《Beast Queen: A LitRPG/GameLit Action/Adventure (book two of Monster Slayer Online).》 Chapter One: Stirrings in the Forest Chapter One Stirrings in the Forest We thought the world safe after killing the Goblin King. We were wrong. ~ Devrim Bain, class: Slayer A drum beat in Devrim¡¯s chest with thunderous force as he raced over soft earth, coated in an endless bed of velvety moss. He gave silent thanks that the carpet-like surface muffled the worst of the noise as he increased his pace in the pursuit. The figure ahead, a perfect manifestation of the dense, otherworldly forest around him, darted toward a grouping of trees. The barrier of weaving bark and ivy wouldn¡¯t allow anything larger than small vermin to pass between it. Dev managed a fierce grin as he realized he¡¯d trapped his quarry. Nowhere to go. The creature had androgynous features shaped out of bark and wild branches to resemble a person. Gnarled wood coursed over limbs formed of thicker pieces that could have come from young tree trunks. It possessed a lithe and lanky build. A variety of unidentifiable leaves of all shapes and sizes sprouted erratically from its body. It whirled about to face him. Its eyes, throbbing masses of coalesced green dust, flared in response to his approach. They swirled within hollow sockets like a hive of radiant insects, all glowing a single shade of peridot. Dev closed in, but remained several dozen yards from his target. He tumbled through his skillshots mentally. It had been months since he¡¯d used them in earnest. Activate skillshot, Fleet-footed. A current of wind, laced with invisible flecks of frost, surged to life around his feet before bleeding into him. Coolness flooded him and bolstered his perception. Trees and fauna blurred as he took off at ballistic speed toward his prey. You¡¯re mine now. The creature shuddered once before pressing itself against the wall of trees at its back. Its form clung to the wood as its bark liquefied. The tree-like being sank into the forest, vanishing from sight as it was absorbed. Dev reached the space and lashed out with a hand in an attempt to grab the trace of wood that hadn¡¯t sunk away yet. His fingers closed around thin air as the rest of the creature passed through without a trace. He blinked before spitting a curse. Something rustled behind him. Dev turned, drawing his katana, Thirst, to meet the threat. The figure burst through a wall of dense vegetation, rubbernecking until their attention fell on Devrim. The man stood a hair shy of six feet with a reedy build slimmer than the wood-creature Dev had been chasing seconds earlier. He wore a leather vest that left his arms bare, and a pair of padded pants made from canvas, both in a smear of colors that blended in well within the forest. A shock of wiry black hair covered the man¡¯s head, each strand standing on end like he¡¯d received an electrical shock. ¡°One: what the hell was that thing? Two: I¡¯m guessing you lost it, right? Three: why are we chasing it again?¡± Devrim sighed, sheathing his weapon and wiping the back of a sleeve against his forehead to mop away beads of sweat. ¡°A spriggan. I didn¡¯t lose it. It melted into the trees. And because it can commune with the forest to lend us wood so we don¡¯t have to cut it down ourselves. I¡¯d rather not piss off this place since it¡¯s literally a sentient forest.¡± At the end of his words, the trees and earth groaned in unison. The ground quaked for a second under the terrible and monstrous cry. Dev winced, eyeing the woodwork around him. ¡°That¡¯s why.¡± The man rubbed the back of his head, pulling his hand away a moment later. The move resulted in more of his hair standing awry. ¡°Maybe we should leave. I mean, this seems like one of those scenarios where ¡®getting wood¡¯ isn¡¯t going to be fun.¡± One corner of his mouth pulled to the side in a lopsided grin. It faded an instant later as his eyes lost focus, the grays seeming to grow duller. ¡°What¡¯s a spriggan?¡± Dev shut his eyes, swallowing a curse. He opened his bestiary, flinging the codex entry on the creature toward the new player and citizen of Lorian. ¡°Read up, and fast, William.¡± Spriggan: The legendary tree-folk of Lorian, residing in forests touched by magic and more in tune with the eldritch natures of the world, are living embodiments of wood and leaf. These mythical beings have the innate ability to speak to all plant life and live in harmony with them, coaxing the world around them to grow tall and strong. Woe to any who cause harm to what and where they call home. While spriggans may be docile and appear harmless on first contact, they possess a terrible wrath only equal to Mother Nature herself, and they will fiercely protect the world and plants around them. Able to call on beast and earth alike, they can unleash the horrors of the natural world upon foes. Stories tell of the first men to come across them. They happened to be the first to be killed by spriggans, slaughtered and eaten after having cut down a sacred tree in the forest. Note: All trees within eyeshot are sacred to spriggans. ¡°That wood in this forest is stronger than anything we can cut down on our own by New Haven and¡ª¡± The trees moaned and leaves shook as if the mere mention of harming nature had roused their ire. ¡°Don¡¯t think the magical veggies like you talking about turning them into cutlets, boss.¡± William¡¯s grin widened. Dev scowled and bit back a retort. ¡°We need to expand our home so newcomers like you have a safe haven to come back to after going on hunts. It cost us a lot to make Lorian inhabitable¡­¡± he trailed off, voice going hollow and distant as his mind drifted to the battle with the Goblin King months ago. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dev ignored him. ¡°Nothing.¡± He banished the bestiary, looking back to the place where the spriggan had vanished. ¡°We need to find a way around this so we can catch that thing. We¡¯ve come too far for this to fail.¡± He hoped the new tracker would pick up on the underlying cue. William did so, moving past Dev to kneel by a path of crushed moss. ¡°Good thing I focused my few skills on all those passives, huh?¡± Dev didn¡¯t oblige the uppity hunter with a reply, knowing it¡¯d only bolster his already gargantuan ego. The tracker pursed his lips, frowning deeply as he studied the trail ahead. ¡°I¡¯ve got some faint sparkling lines showing up that lead ahead and sort of at a bend. But there¡¯s a prompt telling me it¡¯s in relation to the spriggan. Something about continuing the hunt.¡± Dev nodded more to himself than William. ¡°Yeah, sounds about right from what I know of your class. Come on.¡± The last vestiges of Fleet-footed still thrummed within him, and he intended to use it. Dev sped off like he was possessed by the wind itself. The forest morphed into a warped swath of greens marred by earthen browns. ¡°Really? You¡¯re just going to take off? Wait for me!¡± William¡¯s call warbled far behind him. Dev didn¡¯t stop for the tracker, slipping through a row of trees that were growing too closely together. He failed to adjust his profile properly as he shimmied by the last of trunks and bumped his torso against the hard wood. ¡°Brrp¡ªow. What was that?¡± The source of the voice rustled within his robes, pawing against his chest. Seconds a later, a toad¡¯s head peered through a fold in his clothing, blinking as it stared at him. ¡°I hit a tree, Gama.¡± Dev cleared the blockage and glanced at the way ahead. He still had some of his bolstered speed to draw on. ¡°On purpose? That was a terribly stupid thing to do. You are aware that trees do not move, hm? How did you possibly hit one?¡± Dev shut his eyes and exhaled, doing his best to ignore the toad and resituate his mind on the task at hand. ¡°Hold on, Gama.¡± ¡°Why¡ª¡± Devrim didn¡¯t let him finish his question as he tore off, calling on every bit of strength and stamina he could muster under Fleet-footed. He sped off and picked up his previous pace. Small fortune came his way in the form of the simple path. It didn¡¯t deviate in any direction, remaining a straight-shot, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t need William to guide him. A thin frown manifested on his face as he considered that thought. The fledgling hunter wasn¡¯t a burden, but Dev didn¡¯t see the need to drag William through anything more than necessary. Warbling groans came from the trees with an intensity that washed through him down to his bones. If the angry forest¡¯s cries continued, they¡¯d shake him apart from the inside. He gritted his teeth against the living thicket¡¯s protests and trudged forward. The trees seemed to dislike that idea. Roots shot up from the ground, hurtling toward him like crude spears. ¡°Holy shit.¡± He stopped short, pulling Thirst free. ¡°Devrim, don¡¯t! If you fight back, the forest will turn on you in full.¡± The toad broke off into a fit of croaking that could have been coughing. Great. Of course. Who knew I¡¯d have to be wary of trees in this world? Dev bobbed as a pair of hardened roots passed over his left shoulder. They would have skewered the meat between his collarbone and chest had he not ducked out of the way. He found no lull to catch his breath as countless, thinner, earthy tendons snapped out of the ground. Each tried to lash themselves around his ankles. He hopped between them, fighting for balance while trying to fend off the incoming bits trying to puncture his body. ¡°Are you sure I can¡¯t fight back?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it A deep burble sounded off inside his clothing. ¡°Most sure. Mostly sure. Maybe I¡¯m most sure that I¡¯m mostly sure? I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± Dev swallowed a string of obscenities and resisted the urge to pound a fist at his body to thump the toad. He certainly deserved it, but now wasn¡¯t the time. Dev pulled his antiquated scabbard free from his clothing and swatted a root aside. He wielded the sheath like a club, batting aside every bit of nature that seemed keen on taking him down. Dev recognized a failing effort when he saw one. The number of roots increased, and he spotted lengths of vines racing down every visible tree, snaking along the ground to join the fray. The longer the battle dragged on, the more it¡¯d turn against him. Dev batted aside another group of errant vegetation working to subdue him. ¡°Fuck off, veggies.¡± I didn¡¯t like them back on the station. I sure as hell ain¡¯t going to give into them now. He kicked a clump of vines back. ¡°It doesn¡¯t count as attacking if I¡¯m fending them off without cutting them, right?¡± ¡°Brrp¡ªsemantics aren¡¯t my specialty, Devrim. Would it be seplantics now, given what you¡¯re dealing with¡ªbrrp?¡± Devrim blew out a breath in agitation. He sucked in a fistful of air to compensate as a log, thicker than this leg, burst free from the soil. It arced toward him like a piston intending to pulp his skull. He had no time to duck out of the way, choosing to react in kind to stop the attack. Dev activated Reverberating Strike, lunging toward the incoming tree trunk. He bashed the base of his katana against the wood to halt its advance. He failed and learned a valuable lesson. Wood was immune to stunning effects. He should¡¯ve known. The log pushed through and hammered his shoulder, taking a moderate chunk of his health down considering the source of the blow. Dev spun off-balance, hitting the ground hard. He blinked through the haze forming over his vision. A fourth of the red bar above him had vanished. It wasn¡¯t fatal, or even worrying, but the fact it¡¯d come as a result of a log disturbed him. How powerful is this place? Dev got his answer in the following seconds. Vines slithered over him with sinuous grace, pinning his body in place. They constricted around his limbs until his muscles felt like balloons on the path to bursting. Screw this not attacking crap. He raised his head what little he could to bring his mouth over another vine trying to lash around his upper chest. Dev sank his teeth into it, shaking his head hard. He bit clean through the vine and witnessed a blip of red light hovering above the mass of thrashing plant matter. The forest has health? He didn¡¯t get to ponder the thought any longer as the vines flared with renewed vigor, weaving themselves together into a mat over his body. ¡°Devrim, it may be too late to say this¡ªbrrp, but I don¡¯t think this was a good idea.¡± That makes two of us, pal. A length of vines snapped over his throat and then his eyes to blot out the world. Crap. His body sank like the ground below had softened under his weight. ¡°Devrim¡ªbrrp. Help!¡± His throat screamed in agony as the vines tightened and the earth swallowed him whole. * * * His body sank through an endless pool of soft earth as it shifted around him like it was avoiding his form. Gama¡¯s protests had silenced during their descent, and Dev felt no movement from the toad against his chest. His heart quickened its pace at the thought that the uppity amphibian had been hurt, or worse. The increased beating caused his muscles a new bout of agony as they pumped in futility against the plant-bindings holding him. His chest ached as he held his breath. He didn¡¯t know how long he¡¯d be able to hold out. Unable to open his eyes, he wondered if the lack of air would tax his health bar¡ªthe only metric for life in the world of Lorian he knew of. As the pressure grew to the point he felt his lungs would burst, the earth solidified and slowed his fall. What the hell? His body pushed against a viscous layer of soil like the vines were trying to pull him through it. The world made a sound like someone gulping down water, and he fell through the earth. Dev opened his eyes to see a ceiling of dirt and grass growing farther away from him. He spun and tumbled in the air, eyeing where he¡¯d land. The vines loosened their hold, causing him to twirl within them like they were unraveling threads. Their mesh-like formation shifted and slowed his fall. Devrim tumbled through the mats of plant matter until he came to a full stop, hanging several feet above another endless bed of moss by a series of vines still clinging to his legs. He flexed one of his free arms, bending at the waist so he could bring Thirst up. The vines let go of their hold before he could sever them with his katana. Dev crashed onto the sea of spongy plants. He gasped for air, laying there until his body recuperated from the ordeal. A flicker of red, slowly inching across his vision, showed him that he wouldn¡¯t have to wait long. Whatever had occurred above had been the entirety of the battle. His new surroundings constituted a safe place, at least for the moment. Dev¡¯s health restored itself and he found his body more responsive. He pushed himself up to survey the area. ¡°Gama, you alright?¡± ¡°Brrp¡ªof course! Do you think a living tangle of vegetation empowered by the will of an angry, all-powerful forest would frighten me? Ha!¡± The toad croaked and puffed himself against Dev¡¯s body, creating a massive lump within the robes that deflated a second later. ¡°It¡¯s over now¡­yes?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh good. I was terribly concerned for a moment, Devrim.¡± Dev shook his head and refused to reply. They sat in a cavern, lined with translucent flower buds of pale white that harbored an inner golden glow that filled the space. He got to his feet, dusting himself off with one hand, then sheathing Thirst. Dev took a few steps forward, cutting his progress short when he saw what lay ahead. The pool of water was an ethereal green-blue reserved for stories. The color hovered somewhere around liquid emeralds washed with opals. A lone tree grew from the center of the body of water, twisting its way toward the ceiling. Leaves of soft rose rustled under the brush of an invisible hand. They layered the tree so thickly he could barely see the branches. Its bark was a chalky white streaked with bands of black like it¡¯d been strategically burned. Tendrils of red ran through its body, veins, pulsing with life. ¡°The heart of the forest.¡± Gama¡¯s voice shook with something that fell between reverence and fear. Dev ignored the toad¡¯s comment, fixing his gaze on what sat around the pool. His heart tightened within his chest. It was as if the bodies of a science experiment gone wrong littered the edges of the water. Each prone form was a bizarre cross of man and alligator. They had muscular arms and shoulders that ended in elongated fingers tipped with claws, blunted snouts with jagged teeth sticking out from under lips, and the yellow eyes with vertically slitted pupils of reptiles. Murky green scales covered their bodies like a coat of mail. If only it had been just as effective. Every one of the fallen creatures sported countless deep gashes in their bodies. Whatever had caused them had torn through their natural armor as if it were paper. Puncture wounds lined parts of their backs, weeping a mixture of blood and other bodily ichor. Some of the thick, trunk-like tails had been severed or ripped free from the monsters. The moss bed underneath them had been stained a dark crimson. ¡°Oh, god.¡± Dev looked over his shoulder to the source of the voice. William stood there, roots and vines still clinging to his body. He brushed them off as he oriented himself. ¡°What is this place?¡± Dev quickly repeated what Gama had said earlier, turning his attention back to the scene of carnage. He brought up his bestiary, focusing on one of the creatures that was more intact than the others. Sauriamen: A race of forgotten reptilian men hybrids, given their forms through ritualistic magic and feasting on the flesh of gators. Over time, their magical practices shaped their normal forms to be a reflection of their transformed selves until the changes became permanent. Cold-blooded in both health and in temperament, these creatures are savage warriors with all the strength, cunning, and ferocity of apex predators. Often working in hunter teams, they¡¯re able to track and bring nearly anything in Lorian to its knees, or to the fire to be cooked. Given their connection to nature and ritualism, they are species that holds great reverence for nature and the world around them. Sauriamen have been known to work in tandem with forest creatures to protect their environment if a greater threat is present. Exercise extreme caution when dealing with one. Because where there¡¯s one, there¡¯s many. Note: Sauriamen are vulnerable to extreme temperature shifts and piercing weapons/techniques. Use that to your advantage. You¡¯ll need it! ¡°What the hell could kill those?¡± William moved to Devrim¡¯s side, his mouth hanging slack as he took in the scene. Leaves stirred and branches shook on the tree like something was nestled within them. Devrim drew Thirst. ¡°I think we¡¯re about to find out.¡± He looked down at his chest. ¡°Gama, you might want to get out and put some distance between us. It¡¯s for your own safety.¡± The toad leapt out from beneath Dev¡¯s robes, landing on the bed of moss. He whipped out a shiv that Devrim had found when he¡¯d first entered Lorian. ¡°Let them come. I don¡¯t fear¡ª¡± A primal cry, something akin to a large cat¡¯s roar, echoed out from the tree. The tree shook harder and the pulsating veins running through it swelled in response. Gama burbled, cutting the noise short. ¡°Erm, well. As every brave warrior knows, there is a moment when one should seek safety¡ªa sound tactical position, from the back¡ªand live to fight another day. Preferably, many days. Yes.¡± Gama leapt away from Devrim at startling speed. Good move. Dev solidified his grip on his katana, waiting. The scream intensified as something burst free from the blanket of flamingo-colored leaves. The mass hurtled through the air, spinning out of control. It looked like it was formed out of whatever refuse one could find in the forest above: bark, twigs, bits of logs, scattered clumps of foliage. The figure crashed into the ground with a muffled impact, the moss absorbing most of the creature¡¯s weight without issue. Dev rushed over to the being and scanned it. ¡°Is that the¡­¡± William trailed off as he came to Devrim¡¯s side. Dev nodded as he looked the spriggan over. Its body had been twisted into horrible angles he wagered weren¡¯t complementary with the creature¡¯s physique. Bits of the monster¡¯s bark had been torn away, sporting gouge marks that could have come from teeth or claws. A long gash ran over one of the spriggan¡¯s legs. Something had formed a fist-sized hole through the tree-being¡¯s abdomen. The twin clouds of motes making up its eyes throbbed once. ¡°It¡¯s still alive?¡± William inched closer. Dev said nothing, kneeling by the creature and extending his hand. ¡°I¡­ What happened? Can you understand me¡ªtalk?¡± The spriggan lowered its head a fraction in what could have been a gesture of understanding or affirmation. ¡°I don¡¯t know what this¡¯ll be worth to you now, but we weren¡¯t chasing you to slay you. We¡­¡± He swallowed, unable to properly articulate the words given the circumstances. ¡°We just wanted to ask for your help in getting some magical wood.¡± William snickered, stopping himself an instant later as Dev glared at him. The spriggan shuddered and opened its mouth to release a dry exhale that could have been a cough. Its chest tremored, individual bits of bark shivering much like the leaves on the pulsing tree. The monster raised an arm, pointing toward the pool. Dev followed the gesture to the tree. ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Run.¡± The spriggan let out a long, suffering wheeze. A rolling howl filled the cavern and another figure exploded from the tree, showering the air in a cascade of pinkish leaves. The beast landed at the edge of the pool. Dev pushed away from the spriggan, getting back to his feet and brandishing Thirst in a double-handed grip. The creature followed the theme of the sauriamen, only blending with equal parts wolf instead of alligator. It was layered in thick slabs of muscle that were visible under its arctic white fur. The creature¡¯s build would have put any of old Earth¡¯s professional strongmen to shame. The blunted snout carried rows of faded scars. Its eyes were like molten citrine, staring with an intensity that struck Dev like an iron slap across the face. The beast snarled, flexing a hand. Dev stared at what it had in its grip. A knotted core of roots, forming a cage of sorts, hung from the wolf-man¡¯s hand. Something beat within it. The object looked like a bird¡¯s nest made of red ichor and gelatin. The spriggan brayed in protest, reaching out for the mass. The wolf creature sprang into the air in a shocking display of physical prowess as it nearly touched the ceiling. It raised a hand, thrusting the core toward the earth. The world before it shifted like it was made out of water and granted the monster passage. Vines ensnared the wolf and hauled it up out of sight. Dev blinked, looking back down the spriggan. The dancing bits of green light faded, losing their brightness until they stilled completely. A soft sigh passed between the monster¡¯s wooden lips as it died. ¡°Dev¡­what was that?¡± ¡°Trouble. Lots of it.¡± The cavern around them lost its color, and the tree¡¯s throbbing veins turned black. Dev sheathed Thirst and broke into a sprint. ¡°And I don¡¯t think we¡¯re in the clear yet. Run!¡± Chapter Two: Hunters in the Dark ¡°Gama, with me, now!¡± Dev hooked a thumb to his chest as he closed in on his toad companion. The amphibian turned mid-leap, eyes bulging. For once, the uppity toad didn¡¯t utter a word of defiance or question. He reversed his tracks and jumped toward Dev to meet him. The slayer didn¡¯t slow his pace as he bent to scoop up the toad. A quick look over his shoulder showed Dev that the tree had turned an ashen gray. The bed of moss bleached before him, the effect rippling out as if pushed along by an unseen wave. Everything in the cavern turned to grayscale behind him. ¡°A little faster, Devrim. It might surprise you to know this, but my coloring is most attractive to the women of my kind. I¡¯d hate to lose it and become a pale toad because of your ineptitude¡ªbrrp.¡± ¡°Keep talking and that¡¯ll happen to you.¡± Dev grimaced as he saw the way ahead mimicked the rest of the cave¡ªa dead end. ¡°William, you¡¯re a tracker. Find us a way out.¡± The young man shot him a look that was the equivalent of a shrug. Great. Dev skidded to a halt, ignoring Gama¡¯s pleas to continue. ¡°That thing, whatever it was, had a way out of here. It pointed a piece of that tree at the cave and it opened up. Maybe there¡¯s a way to trigger the walls or vines that brought us through.¡± He hoped his vocalization would prompt the toad or William to offer some helpful insight. ¡°Brrp.¡± He should have known better. Dev rubbed his head, glancing at the wall ahead. Lengths of ivy grew over the stone, rustling as if in distress. Dev recalled Gama¡¯s earlier warnings and decided it was time to ignore them. ¡°Might want to hold on, buddy. Things are about to get rough.¡± He drowned out the toad¡¯s protests and tore off toward the ivy, readying Thirst. Dev activated Fleet-footed again, picking up speed until he was within range to activate Skewer. The combination of skillshots propelled him like a rocket into the stone, severing several vines in a single blow. The plants reacted instantly, thrashing and snaking out to ensnare him. Here¡¯s hoping I was right about this. ¡°Whoa, no¡ªuh-huh. Stay away from my squishy bits, please!¡± William stomped around, smashing the heel of a boot against a vine that had tried to lash his ankle. He batted a hand against some ivy that had inched too close to his nether regions, trying to peel the length of it away. ¡°Or at least buy me a drink first!¡± Dev gave him a weak smile as an apology as the vines pulled him against the stone with enough force to cause an ache to build in his ribs. Maybe I was wrong. The pressure increased, threatening to crack several bones supporting his torso. William kept up his futile spastic defense, flailing against the living bindings. ¡°I knew I should¡¯ve gone with Keeley or Mira. But no, I had to sign up with you for some action and adventure. Dude, I¡¯ve seen these kind of videos. I know what happens to guys grabbed by planty tentacles. That¡¯s my ass! A vine just slipped up my pants and¡­ Oh. Never mind.¡± Dev didn¡¯t want to know, shutting his eyes as the pain within his body grew. The pressure ceased as soon as he thought he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. His torso sank into the stone before him. Dev permitted himself to smile a bit before clamping his mouth shut to avoid swallowing fistfuls of softened earth. ¡°Oh, great. Now I¡¯m being sucked into the ground, again. This¡¯ll be our tomb. I love it¡­¡± William¡¯s tone could have scalded Dev¡¯s skin. Jeez. Did I ever complain that much? He didn¡¯t finish the line of thought as his body jerked hard to one side. The vines dragged him through what felt like an endless expanse of stone and soil. He waited for the inevitable slowing, but it didn¡¯t come. His body hurtled forward faster than before, almost matching his speed under Fleet-footed. Oh, this is going to suck bad. He was proved right seconds later when the earth moved out of his way to spit him into the air. Dev sailed skyward, tumbling once before able to orient himself. He spotted a dark clearing, surrounded by trees, and noticeably absent of a soft bed of moss. His eyes snapped shut as he braced himself for the impact. Roots burst from the ground, coiling around his arms and shoulders to catch him mid-air. The sudden restraints did little to manage his weight and forced his joints to nearly reach their limit as his body snapped to a stop. He winced, grinding his teeth and swallowed a curse. ¡°That hurt.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine¡ªbrrp. Then again, warriors of my hardy disposition and build always are¡ªbrrp.¡± Dev shut his eyes in something that had nothing to do with the pain. ¡°I can¡¯t fly!¡± William¡¯s voice cut short as he broke into a scream. ¡°Ooof, never mind. I¡¯m being fondled by more plants now. I hate this place.¡± Devrim sighed and opened his eyes to find the tracker suspended much like himself. ¡°I think I pissed off the forest a bit too much.¡± ¡°Not at all, Slayer.¡± The voice couldn¡¯t have come from a single set of lungs. It boomed through the forest from every direction like hundreds of speakers had spoken in unison. A current carried through every sound that penetrated Devrim¡¯s body down to the marrow. ¡°Please tell me you were talking to yourself, man.¡± William shot him a pleading look. Dev shook his head. The ground stirred and more roots spilled forth, piling over themselves and knotting together. Vegetation sprouted between them to coalesce with the growing mass. Within seconds, a tree, several dozen times wider than any in the forest, stood before them. Bark shifted before Devrim at eye-level until he could see the vague semblance of a face forming within the wood. Its eyes were much like that of the spriggan¡¯s, a fluttering mass of minute flecks all glowing an iridescent green. A wide, crooked gash appeared below a protrusion of wood that could have served as a nose. The opening twisted into something akin to a snarl. ¡°I¡¯m going to be eaten by a tree. I cannot be¡­leaf this.¡± William released a crazed cackle. Dev glared at him. ¡°I am more than one life¡ªone tree; I am all tree-kind. What perished down below was heart and soul, but I remain: the forest¡¯s mind. Two hunters entered in pursuit of enchanted gifts to save personkind. But now, besieged by wolves in the dark, we find our interests aligned.¡± The tree¡¯s voice boomed like it had before, echoing through the forest like it came from every bit of plant life at once rather than the sole source before them. ¡°Dev, uh, the face-tree spoke¡­in rhyme.¡± William blinked several times as he struggled to process what was happening. ¡°Um, noble plant dude, hi. I don¡¯t know if you can tell this, but we¡¯re sort of lost on what¡¯s going on. And if you can break it down for us, it¡¯d be really nice, not to mention save us a lot of thyme. Get it, thyme?¡± Dev sighed, wanting to voice a hint of displeasure toward his friend. But he knew William only made the puns as a way to cope with the deteriorating situation. And Dev couldn¡¯t blame him for that. The tree shifted its eyes to take in William, regarding him for a long moment before settling its gaze on Devrim. ¡°This one before me is of stone and steel, and has a heart of fire.¡± The tree glanced back at William. ¡°This one is of wit and wile, but has his mind affixed to a world prior.¡± A low, shaking rumble came from the tree¡¯s mouth, kicking up loose bits of dust and debris through the forest floor. Dev rose slightly as the roots holding him pulled his body farther from the ground. A second later, the tangle of earthy mass hauled him closer to the tree. ¡°You are of hunter¡¯s spirit and slayer¡¯s blood, with a mind determined. Tend to your fellow, his courage he must muster, if this world you are to defend.¡± Dev licked his lips, unsure of what the tree was getting at. He felt wiser to let the being speak uninterrupted. When it became clear the tree had stopped in hopes of him saying something, Dev obliged the living obelisk of wood. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What¡¯s going on? Why are you doing this?¡± He nodded to their restraints. ¡°To inform hunters unaware. To warn you of the danger to come, and to tread with greatest care. For new hunters come¡ªLorian born. Nursing hatred of those foreign, their hearts filled with scorn. With a new threat shall you be confronted. Be wary, Slayer, for the old hunters are about to become the hunted! ¡°A new breed rises, working with one heart and mind¡ªa pack. Came to this forest with ill intent, to harm and attack. With tooth and claw did they my heart take, a hunger most foul do they seek to slake.¡± Dev tried to process all of what the tree, the forest¡¯s mind, told him. Most of it ended up lost within its rhyming manner of speech. ¡°What do you want us to do? I still don¡¯t understand.¡±Stolen story; please report. The tree¡¯s eyes seemed to look through him, to something lingering behind that Dev couldn¡¯t see. ¡°Out of time, we are. Now you must run¡ªprepare for a journey that will lead you wide and far. Do not falter; do not tarry. Now, hunter, is time to be most wary. The wolves come. It is time to run.¡± The roots shuddered before collapsing on themselves as if made from dust and mud. The ground around the tree tremored, a hole appearing to swallow the being whole. Dev and William hit the ground hard. Dev grunted, his knees absorbing most of the impact. He gave thanks the landing didn¡¯t whittle away any of his health. If the tree¡¯s warnings were correct, he¡¯d need every bit of it, and soon. William brushed himself off. ¡°That was both cryptic and creepy. He didn¡¯t even end with a rhyme.¡± He shook his head in disdain. ¡°Maybe what¡¯s coming scared it out of him? I¡¯d have a hard time too with that rhyming stuff if something had stolen my heart.¡± Dev gave the hunter a knowing look. ¡°Think he was being literal?¡± Dev finally noticed what the tree had been gazing at. Countless eyes of burnished gold glimmered in the darkness of the forest. They watched with the stillness and intensity only a predator could display, something caught in the patient act of waiting to spring on prey. Dev swallowed, recalling where he¡¯d seen a pair of eyes like that. ¡°What are the odds those are more of whatever we saw back in that cave?¡± ¡°What are the odds if I close my eyes that they¡¯ll go away?¡± William tested out his theory, shutting his eyes tight as if he could will the problem away. The ring of yellow eyes drew closer in unison as if guided by a single will. Dev licked his lips, strengthening his grip on Thirst. ¡°Bad, Will. I think the odds are damn bad.¡± He glanced to Gama. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you¡¯re feeling up to helping us out this fight?¡± ¡°Brrp¡ªit¡¯s a wiser decision for me to watch and relay most-crucial information to you. It could very well save your life, Devrim.¡± The toad bobbed in place. ¡°Besides, my fighting would only serve to thoroughly embarrass you and point out just how severely lacking you are in that field by comparison. I couldn¡¯t do that, no-no.¡± Dev buried his growls in his throat, knowing it was pointless to get worked up over the irritating toad. The eyes moved in until Dev could make out the faint outlines of the bodies they belonged to. It would have been easy to lump each form in with the next as exactly the same, but it wasn¡¯t the case. The wolf-hybrids varied in a startling number of ways: ear shapes and sizes, their snouts, coloring, the subtle tints to their eyes that came into clarity the closer they got. They possessed a level of diversity Devrim had only ever noted in people. What are these things? Holding his gaze steady on one of the creatures finally elicited a response from his bestiary. Loup-garou: Commonly known as werewolves. These creatures are the product of where man has meddled where he should not have and suffered a dark curse. The werewolves of Lorian are permanently stuck in a state of hybrid existence, hovering between man and wolf as hulking abominations embodying one of the world¡¯s most perfect hunters. Savage, terrifyingly cunning, and in full possession of the mind of man and wolf, these monsters are among the top predators to rule the wilds. Working in packs, there¡¯s little they can¡¯t bring down to feast on. Note: The loup-garou of Lorian are spread out over thousands of packs, some forming larger tribes and even fiefdoms. What one pack wants doesn¡¯t reflect the rest. Created through dark magic, werewolves also carry an innate resistance to the supernatural forces and some of the physical. Possessing a near-legendary healing status as well as being able to take a horrifying amount of damage, they are the close to the perfect incarnation of speed, ruthlessness, and power. Subnote: The werewolves of Lorian are susceptible to silver in any form. Use it for extra damage and to nullify some of their magical abilities. Warning: Avoid these creatures at all costs if an option. Yeah, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s going to be one. Shit. Dev recalled he¡¯d learned about the creatures through his years of studying lore and faerie tales. The monsters had been portrayed numerous ways in novels and the media long before old Earth had become uninhabitable. Most of those displays had failed to properly showcase just how effective these creatures were as predators¡ªmore to the point, as monsters. And he had a feeling he was going to get a rather personal demonstration. Dev sucked in a breath, taking a single step back as he narrowed his profile. The wolves had surrounded them. It left him little options for engagement, but he still had a few tricks to buy them time enough to figure out a way to escape. One wolf broke ahead of the pack, coming clearer into view. It was the color of brushed charcoal. The beast¡¯s eyes seemed to burn brighter given the contrast between their shade and the monster¡¯s fur. Its lips peeled back in a snarl that revealed its canine teeth. The expression made one thing clear: they were hungry and intended to get their fill. Dev regretted not allocating the skill points he¡¯d earned after killing the Goblin King, deciding it best to keep them in case a new threat emerged. Guess I waited too long. But I can wait a bit longer to play this right. He bided his time until the wolves crept closer, noting that they were holding back for some signal to pounce as one unit. ¡°Will, you got anything to slow or trip them up?¡± The black wolf¡¯s ears twitched visibly. Dev grimaced. ¡°Yeah.¡± William¡¯s voice had gone up a few octaves. ¡°I¡¯ve got something¡­ You got a plan?¡± He didn¡¯t, but felt it better not to inform that tracker of that. ¡°Yes. When I say so, give it your all. Hold nothing back.¡± William gulped audibly and nodded. Dev focused on one of his skillshots that had served him well against numerous foes. Activate Slayer¡¯s Shadow. Waves of darkness enshrouded his body before casting themselves off to form a shadowy apparition looking much like him. The clone held its ground, surveying the incoming monsters stoically. ¡°Wait for them to close in. Chain your Reverberating Strikes to stun as many as you can. Fleet-footed, then tear out. Got it?¡± Dev gave the apparition a knowing nod, aware that the clone understood his commands. The wolves now stood within six feet from them in a perfect ring. Their fur bristled under gentle strokes of wind rolling between the trees. Silence fell over the guttural burbles forming in every throat. It was the soundless moment before a storm of fur and fang would break over them, washing them over in claws and coiled muscles. Not if we break the storm first. Dev gritted his teeth, holding his composure as the silence stretched out to the point of straining his patience. The darkest of the wolves released a ground-shaking bark and the pack exploded into action. ¡°Now!¡± Dev activated the first skillshot he¡¯d ever attainted, Reverberating Strike. The ability hurled him forward as if pitched by a giant¡¯s hand. He reversed the katana in his grip, bashing its base against the creature¡¯s forehead. Dev didn¡¯t pause as the first of the beasts fell into a momentary stupor. He pivoted, using the second shot he had with the skill to knock another of the wolves into a lull. The shadow followed suit and mimicked his chain of attacks to stupefy another pair of wolves. His apparition took things farther, attacking both beasts in a quick succession of jabs, piercing the thick meat of their shoulders. Dev tracked the damage to their health, wincing as he saw the meters barely blip. The creatures lived up to their legendary status and description as their health instantly restored the small amount that¡¯d been whittled down. Will¡¯s scream cut through Dev¡¯s thoughts and drowned out everything else. Dev whirled about to see his friend fall under a pair of werewolves. He activated his Fleet-footed ability prematurely and rushed to the tracker¡¯s aid. His feet pounded against the ground at a speed that made it look like he was gliding over the earth rather than running. Dev cut around the two beasts, angling himself to deliver the perfect blow. Activate skillshot, Skewer. His body snapped forward, becoming a human dart as he drove the katana through the neck of one creature with enough force to barrel it, and his blade, into the second. The collision brought the three crashing to the ground. Dev pulled himself free instantly, falling to William¡¯s side as he took in the damage he¡¯d dealt. Both creatures¡¯ bars lost close to an eighth of their maximum health. The combination blow he struck with should have knocked away far more than that. It didn¡¯t bode well for an extended fight. A few gashes lined William¡¯s legs. Nothing fatal, but clearly enough to whittle the new hunter¡¯s health down to half. They barely had a second to hurt him, and they did that much damage? He slipped under one of Will¡¯s arms and strained his body to help heave the hunter to his feet. ¡°If you¡¯ve got something that¡¯ll startle or stun them, now¡¯s the time.¡± Dev moved as best he could under his friend¡¯s weight. Fleet-footed gave him a modicum of advantage in getting away from the stunned and momentarily injured group of werewolves. He spotted a close grouping of trees that would allow him to slip through and hopefully present a troublesome path to the wolf pack. Dev eased his way under a curving tree that forced him to duck and bear more of William¡¯s weight. Twigs broke underfoot and the earth sunk like he walked over a wet sponge. None of it helped his progress. Dev gritted his teeth as Fleet-footed faded, leaving him without the added bonus of speed. Shit. Come on, gimme a break. His surroundings responded in kind, almost as if galvanized by his thoughts. The forest moaned. Trees rustled, shifting as if made of liquid. They pulled away from Dev as he passed through and rearranged themselves to form tangled masses of threading branches to bar the way behind him. Wolves howled a dozen feet behind him. Snarls carried through the forest as the sound of limbs hacking through brush filled his ears. The forest doubled its efforts, pulling the earth below him forward as it simultaneously pushed the world behind him away. Dev struggled to keep his balance and support William while sliding onward through a maze of trees that melted away from his presence. This world is getting weirder by the second. I need to avoid quests in magical forests from now on. The din of the wolves grew distant as Dev crossed farther into the forest. He allowed himself to slump just enough to find some relief, but held firm to William to keep the wounded hunter from tumbling to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that you¡¯re responsible for this, mind of the forest?¡± ¡°It is I, indeed. I have coaxed the forest to bend and twist, to flow and grow and grant you speed. The world has grown more dangerous; be careful where you roam. The time has come to leave, Slayer¡ªmake haste and travel home.¡± The disembodied voice echoed several times through the forest like the mind had spoken over itself, repeating the same words in delay. Devrim shut his eyes, the words rocking him hard like buffeting wind. ¡°How?¡± A branch sprouted from the ground. Limbs grew out from the top, shaping themselves to appear like a decrepit hand of wood. A slender twig, green as the moss had been in the cavern, hung within the branch¡¯s grip. The fingers unfurled as if presenting it to him. Dev didn¡¯t hesitate in snatching the twig and moving forward into the forest. He stowed the piece of wood into the folds of his robes, navigating through another set of intertwined trees. Something the forest¡¯s mind had said echoed through his thoughts. It had implored him to go home. We¡¯re in combat, but the ground shifted earlier and pushed me way ahead of the wolves. Maybe¡­ He paused and summoned his menu. A quick series of gestures took him through the display until a map appeared. Dev pointed at New Haven, eliciting a prompt asking him if he would like to return to the hamlet. He reasoned that he might have made it far enough to be considered safe owing to the fact he couldn¡¯t see any of the werewolves. Dev clicked and waited to see if the game-world of Lorian would permit him the action. It did. His vision blurred as blackness crept in from the edges. Twin orbs of yellow broke through the darkness, sending his heart into a frenzied beat. Come on. Don¡¯t let this cancel the fast travel. The wolf jumped as a curtain of impenetrable black fell over Dev¡¯s world. Finished As stated above, the novel has now been removed in most part from here and this is just a thank you for all the reads it''s accumlated, ratings, and time investment from everyone that''s taken moments out of their busy days to do so. The experience I had here on RRL was wonderful and it''s encouraged me to continue sharing my works as I complete more with the community here. Thank you so very much. I hope everyone enjoyed the novel or at least got something out of it. It goes live tomorrow (at the time of writing this) July 15th on Amazon as part of their Kindle Unlimited program. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.