nether region, as I did the Orcs started to surge forward again.
Just as I finished removing the last spear I felt the horde completely encircle me. They began to swing weapons from all directions causing me to roar in frustration and pain. I began to swing my clawed hands in retaliation but noticed this would be a losing battle. I needed to break out of the encirclement, I then thought to myself ¡®why not just go over them?¡¯.
I continued swiping with my clawed hands at the numerous orcs but focused on straining my leg muscles to the upmost limits. I then jumped with all my strength aiming for the High Orc group with about 25 High Orcs. As I sailed through the air, I guessed this would be where the king was and If I could kill him I figured I could possibly cause disorder within the horde.
As I landed I came almost out of the encirclement of the Main Orc Horde. I pushed forward snarling and continuing to rip apart the few Orcs that separated me from the High Orc group. As I got to the last Orc in between me and the High Orc group, I lifted it up and brought its head to my mouth. I shoved my mouth over its head and neck my front fangs dug into its back while the rest of my fangs crushed it neck and skull.
I began to chew on it slowly but surely causing a reaction amongst the High Orcs group. At first, they began to all ready their weapons but then a High Orc stepped forward and started grunting and shouting in an incomprehensible language.
The High Orc was almost as tall as me probably somewhere around 9ft tall, it had greyed skin with several long scars covering its face and body. Its horn¡¯s where its most defining feature though. It has several small horns that came out around the crown of its skull making a small pointed horned crown. It body was pure muscle and it wielded a spear and having several more strapped onto its back, seeing this I immediately new this was the son of a bitch that had been throwing spears into me.
It pointed at me and began to speak but the Music that played only grew louder and louder causing my blood to stir as the voices echoed, the drums beat, the horns howled, and the strings wailed in a melodious tune. I felt like the tune was familiar, yet it was unknown it continued to make me move forward, onward, to fight, TO KILL!
(Amir¡¯s POV)
As myself and Rina teleported back to Keenheim we appeared on a deck that lord Elbuck was sitting out on while looking at the sky.
As I looked up to see what he was staring at I saw a magnificent sight. Hues of colors continued to form and change and intertwine with one another. as I watched I noticed that the colors Green and Black seemed to writhe and squirm around each other, like they were at odds. As I noticed this I saw the color green suddenly vanish. As it did the other colors were slowly swallowed by the color black, as they disappeared all¡¯s that was left was a starry black night sky.
¡°What is going on Elbuck?¡± I asked
¡°Would I not tell Rina to inform King and you if I already knew Amir? That¡¯s why I had her go to the King. I liked my nice and quiet border town now there¡¯s always something going on¡¡±
¡°Fair enough, any thoughts why this is going on?¡± I asked sarcastically not expecting a responseThis story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
¡°No, if I had to guess it because of that Mauger. He went out into the Forbidden Forest this morning with a group of scouts and now this is happening.¡± Elbuck said
¡°Hmmm, I¡¯d also say I agree with your opinion, I liked it better when this town was nice and quiet but Phillip sure has made things interesting here.¡± I replied
¡°That¡¯s your opinion, I liked my nice and quiet town. Not only is it not quiet but I have to baby sit this new citizen¡ I don¡¯t like this Amir I¡¯m am not a damned nanny!¡± Elbuck coldly stated
¡°Agreed, you¡¯re a lord under the service of King Conrad who gave you orders to watch Phillip not be his nanny, remember that. I¡¯ll do what I can to get him out of your hair, but in the meantime, I¡¯m going to figure out what¡¯s happening within the Forbidden Forest.¡± I replied calmly.
I turned around and motioned for Rina to follow me as we began to prepare our teleportation spell. As I finished preparing I looked at Rina and said, ¡°follow me and do not engage unless I do we are only going to see what is going on within the forest.¡±
Rina replied, ¡°Yes master, I plan to follow your lead.¡±
¡°Good let us be off then.¡± I replied back to her as I used my teleportation spell.
When I came out of the spell I was deep within the Forbidden Forest, I waited for Rina to arrive, then we began to move.
We both used short teleportation spells after I had connected us using telepathy to communicate.
¡®Master what should we be looking for?¡¯ Rina asked
¡®I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll know it when you see it, just keep moving forward and be careful¡¯ I replied back to her.
As we I moved forward I soon noticed a trail that was being used consistently so I decided to follow it. I continued to follow it for more than 5 miles before anything happened.
Soon I began to hear something a low hum, as it reached my ears I tried to follow its direction while also informing Rina I had found something.
¡®Rina, teleport to my location I think I found which way we are supposed to be going¡¯ I said through the telepathic link.
¡®Right away master.¡¯ She replied within several seconds she was next to me and we are on the move again. As we continued to follow the low humming we soon heard the sounds of a fighting. Then a deep roar echoed from the direction as well.
*RRROOOAAARRR*
As we continued forward we came across a small mountain. As we teleported up it we saw something interesting several wolves had grouped up together and were all looking in the direction we were heading they had all stopped and sat down while looking off into the distance. Two of the wolves looked familiar they were both jet black and It was then I realized they were the ones that followed Phillip but there 8 more wolves with them all sitting and looking into a clearing at the bottom of the mountain.
As I followed the wolves gaze to the bottom of the mountain I saw something I¡¯d thought I would never see. A huge completely black wolf like man barreled through a horde of Orcs of about 200 strong. He tore them apart like a sharp knife cutting through paper. He moved quickly and even though he continued to take continuous damage from the horde he persisted forward tearing them apart.
Suddenly he Jumped out of the horde landing on its outer edge and began to make his way towards a group separated from the main horde. As he advanced he continued to slaughter the Orcs in front of him. He then grabbed the last Orc separating him from the group of High Orc¡¯s and shoved his mouth over its entire head and began to chew on it, a single huge High Orc stepped forward and pointed at the wolf man who I assumed to be Phillip and started to scream and grunt.
As he did an ominous black aura came out of Phillips body, along with it a cacophonous sound. Voices began to sing in tandem, Horns began to Ring, Drums wailed as they were beat, Stringed instruments were violently plucked as this happened figures began to form around Phillip. Black shaded forms that sung and played these instruments that appeared to be completely made out of shadows, soon the voices all chanted a single word that I could understand. the voices started off quiet, then began to grow louder and louder until nothing could be heard.
¡°kill, Kill, KILL, KILL, KILL¡± the blackened figures sang
As they continued a loud sound broke the chanting
*RRRRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR* and filled the night sky
As Phillip roared he launched himself forward. the Huge Orc threw a spear at Phillip, the spear cleaved apart his left arm, almost completely severing it off and drew another spear from its back.
As Phillip came closer to the High Orc it used its spear to continuously jab at him, it would stab him then pull out and repeat this process inflicting massive wounds upon Phillip. Phillip continued forward though undeterred by these wounds that quickly closed themselves.
As Phillip continued forward fighting the massive High Orc, several High Orcs ran up from behind him and grabbed him and began to pin him to the ground, as they did the Tall Spear wielding High Orc ran forward stabbing his spear into Phillip¡¯s left arms completely cleaving it off at the shoulder. Another Orc swung his massive club smashing it into Phillip¡¯s skull.
As it did this it seemed Phillip would die, but surprisingly enough he began to thrash about uncontrollably and the black Aura that surrounded him grew. The music that had stopped continued once again, it began to be played faster and louder.
Then the wolves near Rina and Myself began to loudly howl. As this happened Phillips body began to grow, it went from be similar in size to the High Orc wielding a spear to nearly 12 ft tall
(Phil¡¯s POV)
As I thrashed about on the ground uncontrollably looking at my severed left arm I felt something in me began to awaken something primal. As I thrashed about I felt a club smash into my head, cracking my skull which quickly regenerated.
I felt ringing in my head as my skull began to heal and I then noticed again then melodious music ringing, and the chanting voices I could now understand.
¡°KILL, KILL, KILL!¡±
They all said the same thing, as they continued I noticed blackened figures around me made up of shadows, they were the ones chanting. I soon felt more weapons pierce into my body and then several howls ring out into the night.
The howls caused me to stop thrashing about, it caused the primal thing that had woken up to stir more to stir my whole sense of being. I felt my bones begin to snap yet again and my body elongate, as it happened I began to roar thrash about with renewed vigor.
As my body grew and I thrashed I felt the hold of the High Orcs that had grabbed me and muscled me to the ground weaken. Once this happened I sprung up from the ground with my 1 arm and legs and charged the High King Orc. As I did he threw his spear at me, but I deftly dodged it as I charged forward grabbing the High Orc king with my right hand. As my hand wrapped around its throat it lifted it high into the air, I then slammed him down into the ground opening my clenched fist into open palm as I did it.
Once the High Orc King had hit the ground I leaned over and began to use my hand to pin him down while I ripped his arms off and ate them in a single bite bone and all. After removing his arms, I tore its legs off and ate them in a single bone crunching bite. As the bloodied king lay without any of its arms or the legs, I leaned forward wrapping my mouth around its head and lifted it off the ground facing the horde.
The horde stood quietly before me as the chanting and music continued, clenched my jaws around the High Orc Kings skull *CRUNCH* then spat its bloodied carcass onto the forest floor in front of the Orc Horde and roared
*RRRROOOOOAAARRRR*
I then began to charge at the now silenced Horde. The group of High Orcs had retreated back into the main horde as I rushed forward.
As I charged forward tearing through the horde with my one good arm I noticed my left arm began to regrow. I continued tearing apart the Orcs as they continued to tear into me with their weapons.
I felt my body begin to go ragged I knew I had taken a lot of damage I didn¡¯t know how much HP I still had but I saw the 150 or so Orcs that still made up the horde and knew I had to end this sooner rather than later. As I continued to tear through Orc with just my one hand I felt several swords stab into my chest. The feeling was awful, it was all I could do not to yell in pain, but I pushed forward thrashing my right arm about and biting with my powerful maw destroying the Orcs before me.
As I pushed forward through the horde slicing the through the massive horde I felt an Axe slam into my neck, as it did I incautiously turned my head and grabbed the arm of the attacker in my maw and started ripping him apart with my right hand. As this happened more Orc piled onto me and trying to pin me down and kill me, but I continued thrashing, cutting, and KILLING!
As the Orcs piled on top of me some began to flee, seeing this I let out a Howl, telling Sun and Moon to kill the Orc¡¯s that tried to flee. I didn¡¯t focus on the fleeing Orcs I still had enough to deal with.
Their where still 80 Orcs I had to deal with. By this time my left arm had completely healed so I started swinging both decapitating Orcs to my left and right while steadily snapping my maw ripping heads and limbs from the Orc¡¯s bodies.
I continued, slashing, chomping, and killing for what seemed like almost an hour and there was still 20 Orcs left. I grabbed the nearest one and dug my claws into its chest and used my other hand to start pulling its legs as I did I heard a nasty *SNAP* and the Orc was split in 2 pieces.
19
I lunged forward and felt two Orcs stab into my back with sword¡¯s, but I slashed at the several in front of me decapitating them with ease.
15
I turned around and slashed at the two Orcs that had stabbed their swords into me repeatedly slicing them in half at the chest. I then moved forward launching myself onto the nearest Orc crushing it body under my own weight then ripping its head off with my jaws.
13
The several Orcs that were now left all charged me in a desperate attempt to drag me down to the ground. As the 13 Orcs stabbed into me with their various weapons into me and used their free hands to try to drag me to the ground I let out horrendous roar putting all the pain I had felt in this fight into it.
*RRRRRRROOOOOOAAAAAARRRR*
I then started ripping apart the Orcs grabbing limbs, and heads then ripping them off.
1
As I got to the last Orc I moved forward but was surprised to see Sun and Moon pounce onto it and start to rip it apart along with several other wolves following suit.
0
As I saw this I heard a familiar voice echo within my head.
[Achieved Level 6], [Achieved Level 7], [Achieved Level 8] ... [Achieved Level 10], [ Skills {Claw¡¯s; Fangs of Death}, {Animal Instincts}, {Pain Resistance}, {Fang; Claw Mastery}, {Bottomless Stamina} have leveled up to (8)] ¡ [Skill¡¯s {Regeneration} and {Shapeshift} have leveled to (10)] ¡. [Achieved Title {Orc¡¯s-bane: You have killed over 200 Orc¡¯s, your mere presence cause¡¯s Orc¡¯s to feel terror. +5 to all attributes when fighting Orc¡¯s}].
As the familiar voice stopped another familiar voice echoed within my skull ¡°hahaha, you have completed your first task child of nature. Continue to grow your power and let my name be known in this world!¡±
¡°Death¡± I simply said as my body collapsed underneath my own weight still in my shifted form. As my I laid on the ground I looked at my thoroughly injured body. I had regrown my arm, but I still had several wounds that began to close at an accelerated rate thanks to my enhanced [Regeneration] Skill.
Then I saw a flash of light appear on my right side. I tried to get away from it but was surprised to see Amir standing their along with Rina who stared at me with their mouths agape.
Update... Not A Chapter.
Long story short I''ve been busy, had some personal shenanigans to deal with, and have not had any-time to write. I have not dropped this story for anybody who''s wondering.
The next chapter will be dropping next week on Monday or Tuesday since I have some time off from work and am ready to get back to writing this story! Editing of the first few chapters will be happening around the same time, no story changes will be happening just dialogue and other issues that readers have brought up. Editing will happen after the next chapter has been posted.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Thanks for your support and criticism, I really appreciate it!
Sincerely Mauger
Chapter #13: Death & Company.
Chapter #13: Death & Company.
(Amir¡¯s POV)
I stood before Phillip with Rina at my side while thinking.
How did this happen? How did Phillip succeed? Those injuries! He lost an arm, had been stabbed so many times I lost count! He should be dead!
But as these thoughts ran through my head I watched as Phil¡¯s myriad of injuries healed. I barely believed what I was saw happening before me. His various stab wounds forced themselves closed as the flesh stitched it¡¯s self-back together without the assistance of any magic. His arm that had been cleaved lay on the ground off in the distance, yet he already had grown another in its place.
Along with that, Phil¡¯s form was significantly bigger than what had been previously described by Jarold in his report that had been sent to the king.
As I stared at Phillip I watched him lose conscious as his body went limp. Rina and I just watched him as his wounds continued to stitch themselves back together.
I turned toward Rina and said ¡°Teleport back to the King and tell him that I will be back with a report within the next day or so, with Phillip. Also, ask the King to please send 2 scouting regimens to Keenheim if he can spare them¡ Once you¡¯ve gone to the King go back to lord Elbuck and tell him that all has passed, and he will have his peace & quiet. I will be taking Phil to the capital after he awakes so I can talk with him. Also inform lord Elbuck, That I request that all parties involved with this incident stay at the castle, I will be coming for them within a day or so with Phillip and we all will be going to the capital.¡±
Rina nodded at me and began to cast a spell but stopped and looked at me and said ¡°What did we just witness Master? I¡¯ve never seen anything like those blackened ghostly figures, they sent a chill into the very fiber of my being.¡±
I stepped over to Rina while placing my hand on her shoulder, ¡°I don¡¯t know Rina, I do know that the king made the right choice siding with Phillip after witnessing this¡ I know that Phillip is truly a monster. Try to forget what happened here and thank you for your help, Rina.¡±
Rina merely shrugged and said ¡°I doubt I¡¯ll ever forget what I just saw and no problem, this was truly fascinating to watch. I still can barely believe what we just saw, it was truly a sight to behold. I¡¯d like to know your opinion about it when you return to Keenheim with Phillip.¡±
As Rina finished speaking I watched her teleport away. I soon wondered if I had instilled too much of myself in Rina. Her curiosity was growing even more so than my own¡
As I thought this I noticed that several wolves began to walk out from the woods while slowly merging back into a single group as they entered the clearing. My attention focused on the animals and I soon counted 10 of them.
Leading the group were Phil¡¯s two black dire wolves as the neared me they let out a low snarl and laid down next to Phil. As they did this the nudged him with their snouts but to no avail.
As I saw this I thought to myself this is going to take a while, better get comfy.
(Phil¡¯s Pov)
I felt something nudging me causing my eyes to jerk open. I saw both Sun and Moon nudging my face. I also noticed that my body had shifted back into its human form while I had passed out, I felt sore all over my body felt like it had been hit by a truck. While my head throbbed like I had a massive hangover but worst of it all was the pain I felt this empty pit in my stomach that burned and throbbed like some tiny sentient creature would burst from within it.
As my eyes looked up I soon noticed the sun was up and brightly shining causing me to moan and rolled over.
¡°UHHH¡±
I slowly buried my face into the wet grass and soon felt 2 bodies pressing against me trying to comfort me as my headache continued with a vengeance. I then felt more furry bodies begin to press against me.
This caused me to groan more as I began to shift to look at why more than two furry bodies pressed against me.
¡°UHHHHHHHHHHHHHH¡±
As I shifted again onto my back while opening my eyes I saw that there was, now other wolves accompanying Sun and Moon in laying against my slowly moving body. Seeing this I was slightly puzzled but didn¡¯t let it bother me as my hands shifted and moved to begin petting Sun and Moon as the nuzzled my face.
I soon heard ¡°You''re finally awake!¡± a voice shouted with excitement.
¡°UHHHHH, to loud, UHHH¡± I forced out, as I continue to groan and moan.
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¡°Phil, it¡¯s amir, what wrong?¡± I heard Amir quietly say to me.
¡°Need to eat¡± I forced out, as I slowly shoved my body up off the ground and looked around for something to eat while recalling the event that happened the previous day
As I looked at the open clearing dotted with crappy shacks, I noticed the scene before me, blood and viscera were laying everywhere. The only words that could describe the scene in front of me was utter carnage.
I turned my head and said with a smile on my face ¡°Did I do that?¡± as let out a chuckle. My headache continued but my shitty sense of humor was only bolstered by the shitty feeling that encompassed me like a dirty wet blanket.
Amir looked at me like I was crazy, but I just continued forward as I turned my head back around, stumbling forward like a drunk. As I stumbled forward I soon came upon a High Orc corpse. I began to slowly lower my shaking body down to it, then began to ravenously eat, tearing the flesh from it and shoving it into my mouth.
As I continued to shovel the raw meat into my mouth the headache began to subside, after finishing 3/4 of the High Orc I felt my body begin the soreness leave my aching body but the empty pit in my stomach remained. The pain coming from the pit in my stomach was milder now, but the empty pit remained all the same.
I stood up and moved to the next corpse I found while motioning for Sun and Moon to eat as well.
This caused several wolves to all get-up and start feasting. I paid no mind to this while bending down again and began eating another High Orc. I ripped the corpses almost severed arm off and began to gnaw on it like an ear of corn. Slowly rotating the arm and chomping down on the meat.
As I finished picking the arm clean with only a bone in my hand, Amir came over and said, ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡±
¡°meh, better but I still need to eat. What on your mind Amir, there has to be a reason that you¡¯re here and not with the king.¡± I replied as I began eating more.
¡°Well, I¡¯m here because of what happened yesterday. Can you explain what exactly led to the events that transpired yesterday?¡± Amir asked with an inquisitive look on his face.
I looked around and pulled another piece of meat off the dead High Orc and kept eating, while I thought about Amir''s question¡
After I replied giving Amir a brief summary of my account of events, he merely stood quietly and thought, while I continued to eat ravenously. A brief thought of what my Status would look like after yesterday¡¯s battle came to the forefront of my mind.
Name: Phillip Mauger]
[Level: 10]
[Race: Homo-Sapien {Homo-Sapiens: a race of animals that evolved into humans without any assistance of the gods}.]
[Class: Shape-Shifter {Undiscovered Class Shape-Shifter: a non-magical class that allows its holder to adopt the forms of other life, in its pursuit for its survival.}]
[Health: 645/645]
[Stamina: 645/645]
[Magic: 0/0]
[Skills:]
[Inspect Level (4): Allows the user to gather information about items; life. The amount of information provided grows with the level of the skill}-passive.]
[Shapeshift Level (10): A skill that only the Shape-shifter class can use. The Skill allows the user to Shift in other forms, the forms will evolve with your understanding of the original life form. This skill may trigger unconsciously due to mental state or other reasons. Leveling the skill allows for better adoption of the transformed body by the class holder} -passive].
[Regeneration Level (10): Allows the body and mind to regenerate from physical; magical attacks, as the level increases so will your ability to regenerate. -passive]
[Scent Tracking Level (8): Track other beings by their scent, your ability to do so will increase with each level of this skill -passive].
[Claw¡¯s; Fangs of Death Level (8): Grow claws; fangs while in your human or Shapeshift form. The sharpness, hardness, other properties will come about as the level of this skill increases in level. Your Claws and Fangs are now stained black and will siphon the souls of those you kill, the souls you take will be given to Death -passive.]
[Howl of the Pack Leader Level (4): Intimidate non-predatory animals while communicating your intentions to your pack, current skill level gives low Strength and Agility buff to your pack. The effects of this skill will increase and grow as the level of the skill increases - active {cost -50 Stamina}]
[Animal Instincts Level (8): Your heritage is that of an animal, instincts are what kept your kin alive, in a hostile and unforgiving world. As this skill increases so will your connection to your animal instincts. -passive.]
[Pain Resistance Level (4): Your body has developed in a high tolerance for pain, the higher this skill level increases the more pain your body will be able to experience without passing out or going into shock. This skill does not eliminate the pain you feel, it only dulls it. -passive]
[Fang; Claw Mastery Level (8): Gain a better understanding of how to use your claws; fangs to fight like the animal you are. As the skill level increases so will your understanding of your claws and fangs; your ability to use them in combat -passive.]
[Enhanced 5 senses Level (4): Your 5 senses grow sharper with each level of this skill -passive.]
[Bottomless Stamina Level (8): Stamina is your only means of attack and defense. Strenuous movements cost little to no stamina, as this skill level grows all stamina movement will cost nothing; Active Skills that use stamina costs will be reduced -passive.]
[Buff¡¯s: MARKED BY DEATH: UNCHAINED: You have been set off you leash by your master, Fulfill the Task You have been given! +25 Strength, Agility, Constitution while UNCHAINED, your altered form grows, ????? is now active!]
[De-Buff¡¯s: Ravenous Hunger, Non-Magical Being ¨C Permanent {This being has never contained magic; its body will never be able to store magic or use magic skills}]
[Attributes: Strength-44, Agility-44, Constitution-48, Intelligence-24; Wisdom-24] {Str, Agility; Con have +2 due to the title: Leader of the Pack: +10 to all stats due to title: The one who escaped Death.]
[Titles:]
[Child of Nature: You are a child of nature, not the gods. Nature will recognize this so will the gods; their followers.]
[The Last of His Race: You are the last of your kind, will your kind die or survive? This question rests on your shoulder. Increases [SP] and [AP] gain when leveling up from 5 to 10]
[Leader of the Pack: While with your pack you gain +2 Strength, Agility, Constitution; your ability to lead your pack is significantly increased.]
[The One Who Escaped Death: You escaped the clutches of Death, an admirable but ultimately pointless feat. you gain +10 to all Stats.]
[Deaths Hound: You are Deaths Hound, Find the souls that escape your masters reach! You gain ????? but cannot use ?????]
[Orc¡¯s-bane: You have killed over 200 Orc¡¯s, your mere presence cause¡¯s Orc¡¯s to feel terror. +5 to all attributes when fighting Orcs]
[Skill Points {SP}-55 after leveling skills], [Attribute Points {AP}-50][0 after using {AP}]
[New Skills available for Purchase!]
I pushed the idea of looking at the purchasable skills to the back of my mind and focused on my [AP] I had available. I figured that my normal split of 4,4,6 would be the best option so I did just that with the available 50 [AP] I had.
[Attributes: Strength-64, Agility-64, Constitution-78, Intellegence-24; Wisdom-24]
As I finished looking at the notification I noticed I had eaten all of the High Orc and got up to move onto the next one while Amir continued to think about what I had told him sitting off to the side.
(Deaths POV location ?????????)
I sat upon my onyx black chair thinking about the child of nature that had managed to escape me. wondering why such a thing could happen while also thinking about how he had been pulled into a space that even I couldn¡¯t physically enter. It was a truly puzzling situation¡.
I managed to send a copy of myself made up of ether to save the child of nature from the godling, but it was difficult to use and lacked the finesse my corporeal body had.
As I pondered over these thoughts and stared into the void, but soon green sprouts of vegetation started to spring out from the endless cosmic void in front of me.
I sighed and prepared myself for what was to come.
As I stared at the vegetation, A woman sprang out of the void and began to look around she immediately looked at me and a vicious smile formed upon her face like a cat who had finally found a mouse it had lost. She quietly walked towards me, with every step the vegetation began growing thicker and in more abundance.
She stopped several feet in front of me as I inspected her. She had long brown hair that flowed like an endless river, a small button nose, a shapely figure, pure emerald green eyes, and a leafy gown that flowed down her body that had various sprouting flowers of a multitude of colors.
She simply stared into me and waited, slightly taping her barefoot onto the ground with impatience.
¡°What can I do for you dearest sister.¡± I asked
¡°I think you already know why I am here Death.¡± She replied with a smile that looked more predatory than friendly.
¡°I have no idea what you are talking about dearest sister¡± I smiled back at her.
The Woman¡¯s foot stopped tapping and she continued forward up to me.
She merely whispered, ¡°you do, and you will tell me where he is.¡±
Her eyes began to glow brighter as she whispered the words and at that moment I knew I fucked up. I knew Lilly all too well she was truly one no Universal Law wished to fuck with.
¡°¡¡. I was trying to get your child, but he got taken to another dimension Lilly.¡± I responded
¡°Where exactly is he Gregory, and why was my connection with him cut!¡± Lilly rebutted with a slight tinge of anger imbedded in her silky sweet voice that echoed throughout the desolate void.
¡°I merely gave him a boon sister, I made sure he would survive his predicament. It shouldn¡¯t have severed his connection to you.¡± I replied as I tried to dance around her question while giving it a half answer.
Lilly¡¯s foot started to tap the floor again and the plants started to grow, shaking the void itself.
¡°Where is he? Do not make me ask again Gregory, you remember the last time you pulled a stunt like this?¡± Lilly asked me again.
Shivers ran down my nonexistent spine.
¡°A world called Arediaia. In a Dimension, the Universal Laws have no control over¡¡±I spat out as quickly as I could.
¡°hmm, show me,¡± Lilly stated
¡°Fine, you sure are being a bad parent showing favoritism like this,¡± I said trying to get her attention away from me.
¡°I am not a bad parent nor am I showing favoritism. I would do the same for any of my children if they were stolen away from me, then had their connection severed from me by you.¡± She coldly stated staring into my eyes.
¡°Let us go then, I¡¯m sure you know, we cannot stay long once we get to your kidnapped child, we must use ether to manifest our non-corporeal bodies within the world and for some reason it rejects ether, so we won¡¯t have long once we get there¡.¡± I replied
She merely continues tapping her foot and looked at me suggesting to me that I should have already gone to show her the way¡
Chapter # 14: Meeting...
Chapter 14: Meeting¡
(Phil¡¯s POV)
I continued to eat and devour the plethora of Orc and High Orc corpses around me. As I chewed through the carnage I finally arrived at the leftovers of the High Orc King. The High Orc Kings body was still intact, so I went to town and ate what little was left of him after ripping him apart during the battle.
As I finished eating the High Orc King I felt the empty pit in my stomach fade away. Since the pain had subsided I sat down and started to look around while rubbing my bulging stomach. I noticed that the wolves continued to eat and did not look as though they would let up in eating at this all you can eat Orc buffet anytime soon.
I thought I was probably about time to talk Amir after getting my fill, so I stood up and walked towards him. I soon noticed that Amir had a look of intrigue upon his ghostly pale mug.
¡°What with the look Amir?¡± I asked
¡°You really can eat a lot¡ Feeling better now?¡± Amir said as he stroked his chin.
¡°Yup, don¡¯t know why but my appetite has only grown since I got here¡± I answered.
¡°I would likely bet it has something to do with your Class, but I cannot be certain. I would like to study you once we have the time your abilities are very interesting, to say the least. Especially the fact that you can eat the magic tainted monsters without any negative effects.¡± Amir continued
¡°All of that will have to wait though, we need to get back to the King. We also need to stop at Keenheim to gather those that were with you on this little excursion. Are you ready to leave now?¡±
¡°Not yet, unfortunately, I would like to gather the Orc horns or whatever they''re called, then go see my companion before I set off and I would preferably like to go see my companion alone,¡± I stated, trying to get my point across without sounding like too much of an ass.
¡°If that¡¯s what you need to do so be it, but we need to move out sooner than later,¡± Amir stated as he walked away.
I watched Amir walk away from me over to a tree he had been sitting down at earlier waiting for me to wake up. As he sat down I turned around to the carnage behind me, as I looked upon the sight I was slightly awestruck.
I thought to myself that it was a gruesome sight to see, but it was necessary for my survival. I was in a world where everything struggles to survive, I would need to adapt to it or die a painful death. I needed to come to terms with what I needed to do to survive, I wouldn¡¯t let the animals or people I killed go to waste. Everything has a purpose even in death¡
As these thoughts ran throughout my head I moved forward to the Orc corpses and began my work harvesting the Orc horns. This continued for about an hour after I had gotten into a rhythm I moved quickly cutting the horns off each Orc. As I moved through the clearing full of corpses my vision would alternate from my task to the wolves that continued to eat.
By the time I had gotten to the last corpse I notice that almost half the corpses had been stripped clean by the wolves. They ate ravenously, I guessed this fact was similar to my world where wolves didn¡¯t know when they would get their next meal.
Since the wolves were finished I thought that it would be wasteful to just leave all these corpses, so I figured that I should make use of them somehow. A devious smile crossed my face as an idea crept into my mind.
¡°Amir, I have a couple of questions for you,¡± I shouted across the clearing.
A flash of light and a moment later Amir was standing in front me and replied ¡°Ask away Phil¡±
¡°First how many objects can you teleport at a time? Second, did you and the king manage to get the piece of land I requested for my experiment?¡±
I was met with a long pause and a bewildered look from Amir, but he finally sighed and let out his response. ¡°hmm, in response to your first question, I can teleport about 50 to 60 people depending on the distance if its shorter distances I can do up to 100. In response to your second question, we have acquired the land, but we haven¡¯t been able to do anything else beyond just purchasing it.¡±
¡°Perfect, one last question how many trips could, you make from our current position to the site I requested within a day?¡± I asked as my smile continued to grow.
This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
¡°¡. I would say about 50 times back and forth, but it would be extremely taxing for me to do so. Why are you so curious about my ability?¡± Amir asked
¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ll be starting my experiment sooner than later.¡± I said with a huge grin as I continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that for now as I said earlier as soon as I finish up here will go back to the capital. I¡¯ll need your assistance after we¡¯ve met up with King Conrad if you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°Thank you for sticking to your word, being quick is within the utmost importance. If I can help you once we¡¯ve talked with the King I would be more than happy to, as long as you¡¯re willing to help me out as well.¡± Amir replied with a devious smile.
¡°Good sounds like we have an arrangement, ill head off to meet my companion now, please don¡¯t follow me. I¡¯ll be back in four hours max.¡± I replied somewhat curious about what Amir had planned for me
Amir¡¯s eyebrows raised but he merely nodded and went back to his spot by the tree he had been sitting at earlier.
I noticed that I had forgotten my clothes and other belongs on top of the mountain, so I shifted my form.
As soon as I started shifting I now noticed the process hurt significantly more my bones started to snap and my body grew vastly larger. I tried to hold in my scream as the pain washed over me but failed.
¡°AHHHHHHH¡±
I fell onto my knees as my body, fangs, claws continued to grow. As I finished shifting I looked at my new form, my body was the same size as it was during the battle with the Orcs. My fur was now completely black. My claws and fangs were significantly bigger than my original shifted form as well. Overall, I was about 10 ? feet tall, with 3-foot claws, and 8-inch fangs.
As I finished shifting I pushed myself off the ground and started to run up the mountain. I made it up into the summit of the small mountain in less than 5 mins. I grabbed my belongings and headed back down the hill, as I came to the clearing I dropped them off close to Amir and howled as I headed off to the east in search of Olden.
The wolves followed me as soon as I had left the clearing and we ran through the forest as a pack. We rushed through the trees and moved forward pressing onwards towards Oldens lake.
After about 1 hour 45 min I was close enough to the lake that I could smell the water. I continued running through the trees with the pack close behind. I dodged left and right avoiding the trees that were now in abundance.
As I passed the last tree into Olden''s clearing I saw the same sight I had when I had first come into this clearing in the Forbidden Forest, a serene lake in a fairly large clearing. I continued forward until I was near Olden¡¯s lake then let myself shift back into my human form.
I let out a tired sigh, then spoke towards the water. ¡°Hey Olden, you still here?¡±
The water began to vibrate and churn as something moved beneath it. A familiar voice echoed within my skull, ¡°Hello my young friend, I did not expect to see you so soon.¡±
¡°Me either, I just wanted to come and tell you that I was leaving this area and didn¡¯t know when I would be back,¡± I replied within my mind.
¡°Thank you for informing me, I have a question for you myself so it¡¯s good you came back.¡± Olden''s voice echoed in my skull
¡°No worries, go ahead, what¡¯s your questions?¡± I think across the mental link
¡°Hmm, what happened yesterday? The entire forest went silent, the gods seemed to be in an uproar, strange colors were floating across the sky, and a strange noise emanated from the west¡.¡± Olden asked through the mental link.
¡°haha, well a lot happened as you already know. The forest was probably silent because I fought an Orc horde to the west of here. As for the gods, who knows why they were in an uproar, maybe it was because of the tavern wench. The strange colors in sky I have no idea, I¡¯m guessing it was some type of Arora, but I have no idea why it was in the sky, I did not have too much time to look up yesterday during the battle¡ The noise I have an idea of why it was floating about but no concrete proof to prove my theory.¡± I replied through the mental link
¡°Interesting, but who¡¯s the tavern wench? I''d also be interested to hear your theory on the music.¡± Olden answered back
¡°Illengard is the tavern wench. OH, I forgot to tell you, the tavern wench descended into Keenheim when I was meeting with the King of the Animal-kin Kingdom. She tried to kill me but was stopped by Death, Death didn¡¯t seem to like that she was trying to destroy my soul and I¡¯m guessing he punished her for trying to take my soul since it doesn¡¯t belong to this world. It was pretty nice to see the wench get punished like the newborn babe she is. Death also gave me a quest or task of sorts to accomplish after that incident. My theory about the music is it¡¯s happened because of death, I don¡¯t know why but I¡¯d be willing to bet it has something to do with him. If I had to guess I¡¯d say it might be the underworld or hell the place where he keeps all the souls he has collected but that¡¯s just a guess¡¡± I spewed out over the mental link
¡°¡.¡±
A long silence is what I was met with, then a cacophony of laughter from two individuals.
¡°HAHAHAHHA¡±
¡°HAHAHA¡±
¡°Good job Phillip, you¡¯ve made this conversation all the more interesting to listen to. I had been wondering why Illengard has been not showing herself even after last night¡¯s incident but to think she was injured and had descended is very useful information.¡± Advinia voice echoed with enthusiasm across the mental link.
¡°Wow Phillip, to think you¡¯d call a god a tavern wench is too much. On top of that, you managed to indirectly hurt a god! You¡¯ve come a long way from when we first met. Your theory is interesting but I¡¯m more interested in the quest you were given please explain¡¡± Olden said through the mental link
¡°Happy to hear Advinia, keep the pressure on the tavern wench! It¡¯s not that impressive Olden, I didn¡¯t do anything, to be honest. I was merely talking with the King about how I got here excluding my encounter with you and she descended saying I¡¯d gone too far or something like that and attacked me. Death intervened and saved me injuring her in the process, I think he stole something from her¡¯s in the process, she seemed pretty pissed about it¡ My theory is just a theory so who knows if its right.¡± I continued rambling
¡°My quest was to make the gods understand what they did and why they need to fear Death, so I¡¯m going to kill Illengard and destroy her kingdom, I¡¯ll probably have it be absorbed by the surrounding kingdoms if all goes to plan. Death also wants me to find Necrosis and make him understand whose domain he is meddling.¡± I replied through the mental link with a grin on my face as I looked into Oldens lake.
¡°AHAHAHA, this keeps getting better. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re going after Illengard Phillip, she¡¯s a pompous god but she has more control over the world than the rest of the gods because of how many humans that worship her. Hopefully, you can change that, I wish you the best of luck just be careful because she is crafty! That¡¯s how she¡¯s maintained herself this long so don¡¯t take her lightly.¡± Advinia buzzed with enthusiasm over the mental link
¡°That¡¯s a difficult quest young friend I would ask you to rethink it, but I doubt you would¡ In any case, if someone could kill a god I guess it would be you, one who¡¯s not affiliated with any of them.¡± Olden responded through the mental link with a heavy tone.
As Olden finished talking a flash of light snapped my attention to behind me. I Immediately thought that Amir had followed me!
I was met with a Male figure shrouded in darkness who I had already met once before Death. Death was accompanied by a woman radiating green light the both stood directly behind me several paces away. Death walked forward first and stood right in front of me, his steps left the vegetation underneath his feet completely black and devoid of any life. The woman followed suit, but I was surprised to see that the vegetation in entire clearing started growing even completely reviving the dead vegetation where Death had walked.
The wolves walked forward and bathed in the glowing light letting out excited howls as the laid on the ground around the woman. She bent down and scratched one of the wolf¡¯s stomachs and it caused the color of the fur to change from dark grey to green. The wolf wiggled on its back in utter excitement and pleasure.
She stopped scratching the wolf''s stomach and looked up and me, then at death, and back at me.
¡°Gregory what did you do to my child!¡± were the first words out of her mouth.