《MadLad Immortal》 The Fall As a violent thunderstorm raged. "Aaahhhh!!!!" A man fell from the sky. BAM!!! Through a roof and unto a pile of hay, as the heavy downpour soaked him through the gaping hole above. Morning rolls around, and a pair of barn doors are pushed open, followed by a scream. An hour later, at a humble clinic, questions are asked while an unconscious stranger is being treated of cuts, gashes, broken ribs, head injury and a fever. "I take great care maintaining the roof of my barn. Even if you stomp on it all day, you''re not falling through." Said a heavily bearded middle-aged looking burly man who looked equal parts lumberjack and Amish. "That plus how injured the lad looks, he had to have fallen from a great height. It wouldn''t make any sense otherwise. Heck if he wasn''t so lucky that he fell on that pile of hay, he''d be a dead man." Continued the man as he watched the lad in question receiving treatment. "I see. We''ll set our speculations aside till after he wakes up and we can get answers from the horse''s mouth." Responded an elven individual wearing a green archer''s outfit with a bow in hand. DAYS LATER A bandaged man groggily awakens from his slumber. After his vision clears, he regards his surroundings; then he regards his own condition: his chest hurts, his head hurts, and his left arm is in a sling; hurting. He was so glad to be alive, but too weak to show it. All he could remember was falling through a storm cloud after the plane he was in was hit by a missile and broke apart; spilling people into the air; him included. Who''s bright Idea was it to fly over a warzone anyway?! Again, he''s glad he''s alive, but now he was to worry about Alive People Problems and figure out how to get home from wherever he is. Not before getting his hands on a phone to call home with. With that in mind, he decides to scan his immediate environment, which causes him to squint his eyes in confusing. Because to him, everything looked weird. To be more precise; cartoonified. No, that was a little too far. It looked like he was in a hyper-realistic anime themed VR. Bringing his good hand to his head, he wasn''t able to feel a VR headset. So was this a dream then?! Trying to sit up, and wincing in pain told him no. So what the hell was going on?! Before his brain could go haywire, the door to his room opened, and he looked to towards his visitor. His eyes widened in shock: Before him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in person. She was wearing a turtleneck sweater and dress pants with a doctor''s lab coat draped over it all. She had blond hair in a ponytail which reached her lower back and a pair of notably long ears. She was flat as a board, and didn''t have much in the way of curves, but that took nothing away from her appeal. She was still drop dead gorgeous. Their eyes met for a few moments, before the beauty leaned back beyond the opened door to call out a "He''s awake." in a voice that can be best described as coated in honey. It made his ears tingle in delight. The individual redirected attention back to him. "Glad you''re awake now, lad. You were out for a couple days. Had me a little worried, to be honest." Before the words could be processed, someone else entered the room, and the patient''s breath was taken away for a second time. In walked another very attractive flat blond, but wearing a stern expression and a Green Outfit which seemed like something fantasy archer''s would wear. Truth be told, she kinda looked like an elf. WAIT. He looked at both their ears: Long and pointy. They were dead ringers for elves. Were they cosplayers? No way. He''s seen fake elf ears up close in college. These weren''t. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Before he could think further, the Doc Elf spoke. "Can you understand me, lad? If so, feel free to respond." "Uhh... Um yes. I understand you clearly." "Wonderful! This will make things easier as I perform a routine checkup." With that that being said, the Doc Elf proceeds to do so while asking him questions about his condition as the Bow Elf stands to the side observing. Minutes later, the Doc Elf exits the room to attend to other business; leaving the Bow Elf and patient alone in the room. Both parties stare at each other for a few tense moments before: "I''m not great with subtlety, so I''ll ask you directly. Who are you? And where are you from?" Not an unexpected enquiry, however a certain someone''s head was spinning due to the excessive info dump, and the answers weren''t forthcoming. He just laid there squinting his eyes in thought. This caused Bow Elf to raise an eyebrow and frown deeper, but didn''t say anything more; preferring to stand and observe. After a minute or two of deep thought, an answer came. "My name is Jason. As for where I''m from, I don''t know." Bow Elf reraised an eyebrow at that. "Really. Don''t know, or won''t tell?" "Don''t know. By the way, where am I exactly?" "I''m asking the questions here." "Sorry to hijack your interrogation, but I''m just as lost as you are when it comes to the topic of myself. Hope you understand." "So you''re claiming amnesia, I take it." "Sounds silly, doesn''t it, but yeah." "Hmm... You seem awfully calm for one who claims to know nothing of himself. Shouldn''t you be anxious, confused and disoriented?" Jason couldn''t help laugh a little to that. "Who says I''m not? Because I''m not running around with my hair on fire? I''m too hurt to do that." Bow Elf appraised him further for awhile before saying, "This is Tatter Town of the Dakota Dukedom. I''ll take your words at face value for now. In the meantime, concentrate on your recovery and don''t do anything suspicious." "Understood. Wouldn''t want to take an arrow to the knee, now. Anyway, thanks for the care and hospitality so far. I''m in your dept." Bow Elf acknowledges he words and deftly exits the room; closing the door in the process. Left alone, Jason releases a breath he didn''t know he was holding. He had decided to go with the amnesia approach rather than claiming he was transmigrated. Bro wasn''t a retard. Seems the locals are suspicious of him, but he isn''t too worried since they took the trouble to treat him. He just hopes they don''t demand indentured servitude in return. That would suck. Hours pass, and there is another knock on the door before it opens. In walks a girl with tray of food: Mashed Potatoes, some veggies and a cup of orange juice. After verifying that Nye could feed himself, she left the tray with him and wished him a good meal as she left. She wasn''t elven, funny enough, just a human with a girl next door vibe he was guessing was in her late teens and dressed like she was about to find out she wasn''t in Kansas anymore. Anyway, back to the food. Jason didn''t realize how hungry he was until the food was presented. With his good hand, he grabbed the spoon and began relating. As he enjoyed his meal, Jason began wandering if he had the system and was tempted to try it out by calling for his status. He decuses not to yet, as even if he did have one, he was likely being watched, abs didn''t know if they could see the panel or not. He''ll check things out somewhere private, but for now, all he has to do is eat and recover under the care of Alexis, the Doc Elf. After a number of interactions, Jason learns that it''s not Dr. Alexis because he''s actually a nurse. He just likes wearing the lab coat. Yes, he. The reveal was embarrassing and he laughed to my face for mistaking him for a chick. He did apologize after, and also revealed to me that Sam aka Bow Elf was male as well. WTF! 2 of the first 3 people I''ve met in this world are already traps. Are they common here? What will become of my sexuality? His self introspection aside, he did manage to check if he had a system when he used the restroom. Thank goodness they had plumbing. Good news, he did have a system. Badish news, it was bare bones: There was no HELP or SETTINGS TAB, no OBSERVE. His Stats were STR, DEX, VIT, KI and PSI. He didn''t have an inventory, and there was no Skills, but only one Ability: Gigamind. Disregarding the copyright bullet that was barely dodged with the addition of 3 extra zeros, this skill didn''t even have a description. The Ki stat gave his something to think about. Was it regular kit martial artists use, or cultivation ki? Guess he''d find out eventually. Also, what in blazes was PSI? With Jason''s knowledge of fiction, he guessed it might be Psionic, but he wasn''t certain. To be verified another day. Days pass, and Jason becomes fit to be discharged, but he has a problem. Where does he go? He''s got nothing but the clothes on his back which aren''t even his. They where destroyed in this fall. However, that wasn''t a concern for long, as Sam came to his rescue later that afternoon and escorted him to his new residence which was a 20 minute walk away. As they walked, Jason took in the sight of the town. It had a peculiar arrangement: it had one road cutting through the entire town. If you entered through one end you''ll see houses side by side on either side of the road. Behind each house was multiple acres of farmland growing various crops; mostly potatoes. The properties were basically very long rectangles parallel to each other. This would continue for under a mile till you reached the town square at the centre of town filled with semi-residential to nonresidential buildings where people sold their goods and offered their services. This is where the duo began their walk. Their destination was a property a couple houses shy of the outskirts of town. Looking at the structure, Jason wouldn''t say it was in bad shape, just... falling short a tad. But who''s he to judge, he''s homeless... until just recently. The duo make it past the front gates and approach the front door in silence, which made Jason realize he and Sam hadn''t spoken the whole way here. Was Sam still suspicious of Jason? Most likely, but he''s having someone take him in, plus the treatment and food he''s gotten so far. Jason hasn''t been treated unfairly yet, so he''ll just leave it to time to handle. Not long later, Jason, Sam and a Woman are in the living room discussing things. Said Woman, Samantha Clarkson, White AF Name, is a milf-lite with blue eyes and blond hair. "I''m so glad! It''s been two weeks since we moved in, and there''s still so much to do until we can settle in. We were in desperate need of some extra muscle to help around the place. Thank you for helping with that, Sam." "You praise me too much. It''s just a coincidence this arrangement worked out. However, don''t be so quick to thank me because we haven''t hammered out a deal yet." Then both their eyes turned to Jason who felt mildly nervous by the attention. "Ahem... So Mrs. Clarkson what kind of work am I expected to perform?" "Hehehe! No need to be so formal. You can call me Samantha." "I''m more comfortable with Mrs. Clarkson, if that''s alright." "Booo~ Fine. Suit yourself. Let''s see... there''s nothing specific: moving, cleaning, repairs, helping out in the farm, you''ll just be helping speed things up." "Ok, so what''s my pay like?" "Ten Silvers a Week." Jason blinks and looks to Sam you meets his gaze. "What is 10 Silvers worth, exactly?" Sam looks at Jason like he asked a dumb question, then realization hit him and he answered. "5 Silvers will get you a night plus breakfast at the local inn." Seeing my eyebrows raised at that, he continued. "Keep in mind you''re getting a room plus free meals on top of your pay. This is a rather generous offer especially considering nobody else in town is stepping forward to offer you work, much less a place to stay." Samantha nods in appreciation as Sam concludes. "Maybe after you''ve worked hard and long enough to earn some leverage you can renegotiate, but for now, this is the best your getting." Jason shrugs in acceptance at this. "Can''t argue with that... So, when do I start?" Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 5 days. Clarksons: 0 days. The Farm The Clarkson household consisted of Mrs. Samantha Clarkson and her 5 kids: Susan F18, Sammy M16, Sage & Sinclair FF14 and Simon M10. Susan is basically the second mom of the house and helps keep the other kids in line. Sammy''s just a typical teenager. His lithe build and his bang covering one eye had Jason almost mistaking him for a tomboy. Almost. Sage and Sinclair are your run-of-the-mill twins who are glued by the hip. Meaning their teamwork is topnotch and they get a lot done fast. Simon goofs around most of the time. Makes things much less boring. After the introductions, Jason was led by Susan to his room. His work will start in earnest tomorrow, but today, he has to clean up his room and make it habitable again. That night, as Jason lay on his bed, he was contemplating things while looking at his Skill [Gigamind]. He was trying to figure out what it allowed him to do. He recalled the titular supervillain off by a 1000. He was very intelligent and created things light-years ahead of everyone else. So what, he''s super smart? Doesn''t feel any different than before his fall, though. Maybe he hadn''t triggered it''s effects yet? Who knows. One guess he did come up with was experiencing with mental powers seen in fiction: mind reading, mind control, moving things with his mind, mind swap, dream manipulation, etc. He intends to experiment extensively and hopefully something bites. Well, that''s enough thinking for now, rest is needed. Future plans will be postpone to tomorrow night. Zzzzzzzzz.. World: 6 days. Clarksons: 1 days Tomorrow roles around, and it''s laundry day. The former occupants of the house left behind alot of clothes. The ladies opt to handle that while the guys head on up to the attic to sort through the content before cleaning. Anything of use will be set aside while the remaining junk gets reboxed. It was hard dusty work, but the three of us managed to get it done by noon. After lunch, work resumed with miscellaneous tasks all around the house and farm: Cleaning, Repair, Maintenance, all the good stuff. Jason went to bed mildly sore, yet in a decent mood. [+0.05 STR] [+0.05 STR] [+0.05 STR] [+0.05 VIT] ... [+0.05 VIT] Not much in terms of stat gain, but feels good regardless. As he lay in bed, he took a moment to consider the past few days of his new life: from his fall, treatment, realization of exotic species, to his current situation. Funnily enough, he recalled it all in perfect detail as if he was watching a pov video recording. Unsurprisingly, he kept replaying the memory of Alexis and Sam. It can''t be helped. Their very existence is pleasant to the eyes and ears. [DING] "WTF?!" Promptly opening his status, Jason combs through in search of the answer to his question and found it in the Skills section. [Videographic Memory] As always, no description, but just a title. "Hahaha!!! I''ve stumbled unto gold! Oh yeah, baby!" After fist bumping the air for a time, Jason got off his high and began thinking things through. "It appears I can create my skills, but they won''t [ding] into existence if I don''t use them to some degree. Guess I''ll try multitasking/parallel thought tomorrow." Satisfied with his plans, he contacted. "Also, with this new Skill of mine, I can learn stuff hella fast: all books and professions are at my fingertips. Guess I''ll start out with any I can find in this house, then in town. When I''ve earned enough from working here, I''ll go find a more profitable profession. I can learn anything I want now." With his mind made up, Jason goes to sleep, ending his second day at the Clarkson Residence. Zzzzzz World: 7 days. Clarksons: 2 days Waking up at the morrow, Jason beats himself up a little for not trying to Lucid Dream last night. "No biggie, there''s still plenty of time."If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Today, the Clarkson''s spent all day preparing the soil for planting their early Fall crops. Some will be left to overwinter while others will be harvested late fall. While working, it was hard to find something to multitask, as practically all Jason did required both hands. Guess he''ll have to do it in his own time. At lunchtime, Jason ate quickly and make his way into a bedroom converted into a study. There were hundreds of books here, but most were novels, so he had to search a little for somethings more practical. And practical he did find. It was a map. Jason unfurled it on a nearby table and placed weights on the edges to keep it straight. A couple seconds of scanning, he had memorized it, so seeing no use for it, he placed it back where he found it and returned to work. He would be back. As the afternoon chores carried on, Jason thought about the map. It was the biggest information dump he''d gotten since his fall into this world. He was in Tatter Town, which was within Dakota Dukedom/Island. Nearby were two other Dukedom/Islands called Yorkvania and Drakintina respectively. The other Dukedom/Islands were at the corner of the map, so he didn''t know their true scale or any other detail beyond their names since the map concentrated on Dakota. Notable Villages, Towns and Cities where indicated as well as terrain and waterways. What was curious was all these settlements where located near the shore; circling the island. Some where along rivers further inland but not too far. It reminded him of Australia, however here, there wasn''t a desert in the middle of the island. The terrain is indicated near and around settlements, but not deeper into the island. It''s as if it hasn''t been navigated. Does that mean it''s too dangerous to get in? Oh well, he''d get his answers sooner or later. As of now, he already had his short-term destination planned out. The nearest city was 3 towns away, and Jason made getting there his goal. Goals. Well, a better time than ever to think it through. "Let''s see..." Information Gathering. Skill Acquisition. Martial Strength. Money. Jason needed to know more about this world. It''s history, norms, and most importantly, laws. He wouldn''t want to accidentally indenture himself. This world doesn''t appear that advanced. He''ll start by acquiring everyday common knowledge from the locals; the Clarksons seem like a good start. He''d then have to get his hands on books about legislature and anything of that ilk. The family library will be ravaged first, then the town library, then any documents in the Mayors office. Next off was Skill Acquisition. He needed something that would earn him good money wherever he went. He''d save himself the hassle of brainstorming that and just ask around. Now, Martial Might. Jason needed to get strong and skilful in battle, if for no other reason but for self-preservation. There were people several magnitude stronger than him prancing around this world if what little he gleamed from Alexis''s words were accurate. He had to leverage his system and understanding of the power system to that end. Additionally, Jason might have to consider joining a notable organisation for protection till he was strong enough to strike out on his own. This isn''t some overpowered MC in an E-tier Isekai show. It was real life, and he was too squishy for his liking, and no plot armor was going to save him. Money. Nuff said. Ok, maybe not nuff. He''d like to have his own place, buy his own stuff, and eat food he paid for himself. Being under the care of a third party didn''t feel comfortable. Plus, beyond just existing, he''d need said money to purchase gear, weapons and anything that would further his other goals. So, with that said, Jason grand plans shall begin with devouring the house library and learning stuff from the Clarksons. He''d move from there. [Ding] ''Nani?! Well, what a pleasant surprise! However, it''ll have to wait since I''m busy at the moment and can''t pause to check my status. Unless I multitasked, but that''ll only make me less effic... Wait.'' "Status." As Jason whispered the command, he felt an alien sensation as he split his attention between reading his Status and performing his task. He was able to pay full attention to both tasks with zero reduction in efficiency. There was still no better way to explain it other than ''Alien''. --- NAME: Jason HP: 100% White Ki: 100% Red Ki: 100% ABILITY: [Giga Mind] SKILLS [Videographic Memory] [Parallel Thought] --- ''How succinct. Regardless, I''m happy with the addition. Guess my midwork musings coaxed the Skill out. I''m now a Chinese sweatshop owner''s wet dream.'' Deciding to occupy his mind with something different for the time being, Jason sought out Sammy for some non-idle chatter. "Yo! Sammy, buddy, I would like to seek your guidance on something." The teen in question jolted from the surprise interaction, then stared at Jason like he had grown a second head. "Huh? Wha?" The Blondie managed to get out. Jason proceeded to converse with him over seemingly trivial topics of common knowledge all the way till dinner time. After that, he made his way to the study inorder to select which book he shall devastate. A few caught his eye: Adventurers Guild Rulebook. Hazard Beast Bibliography. Outdoor Cookbook. Taking the three, Jason sat at the desk illuminated by a reading lamp. The opened the rulebook first, then started reading like he usually did before stopping. After some thought, the decided to scan the page instead, and see if he could recall it all. Success. Then he began flipping pages faster, to see how fast he can scan. After a bit of trial and error, he got the most effective pace and was able to complete the small book within 2 minutes. "Woah! I can recite the whole thing if I wanted. It''s kinda trippy. Ok, next up, the Bibliography." Jason finished the larger book in 5 minutes, and the cook book in 4. He had plenty of time to grab more books to read, but he decided against it, opting to digest what he''d already absorbed. With that, Jason made his way down the hall to his bedroom where he would settle in for his 3rd night . Zzzzzz. World: 8 days. Clarksons: 3 days The next day was the same as the last few: chores, chores and more chores. Pleasantly enough, Jason realizes that the tasks aren''t as tiring as they were on his first day; likely due to his STAT gains. Another pleasant thing, was seeing the power system of this world being used in the form of Samantha doing laundry. Samantha Clarkson was leaning over a wide waist high barrel which was covered at the top except for a hole wide enough for her arm to fit all the way to her elbow. Initially when Jason stumbled upon the sight, he was confused as to what was going on. Even the sound of liquid churning inside said barrel didn''t give him much clues. Seeing him lost, Samantha helpfully explained that she was using a Domestic Spell to churn the mixture of laundry, water and detergent within the barrel. So the barrel was basically a huge Washing machine and she was the motor. Between work, and during meals, Jason made inquiries and received some answers. Domestic Spells as the name suggests were meant for performing tasks at home. It required basic proficiency in ki manipulating and knowledge of the specific hand gestures called Katas. Some examples include: A dehydrating spell that draws moisture out of things; used for drying food and object such as damp cloths. A Spell for starting fires. Another for heating up the body, A wind spell which compliments a familiar looking contraption for vacuuming as an alternative to being powered by a Ki stone (We''ll get to those later.) Another wind spell coupled with another familiar contraption that acts as a leaf blower. And much more, but Samantha didn''t know all that existed; just the ones that have been passed down to her. Of course, Jason was adamant to learn these, and Samantha didn''t deny him, but only under the conditions that, 1: He''ll have to use his day off for that, and 2: He''ll have to train his Ki manipulation first. With that settled for the time being, the conversation turned towards the direction of Ki stones. Jason learned that every creature possesses a Life Core specifically within the hearts of creatures who had the organ, or an organ of similar role, or elsewhere in creatures that didn''t at all. Life Core stored two types of Ki: Red Ki and White Ki. The Red Ki was for mainly healing, physical techniques and breakthroughs, while the White Ki was Spell and other Ki Techniques. When a living being was killed, all the red and white kid will be sucked into the life core immediately. After being extracted, the kid within can be absorbed to grow one''s cultivation. Once contents of the life core is fully absorbed, it turns into a ki stone as it now only stores White Ki. Ki stones are used in powering ki tools of all kinds, as well as in replenishing one''s white ki levels at rates faster than if one meditated. They are a prominent energy source of the world and therefore always in demand. Another interesting thing is that ki stones of the same grade stick to one another and over time merge into a large sphere. After Dinner, Jason was off to the study once again to eat some books. After a brief search, he found some decent stuff: Regular Cook Book. Basic Domestic Spell Kata. A Book on Foraging. After eating the books, he went to bed as usual. The 4th night passed. Zzzzz. Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 9 days. Clarksons: 4 days Ki Spells Fifth day with the Clarksons. Jason and Sammy are sent out with a wheelbarrow and list. There task is to purchase seeds, other stuff for planting, and a little something here and there. As they made it through downtown, Jason took note of his surroundings: Tailor Shop. Shoe Maker. Carpenter Shop. Diner. Inn. Food stalls. Weapon Shop! Armor Shop! Herbalist Shop. Clinic. Adventurer''s Guild!!! The Adventurers Guild was situated near the center of town, next to the Mayor''s office which was at the center. It was the largest building in town and was made with brick unlike most other buildings that were made of wood. As the duo where making their way past the majestic structure, a familiar face exited it''s doors. Both parties eyes met, then with a quirk of the brow, the newcomer made his way to the two. ''He''s not swaying his hips or anything, so why does he look so seductive while walking?!'' Jason thought to himself briefly. "Sammy, Jason, a good morning to you both." He spoke. "Morning, Sam." They both said in unison unintentionally, which made then look to each other in shock for a moment before both snickering at their antics. The elf raised a bemused eyebrow at that. Bro''s eyebrows got personalities at this point. He''s always raising them somehow special. "I trust you are settling into town quite alright. As always, feel free to seek me out if you need assistance." Offered Sam. "Thank you. We''re settling in great and have no issues. We''ll keep your offer in mind." Politely replied his namesake. With a nod of understanding, the Bow Elf turned his attention to Jason before speaking. "How goes things, lad?" ''Why the hell did that sound so affectionate? It felt like your friend''s stoic mom who you had a crush on ask you how your day was. Concentrate, Jason!'' "Things are going awesome! I''ve got food, clothes, a warm bed, and a paying job; in no small thanks to you. So good infact, I''m thinking of signing up to the Adventurers Guild in a couple days." Sam gave a very very mild look of amusement while raising a skeptical brow. "Hooo?, it''s been barely a week and you''re already planning to jump ship?, where''s your sense of loyalty, lad." After a short pause, he continued. "No matter, it''s all good regardless. I shall be off, then. Do carry on." And with that, Sam turned and walked off; Jason staring at his behind as he did. ''I am straight. I''m straight. STRAI... Ow!'' Jason rubbed his sore side after being elbowed by Sammy. "You''re leaving?" The young blond asked somewhat curtly. "Not right away, I don''t have enough saved up to do so. What? You all wanted to adopt me or something?" "Hahaha! Who''d want to adopt you? You''re too old for that." "Yeah yeah... C''mon. Let''s go and get this errand over with." And with that the two continued on their way and eventually completed their task and returned home. The day went on as usual, and as dinner passed, Jason made his way to the Study once again. To his dismay, no book was worth eating; the rest were novels or something like that. "Guess I''ll have to check out that book store sometime." With that, he returned to his room and decided to use his free time to practice the Domestic Magic Katas he memorized: would like to be proficient with them before he learned Ki control so as to give himself a running start. [Ding] [Muscle Memory] Always straight to the point, eh? If this system was a chick, she''d make the perfect wife. "Status" --- NAME: Jason HP: 100% White Ki: 100% Red Ki: 100% ABILITY: [Giga Mind] SKILLS [Videographic Memory] [Parallel Thought] [Muscle Memory] --- "If memory serves me right, if you repeat complex actions enough times, your body will remember it and you end up performing it with greater ease. Does this mean I can master actions on my first try?" To test this out, Jason performed the longest kata, and realized that he can perfectly perform it at speeds so fast, his hands were a blur. "Well, if it wasn''t official before, it''s official now, I''m broken AF. Heck! I''m a sweatshop owner''s wet dream." Having no reason to practice anymore, he decided to exercise instead. Pushups till his arms failed, Situps till his abs burned, and Squats till his legs buckled. He wanted to test his healing out. He has a slow passive healing that kicks up whenever he does stressful activities. It increases quite a bit for two hours after eating, and by alot that one time Alexis have him a healing tonic. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. And as luck would have it, the notifications returned a couple sets into his pushups. He remembers the notifications last for about 2 hours after every meal before they stop coming. It had been 30 minutes between the end of dinner and the beginning of exercising, so he had 90 minutes left. Jason''s wished to test if the healing effects of food would help him fully recover from an intense workout. If this were the case, he would be able to train his STATS at an unprecedented rate. After finishing his session, he toweled himself off, opened the window to let the fall breeze cool him off, then discarded himself on the bed; exhausted. 60 Minutes left. However he wouldn''t find out the results of his effort till morning as he fell asleep before he knew it. Zzzzzzzzz. World: 11 days. Clarksons: 6 days Sixth day with the Clarksons. Jason woke up felling mildly sore all over. Not enough to hamper his work, and besides, such soreness wouldn''t survive the healing of breakfast. "Success." Jason felt giddy throughout the day. How couldn''t he? Tomorrow was his day off, and he''d receive training on Ki control. Hopefully that didn''t take all day, as he wished to register with the Guild as well as check the local book store for something useful. If he happened to have free time left over, he''d check out other places that caught his fancy. Dinner, Exercise, Sleep. Zzzzzzzz. World: 12 days. Clarksons: 7 days Seventh day with the Clarksons. After breakfast, Samantha took Jason to the back porch where they both sat crosslegged and facing each other. The training consisted of 3 parts: Entering into a Meditative State. Sensing one''s ki. Manipulating said Ki. As he was instructed, Jason closes his eyes and purged all thought from his mind. He remained in this state for a few minutes till he began sensing something. As if he was developing a 6th sense. He became keenly aware of his body. He could feel his heartbeat pounding away in his chest; then over time, he began sensing his blood flowing through his arteries and veins. He didn''t think on it, but just sat there and let himself feel the sensation; becoming familiar with it. An unspecified amount of time passed as he continued to take it all in. Then he began to sense more: something ethereal flowing through the lining of his circulatory system as would blood within. This was Ki; no doubt about it. He followed the flow of the otherworldly ''substance?'' back to it''s source: his heart. Within lied his Life Core: A sphere resembling a pearl. It was red and white with a pattern that reminded him of that Ying-yang symbol. It was quite a ''sight''. Soon after, Jason felt a tap on his shoulder. That was a signal agreed upon by him and Samantha. Immediately, he opened his eyes and his senses transitioned back to normal. He took a deep breath as he adjusted to the change. "Woah! That was awesome. How long was I out?" Exclaimed Jason. Samantha smirked at his antics before replying "Before I answer, how far did you get?" After hearing his answer, she continued. "That much in 6 hours is about the normal pace, no issues there." "Wait... 6 hours?! I was out for that long? Why didn''t you wake me earlier?" "Relax. I''m just doing this by the book. This was how I was trained. Besides, you still have plenty of time to handle your business, no?" Jason couldn''t argue with that, so he just shrugged in response. "Good. Now come on, and let''s talk over Lunch." With that, Jason got up and followed her inside. As the family ate, Samantha explained to Jason that he had to meditate frequently inorder to grow accustomed to sensing his Ki, and that beyond a certain point he begin developing the ability to Manipulate Ki. "The best way I can explain it is that it''s like a child getting the ability to walk. The baby needs time for it''s body''s development, same as one needing Meditation Time for their senses to develop." Began Samantha as Jason nodded in understanding. "Once a certain amount of development is reached, the baby can walk on instinct; Same as Ki manipulation. However instinct only goes so far. Babies are clumsy and fall often, so they''ll need a lot of practice to walk and run property." "I see." "But that''s only the basics. Let''s say walking is basic Ki Control, then Running is Domestic Spells, and Dancing is akin to Offensive Spells and others of that level. There are other kinds of complex footwork out there, but what I''m trying to hammer home is the similarities in the levels of practice required." "Everyone can walk and run, but not everyone can dance." Jason thought out loud. "Exactly. I, for one, can run on level ground as well as most rough terrain, but my dancing skills are sloppy so I''m just a very competent housewife." Samantha said as she pause to sip a drink before continuing. "Most people get by with just Walking and Running, though. They''ll do that to the best of their abilities: Covering long distances, Jumping, Sprinting, etc. So just pick a path and go all in." Jason clasps his hands in mock reverence. "Thank you for your guidance, teacher. I''ll be sure to etch your words into my very soul." He receives a couple eye rolls and giggles for his antics as lunch winds down. After their meal, Jason makes his way to his room to prepare for his outing, but is intercepted by Sammy. "Hey Jason, you''re heading into town, right?" "Yeah. Just have to run a couple personal errands." "Cool. Do you mind if I join you? I''ve got nothing planned for today, and bored out of my mind at home." "Meh... Sure. Why not? You go get ready and we''ll head out together." "Awesome! I''ll be done in a bit." Said Sammy as he darted to his room. Minutes later, Jason is standing by the front door of the Clarkson home, as Sammy emerges; no longer in his usual Farmboy outfit, Sammy wears a casual v-neck t-shirt with jeans. "Alright! Let''s head out, little man." Said Jason as he walked off. "Who you calling ''little man''?!" Responded Sammy in mock rage as he followed. The walk towards downtown was filled with banter as the two had grow quite friendly with each other over the past week. As they made it to the Adventurers Guild, they both quieted down and entered with purpose. Just like how Jason imagined, there was a lounge area with a handful of people chilling, papers on the sidewall which most likely where quests, and a receptionist-looking individual behind a counter in the back. They both made their way to the receptionist who gave them a professional smile. "Hello, and Welcome to the guild. How may I help you?" "Hello. I''ll like to register, please." "Me too." Hearing that, Jason looked to Sammy in confusion as the fellow only smirked back. The receptionist on the other hand carried on with business. "Very well, please wait here while I get the forms." As she left, Jason couldn''t help but ask. "I didn''t know you wanted to be an adventurer." Sammy shrugged before answering. "It''s no big deal. Everyone is at some point. Alot of folks do it part time, or alternate between years of their regular job, then years of adventuring. Heck, I''d bet over 90% of the folks in town are registered adventurers." "I see. That makes sense. But why are you signing up now, of all times?" "Why not? I just turned 16 which is the legal age of registration; 14 if you''re an orphan. And besides the adventurers tag serves as identification that''s accepted anywhere. There''s certain things I wouldn''t be able to do without that, like say, renting a book." Jason''s eyes widened in realization after hearing the last part. "Thanks, buddy. You just saved me a hassle." Sammy blinked in confusion, but before he could respond, the receptionist returned with the forms. They both filled them out with no issue, before handing them back. "Alright! We''ll handle the paperwork and have your tags made in say, an hour and a half to two. Would you like to wait, or handle business elsewhere then return?" "We''ll be back in 2 hours. Got other stuff to do." "Very well, do carry on." With that, the duo turned their attention to the Quest wall to check out what was posted. They found most of the Quests to be: Hazard Beast Culling, Pest Extermination, Odd Jobs, Wild Herb foraging, Escort/Security etc. After browsing till they were satisfied, they both made their way outside the building. "So, where to now?" Inquired Sammy. "I want to try as many shops as I possibly can today: see what they got going on." "Sounds like a plan. Lead the way, big guy." First off was an Apothecary shop. It had potted plants all around the outside, and inside was a glass counter reminiscent of a jewelry store, but instead of jewels, various pills and potions were displayed. Jason took a quick scan of the contents and their prices before making his way to the store owner. After introductions and pleasantries, Jason asked if they were looking for an apprentice, to which the owner laughed it off. Jason wasn''t deterred however, but would decide who to lobby after checking the other shops. The duo dropped by the Carpenters Shop, Blacksmith Shop, Armor & Weapons Shop, The local tailor, a clothing store, a nearby diner, a couple inns, and a good chunk of town before the 2 hours was up and the duo made their way back to the Guild where they received their Tags and a copy of the Guild Rulebook. With today''s adventure almost over, they make their way to the last stop before heading back home: the book shop. A decent sized 2 storey building similar to those japanese home busineses where the business was on the ground floor and the owner lived in the floor above. Unsurprising, as most buildings in downtown were like that. Jason and Sammy entered the building and immediately made contact with the owner behind the counter located right next to the door. He had neck length blonde hair with red tips which hugged his delicate features. He wore a simple form fitting turtleneck sweater over his lithe upper physique. He didn''t have curves unlike Alexis, but was quite delicate looking all things considered. He also didn''t look any older than Jason. Jason was sure it was a guy because of his barely visible Adam''s Apple. Bro had to squint to catch it. Looking up from the book he was reading, the shop owner gave them a professional smile before gesturing them to the shelves further within. ''Not much of a talker, huh. Best brace myself just in case his voice turns out to be deadly.'' Jason thought as he responded with a nod before walking past with Sammy by his side. They began browsing shelves looking for books of interest. "Hmm... they''re not pricey, but I''ll blow my week''s pay if I get too much. Gotta ration, then." Jason considered. "You''ll save a lot more if you just lease them, you know." Replied Sammy. "Great idea. Let''s do that." After they were done browsing, they both took their respective collections to the counter for leasing. ''This is the moment of truth!'' "ID please." ''Woah! This was different! Not like Alexis''s honey words. It was a like a regular guy''s voice if you squinted your ears hard enough. Quite exotic. It was hard to explain beyond the fact that I liked hearing it.'' The transaction carried on as normal, and as the duo made to leave, a tender "Have a nice day.~" sent a jolt down Jason''s spine through his ears. All he could manage was to return a wave over his shoulder without turning around. "Well, that was fun. Maybe we should do this again next time." Sammy remarked. "Heh! Why are you making it sound like a date? Screw it. I enjoyed our time together too. Next time will be extra special; believe it." "Dude! Gross. Don''t say it like that." "Hahaha!!!" They both laughed as they made their way back home. After separating from Sammy, Jason went to his room to begin ''eating'' his books. Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 13 days. Clarksons: 8 days Stages and Realms A First Aid Book. An Outdoors Cookbook. Ki for Dummies. Glyphs for Dummies. A famous Adventurer''s Autobiography. A Book on Tying Knots. All of these were worth a days pay. Guess he''ll have to maintain the rate of 6 books a week so as not to drain his wallet. 15:00 Done with all the books. Got a rope and practiced Knots. Practiced drawing Glyphs on sand. Break. intense exercise. Dinner. 20:00 Returning to his room, instead of going to sleep right away, Jason began to meditate inorder to train his Ki sense and by extension; his Ki control. He lost his sense of time, and only regained himself after hearing a knock on the door. It was Sammy calling him down for breakfast. Jason had apparently meditated all night and into the morning. Fortunately, he didn''t feel like he pulled an all nighter, but actually felt well rested. Plus he made decent progress in his training. With that, the 8th day with the Clarksons began. World: 13 days. Clarksons: 8 days The week was the same as any other with the exception of Intense Exercise, followed by an all-night meditation session. And just like that, the next day off arrived. World: 19 days. Clarksons: 14 days "So, what about that date you promised me?" Sammy joked as he and Jason made their way to the Guild first thing in the morning. "Don''t fret, my dear. I''ll have to see which Quest I can complete within a day, then I''ll show you the time of your life." Replied Jason in jest. "Bro, we''re in a small town. What ''time of your life'' can you show anybody?" Responded Sammy while cracking up, and Jason couldn''t help but join in the laughter. When they finally stood in front of the Quest Wall, they began perusing through their options. "What about this ''Herb Foraging'' Quest, Sam?" "Hmm? Not bad. I think we can knock it out before dark. You do the picking, and I''ll protect your rear." "Protect me with what, you squishy muffin?" "Dude, you''re no less ''squishy'' than I am. At least I know how to handle a Crossbow, half decent with a bow, and alright with a spear. You got nothing, mate!" "You have all that?" "We have a few at home. We''ve had them for many years. We''ll borrow some and have the job taken care of." "Cool! What are we waiting for?! We''re burning daylight. Let''s go getherdone!" "Woah! Hold your houses, big guy. Don''t you have books to return?" "Oh crud! I almost forgot. C''mon let''s go getherdone." "Quit saying ''getherdone'', you redneck wannabe." Clink Ding-a-ling!!! The door''s bell sound as the two enter the bookstore and face the delicate bookworm behind the counter. Lowering the book he was just reading, he was about to greet the two out of habit before he paused in bewilderment as he tilted his head to the side while looking at the small bag of books. His gaze went from the bag to Jason ''s face and back a couple of times before finally asking. "Um... Return?"Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "You got that right." Replied Jason with a grin. He sure loved hearing his voice. "You can have these back while I go grab another six. Here." He continued while placing the bag of books on the counter. After blinking a few times at said bag, DBW whispered a "fast." Before nodding and getting to work. At the same moment, Jason wasted no time grabbing the new 6 books he needed and brought them over. There was a brief pause of silence as the two sets of books were being processed, so Jason decided to cut through the awkward atmosphere with some small talk. "You know, I''m new to town and barely know anybody. I''ve met you twice already and don''t even know your name yet. Let me introduce myself: my name is Jason . It''s a pleasure to meet you." Sammy could only cringe at the sloppy attempt at a conversation. It took a short while for Mr Delicate to realize he was the one being spoken to before he turns his attention to Jason ; Nodding once while replying "Ah, Yes. I''m Quinn. It''s also a pleasure... And welcome to Tatter Town." He responds before resuming his task. "Quinn. Pleasant name fitting such a pleasant person. It seems we''ll be seeing more of each other. Too bad it''s just once a week; I would have loved to hang out more often, but guess that''s life." Blinking at the other''s words, Quinn is temporarily unsure of how to respond. "Um... I... See?..." he responds bewildered. "Are you hitting on him?" Jason and Quinn turn to face Sammy after he asked such an incredulous question. Quinn began blushing and seemed to be about to enter stuttering frenzy, but Jason came in clutch. "Sam, buddy, I know you''re itching for the Quest. Don''t you worry, we''ll knock it out good and still have time to kill for a little you-&-me fun. Didn''t I promise to treat you good?" It was Sammy''s turn to blush. "Dude! Why the heck are you saying it like that?! Gross." Quinn couldn''t help but regard the two''s antics for a moment more before letting out a short chuckle as his own embarrassment settled. "Here you go." Quinn said as he pushed a bag of books towards Jason . "Guess our time is up for now." Jason said as he went out of his way to place his hand over Quinn''s as he collects he bag. The sensation of their hands touching returns the blush to Quinn''s face and puts a smile on Jason ''s. "Can''t wait for next week. Will be seeing you, Quinn." With that both Sammy and Jason exited the store, leaving the store keeper rubbing his hands absentmindedly. As the duo made some distance, Sammy couldn''t help but say. "So, you''re making a move on him? I didn''t know you leaned that way." "Enough with your slander. I''ve always been loyal to the Straight Council and it''s teachings. Pleasant, Delicate, Feminine: The core attributes a straight man seeks in a partner. I have made no compromise this day." Replied Jason overdramatically. "Pfft! Hahaha! What the heck was all that?! Forget it, I''m not asking anymore. Let''s get out of here... Oh my chest hurts." "Let me rub it till it gets better." "Woah woah woah! Keep your hands to yourself Mr Straight Council Man." "Hahahaha!!" And the playful bickering continued. Minutes later, they were both on the outskirts of the Clarkson property and we''re approaching the outer edges of the nearby forest. "Sam, buddy, I don''t want to become somethings dinner, ok? So protect me good, ok?" "Don''t you worry, I''ve got your back." Due to Jason ''s knowledge of wild plants, he made quick work of the Quest and even had time to forage other plants for his own purposes. The duo did encounter creatures, but they where only a couple giants rabbits and a wild boar which were all dispatched easily by Sammy. It was a good haul and both were grateful they brought a small wagon with them otherwise moving everything would have been a pain. They dropped off their Kills and Jason ''s personal bundle of herbs at home, and took the remaining sacks of herbs back to the Guild and took their pay. It was worth more than 2x the pay he was getting per day even after splitting it evenly with Sammy. "So, what do you say we get some ice cream before heading home? My treat." "Oh sweet! I''m game. Let''s go." Enjoying their treats, the two returned home just in time to have Dinner with an extra serving of rabbit meat for their hard work. After the meal, Samantha called Jason over and handed him something. It was a tiny sphere that resembled a marble and was half red half white. While he examining it, Samantha spoke "That''s a Life Core from one of the giant rabbit you two brought. Keep it in contact with your body and the red ki will be siphoned Into your body in about an hour. Once it''s all gone and leaves only the white ki, it''ll become a ki stone." "Sweet! Thanks ma''am." "Quit calling me ''ma''am''. It makes me feel old." "Haha... Well, I''ll be off then. Good night." "Goodnight, Jason ." The post dinner schedule was the same, except for a different collection of books: A book on human anatomy. A chemistry book. A book on poisons and treatment. A math book. A commerce book A book on pressure points. The day ends with an all-nighter meditation session with the soon to be ki stone in hand. The next six days are indistinguishable from one another. Breakfast Chores Lunch Chores Dinner Meditation till morning. With his latest skill unlock, Jason has been finishing his tasks at a considerable rate. By the end of the week, he would finish all his chores for the day by lunchtime. Now with more free time, he''d drop by the Book Store and lease a book as an excuse to hang out with Quinn. They really hit things off after he got caught up with the book Quinn was reading at the time which gave the two something in common to talk about. The rest of his free time he used for target practice with the bow and crossbow he borrowed from the family after some training by Sammy; bolts and arrows not included. And finally, some spearmanship training sprinkled here and there taught by Sammy Sensei. The blond was pretty decent with a standard spearmanship martial art open to the public. Things Jason read during the week: An Agriculture pest and diseases book. A General Health Book. A history book. Another Adventurer''s autobiography. A book on Crossbow Maintenance. A book on Weapon Maintenance. World: 26 days. Clarksons: 21 days. Eventually, the second day off and 14th day on the Clarkson Residence arrived. It was a general culling quest that was always up and sponsored by the local butcher. It ensured wildlife didn''t encroach into human settlements (especially the farms), and was one of the town''s main meat sources, outside farm animals. Jason and Sammy armed themselves as they made their way to the edge of the forest; careful not to go too deep lest they encounter something too strong for their weapons to take down. From what little Jason has read about the power system of this world, he has learned that its practically a less complicated as well as way less expensive cultivation power system. Every living thing is born at the first stage of the Mortal Realm. By absorbing Red Ki Life Core, the person can eventually breaks through into the next realm. This breakthrough triggers a form of rebirth. All injuries are healed and all impurities are purged from the body, thereby bringing one to peak health for their age. Additionally, the body undergoes a qualitative change: stronger immune system, more efficient and thorough digestive system, stronger bone structure, increased brainpower, improved healing factor, etc. A breakthrough also raises the cap on one''s stats, meaning if say the cap of the first stage of the mortal realm was 50, breaking through to the second stage would raise the cap to 60 or something. The Mortal Realm has 4 Stages. When one breaks through into the next Realm, the ''Rebirth'' one experiences is qualitatively different in so far as in addition to the usual changes which are more pronounced than usual, one''s body will literally age in reverse for a short timr until they are at their prime; like a 70 year old turning 20 again. After the Mortal Realm is the King Realm , followed by the Emperor Realm. 1st Stage of the Mortal Realm. 2nd Stage of the Mortal Realm. 3rd Stage of the Mortal Realm. 1st Stage of the King Realm. 2nd Stage of the King Realm. 3rd Stage of the King Realm. 1st Stage of the Emperor Realm. 2nd Stage of the Emperor Realm. 3rd Stage of the Emperor Realm. There is believed to be a 4th realm, but nobody knows for sure. Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 26 days. Clarksons: 21 days. Hazard Beasts Both amateur adventurers continued their trek into the forest. They didn''t intend to get too deep, as they would use a common hunting strategy which involved dumping an animal''s guts or carcass in an open area, then hiding and taking aim. Wild animals and Hazard Beasts would smell the bait, approach to investigate, then get jumped. After being neutralized, the hunters would gut it, add said guts to the bait pile, and the rest of the body set aside. As Jason and Sammy waited for their bait to do it''s magic, Jason was splitting his Minds between the task at hand and meditation. It was a novel sensation. When normally meditating, it felt like he developed, say, the sense of smell, but he can only smell in absence of his other senses. It was either sense of smell only, or all the other senses minus smell. With [Parallel Thought] active, he has access to all his senses at once. The feeling was alien and trippy, but not enough to distract him from noticing a Giant Monitor Lizard Approaching. ''WTF?! That thing is the size of a Komodo Dragon.'' Exclaimed Jason as he took aim. Both he and Sammy waited for the creature to begin swallowing the carcass before letting loose their bolts and arrows respectively. The bolt struck first, piercing the creature''s side, which caused it to jerk. Then an arrow struck, followed by another, then another. 7 arrows in 7 seconds all struck true, and the beast was downed before it could escape the clearing. "Phew! Not bad for my first kill, ey Sam?" "..." " Sam?" "You know, I still can''t get over the fact you''re now a super duper way better Archer than me. It makes no sense!" "pfft! Is that what''s got you acting all incredulous? It''s practice. All practice, you see." "Practice my ass! I''ve been ''practicing'' since I was 10, and you''ve outdone me many times over in just a week. That explanation ain''t flying nowhere, bud." "Hehe. Guess I''m just that awesome, huh?" "..." Sammy blinks a couple times at the response. "You know what? Screw it! I''ll latch onto that and wonder no more. Now come help me gut this thing." "Aye aye, little guy, aye aye." Jason and Sammy get to processing the beast. The Life Core was carved out of the heart, prefered organs were stored, the Lizard''s body was placed in the cart, and the rest of it''s guts are used as lure. The routine continued and at the end of the day, both dragged home their massive haul home. 1 giant monitor lizard. 3 giant hugs. 1 python. 1 land crocodile. Half where taken by the Clarksons to be preserved and cooked, while the other half was dropped off at the guild and the two paid for their troubles. Jason''s cut was equivalent to 2 weeks of his current wages. A few more weeks of this, and he''s well on his way to being independent. "It''s decided. One more month. One more month and I''ll set off on my own!" Zzzzzzz World: 27 days. Clarksons: 22 days. After finishing his chores and having lunch, Jason and Sammy were called over by Samantha. "I''m guessing you boys are going to go hunting more often, ey?" "Yup! You guessed correct, ma''am." "Uhuh. It was hard work, but it was worth every penny we got out of it. Why do you ask, mom!" If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Because of the hard work portion, silly. Lugging around that cart is too energy draining and it even limits how much you can bring home. It''s about time I teach you both the porting ki spell." "Woohoo! About time you did, mom." "Don''t be too happy now, I don''t know if you have enough ki control to pull it off. It''s a good time as any to find out." "So, what do we do, ma''am?" "Well, to summarize, you have to feed enough white ki into a specific point in the middle of your forehead. Successfully doing so will awaken your Mind scape. I''ll tell you the rest later, for now, try to get it done today." "Sounds easy enough, cmon Jason, let''s go getherdone." "I''m sorry for using it in the past, I regret my actions and am reflecting, so please purge that word from your vocabulary." "Nope!" "For me." "Na ah! " "Huuu... What have I done? " Both went to the back porch to meditate. Jason was aware of the spot on the forehead Samantha was talking about. It didn''t seen like a special organ; in fact, it was no different than the surrounding, but it did give a feeling similar to ki. It was in a state beyond solid, liquid, gas or plasma. It was there. That''s all he knew for sure. The nights of meditation were coming in clutch here. Since ki usually circulated the body using the circulatory system as a highway, his strategy was to block the ki exiting the forehead and pull in and concentrate the ki coming. Imagine a room full of cotten candy spilling in from a door, and you are at the other door pulling it towards yourself and squeezing it into a small box... With your mind. It was tedious and time consuming at first, but with [Parallel Thought], he was then able to multi-task and speed up the process. After an unspecified amount of time had passed, there was a sound. [Ding] [Mindscape ] ''Oh? Status'' --- NAME: Jason HP: 100% White Ki: 40% Red Ki: 100% ABILITIES: [Giga Mind] [Mindscape ] SKILLS [Videographic Memory] [Parallel Thought] [Muscle Memory] --- ''Interesting. I wasn''t expecting the System to give its 2 cents. Plus its recorded as an Ability instead of a skill. If precedence is upheld, then I should be expecting to unlock related skills from it. Sweet!'' Opening his eyes, he sees Sammy still at it with beads of sweat running down his forehead. ''Poor guy. You can do it buddy!'' With the subpar mental motivation, he got up to search for Samantha for more instructions. Finding her in the laundry room, as she was usually, he let her know he was done. "What? You''re done already? It''s only been 3 hours." "What can I say, I''m awesome like that." "Huh. Maybe you are. This makes things easier, so I''m not gonna complain. Wait for me at the back porch and I''ll be there when I''m done here." Doing as instructed, Jason returns to the still struggling Sammy and waits. A short while later, Samantha shows up to resume the training. "Here. Catch." Samantha tosses an apple Jason''s way. "The next part is really simple. Just activate your Mindscape the will that apple into it." Doing as she says, the apple disappears from his hand. "Good. Now to check what''s inside your Mindscape, activate it again, then enter a meditative state. This will move your consciousness from your body to your Mindscape. Once you''re in there, and see the apple, Will it into your hand and it''ll reappear." Jason does as he''s told. After completing the first part, he finds himself in a white space with the apple floating in limbo. The experience was surreal; as if he was in a lucid dream. He''d play around in here in his free time, but right now he had an apple to manifest. "Good job. You''re more or less done. Just remember that the size of your Mindscape grows with how much ki you feed into it. When I first unlocked mine, I could store the volume equivalent to a gutted horse. You should be able to store that much as well." "Nice! Thanks for the training, ma''am." "Think nothing of it. This works to my benefit anyway. Now you can hunt more and bring more meat home." "What great foresight you have!" "Hahaha!" With the training complete, Jason returns to his room. Mindscape was an interesting thing. He remembered anime characters with Mindscapes housing inner demons: 9 tailed foxes, pale white doppelgangers, demon foster brother etc. The cultivation equivalent was the mind sea, but it seems this world does things differently. Jason started grabbing stuff and porting them (tossing them into Mindscape). He was playing with it in hopes of finding interesting effects. As he had his fun, time flied by and dinner time arrived in no time. "You OK lil guy? You look terrible." Jason asked his partner in crime who looked like he got out of a 6 hour meeting with the IRS for suspected tax fraud. "Brain hurts... No talk... Eat now!" Responded the fatigued Sammy as he languidly ate his food while hunched over. "Hehe. If you say so, buddy. " When bedtime rolled around, Jason decided to try something out: split his mind between meditation and his mindscape. He pulled it off readily enough. Zzzzzzzz World: 28 days. Clarksons: 23 days. "Phew! What an insane night! Can''t wait for tonight. This crap is awesome." Jason took recurring quest during the weekdays: Wild Herb gathering. The town''s herbalist doesn''t have the time to run around gathering ingredients since they''re busy cooking up their products all day. The benefit of this, is the chances of stumbling upon prey as he works and bringing it back to eat or sell. For this, he needs Sammy by his side to keep watch and protect him. That''s why Jason took on a portion of Sammy''s chores so he''ll be free to assist in the afternoon. In exchange, Jason will get a bigger cut of the revenue, a deal Sammy didn''t hesitate to take. 5 Days Later. World: 33 days. Clarksons: 28 days. Another day off, and another Hazzard beast culling expedition with his little blond munchkin. Both left mid-morning with their gear, weapons and cart. Despite both unlocking their porting ability, there''s only so much space, so everything else has to go on the cart. At least they return home with quite a bit more than they usually do. Another thing different about this expedition was Jason''s weapon of choice: a sling. You know, that thing David used to one-shot a bear, lion, and heavily armored giant man. He once watched in a video where they explained how these weapons were able to launch rocks at speeds relativistic to bullets. Reality confirmed that for him, and he was pleased with it. He had bought the sling earlier that week, and wasted no time mastering it, however only on stationary targets. But thanks to his mindscape, he was able to master it with moving targets. How? You see, when Jason split his mind between meditation and his mindscape, said mindscape transformed into a world he had complete control over when his body fell into rem sleep. In short, his mindscape contained his perfect lucid dream world. He could do whatever he wanted, manifest whatever he wanted, and have that do whatever he wanted. At first he created moving targets which took his skills with a sling to a new level. Then he manifested all the animals he killed thus far and had them attack him, further raising said skill. Lastly he began having fun by recreating all his favourite ultimate moves from all the anime he remembered and kept blasting all the beasts to smithereens over and over again. This was why he looked forward to every night. It was extreme productive and fun. Getting to their killzone, Team Jaysam got to work. Their first victim was a terror bird. Turns out a portion of the world''s fauna consists of animals that went extinct in his world. If fact, Jason categorized the animals and hazard beast he read about into the following: Prehistoric: dinosaurs. Fantasy: goblins, ogres, orcs, slime, etc. Big: larger versions of regular creatures. Folk: Chubakbra, big foot, yeti, etc Pantheonic: satyr, Akuma, cerberus, etc. Special: unique to this world. World building aside, it was time to down the big bird. Jason stood at some distance and began to twirl his sling. It was noisy and attracted the attention of the beast. This gave the closer Sammy who was hidden the opening to let lose a bolt to the leg. It''s speed compromised, Jason took aim and let the rock sour with a crack. Bullseye! The Terror Bird fell after receiving a devastating blow to the head. The hunting continued and bodies began to pile: A testament to their effectiveness. Deciding to return after 1 more kill, the two settle in to their hiding places. However when they saw what was coming, both gasped in horror. Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 33 days. Clarksons: 28 days. Velociraptors ''Velociraptors! 1 3 5 7! Seven bloody Velociraptors!'' These creatures were not the ones you saw in the movies that were basically bipedal lizards. They were worse. According to what Jason read, these had feathers and had some degree of flight, plus they could scale trees with some difficulty. And that''s without mentioning that they hunt in packs. They were what would happen if a velociraptor fusion danced with a cassowary and the result was given the brain of a hyena. These were rookie adventurer killers. There was a ''run on site'' rule when it came to them and here they were, too close to outrun, and they were really close to Sammy''s hiding place. It would be only a matter of time before they noticed him. ''Just freaking great!'' Without hesitation, Jason exposed himself and began to twirl his sling. This got everyone''s attention. "DON''T MOVE! I''LL LEAD THEM AWAY! TAKE OUT THE LAST ONE WITHOUT BEING NOTICED!" Jason shouted for Sammy to hear as the beasts began to run at him. CRACK After neutralizing one of them with a headshot, Jason took off running and they kept pace. "I am so glad I did all that training in the mindscape! Now to take these things out before they jump me." As he was thinking up a plan, he heard one of the beasts scream. "Good going, Sam! Now I have a little more breathing room." The surprise attack spooked the pursuers long enough for Jason to exploit the opening. Jumping while turning, he lets loose another projectile he had been preparing while running. It was slightly less accurate but still struck a throat; and one predator was down and out, but not dead. Good enough. Completing his 360 rotation, he lands and then continues his sprint, but not before noticing one trailing being the others while limping. Most likely the one Sammy shot at. "Good. Almost halfway through them." He was able to gain some distance before the pack recovered and resumed the chase. "Gotta distract them somehow. But with what? Oh, right! Food." Jason promptly activates his Mindscape and materializes a dead boar they hunted earlier in the day. It immediately falls to the ground behind him as he keeps running. The first velociraptor doesn''t hesitate to continue its pursuit; ignoring the juicy meal. The second is distracted for a second or two, but resumes the chase. The remaining two on the other hand stop in their tracks and begin inspecting the food. This brings a smile to Jason''s face as the immediately drops another body. This time the second one is brought to a halt, and the persistent leader begins slowing down until it eventually ends its pursuit. Jason continues running till he''s quite a ways away before he stops to catch his breath. He can''t relax for too long however, as he still needs to get Sammy out of there. After a brief rest, he readies his sling. He intends to murder his way back to the killzone where Sammy hopefully still is. Half-time soon ends, and Jason prepared to dominate the second half. The noise his sling makes alerts the two closest velociraptors who snarl at him in hopes of scaring away from ''their kill''. "You wank-pheasants! Why are you acting like you''re the ones who caught that? Forget it! Just die and let me through." CRACK!!! One velociraptor drops dead, while the other begins running at Jason. In a few seconds, it closes it gap and lunges at him with its mouth open wide to bite him to death. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. CRACK!!! A rock rockets into its open maw and smashes its brain to smithereens. Jason sidesteps the beast; dead before it hit the ground. "I''ll end you all." Declared Jason as he rushed back the way the came. In no time he made it back to the two who stopped earlier for his first bait. The first died without knowing why, and the other took off running but didn''t get far before it too was done with all it''s living. Jason continued making his way back to the killzone, but when he got there he realized it was devoid of life and the bush Sammy was hiding in was a complete mess. "Crap! It''s the one Sammy injured. It must have made its way back. Where did they both go?!" As he was beginning to lose his mind in worry, he heard a faint yell in the distance. "Sammy!" Jason exclaimed in a mix of fear and relief as he wasted no time running in that direction. It only took a few seconds to reach the scene at the pace he was going. There, he was met with a fallen velociraptor; riddled with arrows and on its last legs, with Sammy crawling away from it with his heavily injured leg. "Sammy!" Jason yelled as he darted to his friend. The shout jolted the teen as he looked back with a face full of shock and confusion. As Jason got closer, he could notice Sammy was dirty and covered in small to medium cuts and scrapes plus his leg injury was a deep and nasty bite wound covering over 50% of his thigh. He held a bloody arrow tightly in his hand, which prompted Jason to glance at the beast which had one of it''s eyesockets stabbed into a bloody mess. It didn''t take a genius to piece together the what happen. "Are you OK, buddy?!" Jason exclaimed as he looked over his friend''s condition. Sammy could only look at him in bewilderment for a few seconds while panting hard. After which he could barely muster a "You''re alive..." before promptly fainting in Jason''s arms. "Whoa! Whoa! Easy there. Don''t you worry, I''ll have you fixed up and get you home in no time. Just sleep, buddy. You''ve been through a lot." Jason proceeded to rip the pants and administer first aid: stopping the bleeding and wrapping the wound. He then took the unconscious Sammy in his arms and jogged back home at a brisk pace. Multiple minutes pass and the make it back to the compound. The first to notice the two were the twins: Sage & Sinclair, playing on the back porch. After staring in shock for a brief moment, they both rush into the house. By the time Jason made it back into the house, Samantha was rushing down from upstairs and Susan was turning the corner. "Sammy! Jason, what happened to you two?!" Samantha borderline demanded. ¡°Velociraptors, ma''am." Jason calmy replied. "What! How the hell did you two survive, then?!" "Now''s not the time, Susan. Come help me with your brother." After saying that, Samantha and Susan carefully took Sammy from Jason''s arms. Knowing that the blond was in good hands, Jason turned around and was making his way back outside. "Jason, where are you going?" "To get everything we caught today before something else eats it all, ma''am." "Don''t be reckless! It''s getting dark, so more creatures with me active soon. And that''s no counting the ones attracted by the earlier commotion. Plus you''re going alone without backup. Which adds even more danger." Jason stops at the door and half turns her way. "I''m aware of the risks, but I''m not letting all our effort go to waste. Besides, I can handle myself. It''s just to grab out catch and return. I''ve no intention to fight the whole forest." After saying his peace, the darted away before the woman could respond. "Wait! Dammit! You better not die, kid! Cuz I''m gonna kick your ass when you get back!" Samantha was practically glowering at this point. ''Oh, wonderful! Now I reeeaaaaally want to come back. Oh well, not like she''s no right to be mad. Her kid almost died, and she thinks I''m running off to my death. Now that I think about it, didn''t her husband die no too long ago? I may have hit a sore spot and reopened some old wounds. Oh boy...'' While dreading his return, he dropped every beast in his Mindscape off at the smoking shack, grabbed a pound off well smoked meat and and ran back into the forest while eating it. Throughout the Velociraptor event, he''s been getting a lot of Stat gain notifications because of his running around, and has noticed a mild increase in his overall speed and stamina. The meat he''s eating will restore him back to peak condition gradually overtime. In due time, he stumbled upon the two raptors that chased him the farthest. One of which was in the process of being swallowed by a huge python. A rock to the skull, then he promptly stored their bodies plus the one he used as a a distraction. He did the same for the next duo of raptors where a short faced bear was tearing into on of the cadavers. So far so good, he hadn''t encountered too many parties as he continued packing up the raptor bodies. When Jason got to the killzone, he was both shocked and enraged by what he saw. The cart was uncovered, and some of the bodies were being dragged away by a group of creatures. "Goblins!" Goblins were an interesting existence in the world. They were of your stereotypical appearance: green all over, pointy nose with ugly face, and the size of a preteen as well as the intelligence of one. Individual goblins would join larger groups for protection and mutual benefit. Despite his rage, Jason was still able to think straight. He remembered these creatures were strongly dependent on structure and would usually fall into pandemonium once their leadership was taken out. Scanning the group, he soon finds his target. Promptly arming his sling, he let''s it whirl for a few seconds and let''s loose the projectile. A sickening crack later, a Hobgoblin falls and the rest of the goblins lose their minds. They all take off running in all directions with or without the bodies they were carrying. A few do make to attack Jason, but he materializes his spear and makes quick work of them. Then switching back to his sling, he takes down most goblins trying to escape with his catch. Jason proceeds to carve up the goblin and hobgoblin bodies to retrieve their hearts, then proceeds to store as many animal bodies in his mindscape as he can to make the cart as light as possible for him to pull back. The return trip was hard as the cart was still quite heavy. The sun was down, and Jason had to remain vigilant at all times to ensure he didn''t get jumped by anything on his way back. Suddenly, the cart jolted then became somewhat lighter. Jason burst into action ready to defend himself. However all he saw was a large bear disappearing into the treeline with a body. Jason remembered watching videos about how bears could sneak up on people in forests. He didn''t expect to be on the receiving end of it. Not feeling like giving chase, he continued his trek back home. Halfway back, he heard from the distance a howl. Awooooo!!! "You have got to be kidding me!" Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 33 days. Clarksons: 28 days. 07 Relief "There''s a bunch of dead goblins back there, so why are these guys after me instead?" Jason muttered as he heard the sound of pursuit all around him. Whatever pack of K-9 beasts was hunting him had him completely surrounded. As he readied his spear, they began to emerge from the surrounding woods. "Dingos?! Were they always pack animals? Doesn''t matter. I need to find the alpha and take it out fast if I''m going to have a chance here." Standing atop a cart to gain higher ground, Jason swapped his spear for a sling and scanned the pack for his target. Meanwhile, the dingos circled him, edging closer with every second. Finally, he spotted the largest one. Jason let loose a stone, but the alpha, startled by his sudden movement, leapt away before the rock left the sling. Jason adjusted midswing, landing only a glancing blow that made the beast yelp. "Damn it!" he hissed. The rest of the pack seized the moment and lunged at him. With the dingos now too close for the sling, Jason quickly swapped back to his spear, swatting away an attack from the side just in time. He followed up with a 360-degree spin, knocking back several attackers in his range. The maneuver ended with a brutal thrust, skewering one dingo through the mouth and out the back of its head. The pack halted, momentarily stunned by the loss of one of their own. A tense standoff ensued. Moments later, Jason decided to bait them by exposing an opening. One unfortunate dingo took the bait, only to have its brain pierced through its eye socket. The second kill made the pack more cautious. They kept their distance, content to wait for him to tire. But Jason wasn¡¯t having any of that; he wanted out of the forest as quickly as possible. Switching back to his sling, he prepared to pick them off one by one. But as soon as he did, the pack surged forward. Though he managed to repel the attack, it left him with cuts and scrapes for his trouble. "They¡¯ve sealed my ranged options and are staying out of my spear''s reach," Jason muttered, frustrated. "They''re hell-bent on making this a battle of attrition." He tried a different approach. Swinging his arm, he materialized a cadaver and flung it a short distance away. The sudden distraction caught the pack¡¯s attention, splitting their focus between Jason and the corpse. A handful of dingos, including the alpha, broke rank and pounced on the body. "Perfect," Jason whispered, spotting his chance. He shifted his stance, holding his spear as if it were a shotgun. The pack didn¡¯t seem alarmed, a mistake that would prove fatal.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. In an instant, the spear vanished, replaced by a crossbow. Jason fired, the bolt piercing the alpha''s chest and hitting its heart. The beast let out a final whimper before collapsing. For a moment, silence blanketed the area. Then chaos erupted. Some dingos fled, others dragged the cadaver away, and a few attacked Jason with reckless abandon, consumed by a berserker rage. The sudden onslaught caught Jason off guard, but he quickly swapped back to his spear. Leaping over one lunging attacker, he drove the spear into its skull. Landing back on the cart, he blocked another dingo''s bite with his spear shaft before quickly materializing the crossbow again. He fired a point-blank shot into the creature''s throat, dematerialized the crossbow, and yanked the spear free. One by one, he dispatched the attackers, though not without cost. A particularly vicious dingo bit into his leg, causing him to cry out in pain. Gritting his teeth, Jason stabbed it through the neck, but before he could recover the weapon, another attacker lunged at his face. He barely managed to shield himself with his arm, screaming as teeth sank into his flesh. Enraged, Jason released the spear, summoned a dagger, and brutally gutted the beast, twisting the blade before kicking its lifeless body away. The rest of the pack retreated, leaving only the fallen behind. Breathing heavily, Jason scanned his surroundings for any remaining threats. When none appeared, he assessed his injuries. The wounds were deep but not life-threatening. He¡¯d survive, though it would be painful. Without tending to his injuries, Jason hoisted the alpha¡¯s corpse onto the cart and resumed his journey. He made it out of the forest without further incident. As he approached the Clarkson property, he grimaced at the thought of dealing with Samantha. "I''m in no mood for drama," he muttered. "I¡¯ll drop these at the guild and come back once I¡¯ve cooled off." Decided, he dragged the cart past the house and toward downtown. The streets were quiet, most people having retired for the evening. As he neared the guild, the sound of running footsteps caught his attention. Turning, he was surprised to see Quinn, the young bookstore owner. ¡°Quinn? What are you doing here?¡± he asked, startled. Quinn skidded to a stop beside him, his eyes scanning Jason¡¯s bloody form. ¡°You¡¯re hurt! Are you okay?¡± Jason scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a little roughed up. I¡¯ll drop these at the guild and call it a day.¡± Quinn didn¡¯t seem convinced. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Positive.¡± Jason tried to brush off Quinn''s concern. Still, Quinn hesitated, glancing between Jason and the cart. Before Jason could walk away, Quinn grabbed the cart''s handle. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jason asked. ¡°I¡¯m helping.¡± Quinn replied. ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± Jason urged. ¡°I want to.¡± Quinn insisted. Jason sighed. ¡°Suit yourself. Just don¡¯t overdo it.¡± ¡°Like you?¡± Quinn shot back with a wry smile. ¡°Touch¨¦.¡± Jason couldn''t argue with that. Together, they made quick work of the journey and arrived at the guild. Once the cart was processed, Jason almost collapsed from exhaustion. Quinn caught him just in time, insisting he come home with him to treat his wounds. Though reluctant, Jason finally agreed after a quiet "please." At Quinn¡¯s home above his bookstore, Jason showered while Quinn prepared a meal and first-aid supplies. After eating and tending to his injuries, Jason lounged on the couch, feeling the effects of the healing tonic and bandages. As they sat in silence, Quinn finally broke it with a simple question. ¡°So, how was your day?¡± He asked sheepishly. Jason smirked. ¡°What are you, my wife?¡± he asked in jest. Quinn blushed but smiled. This warmed Jason''s heart to no end, so he answered straight up. "Pretty shitty day, but I''m beginning to feel much better." ¡°That''s good. I¡¯m just glad to see you back to your usual self.¡± Quinn spoke with relief in his voice. Jason laughed, pulling Quinn into a side hug. ¡°Thanks, Quinn. I¡¯m lucky to have someone like you watching my back.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Quinn murmured, leaning into the hug as they sat together, enjoying the quiet camaraderie. Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 33 days. Clarksons: 28 days. 08 The Offer ¡°It¡¯s time for me to head home. They¡¯ll be worried if I¡¯m gone too long.¡± Jason informs Quinn. He''s quite reluctant to break their hug as Quinn was quite soft to the touch. ¡°Hm¡­ I understand.¡± Quinn responds with equal reluctance. Quinn walked Jason down to the ground floor, where they exchanged goodbyes before Jason departed. By now, it was well past dinnertime for most households, so the town was quiet¡ªsilent except for the chirping of insects and the occasional rustle from other nocturnal creatures. The peaceful ambiance was almost too soothing for Jason; he was so lost in it that he nearly walked past his destination. Catching sight of the Clarkson residence, he noticed the lights were still on. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re still waiting for me,¡± he muttered. ¡°Oh well, time to face the music. Not like it¡¯s going to kill me or anything.¡± With his resolve set, Jason walked up to the door. Just as he reached out to knock, the door swung open, and he was tackled by two small figures. ¡°Oof! What the¡ª?!¡± he exclaimed, barely managing to keep his balance. Glancing down, he saw the twins, Sage and Sinclair, clutching onto him tightly, their faces buried in his chest. Before he could process the situation, he heard Simon shouting excitedly about Jason¡¯s return. The noise was quickly cut off by Samantha, who shushed him to avoid waking the neighbors. Jason locked eyes with Samantha for a tense moment before she sighed heavily. ¡°Took you long enough, kid. Thanks to you running off, these kids wouldn¡¯t go to bed until you got back. Now, get inside. I need some shut-eye.¡± Doing as instructed, Jason stepped inside, the twins still clinging to him like barnacles. Samantha glanced at the scene, massaged her forehead, and turned to Susan. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the rest to you. I¡¯m going to bed.¡± And with that, she walked off. Susan approached Jason, placing a hand on each twin¡¯s head. With a little coaxing and some big-sister persuasion, the twins reluctantly released him and were led to their rooms. They kept glancing back at Jason as if afraid he¡¯d disappear if left alone too long. After putting the children to bed, Susan returned to the kitchen and served Jason a hearty, meat-rich dinner. He briefly considered declining but quickly changed his mind. His time with Quinn had taught him not to fight such gestures of care, as long as they were reasonable. Seated across from Susan, Jason began eating. A thought nagged at him, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask about Sammy, who was noticeably absent. The last time Jason saw him, the blonde had been hurt and unconscious. Susan reassured him that Sammy was fine and would likely wake up in the morning. His injuries would take time to heal, keeping him out of commission for the next day or two. Jason felt relieved but couldn¡¯t help marveling at how quickly people seemed to recover in this world. With his concerns put to rest, he focused on his meal. Susan joined him, quietly eating her own plate. The silence stretched for a while before Jason broke it, unable to contain his curiosity. ¡°Why were the twins so emotional when I got back? We¡¯ve barely interacted.¡± Susan¡¯s expression faltered before she explained. Two years ago, during a goblin raid led by an ogre, our father had saved Sammy and dropped him off at home before joining the resistance forces. The family wasn¡¯t worried initially; their father was an experienced fighter and the strongest person in town. But that night, he didn¡¯t return. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The goblin army had been underestimated, and their father sacrificed himself to defeat the ogre and save the town. While his actions prevented future attacks, his loss devastated the family, leaving scars that hadn¡¯t fully healed. Hearing this, Jason felt awkward. He realized how his actions had stirred painful memories for the family. With a heavy heart, he resumed eating, lost in thought. Later, Jason bid Susan goodnight and retired to his room. That night, for the first time in a while, he neither meditated nor explored his mindscape. Instead, he allowed himself to sleep peacefully. NEXT DAY Jason woke up refreshed, more so than he had in a long time. ¡°Maybe meditating all night does take something out of me,¡± he mused. Deciding to dedicate one night a week to regular sleep. He had also got a decent bit more Strength and Endurance Stat gains thanks to his injuries. He got up and got ready for the day. As he exited his room, a nearby door swung open. Standing there was Sammy, his eyes shadowed with fatigue and his hair a disheveled mess. Recognition flickered in the boy¡¯s eyes, and he moved toward Jason¡ªonly for his injured leg to give way. Jason caught him before he fell. They locked eyes briefly before Sammy threw his arms around Jason, burying his face in his chest. Jason returned the hug, gently rubbing Sammy¡¯s back as quiet sobs filled the hallway. After a few minutes, the sobbing subsided, leaving them in awkward silence. Jason broke it with an apology, promising to make it up to Sammy with a treat later that day. Sammy chuckled weakly before wiping his tears and snot on Jason¡¯s shirt, ignoring his protests. The day passed without incident. After breakfast, Jason completed his chores and headed to town. He stopped by a sweets shop for cake and ice cream, then visited the bookstore to thank Quinn for his hospitality the previous night. Over their shared treats, the two chatted about books. Next, Jason visited the guild to handle some business. He was surprised to be summoned to the Guildmaster¡¯s office, Jason wondered if he was in some kind of trouble, but the staff member assured him everything was fine before having someone else lead Jason to the office. When they arrived at the door, the staff knocked on it before announcing their identities and purpose before a faint "Enter" was heard from the other side of the door. Hearing this, the staff member half opened the door before gesturing Jason to enter. Jason does so, and finds Sam sitting at the desk. ¡°Hello, lad. It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± The blond elf trap greeted. ¡°Sam?! You¡¯re the Guildmaster?¡± Jason asked in shock. ¡°Acting Guildmaster. The real one¡¯s off on urgent business, so I¡¯m stuck holding the fort.¡± Complained Sam. "Acting Guildmaster. The real one was called to the capital city on urgent business, so he dumped the guild on my lap before leaving." "Oof! Sounds rough." Jason cringed at the thought. "True, but I won''t complain like a child. Responsibility is for those who can shoulder that burden and I was the best choice for holding the fort. That being said, I do intend to leave town as soon as he arrives lest this happens again." "Understandable. So why did you call for me?" Inquired Jason. "Ah... that. You see, I happened to come upon the invoice of all the Hazard Beasts you brought in last night. I''m curious about how you managed survive encountering some of these, and kill so many despite only being part of a guild for less than a month. That is... If you don''t mind sharing." "Sure. I don''t mind." Jason replied as he shrugged then proceeded to narrate last night''s events as Sam listened intently. "Impressive; if not a tad reckless. Your skills with weapons is quite prodigious: to have become this proficient with 3 different types of arms in such a short time is nearly unheard of . Quite impressive indeed, lad." "You''re exaggerating. What I know was thought to me by Sammy, who''s decent, but is no master therefore I''m only so so in that regard." His downplay made Sam quirk a brow. "You imply that if I thought you archery you would rise to my level in record time?" "Indeed! Give me a month and we''ll be rubbing shoulders." "Huuu? I find your hubris amusing, lad. It took me decades to reach my current level of skill and I can''t even call myself one of the top 50 in the land. If what you say is true, then I shall hang my bow for I have been wasting my time with the wrong weapon." "Please don''t do that! I don''t want to be held responsible for that kind of heavy life decision." "... Wait. Do you truly not jest, lad?" "I''ve been serious the whole time." "... Hmmm... If this is true, then you''re a monster." "Hey!" "Very well, it''s decided. I''ll train you for the next month and see for myself if what you say is true." "Only on the condition you don''t hang up your bow. Otherwise, no deal." "Fine. I shall concede to your demand, lad. That being said, what shall happen if you fail to deliver?" "Umm... I''ll treat you to a meal?" "..." Sam sat there quiet for so long that Jason began getting insecure. "No good?" "Pfft! No, that shall suffice; thank you. I have work to get back to, so let us meet again the day after tomorrow for your first day of training." "Sure! Um... About my pay..." "Yes, of course. One moment, please." The chat with Sam was quite productive, and Jason returned to the Clarkson home with a skip in his step. After dropping off the cart, he made a beeline for Sammy''s room where they both enjoyed ice cream and cake together; at the end of which Sammy declares Jason to be forgiven. To which Jason rolls his eyes. Jason relaxes for the rest of the day. Yesterday''s events were more than enough excitement for a time. When bedtime rolled around however, Jason retrieved a pouch containing all the Life Cores he got from the Hazard Beasts he killed. He held the pile in the palm of his hands inorder to absorb the red ki as he meditated for the night. Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 35 days. Clarksons: 30 days. 09 Elven Meal Jason woke up and had his day just like usual. Except he wasn''t going hunting today, but was taking some more mundane jobs to ease himself back into things. He was looking forward to tomorrow''s training session. World: 36 days. Clarksons: 31 days. The big day came around, and as the residents of the Clarkson home finished breakfast, there was a knock on the door which Samantha answered . "Why, hello Sam! Please come in. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit this morning? " "A good day to you too, Miss Clarkson. I trust Sammy is recovering quite well after his little incident?" "Oh yes, of course. He''s still a little sore, but he''s more or less right as rain now. Thanks for asking." "My pleasure. You see, my business is with the lad over there. I''d love to stop and chat for a time, but I''m quite busy and can only spare this hour to train him." "OH! I see. I won''t delay you any further then. Go do what you must." With that, Samantha led Sam in. And Sam went straight to business with Jason. After explaining that they would be practicing near the forest behind their land, Sam made his way there as he gestured for Jason to follow. As they both walked in silence, Jason took the time to fully appreciate the elf''s very being. Short blond hair reaching the shoulders. Blue eyes on a face no different from a woman''s. A body more curvy than a man''s but less than that of a bikini model, all wrapped by a Green Outfit which fit like a glove. He was a very appealing sight, and Jason believed he could stare at him all day without getting board. They eventually got to their destination, where Sam turned to face Jason before revealing he was going to train him in 4 aspects: Shooting while running, Headshots, Sniping, and Close quarters archery. He also explained that the first week will be dedicated to Sniping, before firing off an arrow at a far off tree and instructing Jason to hit as close to the arrow as possible. To that, Jason requested to see a few more demonstrations, to which Sam obliged and fired off 3 more arrows which land centimeters from the first arrow. Memorizing it all, Jason got into position, took aim, and began firing arrows. Unsurprisingly, a number of said arrows flew wide while another portion struck the trunk but weren''t that close to the target. Sam was surprised when he noticed that not only did Jason copy his stance perfectly, but also that he was getting closer to target with every arrow fired. He would give Jason tips and guidance from the side, and this accelerated his improvement speed. Therefore, 5 dozen arrows in and Jason had matched his accuracy. "Impressive. Very impressive, lad. Let''s up the difficulty shall we?" With that said, Sam shot 3 arrows in a single spot on a tree trunk 50% further away, and Jason matched him 25% faster than in the last time. Sam kept increasing the range, and Jason kept matching his accuracy. At the end of the hour, Jason was equal to him in terms of Sniping ability. In fact, Sam believes he would surpass him if they continued training. "You are truly a monster, Jason. I feel like a should hang up my boots as an adventurer." "What?! From bows to boots? Why are you escalating? Plus, stop calling me a monster. It''s unsettling." Jason whined. "It''s either I hang my boots, or call you monster. You pick your poison, lad. You have surpassed my decades of training in an hour. Do consider my feelings on the matter." "Fine. Monster it is." Jason stops fighting. "Very good. With my hour up, I shall be returning. And since you ruined the timetable I had drawn up with your overachievement, I feel it best to cancel any training for the next few days. We shall resume training in 4 days: until then, feel free to do as you like." "Did you really have to cancel?" "Yes. Four days from now is when I usually go hunting. You shall accompany me then as it is the most ideal way to train in the other 3 ways I wish to teach you." "Right! That makes sense. Allow me to see you off, then." "Very well, do as you wish." After Sam''s departure, Jason finished his chores by the usual time and prepared to go hunting. He was keen on using his Sniping skill on living targets. Getting to the usual kill zone, Jason laid the bait, however this time he went much further away. The first victim was a giant grey squirrel the size of a dog. It has a oneshot. The next was a black bear that went down after 2 shots. Then the third was a goblin scout who took an arrow to the back of the head as it attempted to return. This continued like clockwork, and Jason returned home before dark with cart and Mindscape full to the brim. Just an hour of training turned him into an efficient killing machine. And he couldn''t wait for the next hour. World: 37 days. Clarksons: 32 days. Today Jason decided to switch things up a bit by attempting to headshot his kills. It was difficult at the beginning, and he was missing a decent chunk of his shots, but towards the end of the day he was landing headshot half the time. World: 38 days. Clarksons: 33 days. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Today, instead of staying stationary to shoot, the attempted to snipe his prey while running. His accuracy was terrible at the beginning, it began improving faster when he stopped firing from Sniping range and got closer. At the end of the day, Jason did improve by leaps and bounds, but returned with only 70% his usual haul. World: 39 days. Clarksons: 34 days. Today, Jason got more daring as he would engage the beasts within their attack range. He would duck behind trees and other obstacles as he took down the attacking Hazard Beasts with precision shots that were mostly lethal. In addition to his hunts, Jason also trained in his Mindscape all this time: Recreating the forest with everything he''s killed. He was more than prepared for his session with Sam. World: 40 days. Clarksons: 35 days. "So how are we doing this?" Asks Jason. Sam explains that there''s a cave he knows about which is frequently occupied by goblins. They''ll use them as target practice and simultaneously eradicate them. This is enough to sate Jason''s curiosity as he follows Sam''s lead. Along the way they would encounter the odd beast, but Jason would dispatch it without issue. In time, they made it to their destination. They hid behind the treeline as they spied a bunch of goblins milling about in a clearing infront of a cave entrance. Sam proceeded to explain what Jason would be doing: Headshot everything in the clearing. After that, make his way into the clearing where he will fight any goblin that exits the cave to attack him. Sam commenses with a demonstration by taking out a couple goblins in the blindspot of the others so as not to alert them. An arrow to each head and they dropped like logs. Then he stepped aside and let Jason take the wheels. Headshot. Headshot. Headshot. Headshot. He tried to copy Sam''s tactic of going for the ones outside everyone''s else''s field of view, but he eventually had to merc goblins in broad daylight. There was a panic among the little green terrors but Jason just kept popping heads at a leasurely pace. Eventually, the goblins got their wits about them an scurried off into the cave to hide. "Hmmm. Interesting. They skipped fight and went straight to flight. No matter. Come along lad; I shall flush them out and you shall finish them off in close quarters." "Sounds good. By the way, how did I do so far?" "An excellent performance, lad. I do fear praising you will soon feel redundant at the pace you are going." As they both got to the cave entrance, Sam whipped out a palm sized ball of different dried and fresh leaves woven together before turning to Jason and asking for fire. In response, Jason used a domestic spell to create a small fireball in the palm of his hand which Sam used to light the ball on fire before tossing it into the depths of the cave. "What was that ball?" Asked Jason curious. "An irritant. Eyes, noses and throat. They should come running out soon. I shall leave the rest to you, lad." And with that, Sam turned and left the clearing. Not long after, Jason could hear screams coming from the cave before goblins started rushing out holding their faces as they coughed. That was the prelude to their decimation as Jason jumped right into the fray; dodging attacks and responding with lethal arrow strikes. In no time at all, the remaining goblin lay dead in the clearing. Satisfied with his performance, Jason turned towards Sam to receive his review, but Sam has something different to say. "We have company, lad. I suggest we depart. Do come this way." Surprised by the statement, Jason nonetheless obeyed swiftly as they both left the clearing back-first. It was then he realised what Sam was talking about. In the treeline on the other side of the clearing stood dozens of figures eying both them and the goblin bodies. "Chimpanzees? No, wait. Chimpanzeds!" "Good observation, lad. We''re quite fortunate to have provided them such a bounty in goblin bodies to occupy them. It would have been quite the arduous task for us both to fight them off." "True. So I''m guessing you''ll be putting together an expedition to wipe them out?" "Obviously. They are too dangerous to be left alone, especially this close to town. Do you by chance wish to be added to said expedition, lad." "Can I?" "We both know you are more than qualified. Worry not of your chances. On a different note, I would like to offer you a proposition." Jason quirked a brow at the unexpected turn in the conversation. "I''m all ears?" "What do you say to forming a party with me?" "Woah! Oh wow. OK, before I say anything, may I ask why me?" The question made Sam look at him like he grew a second head. "Do you jest, lad?" "I know, I could more or less guess why, but maybe there''s more to it than that, so I''d rather hear it directly from you." "Hmmm. A wise approach. Very well, my reasons are as follows: firstly is because you are a prodigy which many factions would vie for. I found you first so I''m throwing in my lot with you before any others have the opportunity." "Striking while the iron is hot, eh? At least you''re honest. I respect that." "Glad you approve, lad. Secondly, allying with you will help accelerate my cultivation speed as you are quite the speedy hunter and I have been stagnant for some time now." "Fair. Now that you mention it, what level of strength are you?" "I recently broke through to the 2nd Stage of the Mortal Realm." "You talked about training for decades before. Is getting to 2nd stage in that amount of time considered a good speed?" "Ahhh. I''d say mildly above mediocre. I don''t hunt beasts on my level often, and responsibilities here and there hinder that further still. However, that will all change once a vacate my position as acting Guild Master in this town." "I see. Well I have to play devil''s advocate here, so what''s in it for me?" "Good question, lad. You must admit you are quite new to the adventuring business, plus if your claims of amnesia are to be believed, new to life in general. I can offer you guidance, experience and connections as I am quite well traveled and knowledgeable. Plus my influence in the Guild will be quite beneficial down the line. Traveling with me will be more efficient than going about things blind. You can get a lot more done with a lot less effort with me on your side." "You make a great point there." "Indeed. This partnership would be mutually beneficial to the nth degree. Of course you don''t have to make a decision right away, take your time to carefully consider." "What is there to consider? I''m in, partner." "While I''m flattered by your decisiveness, I still do insist you think it through. Besides the Guild master won''t be returning for another 2 months, so take your time." "My mind is already made up, but I''ll pretend to do as you say, if that''ll make you happy." "Pfft! Amusing as always, huh, lad?" In no time, both archers exited to forest and made their way back to town in the middle of the afternoon. "We finished up well ahead of schedule it seemed. I shall use this free time to relax. You are free to do as you wish. We shall speak again sometime in the future." "Hold on a minute. I haven''t treated you to lunch yet." "Hmmm?" "I figured we''d celebrate today a little. Come on. Tell me where your favourite place to eat is, and we''ll dine there: you and me." "Huuuu? Are you asking me on a date, lad? I didn''t believe Alexis when he suggested you might lean that way, but maybe he was speaking truth." "OK, first off, I''m as straight as a ruler: The feminine form is what brings my passion to bare. Going on a date with someone like you doesn''t make me any less straight because I''m still consistent." "... I do not know what to say to that." Sam truly didn''t know. "You don''t have to. Now drop a location so I can spend some money on you." "That last part sounded so wrong... Very well, I accept your hospitality; follow me. And instead of coin bring some smoked meat instead." "You got it!" Both archers made their way into town and soon reached a familiar building. "It''s been so long since I was last here. Regardless, why are we here?" "I rent a room with Alexis upstairs. His cooking is the best in town, so I usually eat what he makes. Hand him the meat and he''ll make magic happen." "Oh cool! What are we waiting for? Lead the way already." They finally made it to the upper floor where Sam unlocked the door and announced their presence. Shortly after, Alexis would exit a side room into the living room to greet them. He was wearing a t-shirt and shorts which revealed more of his gorgeous figure than ever before. Jason had to keep actively reminding himself that this was a man which was hard to do when he looked like a tall, flat supermodel. "Ah! Fallen Lad. It has been ages since we last met. What brings you to my home?" "Hunh?! I got a nickname now?" "Fear not, lad. He''s bad with names and likes using nicknames. Alexis, I invited him over. We have ingredients, so do make us all something nice to eat as usual. Monster Lad, please place the meat on the counter. As for me, I''ll be taking a bath." Said Sam as he made his way passed a side door and left the two alone." The room was silent for a short moment before the two left in the living room turned to one another. "Monster Lad?" Asked Alexis as he tilted his head to one side in confusion. Jason could only shrug in defeat before telling Alexis that he''s not the only one who likes nicknames, apparently. Giggling at his antics, Alexis properly welcomes Jason into his home before getting busy preparing lunch. Alexis was curious about what Jason had been up to this past month so the two killed time with smalltalk for the next few minutes. Soon enough, Sam returns wearing a t-shirt and shorts just like Alexis. This has Jason wondering for a split second if the two shared clothes, as he drinks in Sam''s alluring figure. "You''re staring, lad." "I can see that, Sam." "Gufaw!" Alexis couldn''t help laugh at the pun. "The bath is ready. It''s your turn to clean up, lad." "Sure. Thanks. I''ll do that. Be back in a bit." Said Jason as he went and did just that. By the time he returned, the meal was ready and both elves were setting the table. Jason would have never dreamed he''d be sharing a meal with 2 very attractive elves, and here he is doing just that. All three enjoyed each other''s company as they ate with Jason and Alexis doing most of the talking. After they were done, Jason bid his farewell and left. He dropped by the bookshop to spend time with Quinn for the rest of the afternoon before returning to the Clarksons just in time for dinner and went to bed after that. Zzzzzz. Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 40 days. Clarksons: 35 days. 10 Chimpanzed Hunt World: 41 days. Clarksons: 36 days. It was the day of the expedition. There was a gathering at downtown and a good chunk of the town''s residents were present. Familiar faces that manned their respective shops were geared up and ready for battle. Guild staff briefed those present and handled logistics so the operation would go smoothly. It might seem like overkill for just a group of chimpanzeds, which it was, but the ''apestermination'' was more of an excuse to do a sweep of the surrounding forest and cull the surrounding population of hazard beasts down to a more comfortable level. Sam would lead at the front, while Jason was assigned to a group tasked with protecting the supply line. He and the others were to keep the squishy porters safe from any ambushes from hazard beasts. As for the town, it would be defended by mostly women with some more experienced folks mixed in. The strategy involved advancing in a pseudo-arrowhead formation. Imagine a triangle with a small circle in the middle, then remove one of the 3 sides. The sides of the triangle consisting of medium to close range fighters who would deal with another that got close. The small circle consists of porters who both moved carts as well as stored carcasses in their Mindscapes, and those who protected them from harm. Experienced Long range fighters such as Sam functioned outside the formation and would snipe anything they could hit in front of the group so its body would be extracted when the group passed by. The goal was to wipe out the Chimpanzeds. Anything that got killed along the way was a bonus. To help with this, some of the porters also carries buckets of animal guts and blood to attract the more feral and desperate Hazard Beasts. With regards to Chimpanzeds, they are rather peculiar creatures. They were basically 5-6 feet tall bipedal Chimpanzees without fur on their upper bodies. You''d mistake one for a shirtless bodybuilder wearing black pants seeing them from a distance if you didn''t pay close attention. The males hunt in groups and drag their kills back to their females where they''d all eat together. A part of their success lies with the fact that they are mostly silent. An occasional grunt in the most you''d hear from them nomatter what. Even if they''re hurt critically. This makes them excellent ambush predators as they can sneak up on their prey better. So far, they sound like your run of the mill Hazard Beast, so why are they listed as "Kill on Sight" on the adventuring handbook? Was it their ferocity, or their silent ambush tactics, or the fact they were head and shoulders more intelligent than Chimpanzees? Yes. Chimpanzeds have been recorded to, without warning, silently invade towns and villages and replace part if not all of the population via overnight mass Assasination. They would sneak into a home in the dead of night, kill everyone on it silently, then move on to the next home and repeat the process. There have been reports of entire villages wiped out overnight and the Chimpanzeds using the houses as shelters, thereby growing their population. Unsuspecting merchants or anyone on a carriage who enter such a town/village would be beset upon from all sides and annihilated unless sufficiently strong individuals are present. Even if the Chimpanzeds are discovered before they can wipe out the settlement, it''s still an uphill battle for the residents, as going from sleeping to full on war in an instant would put them on the back foot. And even if the counter attack is successful and the Chimpanzeds are defeated or chased off, they tend to take alot of lives by then. The loss life is highly likely to weaken the fighting power of the settlement, making it more vulnerable against other Hazard Beast attacks. Either way, it''s likely to become a ghost town from people leaving, or being overwhelmed and wiped out entirely. That''s why Chimpanzeds are such a menace. With all preparations complete, the group departs with Sam leading the way. Things were uneventful for the first several minutes, until the group began stumbling across Hazard Beast bodies with arrows sticking out of them. Soon their bait started doing it''s magic and some smooth brained Hazard Beasts began attacking the group and getting anahilated. The bodies were piling up. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. At about an hour in to their trek, the group arrived at the cave Sam and Jason were at the other day. Unsurprisingly, all the goblin bodies were gone. Most likely taken by the Chimpanzeds. As per the plan, the group stops at the clearing to rest while the Scouts search for the Chimpanzeds. They were on the clock and had to finish this before nightfall lest things get really dangerous. They waited for 2 hours. However they were productive 2 hours as various Hazard Beasts were drawn in by the bait, and Jason took care of most of them with sling and bow while everyone else relaxed. They''d need their strength for the coming battle. SCREEEEEEE... BOOM! A special arrow that makes a high pitch sound was fired into the air from a distance before exploding. This was their signal. Targets found. Everyone immediately got up and began matching in that direction. The buckets of bait were also covered and put away. There was no time for distractions. 15 minutes into the march, the group was greeted with the sight of Sam and some other scouts running their way with about a dozen Chimpanzeds chasing after them. Seeing this, the group immediately got into defensive formation in preparation for the clash. "Dang! Those things look like shirtless gymbros from afar." Comments Jason got on top of a cart and began providing cover fire. No matter how good of an archer you are, hitting moving targets is very difficult. He missed most of his shots, but the apes ate the remaining shots that did land without flinching or slowing down. Eventually, the scouts made it in to the formation and were let through, while their pursuers clashed with the Adventurers. Dealing with Chimpanzeds was straightforward: 2 vs 1. One person would aggro and parry or dodge an attack while another exploited the opening and deal a killing blow. Wearing down Chimpanzeds was pointless and dangerous because they didn''t care about bodily harm and attacked ferociously nomatter how injured they got. Sam soon arrives at the cart Jason was standing at and join him in supporting the melee fighters. Now their targets were closer, accuracy and damage went up, and they even took down a few themselves. The battle was quick and brutal. In 15 minutes all the Chimpanzeds were killed, and a decent chunk of adventurers were injured. Keep in mind these are people from a farming town. The fact there was no fatality on their side was rather impressive. Sam instructs the group to tend to the injured, collect the bodies and take a brief rest. This wasn''t over, as they still had a nest of females and juveniles to wipe out. And unlike the adult males, these ones knew retreat. The fewer that survive, the less often the town would have to deal with them. After 30 minutes, they resumed their advance. However this time, Jason was called to join the scouts and archers. Dealing with the nest required a different strategy. The entire group would surround the nest without being noticed. Then the archers would begin Sniping the females exclusively in attempts to thin their numbers as much as possible. Panic will set in, and any female attempting to escape with its young would be cut down when they reach the encirclement. The females were smaller and weaker than the males, plus the fact that carrying a young hampered one''s ability to fight made them easy to put down. The scouts got to the nest and discovered it was located at the base of a short cliff. Sam had to modify the plan: they''d surround them in a half circle instead and have some people at the top of the cliff to fire ranged attacks and deal with any climbers. In short other, the group adapted and the operation was underway. It was a slaughter with piles upon piles of hazard beast bodies including those of the chimpanzeds transported back to town. Jason had a good showing during the event, impressing his group as well as more experienced adventurers with his excellent marksmanship. When everyone returned home by dusk, they turned in all their kills and the butchers and a bunch of volunteers were hard at work processing everything. Jason decided to join the group of volunteers to speed things up and also pick up a trick or two. While the expedition was happening, the rest of town was putting together a feast. The cooking was lead by Samantha, Alexis and others, while other mundane tasks were handled by the younger folks. Everyone in town ate and drank all night and till daybreak. Whatever was left over was shared among everybody as they all dispersed to their respective homes. World: 42 days. Clarksons: 37 days. The town was out of commission for the day as everyone was either sleeping in, or hungover, or both. Last night was fun all things considered. With nearby hazard beasts spooked, and a portion virtually wiped out temporarily, hunting wasn''t a option for Jason, nor did he have any side gigs unlike most of the residents here, so he decided to leverage his partnership with Sam and see if he had any good suggestions. His favourite elf (sorry Alexis) came through and directed him two towns out to a lumbering town called Arkensaw. There happened to be two competing branch dojos there: those of the Primordial Fist and the Rending Ax. The former should keep Jason occupied, plus he can hunt there too. During that time they will send periodic letters to each other via the Guild to keep in touch. Jason was cool with the idea, but not so much with leaving on such short notice. He''d gotten quite fond of Quinn and Sammy over the past month and he couldn''t bare to just up and disappear. He intended to spend a little more quality time with the two and leave on a good note. Doing some digging, he found out that a merchant caravan was passing through and heading to his destination in the next 2 days. So he took an escort quest and began planning things; for he only had today and tomorrow before leaving. Sammy was right though; there wasn''t much one can do in a town as small as this. Dropping by at Quinn''s, Jason wasted no time explaining his impending departure. This predictively made his favourite bookworm downcast, so he tried cheering him up with the promise of a group outing tomorrow with him and Sammy. Quinn perked up at that, but Jason did notice a dip in mood when he mentioned the blond. ''Oh? Is that jealousy?'' Jason wondered. After hanging out with Quinn for the rest of the morning, Jason returned to the Clarksons for lunch where he made his announcement. The reactions varied with Sammy being hit the hardest, however the family took the news swimmingly and lunch finished without a hitch. When he was able to get Sammy alone, he tried cheering him up the same way he did Quinn, which resulted in the same result including the blond getting a tad salty after Quinn was mentioned. This had Jason absentmindedly wondering if he had a Bro Triangle forming. 11 Quinn Bed World: 43 days. Clarksons: 38 days. Jason helped with Sammy''s chores so they could head out earlier. After taking permission, they both left home just before noon to meet up with Quinn who they yoinked over to the Sweets Shop where they had Ice Cream and Cake for lunch. While there, they had small talk and discussed how they''d spend the rest of the day. This ended with Quinn and Sammy taking things into their own hands. They agreed that Quinn can have Jason for the next few hours, then Sammy till before dinner. Jason had an idea on how he was going to spend time with Quinn, but had no clue what Sammy had in mind, however he was looking forward to the surprise. After they had their lunch, Sammy returned home and Quinn took Jason to his place. As predicted, they both spent their time talking about books they''ve read so far. However with an hour left, Quinn asks Jason to wait while he heads to the bathroom. Minutes later, Quinn reemerges and Jason is surprised by what he sees. Instead of his usual turtleneck sweater and dress pants, Quinn was wearing a plain t-shirt and short shorts. This was more skin than Quinn has ever shown. Jason noticed that he had a thinner waist than he initially thought which made his hips stick out more. He also sported the deepest blush he''s ever seen. Jason might be a virgin, but he''s seen enough hentai to know where this was going. The last of his inhibitions shattered as he didn''t hesitate to make the first move. With quick movements that startled Quinn, he took the bookworm in his hands, and began carrying him to the bedroom. Before Quinn could regain his bearings, he was already gently thrown unto said bed with Jason on top off him and tickling him mercilessly. Quinn could only helplessly laugh and beg underneath Jason as he couldn''t muster any strength to get him off or get away. After Jason felt it was enough, he stopped and let Quinn catch his breath. After things quieted down, Jason leaned forward and spoke into Quinn''s ear; asking if he was sure he wanted to do this. Quinn''s response was hugging Jason around the neck and wrapping his legs around Jason''s waist; pulling themselves closer. ''Oh yeah!!!'' Jason screamed mentally in joy. LEMON WARNING: Reader''s discretion is advised. Skip to next chapter if you wish to avoid. Jason didn''t need to be told twice as he began kissing and licking Quinn''s neck who shivered at first, but quickly began mewing in response. Soon his hold on Jason slacked, and he lay properly on the bed, letting Jason taste him. While that was happening Jason also slipped a hand under Quinn''s t-shirt and felt up his chest. The ''boing boing'' sensation gave him pause for a moment. Quinn''s chest wasn''t flat as a board as he was expecting. Based on his incel research, it was either a size AAA or AA for a woman. Still technically flat, but there was more perky flesh to hold on to than just the nipple. Jason massages his chest with a nipple between the index and middle finger. Quinn reacts quite nicely to this as he arcs his back a little in response to the touch. After some minutes of this, Jason pulls back, and the two stared into each other''s eyes for a short while before Jason leans down and kisses Quinn in the lips, making him let out a throaty moan. The lips felt soft, and the taste sweet to Jason. He was loving it. Soon he was knocking on Quinn''s mouth with his tongue. Though confused for a second, the bookworm let''s it through, and full on French kissing ensues. They are both virgins with no experience, so this was quite clumsy, but neither cared. They both kept swapping spit and licking the inside of each other''s mouth. Eventually, they had to breathe, though. Reluctantly breaking the kiss, the two passionately stared at each other with a string of spit connecting their mouths. They remained as they were, panting before one another as they caught their respective breaths. Suddenly, Jason felt a sensation down below. He looked down to see Quinn''s hand rubbing his throbbing bulge through his pants. Jason returns his gaze to Quinn, who had a knowing smile on top of a faint blush. Things were escalating. Jason smiled at his lovely Quinn before taking hold of him and pulling them both back up till they were sitting on the edge of the bed. Quickly grabbing Quinn''s thin waist, Jason pulls him closer and sits him on his thigh. He then kisses Quinn''s cheek, before whispering into his ear "I want you to fish out my cock". This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Quinn perked up at that. He got the message and got to work. He leaned towards Jason to get better leverage and began working on the zipper. This exposed his shapely ass which Jason wasted no time groping through his shorts. This also placed his head on Jason shoulder, who leaned closer to begin nibbling on his ear as well. First the zipper came undone, then Quinn snaked his hand passed the elastic of the boxer and gripped the shaft; gulping nervously as he did so before a lick to the ear made him shiver and squeel a bit. With a firm pull, he frees the cock which now stands high and proud; leaving Quinn in awe for awhile. Quinn stares at the member for quite some time. So transfixed that he didn''t notice that Jason had taken off his shirt. Soon he began absentmindedly jerking Jason who just sat there enjoying himself and caressing Quinn''s bare ass under the shorts. The slow strokes became faster and faster. . This continued for some minutes until Jason was at his limit. "I''m going to come!" he said through gritted teeth as he struggled to keep it together. His words knocked Quinn out of his trance, making him stop; unsure of how to proceed. Jason squeezes his butt in response before telling him: "Get on your knees Quinn, I want to feel your soft lips around my cock. I want to cum inside your cute little mouth." Quinn went tomato red at the naughty words, but didn''t refuse. He got up, then positioned himself between Quinn''s legs, staring at the slab of meat pointing at his face while leaking precum. He gulped nervously at first, then leaned forward to lick the precum. It seemed he liked what he tasted, because the next moment Quinn had taken the tip into his mouth. Jason almost nutted right there and then, but he managed to hold on. Quinn had his cock head in his pretty mouth and was licking at the slit. His inexperience was obvious, but Jason''s equally inexperienced dick could barely take what it was getting. To Jason, it was like getting world-class head. He was in cloud 9. This went on for a short while before Jason decided to move things along. He placed a hand on Quinn''s head which got him a look of curiousity. Seeing Quinn looking up at him with his dick in his mouth was the most beautiful sight he''s ever seen. Jason began guiding Quinn lower, then back up: carefully not to make him gag. After a few times of this, Quinn got the hint and started moving on his own. Jason then let go and just sat there watching Quinn bob up and down his dick. It was the greatest head of his life, and he was getting closer to release with each bob. "Quinn! I''m gonna... come pretty soon... Don''t spill a drop, OK?" Said Jason through pants. In response, Quinn got faster. It didn''t take long for Jason to blow. "I''m cumming!" Jason warns as he throws his head back in pleasure. The first rope blasts directly into into Quinns throat which makes him choke and gag for a moment, but like the champ he is, he kept the dick in his mouth and didn''t spill as rope after rope came rocketing in. Jason was seeing stars. He had never cum this hard before. Heck! He has never cum this much or even as long. Next moment, Jason hears gulping. He looks down to see Quinn with full cheeks. He was basically drinking Jason''s cum. The volume was ridiculous. Soon Jason stops ejaculating, and Quinn finishes his drink... Or does he? "Woah!" Jason exclaims as he feels Quinn sucking cum straight out of his urethra like a straw. Seeing Quinn''s cheeks cave-in as he made a vulgar yet cute blowjob face was quite the erotica sight. In a few short moments he gets everything and slowly pulls off Jason''s dick before taking the final gulp. Not a single drop was spilled. "Open your pretty mouth, Quinn. I want to see how cum stained it is." Quinn obeys, and Jason sees his tongue is white with cum. The sight causes his now flaccid member to jolt. "Fuck!" He curses in arousal before reaching out and helping Quinn to his feet before guiding him back to the bed. Laying Quinn down, Jason can see he was pitching a tent. Without hesitation, he grabs his shorts and slowly pulls them down to reveal his hardon. Jason had kinda forgotten Quinn was a guy the last couple minutes, however even with his dick in full view, Jason was actually unable to see him as a guy. At the very least, the reveal didn''t make his attraction or arousal toward Quinn dip at all. Rather, they spiked. Jason reaches out a hand, but surprisingly doesn''t go for Quinns throbbing member, but his ass instead. The feeling of a finger suddenly pressed against his sphincter gave Quinn a jolt of surprise. Jason then whispers a question into his ear. "This hole.. Is it for me, baby?" The question made Quinn act very shy for a moment, but the small nod he gave made Jason so ecstatic he gave Quinn a big kiss in the mouth before moving down. Jason then grabs some pillows and places them under Quinns hips. This raises his ass and gives Jason easier access. He then spreads Quinns legs and completely exposes his asshole which makes him blush harder in embarrassment. Next moment, Jason dives right in and begins eating out Quinn; the latter squeeking at the suddenness of it all. While digging in, Jason reaches up and starts jerking Quinn with one hand, and pinching the nerd''s nipple with his other hand. Quinn just lay there receiving the 3-way assault with gasps, moans and squirming. He initially didn''t feel much from the anilingus, but his arousal kept climbing with each second Jason was down there. After awhile, Jason began tonguing the entrance until finally prying his way through and began violating Quinn''s insides. After he believe the first stage of loosening was complete, he moved on to the second stage by pulling his hand away from Quinn''s nipple, and then gently inserting a finger into his asshole. He could feel Quinn''s insides grip hard around his fingers. Jason couldn''t wait for his dick to feel that grip too, so he began fingering his cute friend. After awhile he added another finger and resumed the finger fucking. Quinn''s brain was more or less fried by now. When Jason thought he''d done enough, he spread Quinn''s ass, spat right into the opening, then massaged it in to lubricate. That shocked Quinn out of his reverie as Jason lined up his rock hard cock at his entrance; giving Quinn a good view. "I''m about to fuck you, Quinn. Relax and accept every inch of me into you. OK?" Not waiting for a response, Jason began penetrating. He was slow yet deliberate. The cock head popped through the sphincter and Quinn groaned in pleasure and struggled to hold himself back. Inch by inch did Jason decend into his depths. And after what felt like an eternity, he was balls deep. As soon as Jason''s hips touched Quinn''s with a PLAP, Quinn couldn''t hold it back anymore and orgasmed right there as he arched his back. His insides gripped Jason''s cock something fierce and he too couldn''t hold back anymore. They came together: Jason cumming into Quinn''s depth and Quinn firing cumshot after cumshot on his own face and torso. They kept coming together for several seconds. Losing both their virginities in the best way possible. It took a few short minutes for the two to recover. Jason looks down at the panting form of Quinn who was covered in his own cum; glad to know he wasn''t the only one who came alot. "Alright, time to fuck!" The words took Quinn by surprise for a moment, before he realized that Jason had only put it in so far. His thoughts were cut short as he felt Jason pulling out of his cum filled ass till just the tip before going balls deep once again. Quinn was fucked with long slow stokes while laying there, gripping the sheets, and moaning in pleasure. As this went on, both their arousals began building up again, and Jason started picking up the pace. Soon the room was filled with loud plaps, and when Jason felt he was approaching his limit, he grabs Quinn''s dick and begins jerking him furiously as he goes. This immediately sends Quinn over the edge and he orgasms once again while Jason paints his insides white with jizz. The two were locked in pleasure beyond their dreams. Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 43 days. Clarksons: 38 days. 12 Primordial Fist Jason leaves Quinn''s home and heads to the Clarksons. As he walked, he couldn''t help but think fundly on the last hour. He would never forget it: literally. However he couldn''t do so now in the public, lest he sport a boner and embarrass himself. When he finally arrived, he made his way to Sammy''s room as agreed ahead of time. After a knock, he was let in. Jason couldn''t help but notice Sammy blushing a bit. ''No way! Could it be?''. Sammy locked the door behind them before gesturing for Jason to sit on the lone chair of the room before backing up and clearing his throat. "What I have planned is a secret and is very embarrassing. I trust you to keep it a secret, but you better not laugh. Got it?!" "OK, I''m super curious now. Come on! Quit burning daylight and let''s do this thing!" "Pfft! What was I being all worried for? Fine. Just wait here and I''ll be back. And one more thing, we''re going to talk in whispers from now on so no one else can heard us. Understood?" "Yeah yeah sure sure, now git. I''m on the edge of my seat here!" Accepting his response, Sammy then enters his walk-in closet and closes the door behind him. What follows is the sound of clothes ruffling for a few minutes before the doors open and Jason beholds the image of Sammy. Sammy stands before Jason in a sexy dress with a deep red blush but still manages to pose for his audience. "S-so, what do you think?" Asked Sammy trying to hide the nervousness from his voice. Jason was gobsmacked for a moment before regaining his senses. "Awesome! I didn''t know you were a crossdresser. You could very well pass for a chick. The hair clip was a great touch too. It looks nice on you." "T-thanks..." Sammy accepts his compliment shyly. "Come on, give me a twirl. I want a 360 view." Demands Jason. "You mean like this?" "Yeah. Nice panties, though." "Oops!" "Could you try a couple more poses?" "Yeah. How about this? And this? And this?" "Keep em comin, buddy. I''m loving this show." For several minutes, Sammy changed into different dresses and did many poses for Jason which he enjoyed. He felt like a VIP at a private fashion show. As dinnertime was fast approaching, Sammy decided to switch things up. "Hey Jason, I''ll be dinnertime soon. We should wrap things up." "Yeah... Guess you''re right." "Wanna make things even more memorable?" "Oh? How?" Sammy responds to the question by wordlessly raising his blouse and completely exposing his panties for Jason to see, while giving him a smug yet sultry look. "Wait. Is this what I think it is?" "Yup! Now shut up and take off your pants." An Hour Later. Dinner that evening would have been awkward enough without Sammy giving him smug looks while licking his lips throughout. Jason wondered if Sammy was being possessed by a black woman because of how things went down in the room. ''So much saliva...'' Absentmindedly thought Jason as he ate. But make no mistake. Jason thoroughly enjoyed himself. World: 44 days. Clarksons: 39 days. It was the big day of the departure. Jason and a couple other adventurers where lined up and getting briefed by the head guard of the caravan. After that was over with, and some other tasks were taken care of, Jason had some free time for personal matters before the departure to say his goodbyes. As luck would have it, Quinn was waiting nearby for him to be free. Jason had already said his farewells earlier that morning to the Clarksons and especially to Sammy who snuck into his room very early in the morning for another round. "I guess this is it. You take care of yourself, you hear?" Jason tells Quinn. Quinn only responded by walking farward and resting his head on Jason''s chest who in turn embraces him in a hug. He loved how soft Quinn felt. He could hug him forever. The caravan departs and Jason''s journey to Arkensaw begins. It was an uneventful two day journey and when Jason arrived in said town on the evening of the second day, it was as he guessed: Lumberjack themed. Carpenter shops, Saw mills, mountains of sawdust and woodchips, lumberjacks with axes milling about. He''d take his time sightseeing tomorrow, but he''d rather report to guild about finishing his Quest, then finding a place to sleep. He spent that evening in one of the Inns which he paid for a week to get the discount. World: 47 days. Clarksons: 42 days. The first order of business was to find these competing Dojos. That wasn''t hard to do as they could be seen from the inn; near the middle of town and facing each other from opposite sides of the road. ''How clich¨¦.'' Jason thought. Jason was drawn to the Primordial Fist Dojo, as he was more keen on hand to hand techniques than ax techniques, but he''d give the latter a try later in the future. Arriving in front of the door, Jason noticed a timetable on the wall beside the said door. After reading it, he learned that there were two time slots. The first slot was 2 hours before breakfast till just before, and the other slot 2 hours before dinner till just before. He just missed the morning session it seemed. Despite being outside the operation time, the door was wide open so Jason didn''t see the harm in checking inside . As he entered, he was greeted with the site of the interior which was being swept by a young girl who notices him right away. "Hello miss, I''d like to sign up for the dojo. Seems like no one''s here, though." "Oh Hi! Everyone is out in the field right now, but the master always returns an hour before the first lesson, so you can meet her then." "I see. Thanks for the heads up. I''ll be back later today, then." "You''re welcome! See you again!" Said the girl as she waved at his departing form. "Alright. Got some time to kill. I''ll explore the town, grab lunch, explore the outskirts, then get back just in time to meet this ''master'' of theirs." World: 47 days. Arkensaw: 2 days. After his little excursion, Jason returns to the Primordial Fist Dojo. True to the girl''s word, the Master happened to be present at the time stipulated. A woman who by Jason''s guess might be in her late 20s was sitted in a meditative pose in the middle of the dojo. Not wanting the disturb her, Jason didn''t announce his presence but just stood to the side of the open door patiently. Luckily he didn''t have to wait. "Good, good! You''re quite the considerate one. Thanks for not interrupting, though you didn''t have to bother since I already knew you were coming. Please come in, you''re new to town, I believe." Said the woman. "Thanks. The name''s Jason. Just came into town last night. I heard a dojo was in this town, so I came to check things out." "I see. I''m guessing you''d like to sign up and join the dojo, correct?" "Yup. You guessed correct." "Excellent! Come have a seat while I''ll explain some things before the other students show up." Jason accepts the invitation. And as he sits across the woman, the girl from earlier walks over bringing tea and serving them both. The woman takes a sip before starting. "Tell me, Jason. What do you know of the Primordial Fist?" "Nothing. Just heard about it for the first time a few days ago." "What?! How could you not know of the Primordial Fist? It''s practically common knowledge." "Guess news doesn''t reach everywhere, huh." "I see. Still make sense no sense, but I was going to explain anyway so it matters not. You see, the Primordial Fist is the origin of all martial arts. It is so deep and profound that it has to be divided into different styles. The only being alive who has mastered all styles is our Great Saint of the Primordial Sect." The Master continues her monologue until people start to filter in to the dojo. Jason could hear some of them whispering to the side. "Who''s the new guy?" "Good question, never seen him before." "Why bother, we''re gonna find out anyway when he introduces himself." "Oh, don''t be such a wet blanket. We''re just curious, is all." "Wonder what style he''ll pick. It would be nice to have someone with the same style to train with." "I don''t care so long as he can fight. None of you are a challenge and I''m worried I''ll start getting rusty because of it." "We know! We get it! Quit rubbing it in already, sheesh!" The background banter continued till it was about time for the lesson to begin, so the master was forced to cut things short. ''Boy can she talk!'' Jason thought to himself; not at all annoyed by her quirk. "OK. Is everyone present?" Asked the master. "Yup." "Yes." "Yeah." "All here." Responded everyone. "Good, good! You all made it back safe and sound. As you can see, we have a new student. Care to introduce yourself to the others?" "Sure. Hello everyone, my name''s Jason. Pleasure to meet you all." "Hello Jason!" Everyone replied in unison. ''Pfft! Why does this feel like alcoholics anonymous?'' "As per our tradition, we''ll have you spar with one of other students to guage your ability so we''ll know how to cater to you unique training needs." "OH! Oh! Me! Me! Let me have at him." Said a short girl who reminded Jason of those rural Japanese tomboys he''d watch in anime with her pixie cut, mocha skin, snaggle tooth and boyish personality. "I was going to select, you anyway, so calm down, Taiga. Now, if you two will come to the centre so we shall begin." When Taiga and Jason did as told, the master began explaining the rules. "This is a friendly spar, so no lethal attacks and stay clear if the eyes and crotch. You win by either, knockout, submission or concession. I will step in and stop the fight if I feel its getting out of hand. Are the rules understood?" Asked the woman. "Yes!" "Yes!" Both combatants took their respective stances as they readied themselves. "Alright, begin." Taiga immediately charges at Jason and throws a flying kick his direction which he manages to dodge. Before he could mount his own offensive, Taiga recovers and goes for a roundhouse kick which he ducks under, however Taiga rides her momentum as she continues to spin and deliver a kick with her other leg to his midsection while still in midair. Jason eats the attack and backpedals a few steps before regaining his balance. They both take their stances once again and prepare to attack each other. And just like in the beginning, Taiga initiates with a series of kicks. This put Jason on the defensive as he tries his best to block and dodge the quick and heavy strikes. The pummeling continued for some minutes and the other students were getting bored of the one-sided spar. "Hey Taiga! We ain''t got all day! End it already!" A yell came. Seeming to agree with the heckler, Taiga attempts to use her signature attack to end the fight. However, midway through her motions, Jason extents his leg and interrupts the attack with a front kick; striking her side and sending her flying. Taiga falls and tumbles but manages to right herself and look at Jason in disbelief. "How?!" Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Everyone shared her sentiment. Taiga was dominating the whole spar. How did Jason come out of nowhere to deliver that beautiful counter. How were they to know that Jason was memorizing all her attacks during their exchange. Now he could replicate everything she had done up to this point. Getting back to her feet, Taiga got into her stance once again. "Guess you''re more than what meets the eye. Looks like I''ll have to go all ou- WHAT THE?!" Jason was taking her exact stance and they were mirroring each other perfectly. "You think you can beat me with my own fighting style? I''D LOVE TO SEE YOU TRY!" Taiga and Jason clash once again and she retakes the advantage she had before, however Jason was doing better than before. He may have copied a portion of her moves, but she had more experience with them. It was like picking up a fighting game and playing a character who you memorized a portion of their moveset. Then proceed to fight in an online match against someone who mains the exact same character. Any normal person would get destroyed in such a scenario, but with the help of his [Muscle Memory], Jason learns from every clash, every block, every dodge and every direct hit. And because of this, he slowly and surely closes the gap between them. Even Taiga''s "experience" advantage is losing its edge. The experience gained from 100 battles vaguely remembered is nothing compared to the experience gained from 10 battles perfectly remembered. Eventually a stalemate is reached. It is maintained for some moments before the tables begin to turn in Jason''s favor as he begins to pressure Taiga now. However he''s not able to dominate her. Turns out she''s got him beat in the stamina department and that''s what''s saving her from being pummeled. Jason gets tired of the status quo and decides to end things by baiting her with an opening. He pretends to be more tired than he really is, and makes deliberate blunder. Not willing to let the opening go, Taiga commits to an attack which Jason sidesteps and then proceeds to punish with a solid punch to the gut which floors her. Taiga is floored and holds her gut in pain and out of breath. But before anything else happens, the master calls the fight. "Thanks for going easy on me." Jason says as he reaches out a hand to Taiga. "Hahaha! Screw you, dude! That was a good fight." Taiga responded in good humor as she takes his hand. "Good, good! A splendid spar. Thank you, Taiga for being our Guinea pig." "Hey!" Taiga yelled indignantly which made everyone laugh till she too joined in. "I was quite surprised, Jason. Your ability to adjust to, and copy Taiga''s fighting style midfight is quite remarkable." "Thanks." "Alright, now that I''ve guaged your strength, we can move on to the next step which is determining which style suits you best." The Master goes on to explain that Primordial Fist is divided into to 6 Styles: - Limitless Style. - Cresent Style. - Flow Style. - Burst Style. - Blitz Style. - Power Style. - Bulwark Style. These styles are grouped into 3 types: - Red Types: Blitz, power style. - White Types: burst, crescent, bulwark. - Blue Types: limitless, flow style. "I''ll put you through basic training in both red and white ki control to determine which you''re best at using, then I''ll test your knowledge in human anatomy to see if you''re suited for Limitless Style. Your spar showed me you might have what it takes to pursue the Flow Style, so I''ll train you there too and see where things go." All that would begin tomorrow. Tonight, she had to deal with the others: supervising spars and helping them fine tune their styles and techniques. Jason would participate in some of these spars, then would watch and listen-in to other activities. All in all, it was a very productive night. Things came to a close and the Master dismissed everyone for the night after bringing in food for everyone to eat. Turns out the student contribute Hazard Beast meat which is prepared at the dojo for them to consume right after training before heading to work. The group headed over to the site outside the town where trees were felled. They and the lumberjacks who were also coming over to replace the previous shift went together as one big group for the sake of security. The students of the Primordial Fist were primarily responsible for protecting the workers at the site from Hazard Beasts. A portion called the Assault Group would enter the surrounding forests and hunt anything they find, while the others called the Defense Group patrolled the perimeter of the site to intercept anything that slipped past the first group. The Rending Ax Dojo on the other hand almost exclusively trained the lumberjacks. They appeared to have great strength and stamina plus the ability to fire a sharp Cresent wave from the blade of their Ax which was used to cut tries much faster. The group made its way to a tented area where guild staff were milling about. As the others clocked in, Jason signed up as part of the Security Detail. Initially he was assigned the Defensive Group, but after presenting a letter from Sam, the staff member reassigned him to the Offensive Group instead. ''It''s good to have friends in high places.'' Jason thought to himself as he left to join the Assault Group which Taiga just so happened to be a part of. "Yo, Jay! Looks like we''ll be seeing more of each other, huh? We''re about ready to head out, so follow our lead and don''t cause any trouble, ya hear?" Instructs Taiga. "Yeah, sure, I''ll be good. Just go lead the way already." Responds Jason. With that, the Assault Group set off. Jason made himself useful right off the bat by Sniping multiple Hazard Beasts from a distance. He made a mental note to thank Sam again for all the training. Because it was night, a decent number of Beasts were out and about, which meant the Group returned with quite the hefty amount of prey by daybreak where they had their breakfast and waited for another group to relieve them of their shift. Getting back to the Inn, Jason went to bed which involved meditating, and sparring with a clone of Taiga in his Lucid Mindscape. World: 48 days. Arkensaw: 3 days. Waking up at noon, Jason heads downstairs to grab lunch at the bar where he meets Taiga who waves him over. "Afternoon, sleeping beauty. Wanna eat lunch together?" Offered Taiga. "Sure. I don''t mind." Jason replied as he took a seat at her table. "Got any plans till we head over for training, big guy?" "Hmm? No, nothing I can think of now. Why you ask?" "Cuz I''d like to invite you to a spar. You vs me. In the dojo. It''s great for training, and since we''re similarly skilled, we''d improve faster. So, What do you say?" Asked Taiga. "Weeellll, not that I''m rejecting the invitation, but why me of all people? You only met me yesterday and here you are asking me to spar with you. What about the other guys at the dojo?" "What? Those guys?! Nah, it doesn''t work out. Lemme explain: ya see, I''m in a weird position: I''m number 4 in the dojo, but I''ve never beat number 3; much less 2 and 1. They''re just that strong. Plus the guys below me are just too weak to challenge me, so I''ve had to train by myself." "Oh." "Oh is right! And here you are, a pinch stronger than me and even know my fighting style. You''re like the perfect practice dummy." "Dummy?" "Woah! No! I mean Sparring Partner. Sparring Partner. It was a slip of the tongue, there." "Pfft! Fine, but I''m sorry to say I''ll be leaving you in the dust soon, so it''s kinda pointless to train with me Cuz I''ll ragdoll you around the dojo." "Hah?! What are you trying to say, you got stronger in your sleep or something?" "Uh... Let''s just say that the gap between us has widened and leave it at that." "Hmmm... I''d like to see that for myself. I''ll get off your back if it turns out that way, so quit dragging your feet and accept already!" "Fine. After we eat, we''ll head to the dojo. Deal?" "Deal!" After lunch, both Jason and Taiga made their way to the dojo. But when they got passed the door, Taiga wasn''t pleased with what she saw. "Darnit! Those two got here first." On the mat were two individuals duking it out and showing skill level and techniques head and shoulders above he and Taiga. While that was happening, Taiga walked over to a corner and tinkered with a small device before returning. "What were you doing over there?" "Just setting up the timer. Rules are if you''re the only ones in the dojo you can train for as long as you want. But when someone else shows up, you get 10 more minutes before you have to vacate the mat for others to use." "I see. Makes sense." Jason responds as he continues watching the fight between the two. "Ugh! I''m taking a nap. Wake me up when they''re done." "Sure. Will do." 10 minutes later, the timer goes off and the combatants stop their spar before stepping off the mat and walking pass the two without acknowledging them. Jason found their behaviour odd, but Taiga brushes it off. "There are sticks up their asses. Don''t overthink it." Accepting her explanation, Jason follows her to the mat and they begin their spar. 10 Minute Later. "What the heck?! How''d you improve so much so quickly?" "I did tell you, didn''t I? Now take my hand." Jason responds as he pulled her up. "This sucks! I''m back to square one!" Complained Taiga. "I don''t agree. Fighting someone stronger than you is the fastest way to improve." "Yeah, yeah! I know, the master says the same thing. But I hate losing all the time. I hate having to scurry around like a little rat just to survive against the other guy. The tension of fighting against someone so close to you in strength where either of you can take the win, and any mistake can turn the tables is exhilarating. It''s what I live for." Explains Taiga. "You know what? I get where you''re coming from. I was there. Our fight was all kinds of fun." "Told ya." "But that doesn''t change the fact of the situation. The path to strength has been paved, and it won''t change for anyone because they feel it sucks. This means you''ll have to grit your teeth and do what must be done to get strength. You know, better to eat stale bread than go hungry for a tastier meal you know will never come." Taiga was silent for a moment, then she let out a deep sigh. Knowing she took his word to heart, Jason patted her shoulder. "Don''t be so glum, we''re training partners now. I''ll just fight you at a touch above your level. It''s not exactly what you want but it''s the best you can ask for." "Ugh! Thanks. But it''s just not the same. Knowing you''re not fighting me serious rubs me the wrong way." "Hate to break it to you, but you and I are not worth taking seriously to a lot of people. That is true today, tomorrow, and a hundred years from now. It''s a fact of life we all have to accept." "Oohhh! That''s true. Hmm... Hearing that is oddly more... freeing? I forget the word. But I feel less pressure. Thanks, Jay! For real this time. You really helped me put it all in perspective." "Glad I could help, partner." The two groups continued taking turns sparring for hours till an hour before the classes were to begin and the master walked through the doors of the dojo. "Training diligently, I see. Good, good! You can''t go wrong with such diligence." All the students turned and greeted the master after she made her appearance. "I think we''re good for now. Imma head back to the inn to take a bath and grab a bite. You should too, Jay. We''ll be back in time for the lesson." "Sounds like a plan. Let''s go." The two left, then returned cleaned and rejuvenated right before classes began. After assigning all the other students tasks for the evening, The Master brought Jason to the side for some one on one training. After determining his White Ki control to be pretty decent, Jason is taught both White and Red Ki control exercises. The Master wished to leave it at that for the day and give Jason ample time to practice, but Jason insisted they do the Flow Style training, to which she begrudgingly agreed, since he wouldn''t let up. The Master proceeded to explain the fundamentals as well as demonstrate the Kata for the style. Flow Style is a combat technique that''s centered around guiding the flow of force and momentum. It reminded him of the anime version of Aikido whereby one would use the force of their opponent''s blows against them by either redirecting them back at them or away from oneself. It was ideal for fighting opponents stronger than oneself: specifically Hazard Beasts with overwhelming strength. Thinking this was enough for the time being, The Master was shocked to learn that Jason wished to also see her books on Anatomy and be taught the limitless style. This time, she stood her ground and didn''t let him have his way. ''This fellow is quite odd.'' She thought to herself as Jason went back to Ki Control Training. Based on her current evaluation, Jason has compatibility with both the Burst and Crescent Styles. The jury is out on the others, but that is how things stand for now. Training eventually came to an end and Jason along with the remainder of the students left for work. Jason was instructed to practice his Ki Control while on the job; which he did, and when he returned to the inn, he did combat practice in his sleep. World: 48 days. Arkensaw: 3 days. Today, Jason once again harrassed the Master over the Limitless Style, to which she threw up her hands in defeat, went into a room and brought him the reading materials. She then informed him she wouldn''t give him personal training on the style until he took and passed an exam on the stuff he was reading. Unworried by this, he acknowledged her words and dove into the books. The master had an anger tick appear on her forehead when she saw how fast he was flipping through the pages: thinking he was skimming and not aware he was absorbing everything, but didn''t say anything and left him to his devices. Jason made a mental note to take this exam 7 days from today so as not to shock the master too hard. He knew he could ace any exam with only a few minutes of studying, but he wanted to keep a somewhat low key. World: 55 days. Arkensaw: 10 days. The past week, Jason had been working and training. He would take some time out of the day to write letters to Sam, Quinn and Sammy. For Sam, it would be keeping him abreast of the goings on with him. For the other two, it felt more like having penpals. Quinn would write about books, while Sammy was more into small talk. Through these exchanges Jason learned that Quinn had applied for a spot in the Guild''s administrative staff, and that Sammy had gotten back into hunting, but with a party consisting of Quinn, Susan and himself. Jason was glad to know they were taking initiative in their lives and hoped this''ll help their chances of meeting again sooner. It was the day of the written exam and Jason was stoked. The Master thought it was too soon, but didn''t have the mental energy to protest. She just handed him the papers and waited, only to have them returned in a quarter of the usual time. "What is this?" "I''m done." "What? Impossible!" "I learn fast, remember?" "..." "..." ''...He''s an odd fellow...'' Finally bending to his will, the Master takes the papers, and Jason waits patiently as the exam is graded. Minutes pass, and she''d done. "So, how''d I do?" "You passed, of course. However I''m curious as to why you left some of the questions unanswered when the rest were answered perfectly." "Exams are tough, what did you expect? Now, about that Limitless Style training you promised..." "So insistent. Very well, you have earned my guidance and shall receive it." Limitless Style involves using Acupoints to remove the body''s limiters as well as trigger other bodily effects. Acupoints is one of the shortcuts in manipulating red ki just like hand gestures is for white ki. By hitting select Acupoints in a specific sequence, one can perform the following effects: - Unlock the body''s limiters. - Dull pain. - Halt bleeding. - Healing/Guiding red ki. - Paralysis, etc. The Master didn''t fail to mention that a faction called The Temple of Healing Wind owes their healing techniques to The Primordial Fist: alleging that they copied the technique, then made modifications. However, she had to give credit were credit was due and added that they had improved upon it considerably and are currently peerless in terms of medical arts. Today Jason would learn the Limit Breaker Technique. Other days he''d learn other techniques. He would bide his time for another 7 days before requesting to be taught another style. World: 62 days. Arkensaw: 17 days. Of all the Limitless Style Techniques Jason really loved the Limit Breaker. By hitting specific acupoints in unique sequences, he could removed his body natural limiter. The technique has 10 stages, and each stage removes and additional 10% of the bodies limiter. The risks were that it would cause muscle tear and bone fractures if you overexerted yourself, but that also happened to be a good thing as they would grow back stronger. It was a broken way to train that those who dabbled in Healthcare exploited inorder to not be left behind physically since they spent so much of their time studying and treating patients. But enough about that. It was time to politely harass the master who at this point didn''t care anymore and would teach him whatever he asked. Jason found this change odd, but didn''t think too much about it. The request was made and the master began teaching him the basics of the Burst Style. It was easy to learn, but hard to master. It involved sending a burst of ki through the arm and out the fist during a punch at the instant said fist makes contact. If the burst is premature, it hits the target but repels the attackers fist, making it the worse outcome. If the burst comes after the fist strikes a target, it delivers second strike made of ki, making it the next best thing. Those who mastered this technique can time the burst to within 100th of a second after the fist strikes. This results in a special effect where a focused shockwave is formed which ignores defenses and passes through objects as it travels some distance. Taking this attack directly to the torso will result in severe internal trauma and bleeding, and taking it to the head means death. World: 69 days. Arkensaw: 24 days. The Dojo Master and Jason has fallen into a routine where every 7 days he''d request to learn a different style. The master is still baffled at he pace at which the fellow could learn. But it was nothing to be concerned about. Rather, she was thankful that such a prodigy would grace her dojo. No longer did she deny him anything. He has more than proved his ability to receive all her teachings. He was the key to her rising up the ranks in Primordial Fist Sect. She just has to make sure he doesn''t fall into a rivals hands, as well as ensure she secures his cooperation if not loyalty. Anyway that was something for another day. Today, she''d be training Jason in Crescent Style. This style involves coating one''s hands and feet in ki and using it to slash, slice, and stab from up close and from range. It is named after the Crescent shaped ki fired in an arc, which is the hallmark of the style. It is basically designed to serve as an alternative to bladed weapons, and to have a backup in cases where a blade is not on hand. After the usual training session, the master informed Jason that in 3 days the dojo would hold a tournament to decide this month''s Adept. Practioners of the Primordial Fist are separated into 8 ranks: - Novice. - Adept. - Expert. - Master. - Grand Master. - Elder. - Sect Master. - Saint. Novices are new initiates who have been undergoing training for some time. They are the lowest rank. The Adept is the individual who wins the dojo''s monthly tournament and gains the right to be tested by the Master in direct combat once. It is a temporary title only held by one individual per dojo per month. One can challenge their master as many times as they win this tournament. If the master is satisfied with said challenger''s performance and deems them qualified, they are granted a pass to compete in the Yearly Expert Tournament where the winner gains the title of Expert. Every Master is granted only one pass per year, so this decision is taken very seriously because nominating someone who goes on to win the tournament increaes their chances of being promoted to Grandmaster. "I have high hopes for you, make sure you win handily, OK?" "Sure thing." "Good, good!" 13 The Tournament World: 71 days. Arkensaw: 26 days. A day before the tournament, Jason finishes another sparring session with Taiga and heads over to the guild to check for letters. There he receives a letter from Sam. ---- Greetings Lad, I hope this letter finds you well. As per your preference I shall ''cut to the chase''. The guild has received reports that there has been an increase in Hazard Beast activity in the small mining village of Escaville located near you. Goblins have occupied a number of abandoned mines including the largest one. They have hunted a sizable number of Hazard Beasts in the area, and have begun attacking the villagers and surrounding roads, almost a dozen people have perished already. Additionally, an ogre leader has been confirmed, so an extermination campaign has been issued. However, the Guild takes time to organise such a thing; especially one of this scale, so more losses might be incurred in the meantime. I request that you make your way there immediately; ahead of anyone else. Your tasks will be as follows: - secure the roads around the village. - defend the village. - Eliminate goblin hunting parties as well as any hoglins you see. Use your discretion in keeping yourself safe, and NEVER engage the Ogre. You are to run on sight. Hold the fort until the Guild sends it''s people to support you. I''ll trust in your judgment from here on out. Godspeed. Sam. --- After reading the letter, Jason looked through the rest of the envelope to find a report as well as a special quest invoice assigned specifically to him by Sam personally. "Well, that''s interesting! I''ve got a lot of running around to do, huh." Jason couldn''t come up with a better comment for the situation. He was happy to get some action, but wasn''t sure about the other emotions he was feeling. First order of business was to see if he could get transportation to the mining village. However, to his dismay no merchants were going that direction due to the goblin attacks along the road. There was a quest out to exterminate the goblins along the road, but by virtue of the quest still being on the wall, no one had taken it. After asking around, he learned that nobody in town was free enough to take up such a quest as they were already short-staffed enough as is. "Oh well, since I''m going there anyway, might as well take it myself." After taking the quest, he heads back to the inn to packs his stuff, then leaves for the dojo to have a chat with the Master. After getting there he saw the master speaking with a man he hadn''t seen before. Not wanting to interrupt their chat, he found a corner of the dojo and sat down to quietly meditate as he waited. Several minutes passed before the conversation ended, the man left, and the master went over to Jason. "Apologies for the wait. So do tell me what you wish to speak to me about." "Well,..." Jason explains the situation. And when he was done, the master had an unreadable expression. "I see... Such a turn of events... So what do you intend to do?" "Hmmm... Well, since the tournament is at noon tomorrow, i figured I''d participate, then challenge you right away, eat and leave. That way I should be able to arrive at the mining village by nightfall." "Hn! Here you go talking as if you already have it won. Plus you treat challenging me so casually. It seems we''ve gotten too familiar~." The master says in mock indignation. "Hehehe... No offense intended. Honest." Jason replies in mock regret. "Jokes aside, would it be too much to ask you wait another day before challenging me? I''d prefer you to be at your best." "Sorry, but I''m already waiting a day. I was told to leave right away. This is the most leeway I can give." "Very well. Guess it can''t be helped, then. Do as you wish." "Will do. Thanks for understanding." "Hmmm..." "What?" "You never asked who it was I was speaking to earlier. Aren''t you curious?" "Well, yeah I am, but that''s non of my business. But If you''re itching to share, by all means don''t hesitate." "Hn! You sly fellow!" "Hahaha!" "He''s a ''returning master'' here to take my place." "..." "..." "Did you get fired? or..." "Nothing of the sort! Long story short, a master runs a dojo for 3 years, at the end of which they are replaced and free to adventure for 1 year as they travel to the Sect HQ for an evaluation to see who gets promoted to Grandmaster. My time has come. Right after this tournament I shall vacate this dojo." "Woah..." "Indeed. All the other students were aware long before you arrived. I just never got around to telling you. Now you know." "Gee... Thanks." "And that is why I''ll be joining you on your little goblin adventure." "Wait. What?" "It''s a great way kick things off, don''t you think?" "Yeah... Yeah! It sure is. I wouldn''t mind the help. Having someone to watch my back would be great." "Thank you for accepting. Though we have to postpone talks till later, as lessons are about to begin." "Sure. Fine by me." World: 72 days. Arkensaw: 27 days. Everyone gathered in a clearing in the nearby woods about to start the tournament. No ceremony was required, just straight to it. With the addition of Jason, the students were 8 in total making things straightforward. Lots were drawn: Jason vs Zack. Taiga vs Mark. Alex vs Ben. Allen vs Joe. The quarter-finals was very brief. All fights concluded within 1 minute each. Jason elected to use Flow Style so as not to hurt his opponent. Jason vs Alex. Taiga vs Allen. The two strongest students according to Taiga face her and Jason respectively. Jason''s match is up first. Both men made their way to the clearing and got into position; awaiting their signal to begin. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Fight!" Neither men attack. They remain still and continue guaging each other; looking for openings. This lasts for almost a minute before Jason makes the first move. He rushes Alex and throws a straight punch at his head. Alex counters ducking under the blow and delivering a blow to Jason''s midsection. However Jason twists in such a way that the blow strikes off centre; using its force to spin and delivering a spinning backhand to Alex with his extended fist immediately followed by a punch from his other hand, then a kick to the back of the head which plants Alex''s face into the dirt as he''s knocked out. All 3 strikes done in one fluid motion. Jason moves on to the finals. Then the other semi-final fight begins. Taiga has come a long way since Jason became her sparring partner. She still doesn''t believe she''s strong enough to defeat Allen who''s tied with Alex with the most number of tournament wins, but her goal is to give it her all and improve where she can. The fight was one sided, but Allen wasn''t having a casual time at it. Taiga was going at it like a madwoman, and Allen was matching her blow for blow. He was unable to end the fight quickly as her dodging was better than in the past, and she powered through his blows as she continued attacking. Things continued this way until Allen got frustrated after suffering a direct hit which broke his nose. He retaliated by striking her sternum with his palm with a burst of ki which rippled through her body; making blood spurt out of her mouth. The devastating blow brought Taiga to her knees as she struggled to catch her breath and get back to her feet. "Fight over! Winner, Allen!" The master calls the fight immediately. "Wait! I can... Still..." As Taiga struggled to protest the decision, she began to swoon as things got blurry before she collapsed to the ground. Both Jason and the Master were by her side in an instant. She was flipped to her back and revealed she was bleeding through her mouth and nose. Immediately hitting her acupoints, the Master stopped the internal bleeding before carrying Taiga away. "30 minutes break before we begin the final match. Rest up." The Master said. Jason looked at Allen, and Allen returned the look for some time before looking downwards in frustration and sighing. Jason wasn''t mad at Allen. Despite the viciousness of the attack, he knew Allen didn''t intend to hurt Taiga as bad as he did. He just wanted to end the fight quickly. The 30 minutes passed as Taiga was stabilized and her life was no longer in danger. The Master returned to the clearing and called both finalists over. "Fight!" Everyone was expecting that the two would either lunge at one another or stand still while guaging each other for openings. Instead, what they saw was Jason casually walking up to Allen with his guard down. Allen was flabbergasted by this display. He wondered why Jason would leave himself so wide open, but he was not dumb enough to let his guard down, as he knew this was a trap. Allen began throwing punches; firing off concentrated ki projectiles as he did in Jason''s direction, but Jason kept dodging them with minimal movement whilst never missing a step as he continued to approach unimpeded. This shocking display made Allen jump back and made distance between the two. Jason continued to approach, Allen continued his ranged attack, and Jason continued dodging. This went on for almost a minute as Allen contemplated his next move. If he kept this cat and mouse strategy going, he''d run out of ki soon enough and be forced into a melee while on the back foot. Allen eventually stopped running around to prepare his final range attack. He drew both hands behind him, them thrust them forward as he let loose twin slower moving ki projectiles that were too close together for Jason to sidestep between. As the attack flew, Allen darted forward as fast is he could. His intention was to force Jason to parry the attacks so he could attack him through the opening. As he predicted, Jason coated his hands with ki and used them to deflect both projectiles. Allen wasted no time in going for the opening that revealed itself. BOOM! ''What?!!!'' Allen was beyond shocked as he unconsciously reached for his gut while backpedalling. ''He somehow managed to transition from Flowstyle to Blitztyle and hit me first despite moving after I did. How is that even possible?!'' Allen screamed internally in confusion. Both masters watched the match attentively as they took in the showing. "Transitioning between styles is exceedingly difficult. It takes decades of training to do so as well as he just did. How''d you manage to stumble upon such a genius?" Asked the man. "Hmmm. I guess I was just lucky." "Luck, huh..." Jason began firing ki blasts at the stunned Allen who uses all his strength to dodge. He manages to avoid the first few, before taking a shot to the knee which opens him up to being bombarded by light yet painful blasts. Jason fires his last projectile, then darts at Allen. The latter tries to defend himself but is pummeled by Jason who slips past his wobbly defenses to deliver blow after blow. "Stop! Match Over!" Called the master. "Huh?" This confuses Jason, but he backs away from Allen anyway. It is then he realises that Allen was unconscious while standing with his guard up. The Master walks over to the man and sighs. "I''m always blown away by your tenacity, Allen. How great I''d be if I had even half of it." And with that said, she took him away for treatment. Time passed as Allen was being treated, and Taiga regained consciousness within that time. Jason was by her side in moment. "Hey. How are you feeling?" "Like shiiiiit, dude. What do you think?" "Hahaha. I can imagine. But don''t you worry. I avenged you and defended your honor." "Yaaaay... My hero... Honor my ass." "If you insist..." "Woah Woah Woah! Don''t touch my butt, ya perv!" "But you told me to honor it..." "You..." The banter between the two continues till the Master''s return. "Well. Congratulations on winning the tournament, Jason. I''m guessing you still wish to challenge me right now, yes?" "Yup! Let''s get this done." "Good, good! Come join me at the clearing, then." The two make it there, and they turn to face each other. Meanwhile everyone present is watching with interest at a fight they believe they won''t forget anytime soon. "I will lower my cultivation to your level. We shall fight with equal speed and strength. Come at me with everything you have, Jason. Hold nothing back!" "As you wish!" "Begin!" Jason immediately closes the distance with the Master as he throws a ki infused blow which she casually deflects. He keeps up the pressure with a flurry of blows, each deflected just a easily as the last. Out of nowhere, Jason is brushed off his feet. And as his body is horizontal in midair, he takes a palm strike to the gut which grounds him, but not before punching the extended arm with both of his from opposite ends while releasing a burst of ki from each. Jason hits the ground and immediately rolls to his feet and raises his guard while trying to ignore the pain he''s feeling. The master on the other hand flexes her arm gingerly. "Good, goo-." Before she can finish, Jason sends two crescent slashes of ki in an x-pattern at her, then runs at high speeds after the attack. His intention was to attack the moment she deals with the attack. As predicted, she counters his attack with her own single vertical slash which destroys both attacks, and is just fast enough to barely dodge Jason''s attempt to punish the small opening she revealed. Jason continues his attempt to overwhelm her with a hailstorm of blows, and while she is pushed back, she doesn''t get hit once. Once again, she manages to find an opening to legsweep him once again. But this time she maintains her momentum and spin which she uses to smoothly transition into a back kick. Learning her lesson, she doesn''t keep her leg extended, but pulls it back the instant it hits Jason. However, that precaution didn''t matter as she took a ki blast to the back as Jason was sent flying across the clearing. The Master may not have seen what happened, but the spectators did. The instant the leg sweep made contact, Jason began preparing the ki blast with one hand, while moving his other hand to the front of his torso to intercept the kick. The master''s back kick was blocked by a burst of ki released from Jason''s palm. Therefore he experienced more of a shove than a kick. Plus he managed to punish the master in the process. The master was surprised at what Jason managed to pull off, but didn''t speak or let down her guard as she observed him rolling to his feet. After locking eyes for a moment, they begin circling each other looking for openings. Jason had more openings, but the master was concerned about what sort of counter attack he would punish her with when she struck him. That''s why she has decided to go with a long-mid range approach. But as she begins to enter a stance, Jason darts forward into her space; forcing her to abandon the strategy for the time. ''He has has an encyclopedic level knowledge of all the kata I''ve taught him. He can predict what I intend to do the moment I begin moving...'' The Master does a feint which Jason falls for and punished him with kick to the face which he barely blocks, but still gets his arm shoved into his face. ''Let''s see how good you are at adapting, then.'' Jason takes a more cautious stance. He''d like to end things quickly, but she''s no pushover. Even while nerfing herself she''s a nightmare to deal with. What he needs to do is to catch her off guard and end things with the opening created. Jason decides to go all in on Flowstyle and direct all his [Parallel Thought]s on the fight, leaving only 1 on ki control. Swapping stances, he begins edging his way towards the master. The Master right away noticed the number of his openings drop by half, then goes up by 1. This meant to her that he was baiting her. Regardless, she still let him approach. When they got within striking range of one another, the master made the first move and delivered a chop which Jason moved to deflect before she pulled back and transitioned into a punch from the other side which Jason raised his knee to intercept without breaking the flow of his movement. The next number of exchanges were the same, and Jason wasn''t struck once during that time. Memorizing all the Katas, plus as every fight he''d seen, as well as the benefits of muscle memory allowed Jason to meld all the moves fluidly with the guidance of Flowstyle. Every move he made could smoothly transition into a number of others, and each of those into others of their own. Whenever the master moved to attack, he immediately knew what she was going to pull, and his body knew which of the finite moves would counter it smoothly. Even if she did a faint, he knew his openings, what moves to close them with, what moves to punish with, and what moves the master would most likely try to use after said faint. This had made him virtually untouchable to anybody who practiced the Primordial Fist up to the master''s level. This wouldn''t be half as effective against anyone who uses a different martial art on the level of the master since he didn''t have a database to work with. Regardless, Jason wasn''t getting any hits in either. She was a master for a reason. Plus his Attack Power was diminished since he wasn''t using the other offensive Styles. They were in a stalemate, and he had to figure out how to get out of it. "Good, good! That''s what a want to see. Show me more of what you got!" The Master seemed to be enjoying their bout. The stalemate continued and the unlookers couldn''t afford to blink. It reminded Jason of a sprite animation he loved rewatching where an uppercut throwing Assasin fought an ice clone creating Chamaleon Ninja and the final stretch was the two dodging each other''s blows in close quarters. The smallest mistake, and someone was taking a hit that would end the fight. ''THAT''S IT!'' Realizing a path to victory, Jason began recalling moves from his two favourite fighting games and his body soaked them up. Now he had more attack options. All he needed was an opening, and attack with a move she''s never seen before. And it didn''t take long for the opening to show itself when The Master does a horizontal chop. Instead of leaning back, Jason goes into a crouch. He reels one arm back in preparation for a blow, and at the same time sends a flick jab at the master''s shin; knocking the leg back and making her fall forward. Without giving her the chance to recover, Jason throws a devastating uppercut with the other arm, which despite being blocked, still connected with the master''s torso, sending her a few inches into the air. Without missing a beat, Jason begins assaulting her with a flurry of blows; that pushed her back while simultaneously keeping her off the ground. She manages to block most hits, but not completely, and she took a fair few straight on. A beautiful rising uppercut connects, knocking her head and arms back. Capitalizing on the huge opening, he attempts to strike her again while they''re both midair, which he succeeds in with a punch to the side of the face, however, the master rolls with the punch by tilting her head, grabs Jason''s arm, and makes the two abruptly spin with tremendous force before execution a perfect midair judo throw which slams Jason back first into the ground, knocking all the air out of him. Before Jason can get his wits about him or even catch his breath, he takes a shot to the face and is knocked unconscious. The Match is Over. Arkensaw Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 72 days. Arkensaw: 27 days. 14 Goblins of Escavile Arkensaw Town, Dakota Dukedom. World: 72 days. Arkensaw: 27 days. There was silence everywhere. The onlookers didn''t dare blink or breathe for most of the 5 minutes this bout lasted for. For all except the ''Returning Master'', this spar was the most intense hand-to-hand display they''ve ever seen in their lives. The Master was leaning over Jason on one knee panting hard. ''Wow. He forced me to go all out in the end. I would have been in trouble if I didn''t.'' Though Jason''s Master as she loomed over his unconscious form. After catching some of her breath, she fishes out a vial from who knows where, uncorks it, and waved the opening under Jason''s nostrils. "GAH!" The smell awoke Jason abruptly, then he grasped at his broken nose in pain. The Master could only act sheepish for a moment before clearing her throat and announcing. "Well, congratulations Jason. I''m more than satisfied with your performance, and thereby nominate you to participate in next year''s Master Tournament at the Primordial Festival!" She then fished out an envelope and presented it to him. At that moment, clapping was heard. Then another. Soon everyone present was applauding. Jason couldn''t help but be a tad embarrassed at it all as he got to his feet and turned to face the master. "Got anything to take care of, or do we leave right away?" Jason asks. "What? Won''t you give a speech or something to tie the whole event up in a neat bow." "Hmmm... Nah." "Fine. Be that way. But at least say goodbye to your little friend." "He already did." Both Jason and the master turned to face the speaker: Taiga. "Go on, you too. You''re burning daylight." Taiga urged. Both could only smile at that as Jason reached out to fist bump Taiga. "Take care of yourself, OK?" Jason tells her. "Yeah yeah, whatever, now git!" Not needing to be told twice, Jason and the Master left the clearing, then the town, and began heading for the village of Escaville. Time passes, and just before dusk, the two found themselves a few miles from the village and closing in fast. They chatted along the way, and Jason even learned the Master''s name: Chanty. "Looks like we have company.~" Chanty noted as the two spotted a group of goblins emerging from the forest to the side and running their way. "Good, good! Come to me you green abominations. Snuffing out your lives will make great warmup for me." Declares Chanty. Jason got the hint, and let her do her thing. The two maintained their pace on their way to the village, letting the goblins chase after them. They didn''t want to waste time fighting them, but would unalive any fast and stupid enough to catch up. The goblins chased after them and began to thin out. When the one in the lead got close enough, Chanty chopped its head off with a ki blade coating her hand and continued to jog. This happens a number of times till the group got tired of taking Ls and stopped their chase. By that time, the two already made it to the village only to see a fight taking place as it was being attacked by goblins led by Hobgoblins. With how the beasts were spread out, Jason took to a nearby roof and began letting loose rocks with his sling. Chanty on the other hand would run over to any villager who was struggling in their fight and assist. After Sniping a couple of hobgoblins and dozens of goblins, the winds of battle turned to the side of the village, and the goblin attackers began retreating while being pelted by Jason. With the threat gone, things began to settle down. There was a head count: one dead, a dozen injured, 2 abducted. After getting off the roof, Jason is waved over by Chanty standing next to a big muscular man holding what looked like battle pickaxes. The man introduces himself as the chief of the village before thanking the two for their assistance. Accepting his appreciation the two explain their reason for being there. ¡°Hahaha! I never doubted Sam would pull through for me. Always trustworthy, that one." "You know Sam?!" Asked Jason. "Aye! Known him for years. He''s been adventuring from town to town around the region area for decades. He''s pretty well known as a result. Always looking out for others, that one. If he sent you two ahead of everyone else, you must be worth your salt." Jason and Chanty nodded to that. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Anyway, let''s walk while we talk. I''ll take you to our inn while I fill you in on what''s going on." As they walked, the chief explained the village''s situation: The goblins have hunted a sizable portion of the hazard beast population in the area. They''ve also occupied all the mines. The hoglins have been attacking what little farm land they have going on, hurting the village''s food stores. The chief also notes that the goblins have attacked the village 3 times now, causing death and injury, but what upsets him the most is the 5 abducted women and girls from their village so far. From his understanding of Goblin behavior, they were taken to be used by the ogre or hobgoblins for their sexual release. Their fate was grim: death or overwhelming trauma is all that awaited them. The residents are illequipt to protect themselves, much less mount a rescue. The population is less than a hundred. Most able bodied people left after the mines closed; leaving behind old, disabled and/or non combatants. The frequent attacks have been wearing them out. Evacuating is also an issue: most people don''t want to leave their homes, and the few that want to leave can''t possibly fight their way through the dangerous road. Worse yet, the village is too poor to pay for an adventuring party strong enough to handle a horde this big. The only silver lining is the Adventuring Guild''s Eradication Campaign policy, but that would take up to a week to organise, transport and execute. They''d very well be wiped out within that week especially if the ogre decided to pay them a visit. They''ve been at their wits end. "Here we are. I''ll talk to the innkeeper so you don''t have to worry about paying for your rooms. With what you''ll be doing for us the next couple days, it''s the least we could do." The Chief tells them. "Thanks!" Jason appreciated that. "Think nothing of it. You two get some shuteye. You''ll need your strength for tomorrow. I''ll be off patrolling." His piece said, the Chief turned away and left. Jason and Chanty settled in to their rooms. Tomorrow was going to be something else. World: 73 days. Escaville: 2 days. "Well, I''m sure you''re well aware our job is to take out hunting parties of goblins and hoglins, also to never engage the ogre if we encounter it. I for one don''t want to waste arrows, so I''ll be using my trusty sling. What are you going to do?" Asked Jason. "Oh, I shall sit back and watch you work. You seem to have things under control." Replied Chanty. "Oi! What happened to giving me a hand?" "You shall get a hand if you need it. You seem fine enough." "OK, pretty solid reasoning, won''t argue with that." "Good, good! Now lead the way." Exiting the village, they immediate encounter a hoglin. It took off running right away before receiving a stone to the head for its troubles. As they continued to the nearest mine, Jason ended dozens of hoglins along the way. "Jeez. These things are everywhere. And I haven''t seen a single other hazard beast yet." Complains Jason. "Hmmm... Then it''s good we came when we did. If the goblins truly hunted other hazard beast in the area to such an extent, they''d soon march to another area; destroying the village along the way." Commented Chanty. "Yeah. Gotta whittle them down hard." Declared Jason. Arriving near the closest mine to the village: A ragedy old walk-in mine. They could see a number of goblins milling about. Not waiting for an invitation, Jason took his sling and began to whirl. As usual, the noise exposed their position, but it didn''t matter. Wham! A stone rockets out and takes out a random goblin. A bunch begin to run towards Jason, and some are taken out before they get close. Once they get within melee range, Jason uses Crescentstyle to oneshot the whole bunch: 1 hit per gob. He then stores away their bodies and gear. "I''m almost full to the brim. Better head back and drop off my kills." Goblin meat didn''t taste particularly great, but it could me made passable with the right cooking recipe and ingredients. Also, the fact it was bipedal like a human made people even more reluctant to try. Only in times of desperation would one go there. Hoglin meat on the other hand was closer to bacon in taste, so it was leagues more tolerable. "Here''s your pile, mister!" "Good work kid, here''s your pay!" "Thanks! I''ll have more ready for you in the evening." Earlier that morning, Jason tasked a random kid with gathering stones he''d use for ammo. He didn''t want to have to do it himself. After dropping off the bodies, Jason returned to the wilderness with Chanty in tow, and repeated the process over and over again. Bringing back dozens of Goblin bodies, and hundreds of Hoglin cadavers. By dusk, they had hit 4 out of the 5 mines. The only mine left was the biggest one which was furthest out. It was where the ogre was most likely residing, so the two had to be careful. But that would have to wait for tomorrow. It was already so late. World: 74 days. Escaville: 3 days. There was some trouble getting to the mine last mine. Jason would unalive so many hoglins along they way, he had to return to the village to drop off their bodies multiple times. At this rate, he''d never get there. When lunchtime rolled around, he decided to give the Chief a visit. Explaining the situation, Jason made a request: at least 1 cart with 1 person to pull each. The plan was to have them transport the bodies back to the village with Chanty acting as their guard. This will save Jason the hassle of having to make the trip back. The Chief agreed right away, and took about an hour to put things together: two carts and two willing sturdy guys to pull them. After negotiating payment for the cart and labor, they all set off. A third of the way to the mine, Jason sent the first cart back full or cargo with Chanty in tow. He continued on with the other cartman for another third of the way before it too was full. Deciding to wait, Jason continued hunting hoglins plus some stray goblins a short distance around the cart. When Chanty returned, he had the returning cart filled too, and Chanty escorted both back to the village. Now alone, Jason walked a short distance in the direction of the mine and began hunting. Soon he was full, and proceeded to dump the bodies in a pile and continued. By the time Chanty returned with the 2 carts, Jason had 3 piles of bodies ready. "It''s getting dark, Jason. This will do for today, no?" "You''re right. Let''s head back." They sorted out the Hoglins to carry back, and Jason carved out the hearts of the goblins for their life cores. Back at the village, the group of 4 made their way to the butcher''s shop to drop off the bodies. As they did, the owner stepped out to greet them. "Hahaha! There''s my favourite client bringing me more work!" "Yup! That''s me. How''s the processing going?" "Aye. We''ve hired a bunch of people working shifts inorder to handle the sheer quantity you''ve been bringing in. We should be done with most of this batch here by morning. However, my freezer won''t be able to hold much more soon." "I see. I''ll speak to the Chief tomorrow to see if he can lease me room to smoke the excess. Just carry on as usual and leave the rest to me." "Will do, young man. Now go get some shut eye! I''ll handle what you''ve just brought in." World: 75 days. Escaville: 4 days. After speaking to the Chief, Jason was assured his request will be handled, so he set off to the largest mine with Chanty and the other 2. Along the way, he noticed that the smaller mines he hit 2 days ago had resumed activity as goblins where moving in and out. So the group took detours and attacked those mines till no goblin dared come out. However because of this decision, the group was unable to make it to the largest mine before dusk, so they packed up and left. When they got to village, Jason was shocked to see... "Wyverns!?" World: 75 days. Escaville: 4 days. Escavile Village, Dakota Dukedom. 15 Big Green Trouble World: 75 days. Escaville: 4 days. "What are Wyverns doing here?!" Jason exclaimed to the other three. Chanty smiled back and the other two looked away sheepishly. Right in the middle of the village were 3 Wyverns with saddles on their backs sitting tame with some curious villagers watching from a distance. "I met them and their riders in the village during my last trip back. They were sent by the Guild just like you. Just wanted it to be a surprise when you got back." "Ugh..." Jason grunted, rolled his eyes, then chuckled. "You play too much." "Hn! Levity is the spice of life, I''d say." "Yeah, sure. So where are the riders? Would prefer to meet them before hitting the hay." "The inn. Let''s branch at the butchers place before heading there." "Sure." Minutes later, The local inn: Jason and Chanty entered the Inn, and with a brief scan, found 3 individuals who stood out. Chanty then made an approach while beckoning Jason to follow. As they got closer, Jason got a better look at the 3: 1 human and 2 drakins. ''Oh! I finally get to meet another one of the other races. Better not stare too much.'' The 4 races in this world are humans, elves, dragon kins, and vladlads. Dragon kins, or Drakins for short, are humanoid dragons. They''re not human-dragon hybrids, but are a separate species altogether. Intermarriage is possible, but the children only match the species of their birth mother, but do share other genetic traits from their other father just like any other child. Drakins are the only of the 4 races that come in multiple sub-races: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Sun, Moon. I''m terms of appearance, they are indistinguishable from humans except for a few key differences: - Sharp pointy teeth. - Eye color matching their sub-race. - Slit pupils. - A palm-sized patch of draconic scales on a random part of their body like a birthmark. - Closed digestive system possessed by the males. The two Drakins infront of Jason, by virtue of their Green hair and irises, were Wind Drakins: a Drakin sub-race with a stereotype of being free spirts with a penchant to just go wherever the wind takes them, as well as beings most compatible with the wind element. As a comparison, if you used a 10-point scale to represent compatibility to an element, humans have a 4-6 for every element, while Wind Drakins have a 10 for wind, and 1 in everything else. No living thing has a higher compatibility. Even actual wind dragons only tie with them in this regard. Reaching the three''s table, Jason offered a greeting. "Hello you 3, welcome to Escaville. I''m Jason. I was sent ahead by the Guild to help with the goblin problem. I heard you were as well." "Oh! You''re the guy Goodgood lady told us about!" Blurted one of the two female Drakin with a pixie cut. Jason turned to give Chanty a flabbergasted stare to which she responded with a defeated shrug. ''Username checks out.'' Thought Jason as he turns his attention back to the Drakin. "Yup, that''s me. You seem to be familiar with each other. Some history there?" Before she could respond, the male human of group spoke up, "How about we talk over dinner instead? You look like you just got off a hard day''s work." "You''re right. Let''s do that. It''s my treat, so eat as much as you want." Agreed Jason. "Yayyy!!" Rejoiced the peppy drain girl. During the dinner discussion, it was revealed that the 3 Wyvern Riders: Skyler, Adair, and Sid, came from the town on the opposite direction Jason and Chanty came from. They responded to the Extermination Campaign and were sent by their local Guild master ahead since they were the most mobile units in the area. As for their relationship with Chanty, the pixie cut Drakin named Skyler had dropped by her dojo on a whim one day. She stayed for a time to learn the crescent style since it''s most compatible with her wind element. Then she abruptly left, leaving Chanty scratching her head. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "You didn''t even say goodbye..." "Oof! Sorry. That was super rude. I reflected on my actions. Honest!" Soon the discussion turned to task delegation in terms of handling the goblin problem. Chanty suggested the Wyvern Riders secure the roads, as the Wyverns could maneuver better there than around the mines. The 3 saw merit in the idea, however Sid suggested both groups swap roles daily inorder to familiarize themselves with both scenarios. Finally, the topic went to the main Extermination force. Sid guessed the main force should being arriving 3 days from now give or take. They just have to hold the fort till then. With the conclusion of the dinner date, both group settled in for the night. World: 76 days. Escaville: 5 days. Both groups had breakfast together while briefly discussing the day''s plans. After the wyvern team went ahead, Jason left to meet with the Chieftain about what they discussed yesterday, and was pleased to learn that he got some people to build a smoke shack right next to the butcher shop on short notice. Jason then had the workers paid in meat which they gladly accepted. They were close to broke anyway, with no mines to work in, and not being fit for battle, this amount of labor was the best they could offer, so such a compensation was more than they could ask for. With all his business in town addressed, Team Jason headed out. Jason had a different agenda today. They were to beeline for the largest mine and ignore anything that didn''t attack them. He wanted to see the situation for himself, as well as weaken their forces some. When he''s had his fill, they''ll genocide their way back. They soon set off. 70% of the way there, they began encountering more goblins than usual, but that did not deter or slow them down as Jason mowed them down like grass. When they finally arrived at their destination, Jason couldn''t help but quirk his brow. There were many more goblins around the entrance than at other mines; Unsurprising. What was really surprising was the fact it looked like something between a camp and a very primitive village. Campfire roasting meat, makeshift stables holding some form of goat, makeshift fence, makeshift shelter, weapon racks etc. "Well, that was unexpected." "Hn. An odd sight indeed. I trust you can handle yourself, but I''ll be here if you need me." "I appreciate the offer. Protect the carts for now. I''m going in." Jason wasted no more time before getting to business. Taking out his slingshot, he began preparing his first volley; the sound of which got the whole camps attention. But that didn''t matter as Jason began taking them out one by one. He prioritized Hobgoblins where he could, but he was mostly indescriminate. By the time Jason had neutralized a dozen from a distance, the goblins finally got their wits about them and began charging at him. Once they got up to a certain distance of him, Jason put the sling away and took a Flowstyle Stance with Crescent Style incorporated into it. The closest goblin reaches Jason and wildly swings a rusty pickaxe at him, which he deftly dodges and decapitates the offending gob in one fluid motion. Jason began dancing around the dozens of attacks. He didn''t need to hit any of them more than once, since a beheading, cutting arteries, and slicing vital organs was usually enough. Green bodies began to pile up before the Goblins suddenly grew enough braincells to realize continuing this assault was plain suicide. Once that occurred, they began running off with Jason throwing ki blasts at their backs. With the little green men in full retreat, Jason and the others began gathering the bodies before returning to the village using their patented backward genocide approach where Jason would stay behind to hunt and accumulate bodies, which are retrieved, before he too backtracks some distance, and the whole process is repeated. This is how they spent their day until they got back to the village by sundown; just in time to run into the Wyvern trio. They exchanged greetings and discussed their day over dinner before heading to their own rooms. Tomorrow, Jason and Co will be taking on the roads. World: 77 days. Escaville: 6 days. Their job was simple: walk along the roads for a mile in either direction, and take out any Hazard Beasts along it. It was a very mundane task, and encounters with group of goblins were few and far between. However, Jason couldn''t complain. He and Chanty had been going full throttle from the moment they left Arkensaw. This was some free time they could use for small talk. "Those Wyverns are pretty cool. I wonder how I can get my hands on one of those." Asked Jason. "Hmmm... Other than joining the Wyvern Division of the Sky Walker Sect, your best bet is finding an egg in the wild, surviving the mother''s wrath, hatching it, then taming it." "OK, maybe I''m shooting too high, then. You know what else I could tame?" "I am not very well versed in taming. What little I do know is that it depends on your needs: transportion, scouting, tracking, battle." "Is that so... Well I''ll be traveling alot, so transport is high on list. I don''t need scouting, so buttom of list that one goes. I''m meh on tracking, and I''d prefer it be able to defend itself, so battle is high too." "So a transport/battle hybrid creature to tame, eh. Hmmm... Do you wish for it to be able to drag a cart too?" "Oh! Good idea. Add that in, but it''s optional, so take it out if the options become too few." "Very well. Hmm.... Let''s see... Pegasus, giant raptors, Unicorn, Giant wolves, and Giant Huskies come to mind right away." "Elaborate. Sell me on these guys you just name dropped." "Well, Pegasi can fly, pull a cart and kick their enemies to death if they don''t slice them apart with wind blades generated from their wings." "Cool! 3 for 3, but I think I sense a catch coming." "Catch indeed. Same problem with the wyverns." "Ah man! OK, new rule. Only tell me about things I can actually get my hands on, alright?" "Hnhnhn... If you insist, then Giant Wolves." "Oh? Say more." "You''ll have to wipe out an entire giant wolf pack, get to the cubs, pick up 1 or 2 females because males would fight you for alpha male position, then getting some taming lessons and undergoing said process." "Say less!" "It''s your best chance. They''re fairly common in the area, and they best fit your needs." "Ugh. An entire pack though? Can''t I just sneak over to their den and abduct me some cubs?" "The mothers would smell you from a mile away and call for help. You''ll be surrounded and made into a snack." "For real?...." "Taming is not a cakewalk, Jason. That''s why sects have a near monopoly on it." "Yeah, you''re right. After this goblin fiasco I''ll find me a pack to put in a pack." "..." Chanty raised a brow at him in confusion. The two continued their series of small talks while clearing the road of hazards. Hours passed without a hitch, but when late afternoon rolled around, they saw one of the Wyvern riders flying over. "I''ve got a bad feeling about this..." Jason spoke concerned. Escavile, Dakota Dukedom World: 77 days. Escaville: 6 days. 16 Worse Case Scenario World: 77 days. Escaville: 6 days. Jason and Chanty with the other 2 waited for the wyvern to land. As it did, Adair hopped off the beast and jogged their way. When she got closer, Jason spoke first. "You wouldn''t have flown all the way here for nothing. What happened?" "We have to hurry back to the village. The ogre has emerged from the mine and is marching with the goblins towards the village as we speak." Adair spoke with concern in her voice before turning around and mounting her wyvern once again. "Ah man! Why? Why are they attacking now of all times?" Complained Jason as he took off running in the direction of the village with Chanty matching his pace and the two men dragging the carts trailing behind. "Leave the carts behind! They''re slowing us down." Jason yelled back at the two who promptly did as they were told and chased after the two. It didn''t take long for the group the reach the village, and just in time to see multiple calvaries of goblins and hobgoblin riding cave goats into the village. Said village appeared to be better prepared this time as all the non-combatants were hiding in their homes, while the volunteers were giving it their all in defense. The arrival of the group was met with cheers as the morale skyrocketed. They jumped into the fray with zero hesitation. Bulldozing their way through; oneshotting everything in their way. Soon enough, the tables turned and goblins were now on the defensive. However they couldn''t celebrate because these weren''t the main force. The fight was just beginning. Gyooonn!!!! A loud roar was heard in the distance which made everyone turn to its direction. What they saw in the distance were 2 Wyverns making peculiar midair maneuvers and blasting air to the ground. "What''s going on over there?!" Asked Jason Adair. "Skyler and Sid are harassing the ogre! To chase it off, lure it away or slow it down. Whatever works!" "Looks to me they can only slow it down! We can''t wait for it to get here. They''ll overwhelm us with numbers and wipe us out." "So what do we do then, chase it off?" "Yes." "I was being rhetorical." "It''s the only card we can play with a win condition." "Are you insane?! That ogre is a Second Stage Hazard Beast by itself, and way more dangerous with its hobgoblin guards. You''d need a team of 1st Stages to distract the guards, with at least 2 second stages to take on the ogre safely. We''re not qualified to take it on. It''d be a pointless suicide mission!" "Don''t worry, I have a plan. Just buy me 15 minutes." "15 minu- Hey! Where are you going?! Come back!" "15 minutes!" Adair cursed out loud as she continued her own battle. Chanty on the other hand only gave the retreating form of Jason a glance before returning her attention to the battles in front of her. She did however wonder about his plan. Less than a minute later, the head butcher who was protecting his store from any goblin attackers that came close was surprised to see Jason skid to a stop before him. "Wha-" "No time! I''ll explain along the way. I''ll need your store to drive away the goblins. Tell me: do you still have the leftover guts of all the processed Hoglins?" "Aye, yes! Lots." "Awesome! Have people extract as much bile from gall bladders as fast as possible. I''ll be cooking up something to drive that ogre off." "Hahaha!!! Are ya now? You hear that boys, get your asses in there and get it done!" The Head butcher got people moving, and in no time, Jason was in a kitchen area; lining up a number of herbs he''s been collecting all this time in preparation for his concoction. The concoction in question was something Jason had been wanting to make for ages called Wasp Water. It''s a skin irritant that gives the sensation of being stung by wasps constantly. It would last for 15 minutes and would make one want to die. It had simple remedies: licking salt, rubbing flour on skin, washing it off with urine. He could have made it earlier, but didn''t have a use for it at the time, and didn''t want to use the Clarkson''s kitchen for such a thing. 10 minutes in, and Jason was almost finished. He just needed to add the final ingredient. "Here''s your bile." Spoke a man as he walked to Jason holding a bowl full of the stuff. "Excellent." Minutes pass and Jason rushes out of the butcher shop and towards the fighting. The goblin horde''s main force was just on their doorstep and the two women were swamped with opponents to fight. Adair was visibly panting, while Chanty was keeping it together better, but they were both fighting with everything they could muster. "I''m back." "Finally! What now?" "I need you to get me into the air above the ogre so I can drop my payload on his head. Also have your friends fly back and back Chanty up." "Huh? What the hell did you make that''s got you so confident it will chase off the Ogre?" "Wasp Water. Now let''s get a move on. Time''s of the essence!" Jason said before turning to Chanty. "Can you hang in there long enough for help to arrive?" Jason asks Chanty who in response sends him a thumbs up while karate chopping a goblin. "Alright. Let''s go!" With that, Jason and Adair got on her Wyvern and took to the air. The two arrived at their destination in no time to see Skyler and Sid harassing the main goblin force; the wyverns taking turns firing columns of wind down primarily on the Ogre''s position with the hobgoblins giving their boss a wide berth so as not be caught up in the attacks. Jason got a good look at the Ogre. He could best describe it as a huge green ugly obese bodybuilder carrying a massive log club the length and width of an average man. The leader and his hobgoblin knights were weathering the attacks as they marched forward. The rest of the goblins around them were worse for wear, but others further away kept running towards the village without a care. This made Jason even more worried for Chanty. Getting close to the other 2 wyvern riders, Adair made some gestures which served as a means of communication between the riders. They showed reluctance, but were eventually convinced and promptly flew in the direction of the village. It was now time to initiate the plan. Adair controlled the Wyvern to fly low to the ground to increase accuracy. Jason''s plan was to materialize the bucket of wasp water just before they flew over the Ogre''s head. It would be just like the planes used in fighting forest fires that would spray their payload as the flew by. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. SWOOP! SPLASH! SPRAY! "Bullseye!" Exclaimed Jason as the liquid irritant poured like a drizzle on the Ogre and most of his lackeys. They all looked fine for the most part: shaking the excess liquid off like dogs. But Jason knew they were going to experience hell in 3... 2... 1... GWOOOOOHHHHHH!!! The collective screams were so loud, it drowned out the sould of the Wyvern wings flapping. Several goblins and hobgoblins began scratching with reckless abandon while wailing in pain. Quite a few of them were rolling on the ground and getting as much dirt on their persons as possible in hopes of rubbing as much of the Wasp Water as possible. Jason knew their efforts were pointless, and their only option was suffering for 15 minutes before it faded naturally. The formation fell to pieces and the lackeys scattered to the wind: leaving the Ogre to suffer alone. It looked about to turn tail and scurry back to whence it came before doing something that caught it''s attackers off guard. ROOOAAAARRRRR! The Ogre suddenly let out a roar that vibrated one''s body like that of a lion. It''s eyes turned red, and it muscles increased in size. "WTH?! Why''s it going berserk?" Jason was confused. Ogre were known to go berserk after taking life-threatening damage. This state would dull any pain, and make them significantly stronger, faster, and ferocious. Temporarily free of pain, the Ogre turns it''s attention to the flying duo. It observes them for a short while before snarling and rearing back his club before darting in their direction at high speed. "Dodge! He''s gonna throw that thing!" Screamed Jason. They were hovering not too far from the beast. It wasn''t easy to make quick maneuvers in that position. "Dammit!" Cursed Adair as she controlled her wyvern. It was too late, however, as the Ogre closed in, made a mighty leap into the air, and flung it''s lumber sized club which spun like a boomerang straight at them. At the last second, the wyvern raised its powerful hind legs to intercept the club. It was successful, but the force of the projectile flung them back violently as they lost control and altitude. CRASH! The wyvern crashed on the ground awkwardly and let out a cry. Adair did so as well, but out of concern rather than pain. She and Jason got out of the crash mostly unharmed. Getting back up quickly, Jason eyed the approaching Ogre wearily as Adair tended to her flying companion. "How''s the damage?!" Jason asked. "She''s favouring her left wing. It doesn''t look broken, but it could be a fracture. We''re grounded." Responds Adair despondent. "You''ve got to be kidding me..." Jason said with worry. As the Ogre transitions from its walk into a jog. Not only that, other non-affected goblins begin approaching them. Things are getting hairy, and decision have to be made. Now. "I''ll engage the ogre. You protect the wyvern and take out the small fry." Declared Jason. "What?!!! Do you have a deathwish or something? You''re stil-" "I know! No time. Enemies incoming" Interrupted Jason as he placed his palms on the ground. He knew what she meant. He was still in the 1st Stage of the human realm and wanted to take a Berserk Ogre on solo. That was objectively insane. However his goal wasn''t to win, but to buy time. The berserker state won''t last long; 5-10 minutes depending on how hard it exerts itself. It would be left fatigued after the fact. That coupled with the Wasp Water taking effect would put it in a very vulnerable position. It would have to retreat then. Just buy time. Nothing more. With that, Jason raises his hands off the floor and with them comes 2 balls of dirt. "Guess it time to use ki spells in real combat." Jason remarks before running forward to meet the Ogre. Adair could only cuss at the scene before returning to defending herself from any goblin who dared approach. Both combatants rushed toward each other with the ogre slightly outpacing Jason. As they closed in, the ogre wasted no time, delivering a brutal overhead swing of its arm aimed at crushing his human foe. But Jason, anticipating the move with precision, pivoted sharply, dodging the strike before it could land. The ogre, overextending, left itself wide open. Jason seized the opportunity, hurling a fistful of dirt at the creature''s face, blinding it temporarily. As the ogre frantically wiped at its eyes, its defenses dropped completely, exposing itself to Jason''s next move. Without hesitation, Jason slashed at one of the ogre''s Achilles tendons with his ki blade. It left a deep, bloody gash, but not enough to slow it down. Enraged, the ogre swung a violent backhand in retaliation, but Jason ducked just in time, countering with another quick slice to the creature''s wrist as the massive arm flew past. The strike left a shallow wound that bled, but not enough to stop the beast. The ogre, undeterred, used the momentum of its missed strike to twist and lunge at Jason with its other hand, claws outstretched. Jason responded with a thrust of his ki blade, driving it deep into the ogre''s open palm. The creature managed to grip the blade, attempting to yank Jason closer. In a split second, Jason dissolved the blade, causing the ogre to stagger backward, thrown off balance by the sudden loss of resistance. SLICE! Jason pounced on the brief opening, re-materializing his ki blade and slashing at the ogre''s exposed knee. Another wound, but like the others, it wasn''t enough to bring the giant down. The ogre regained its footing and blindly lunged at Jason once more, its fury unchecked despite its growing list of injuries. 1 MINUTE The fight turned into a deadly dance. Though the ogre was slightly faster, its impaired vision gave Jason a critical edge, plus he kept re-blinding him with dirt. The creature''s massive swipes missed him by inches as he weaved and counterattacked, never letting up. Jason knew one wrong move could end everything, but he stayed focused. Slash after slash, each wound was small, but they were beginning to take their toll. Blood flowed freely from the ogre''s mounting injuries. The beast, once unstoppable, was slowing, weakening under the relentless assault. 3 MINUTES "Woah!" Yelped Jason as he just barely dodges a random goblin trying to get a cheap shot on him before being sent flying by the ogre who mistook it for Jason since its eyesight is still a little blurry from the dirt. Taking a split moment to guage his surrounding, Jason realized goblins were being attracted to the commotion. Alot of them stopped midway on their march to the village and are returning to assist the Ogre. This wasn''t good. It takes all his concentration to stay in this fight without getting hurt. He''s not confident he''ll be able to juggle 3rd parties jumping into the fray. This split moment of consideration was interrupted by the Ogre lunging at him once more before the flying goblin had hit the ground. After dodging and counterattack, for like the hundredth time, Jason took off running in a random direction with the Ogre right on his tail. Jason didn''t wish to find himself surrounded, make a mistake and pay a heavy price. His goal was to stall for time; not win. He also wanted to keep the Ogre away from Adair and her wyvern. It would be a nightmare defending them from the not gentle giant. Cutting down any goblin that got close as he ran, Jason would also make sharp turns like a gazelle inorder to gain some distance from the Ogre, which despite it''s size, could run mildly faster than he could. Luckily, it was bad at sharp turns. 4 MINUTES Jason made one more sharp turn, right after running past a hobgoblin. Then all of a sudden, he heard a hard thud with the sound of breaking bones in the mix. Next instant, his back was struck by an object with such force, it sends him flying, then stumbling a short distance. Turns out the Ogre had smacked the hobgoblin that Jason had just past in his direction and managed to hit him with the broken body projectile. As Jason was scrambling to his feet, the Ogre was already upon him with one leg reeled back. It looked like it wanted to kick Jason like a football. The highly telegraphed move allowed Jason room to abandon his attempt to stand, and instead, collapse flush on the ground. This mostly works, as the Ogre misses and begins flailing its arm in attempts to prevent himself from falling face first. Unfortunately, Jason didn''t fully dodge as the foot grazes him as it rockets by, and he felt some of his ribs break. This pissed him off. He really hated getting hurt. Jason was able to ignore the pain for the time being thanks to the adrenaline pumping through him courtesy of the close call. He got to his feet in a split second, rematerialized the ki blade and did something abhorrent. He stabbed it right into the Ogres behind. Not either of the cheeks, but the canal. A cut was made as wide as his hand''s span, and the smell of blood and faeces filled the air. Jason knew he had dealt potentially lethal damage here. Jason could have easily dissolved the ki blade and resumed his running strategy. The Ogre would have bled to death in no time, and the fight would be over. However, his rationality was impaired by his rage and adrenaline. He was going to kill it here and now. His decision made, Jason pours more ki into the blade to extend it''s length and pierce deep into the Ogre''s torso: puncturing and slicing internal organs as it went. This all happens in a split second before the Ogre could react. It vomit blood as a result, and begins to fall forward. WHAM! ''H-how...'' Thought Jason dumbfounded as he was sent flying back. The Ogre had performed a Donkey Kick midfall as its final attack before slamming facefirst on the ground as it began to bleed out. Jason lands and skids some distance. He just took a torso sized foot square to well,... His torso. Luckily for him, he was able to pull one arm towards his core to help soften the blow. As a result, he broke said arm along with multiple ribs. If he hadn''t done that in time, chances are his chest would have been caved in. Goblins and hobgoblins around the area who saw the Ogre go down were paralyzed with shock for a short while before collectively screaming like wounded animals and running every which way. It was complete pandemonium. The serpent had lost its head, so I began to flail helplessly. The goblins had lost all semblence of order; turning them from a serious threat to a mild inconvenience. Jason let out one wet bloody cough after another as he struggled to breathe while supporting himself with his one good arm. BONK! "ARGH!" Jason yelled in pain as he was struck over the head with wooden club. An opportunistic goblin had snuck up on him to deal the blow. Jason was in no position to defend himself properly. His arm was broken, he had multiple broken ribs, he was still struggling to breathe which hurt like hell to do, and the surprise headshot made it even more difficult to think than before. So Jason just lay there protecting his head with his one good arm the best he could, while the goblin continued battering him with strikes all over his body. Of the handful of thoughts that went his mind at the time, one of them was the thought that he might just die to a goblin of all things just a few months after entering this world. ''That would be all kinds of embarrassing.'' he thought as he was gradually losing consciousness. Escavile, Dakota Dukedom World: 77 days. Escaville: 6 days. 17 Aftermath Escavile, Dakota Dukedom World: 80 days. Escaville: 9 days. "Alright! That''s win number 9." Said Jason as the defeated Ogre body returns to normal and they both begin their 9th round within his lucid realm. Jason had ''awoken?'' here in his lucid realm after losing consciousness from the Goblin beating. For some time he dreaded his passing, but after a considerable amount of time passes, he come to the conclusion that he must have been saved by now, most likely by Adair who was nearby. With nothing better to do, Jason decided to review his fight to ascertain what he did wrong, and the things he can do to improve. His first mistake was not using a weapon. A ki blade is sharper than a regular sword, but a regular sword coated in ki would be sharper than a ki blade. He could have dealt way more damage if he had a sword. His second consideration was getting something that would blind opponents more completely and way longer than dirt. Mixing dried pepper with dirt or fresh pepper with water would be great starters. He''ll progress to something as effective as wasp water eventually. Some kind of poison, preferably one to paralyze the foe. Either coat a weapon in it, or make ice needles out of it and fire at the enemy. Affecting the enemy''s footing by using Earth Manipulation. "It would have been great to make that Ogre lose it''s footing especially while it was chasing me around. Tripping over a brick sized protrusion and falling on an earth spike would have been sick." With that, Jason put together some short term goals: get a sword, blinding agent, paralyzing poison, and better Earth Spells. "I win! Round 10 over. Gotta try something else. This is getting boring." Jason said as he waved over what appeared to be Sammy and Quinn who were watching him and cheering him on. These weren''t real, but rather clones created from his memory of the two and act as identically to them as Jason''s memory allowed. They''ve kept him company this whole time. He then materializes a massive TV and a gaming console, and began playing co-op games with the two for hours. SEVERAL HOURS LATER The lucid realm begins to shimmer and shake. "Oh! Looks like I''ll be waking up soon. Oh well, it was fun guys." Jason said as he bid the two goodbye. "Bye." "See ya." Sammy and Quinn clones both replies as the lucid realm collapses. "Ughhhh..." goes Jason as he regains consciousness and the sensation of his injuries hit him hard. He tries to move, but his chest hurts, but nowhere near as much as he did before, so he was glad to be recovering. Laying there in the bed with his eyes shut tight in concentration, Jason meditates inorder to get a clearer picture of his condition. He is glad to learn he has nothing but hairline fractures in most of his ribs, plus his broken arm has been set, and is healing quite nicely. Breathing would be painful for a bit, but not too long. He''d still be out of commission for a few days especially with the sling supporting his healing arm. ''Huh?'' Jason wondered. "There''s some weight on my other arm..." With that, Jason opens his eyes for the first time to see what it is. "..." Someone with blond hair is sleeping on a chair beside his bed with their blond head resting on his arm. Jason knew who it was instantly. "Sammy?" Jason said in surprise. "Nnnhhhhh..." Hearing his name made the blond begin waking up. He raised is head and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes before blinking a few times as the sight of Jason looking at him like a deer caught in the headlights comes into view. This causes Sammy to freeze for a moment. "Uhhh... Good morning?" Was Jason''s poor attempt to diffuse the awkwardness before being half tackled by the blond. "Cuuughh!..." Was the only sound Jason could make as the air was knocked out of him and the pain in his chest flared with a vengeance. "Oh crap! I''m so sorry! How could I be so stupid. Are you OK?!" Panicked Sammy as he recoiled away. However Jason pulls him back by the waist before saying "Good to see ya, buddy". This gesture mostly calms Sammy, before he begins to struggle to figure out what safe way he could hold Jason without hurting him. Soon he settles for resting his head on Jason''s shoulder before replying "Yeah. Me too." Elsewhere. "I still find it hard to believe that a kid still in the 1st Stage of the Mortal Realm managed to single handedly take on and defeat an Ogre 1 Stage above him plus his posse of Hobgoblins. Heck! I hear he did it in 5 minutes. That would have taken 5 of us 6 minutes to pull off." Said a tall bearded man with a greatsword on his back. "Well, if it will make you feel any better, my pupil was rather lucky. Alot of things went his way, yet it was still quite a close victory." Chanty responds casually. "Oh? Please elaborate, then." Replied Greatsword Beard. "First, he had the assistance of a wyvern rider in pooring his ''Wasp water'' on the entire group led by the Ogre. This caused the Hobgoblins to disperse, making the battle considerably easier. Second, this happened on an open space. His strategy wouldn''t have worked in a forested area with trees to interfere. Third, the Ogre immediately went berserk which despite making things more dangerous, shortened the fight because of the backlash." Greatsword Beard. nods in understanding as Chanty continues. "And Fourth, the Ogre threw away his club, severely lowering his reach, and allowing Jason to get closer. Everything was in Jason''s favor, yet he only won by a whisker, so it''s not as impressive as you make it out to be." Finished Chanty. "Hmmm... What you said makes sense. It''s still an insane feat, but now I have context. Oh well, I''ll be heading off to clear one of the mines. See you later." Said Greatsword beard as he walks off; Chanty to watching him depart. As the man gets out off earshot, Chanty is joined by someone else."Although what you said wasn''t false, you did underplay the lad''s performance by a sizable degree. Would I be wrong in guessing that you''re trying to keep him under the radar?" Asked the other person. Chanty shrugs disarmingly before confirming the guess. "Best not to have too many eyes on him. Many would gladly offer their daughters to have someone like him in their party as he is now. And that''s not even considering his potential for growth." "Your reasoning is well thought out, and your proactive steps are most appreciated. You know, I all but jumped into the lad''s arms when I saw what he was capable of. I didn''t wish to delay and lose the opportunity to form a party with him." "Hmm! I know what you mean. I too did not delay in that regard. Be that as it may, I am glad to know I will be adventuring with you once again, Sam. I was pleasantly surprised when you revealed you were his party member. " Agrees Chanty. "The feeling is mutual, old friend. I feel this adventure will have alot in store for us. I wonder if we can get the old group back together in the future." Replies Sam. Back in a random room in the village, Jason finishes a glass of water which is taken by Sammy and put away. "Are you sure you''re OK?" Asked Sammy still not convinced. "When did you become such a worrywort? I''m fine. Now get over here. I need to a rundown of what happened while I was out of commission." Responds Jason as he taps a spot on the bed beside himself. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Sammy rolls his eyes before taking a seat on the edge of the bed beside the lying Jason as he explains what he had missed. Turns out Jason was unconscious for 3 days, with Sam and his adventuring posse showing up a day prior. As Jason had guessed, Adair had saved him from the club goblin and dragged his unconscious body back to the village. With the defeat of the Ogre, the goblin hoard fell to pieces and they all retreated back to the mines. It was bittersweet. The villagers were torn between jubilation at the end of their goblin problem, and the sombre atmosphere brought about by seeing their ''hero'' brought back broken. Jason received treatment in the Mayor''s home by caretakers for 2 days, after which Sam arrives and had proper healers attend to Jason while the rest of the adventurers got to dealing with the goblins. Unsurprisingly, the group was collectively shocked to learn that Jason had taken on and defeated the Ogre solo. Now there were waiting for his recovery, and itching to see the kind of man who would pull off such a feat. Suffice to say, Adair has been harassed nonstop for the passed day, and decided to lock herself in her room in the inn to get some peace and quiet. With regard to goblin eradication, the adventurers are systematically and meticulously clearing out the mines as well as every possible hiding place in the area. They intend to make goblins extinct around this town for acres otherwise they come back. "And that''s it. Oi! Where are you touching?!" Hearing the protest, Jason moves his hand from where he was caressing and draped it across Sammy''s thighs instead. "You left out the part about why you''re here." Asked Jason while acting like nothing happened. "I answered the guild''s summons. Besides, Sam said you''d be here, so I wasn''t missing out on a chance to see you again." Hearing that, Jason pulls Sammy closer by the waist. "I''m hungry. Go grab me something to eat." The moment died with a whimper. "Way to ruin the moment, bro." Sammy said while rolling his eyes before getting off the bed and making his way to the door. "I''ll let Sam and that Martial Art lady know you''re awake while I''m at it, so expect some visitors soon." "Tell the wyvern riders too if you have the chance." "Will do." With that, Sammy closed the door behind him and left Jason with his thoughts. "Dang! I forgot to ask him what happened to the Ogre''s body. Oh well, I''ll find out later. Hopefully nobody took it. I''d be pissed if someone did." Minutes Later: Knock Knock Knock. "Come in." The door opens after Jason''s response. Behind it were the Wyvern Riders and Sammy who''s holding a large tray of meat. "Jayjay! Good to see you awake. I thought you were dead when Adair brought you into the village like a sack of potatoes. Then I thought you wouldn''t wake up since you were sleeping like a sack of potatoes. You are looking nothing like a sack of potatoes right now, so now I can rest easy." The room went silent at Skyler''s odd monologue as she stood their smiling like nothing was wrong. "Uhh... Looks like I made you worry, Sky." Jason responds with a sweatdrop. "OK! You can all continue your chat while he eats, so please make way cuz this tray is heavy." Interrupted Sammy as the group sheepishly made room for him to pass and set the meal. "The folks at the inn prepared it on the house to show their appreciation, and it''s all meat from the butcher shop: your meat, so its free. Now eat up." Continued Sammy as he placed the tray down. "Oh! Nice! But could you help me cut it up? I''m short an arm." Asked Jason as he materialized a knife. "Sure thing." Replied Sammy as he took the knife and got to work. After that, Jason proceeded to materialize a number of plates and utensils. "Why don''t you guys to join me?" Offered Jason. Nom nom munch munch "So... About that Ogre..." Inquiries Jason before taking a bite. "Oh, that. We retrieved the body and took it to the butcher. As for the Lifecore, it''s in the hand of the expedition leader: an elf archer in all green. He said something about being your party member." Sid explained. "Ahhh good. Glad it''s in good hands. I was mentally preparing myself for the royal beating I would inflict on anyone who tried to claim what I risked my life for." Jason says releaved. "Yeah... You know, I still find it hard to believe you took down the Ogre. You''re the talk of the town right now, you know." Continues Sid. Jason rubbed the back of his head and smiled in embarrassment. "Truth be told, I didn''t think I could take it down either. My plan was to chase it off from the very beginning till near the end. Things just worked out the way they did." The last part jogs Jason''s memory, and he turns to the last member of the Wyvern Riders. "Oh! And thanks for saving my behind at the end, Adair. I thought I was a goner." Jason said to the Drakin who seemed absentminded throughout the conversation. With a curt nod she responds "It was nothing. I''m glad you made it out alive." With that, their chat continues for a few more minutes before the wyvern riders depart to handle their various duties. Leaving Jason and Sammy alone once again. EVENING. Sam and Chanty make their way to Jason''s room. Knock Knock Knock Shuffling can be heard behind the door for a few seconds. Which makes Sam raise an eyebrow. "Who is it?" Calls out Jason with a tinge of nervousness in his voice. "It is I, lad. May I be let in?" Responds Sam. The door is opened soon after by Sammy who smiles sheepishly at the two. "I see you''ve been taking good care of the lad. I deeply appreciate your efforts, Sammy." "It''s nothing, really. Hahaha..." Chanty walks past the two towards Jason and stops right beside his bed. She stands there, scrutinizing him with her hands on her hips while Jason stares back at her confused. After awhile she nods her head in satisfaction and goes to take a seat beside Sam who was already seated. ''What was that, just now.'' Wondered Jason on puzzlement. The conversation with his party was no different than with the wyvern riders at the beginning. However the second half was different when Jason expressed his plans. "I see... Luckily you can accomplish most, if not all of your goals on your way to the Tournament. I''ll provide you a note of what you can do and where by the morning." With that, Sam got off his chair before continuing. "I shall leave you to your rest, lad. As I go have my own. Goodnight." He said with a backwards wave as he left. Chanty on the other hand pinches Jason''s cheek, pats him on the head, then finishes off with a light jab to his shoulder before wishing him a good night as she leaves as well. ''What''s with her today?'' Jason wonders in confusion of Chanty''s antics. "Well, guess it''s time for me to hit the hay as well." Said Sammy who Jason had forgotten was still in the room. Jason agrees before making some room on his bed, then patting the empty space. This makes Sammy almost double over as he tries to hold back a sudden fit of laughter. "In my own room, silly." However his words were ignored as his arm was grabbed and was pulled forward. "Wait! At least let me lock the door!" Protested Sammy. DAYBREAK Escavile, Dakota Dukedom. World: 81 days. Escaville: 10 days. Jason awakes at dawn. He notices his bed is empty and assumes Sammy had woken up earlier and left the room. He jokingly imagines Sammy carefully prying himself out of his grasps to do so. Thoughts aside, Jason gets out of bed and heads to the shower. He felt alot better today than he did yesterday. The recovery speed in this world was insane in his opinion. By the time he was bathed and dressed, the door opened, and in walks Sammy with a large tray of food. "Morning! I brought breakfast." Announces the blond. They both have breakfast together and Jason devours his portions with gusto. When they finish, Sammy picks up the tray and asks Jason what his plans are this morning as they both make their way downstairs towards the Diner. "I''ll drop by the butcher''s shop, then the Mayor. After that, I''ll go check out how the Goblin genocide is going. It''s my day off, so I''m not doing anything intense. What about you?" Answers Jason. "I''m supposed to be part of the reserve. We''re meant to chip in where the main force feels overwhelmed. Since your team handled most of the work, we''ve been tasked with mondane duties. Mine is to look after you; courtesy of Sam." Replied Sammy. The two made their way to their destination and handed the tray to the cook. Jason thanked her for the meal, and she thanked him in return for saving the town. This got the attention of the people having breakfast at the Diner. Jason had become something of a local celebrity the past few days. The Adventurers from out of town could finally put a face to the elusive hero the locals won''t stop talking about. Not one for this level of attention, Jason ignores their stares and murmurs and leave the inn with Sammy in tow. Shortly thereafter they make their way to the butcher shop where they are welcomed by the Owner. "Hahaha! Welcome back to the world of the living, young man. I knew you wouldn''t kick the bucket so easily. Hahaha!" Bellowed the owner. The two exchanged pleasantries, and Jason was brought up to speed with the goings on. More smoking shacks were built to handle what the Adventurers were bringing in. They''ve been super busy processing all the bodies. Speaking of processing, the ogre''s body had just been processed, and the Owner took Jason to see it. The hide had been removed, and it was suggested Jason find someone to turn it into leather armor, or trade it in for a similar quality armor to save time. Jason took the meat and hide, and put the service cost on his tab. Next up, Jason was told of Merchants who came with the adventurers itching to buy his meat. Selling his wares would create room for the owner''s shop, however Jason knew enough about economics to realize it would be best not to sell all his wares at once, as their surplus supply made them dirt cheap. He''d make more money selling them in other towns where the supply was lower. Problem was, he couldn''t transport all that meat in his mindscape, nor did he have a carriage to compensate. After some thought, he came up with an idea. He''d sell the meat cuttings that were the cheapest and hold on to the ones that cost more per pound. Additionally he''d find a merchant who 1.) didn''t have much inventory, 2.) Don''t have much cash on hand, and 3.) was following their route. He''d make a deal with such a merchant where he''d hand over the meat at no upfront cost, and in return not only does the merchant hire his party to escort the goods, Jason would be paid after the goods got sold. He''d need Sam''s help to streamline the whole process, and even if the lovely elf can''t for some unfathomable reason, he can still rely on the butcher, the chief, and his newly attained local fame to assist. After assuring the butcher he''d handle that, he was led to a room where after a brief rummage, he was handed a large sack of life cores. They were all the butcher had carved out from the bodies over the last number of days, and numbered in the hundreds. Jason graciously received the cores, the ogre leather, and some meat and left to see the Chief after which he and Sammy left the village to see what the Adventurers were up to. Reaching the closest mine, they saw a group of adventurers camped outside the entrance and unaliving any beast that tries to escape. This was the same scene at every mine they encountered along their walk. Soon they reach the largest mine that once housed the Ogre. And there they saw a familiar head of long blond hair with pointy ears clad in all green. Sam was supervising the operation. 18 Protect Vampire Loli Escavile, Dakota Dukedom World: 81 days. Escaville: 10 days. "Hnnnn? What brings you here, lads." Sam asks casually before he and Jason fell into smalltalk and discussed various things including his plans for the merchant. Unsurprisingly, Sam promised to help with that. He also provided a plan for the next number of months. As he is expected to return to Tatter Town briefly after finishing things here, Jason and Chanty would head to their next destination: Lassie Town. There Jason can address his taming needs, and Sam would most likely reunite with them there. From there, the party would head to Claymore Town to have a sword made or bought as well as the ogre leather put to good use. There''s more to the plan, but that''s just the short-term. Sam recommend a couple more days of rest while he sorts things out with the merchant and guild to make their departure as streamline and profitable as possible. And with a mock salute, Jason makes to return to the village with Sammy in tow. He had seen enough, and the conversation had gone on long enough. Sam was a busy elf. As the two departed, Chanty can be seen exiting the mine entrance. Apparently she was part of the cleansing operation. Escavile, Dakota Dukedom World: 83 days. Escaville: 12 days. Two days later, and a heartfelt goodbye to Sammy once again, Jason and Chanty would depart with a merchant of Sam''s choosing. They''d provide escort on their way to the town called Lassie where Jason would learn taming. Along the way, Jason was splitting his attention between keeping watch and cultivating. Absorbing the energy from the life cores was as straightforward as meditating. He sure was glad this world wasn''t like the usual cultivation worlds where he''d have to cultivate in isolation for 100 year to get 1 percent stronger or something as ludicrous. By nightfall they arrived at the first town on the way and spent the night at a local in. Day 84 The merchant sells his wares while Jason and Chanty hunt hazard beasts in the area. By nighttime the group sleeps at the inn once again. Day 85 First thing in the morning the group leaves town to continue their journey. Around noon, and a few miles off from the next town, there''s an incident. "Do you see that, pupil?" Asks Chanty nonchalantly. "You mean the large tree blocking the road? Yup. Clear as day. This could only mean..." Jason pondered. "Bandits." They both spoke in unison as the merchant began sweating. "Good, good! Finally a fight with bloodlust and above goblin levels of intelligence. You remember your role, pupil?" "Yup!" Jason responds as he gets to the top of the carriage with his bow and arrows ready. Chanty positions herself beside the merchant whose driving inorder to protect him. And the merchants apprentice locks the carriage doors and hides inside. As they approach the log, bandits begin revealing themselves from the surrounding bush ahead and behind the carriage. The group was surrounded. "I''m counting a dozen so far. Haven''t spotted anyone hiding ye-whoa!" Jason abruptly dodges an arrow fired at him from outta nowhere. "Never mind!" He takes aim, fires, and a yell can be heard at a distance. Jason fires off a couple more at his target to seal the deal. This exchange is the trigger that starts the battle as the dozen bandits bumrush the carriage. Both Jason and Chanty begin letting loose projectiles: arrows and ki blasts respectively. When the foes get too close, Jason jumps to the ground and engages them in melee. These guys were amateurs, so he handled them like oversized toddlers and knocked them out. Chanty was also done with her group, but unlike Jason, she left no survivors. Informing her of his intention, Jason leaves to find the Archer who fired on him earlier. Unfortunately, said Archer somehow managed to escape. This confused Jason as he was sure the injuries sustained was potentially lethal if not treated immediately. He returns to Chanty with the news, and she becomes troubled. If their identities got revealed to the larger bandit group, it would put a target on their backs and result in harassment from said group seeking revenge. They had only on option: trail the escapee to their camp and wipe them out. However they couldn''t do this now and leave their client unprotected, so they''d Escort him to town and then double back. With decisions made, Jason and Chanty got busy clearing the road and looting the bodies. The sound of breaking necks made as Chanty was dispatching the remaining bandits sent a chill down Jason''s spine as he heard it. Among the loot was a mildly worn longsword which Jason took for himself. He''d practice with this for the meantime. After arriving at the town Chanty went off to a cheap clothing store for a few minutes, while Jason was to head to the local Adventurers Guild to issue a quest. After completing their respective tasks they met up with Jason at the town entrance. Then the duo took off in a sprint. Soon they reached the scene of their battle, and Jason led the way in tracking the runaway Archer. Sam''s lessons were coming in clutch here. The two trekked for 1 hour until they noticed a camp in the distance. There were tents all around with a cave at the back. The dozens of bandits inhabiting this place were on high alert, and security was tight. Some were seen to be packing their belongings, but made no move to leave. It was as if they were waiting for orders or a signal. The two knew they had to hit them now, and hit them hard. Chanty gave the gameplan: Jason would snipe key targets from a distance while Chanty charged in from the opposite side of the camp. After getting into position, Jason would kick things off with an arrow to an unsuspecting guard''s torso. This caused those around the victim to freeze in confusion long enough for Jason to hit another target before all hell broke loose. Most of the bandits ran for cover while cooler heads began barking orders and getting things organised. At that moment, Chanty would swoop in and end them with a swift slash: opting for a ki blade to make quick work of her foes. Jason did his best to cover her while she went after anyone that looked competent. The goal was to take the heads of the leader of these bandits, followed by the rest, and end their operation permanently. "What the hell is going on out there!" Yelled large man that exited the cave. Jason would best describe him as half viking half barbarian. Without missing a beat, Chanty darts towards this man: taking out anyone who tried to obstruct her along the way. The suddenness of her approach took the man by surprise and he was almost too slow in unsheating his blade to block Chanty. Before she could make a follow up attack, a nearby bandit swong at her forcing her to abandon the attack. This gave the leader time to recover and attempt an attack of his own before he''s forced to dodge an arrow that whizzed by where his head was a moment ago. Chanty was deep in enemy territory, and was beginning to be pressed. Jason had to jump in soon to alleviate some of that. He began firing 3 arrows at a time and at a faster rate. This dropped his accuracy by quite a bit, but he kept mobs at bay and dropped the occasional body. Once he ran out of arrows, he made a made dash for the camp. "Keep still, you wench!" Hollered the bandit leader in frustration as he tried and failed to strike Chanty. She expertly weaved around all her attackers and kept a safe distance from his blade''s reach. Too much time had been wasted, and the camp was less disorganised now. Bandits where getting into various positions waiting for a golden opportunity to strike. They too were keeping their distance from Chanty. This give her a moment of reprieve she used to catch her breath. She has been fighting full throttle from the getgo, which can drain anyone no matter how much stamina they had. And she had alot. "Getting tired eh?! Don''t worry, I intent to capture you alive. You''ll be begging for mercy on my bed soon. Just you wait." The Bandit Leader said through gritted teeth. Chanty just gave him a smug smile as a response. That only pissed him off further. "That''s it! Deploy the net!" Out of nowhere, a net was falling on Chanty. She had no idea when they had thrown it. However, that wasn''t a concern as she easily cut through with a ki blade. At that moment, a dozen bandits bumrushed her from all directions; cutting off all paths of escape. Without hesitation, she rushes at a random direction and let loose a flying crescent slash. This took out 3 men instantly, she darted through the opening only to be intercepted my the leader. ''He''s faster than he looks. Hmm? Why''s he wearing goggles?'' Wondered Chanty as the surrounding bandits threw small balls at the two which all burst into smoke. "Smoke pellets! Argh!" These weren''t ordinary smoke pellet. They irritated the eyes as well. Chanty wasted no time in attempting to distance herself from the giant of a man, but the encirclement caught up. And as she exited the smoke cloud, she was grabbed by the ankle and by one of her arms. She cut off the offending hand gripping her ankle, and materialized a ki blade on her other hand which impaled her other brappler. All this happened in a single second, however in that same time she was grabbed twice more. In no time she was basically dogpiled and restrained. When all her assailants got a good hold of here, they pulled her up to a standing position as she was presented to their Boss. He casually walked over, reached out, grabbed a boob and squeezed hard. Chanty did well to hide the immense pain and only let out a grunt. Not satisfied with her reaction, the Boss released the hold, then delivered a nasty backhand to her face. Then gripped her hair and pulled her face up to face him. "After I deal with your archer friend, I''m coming back to deal with you. That''s a taste of what to expect." Was the man''s threat, but Chanty only gave him her usual smug smile. Her defiance infuriated the man further, but the sound of whirling caught his attention and he turned to its direction. "Wha-" The boss''s words died in his throat as crisp whip noise sounded off, and he felt searing pain in his gut. His leather armor protected him some, but the damage was still considerable as he doubled over in pain from the stone that hit him. Infront of him was a young man in casual clothes running at him with a sword. Energized by rage, he overcomes the pain and gets to his feet just in time to intercept the swing. Clang! Woo woo woo woo woo. The young man''s sword was sent flying, but it was the boss who was in shock. ''It was a faint!'' He screamed in his head. Jason had let go of his sword a moment before the clash and continued into the boss''s personal space while he was over wide open. The boss could only watch hopelessly as he took a full powered punch with a full sprint behind it to the same spot on his turso he just took a stone going a Mach speed. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. BAM! The pain he felt was beyond words as he spat out blood. Before he could even think, he felt a second blow to his liver as Jason slipped passed him inorder to deliver a nasty haymaker to a bandit holding one of Chanty''s arm. It took a seconds for the boss to recover and attempt another attack, but as the swong his sword, the delayed pain from the liver shot kicked in and undermined said swing. Because of this, Jason easily catches him by the wrist with one hand while simultaneously pointing his index finger at the boss''s exposed neck. SHINK! A thin ki blade manifests and plunges through the boss''s neck. He immediately let''s go of the sword and attempts the stop the bleeding, as Jason grabs said sword out of the air, coats it in ki, then delivers a decapitating blow to the man. Ending him then and there as though it were an execution. Before the headless corpse could hit the ground, Jason turns around and stabs at one of men holding Chanty. She''s immediately let go by everyone holding her as they all scramble to escape, but they''re all cut down by the two. Looking over all the death and destruction is Jason with an enraged look on his face as he grips the sword very tightly. Chanty places her hands on his in attempts to calm him down. "Good, good! This level of indignation for seeing one''s teacher manhandled is quite respectable. I am deeply touched!" After seeing that her words were having some effect, she decided land a critical hit. She reached up to her hurt breast and began massaging it with a half pained half aroused moan. "Ugh... So sore." This act threw Jason for a loop, and he couldn''t maintain his mental state. This as the first time she had done anything sexually suggestive ever. Chanty pokes his side playfully before pointing out it''s after dark and urges for them to loot the place quickly and leave. Jason agrees and the atmosphere soon goes straight to depressing as the two entered some tents to discover women who were used and abused. Some where unconscious, others were awake, and a handful appeared awake but completely unresponsive with glazed over eyes. Chanty explained to Jason that that''s the key symptom of Mind Break. When one is subjected to intense trauma, they lose the will to live and do nothing but open their eyes on occasion and stare at nothing with an emptiness in their eyes. Chanty was the one to attend to the girls. She cleaned them up best she could, and gave them cheap clothes to replace their torn and missing ones. After an hour, they finish looting the camp. All is left was the cave the boss walked out of. They soon enter and begin taking things valuable along the way. Soon they reach the far end of the cave. There was a bedroom with a woman heavy battered and bruised quivering in the corner. Nearby, they also found a girl chained up within a cage. This was no ordinary girl. "A vladi?!" Chanty points out in surprise. This was one of the 4 races Jason read about. Vladi, vladlin, vladlad, they went by multiple names. They were basically vampires without the sun weakness except that they easily tan. They were easily identified by their black hair, red pupils and irises, black lips and porcelain white skin where the sun didn''t touch. They looked and dressed like goths and emos. They weren''t rare per se, they were just less common on his island to the point a good chunk of the population had never seen one. And judging by the high quality of her clothes, she was related to someone important. Explains why she was in pristine condition as the bandits didn''t do anything to her beyond caging her. Jason had to leave the room so Chanty could do her thing. Trying her best to not look threatening, Chanty approached the girl and attempted communicating. Said girl didn''t speak or show emotion. She only nodded or shook her head in response to questions. Regardless, Chanty knew she was reeling mentally since she had a frontrow seat to the horrors the other woman had gone through. And she looked way younger than 16. This experience would definitely scar her for a very long time. Minutes passed before Chanty exited the cave with the other two girls in tow. One visibly shaken and the other with a blank expression. Now they had to get all these girls to the town safely. They couldn''t remain in the bandit camp for various reasons, plus they did not want to encounter whoever the bandits seemed to be waiting for. There was a clearing some minutes walk back the way Chanty and Jason came. They would set up camp there and spend the night. Early morning, they''d continue their trek. The trip was arduous not only for the girls who were weak from all they endured, but also for Jason who had to carry some of the Mind Break victims along the way. Chanty on the other hand walked with the vladi girl and acted as their guard through it all. Eventually they made it to the clearing, set up camp, and Jason stood guard as Chanty made sure all the girls were attended to. A couple Hazard Beasts tried their luck but we''re turned into dinner by Jason for the girls who unsurprisingly were starving. Day 86 The night went by, and the morning trek to the road was just as harsh. The group had to make multiple stops just to recuperate. When they finally made it to the road, a group of female adventurers were waiting with a carriage. This was arranged by Jason per Chanty''s direction, as she expected they''d be returning with some survivors. Also, a party of all women was explicitly specified as men would spook the girls. Jason''s presence was uncomfortable enough as is. In no time, all the girls were ferried back to the town where they''d remain under guild custody for sometime until further decisions could be made. The Guild had procedures for cases such as these. They''d take the victims into protective custody, gather data from said victims and use its information network to contact their families or related Sects inorder to transfer the responsibility of their care. The Guild wasn''t a charity organisation, so if no 3rd party came to claim the victims within a specific time, they hand them cheap clothes and some money, and send them on their way. They''d be on their own. Things got even dicier for people with Mind Break. They required more care, and they couldn''t be let loose for obvious reasons. This was an issue that has always plagued the inhabitants of this world. Mercy killings weren''t uncommon. Learning this made Jason worry for the wellbeing of the girls he carried since the day before. However, they were out of his hands, and he had other things to concern himself with: such as collecting the bounty on the Bandit Boss. While Jason was in the guild the day before, he checked the wanted posters and recalled the Boss was on there. The severed head sufficed as proof. Taking his bounty money, he returned to the inn for a much deserved rest. They''d be leaving tomorrow morning. DING! DING! DING! DING! "WTF?!" Jason was unceremoniously awoken from by the sound. It reminded him of a church bell. But this wasn''t time for a sermon. This was the guild bell ringing which signals an emergency requiring all adventurers who can hear it to respond. It''s such a big deal one would be punished if they were found to have ignored it. So Jason groggily gets dressed and is joined by Chanty in the inn lobby before they depart together. "Wonder what this is about." Asked Jason. "Hmmm... The faint smell of smoke and the distant clouds looking red tells me: forest fire." "Yeah! I was thinking the exact same thing." "-_- Precocious pupil! You did not." The two bantered their way to the guild hall where dozens of other adventurers awaited further instructions. Some more minutes pass and more adventurers show up before the local Guild Master himself stepped forward to address the crowd. "Sorry to ruin your sleep everyone, but we have an emergency. They''ve been a number of forest fires outside of town that started out of nowhere. We have to put them out pronto before they spread and cause untold amount of damage. The Guild Staff will direct the operation. Don''t be a hardass, and do what you''re told. Working together as a unit will ensure things are handled quickly and properly. I''ve said my piece, so let''s get started!" The Guild Master steps back and away, as some guild staff step forward and relay the plan. As they do so, the Guild Master walks towards Chanty and Jason. "It''s been quite awhile, miss Chanty. If you''re here, does that mean you''re back in action?" The GM asked. "Hello to you too Guild Master. Yes, you''re right on the money." Replied Chanty. "Excellent! That''s what I was hoping to hear. Now if you don''t mind, I''d like to discuss some business with you in my office." "That''s fine with me. Would it be alright if my pupil came along? We''re in the same party, you see." "Pupil? You mean he''s the one you''re nominating for your Sect''s tournament? Hmmm... I don''t see why not. Let''s go." After the 3 got to the office, the GM sat down and got straight to business. "I have a quest specifically for you: protect the Vladi girl you brought in until her guardians come to pick her up. Are you up for it?" Chanty for a moment before saying "Hmmm... I feel there''s more to this than you''re letting on, Guild Master. I''d like to know what I''m getting into before I can accept." "Hn. Yeah, You''re right. This whole debacle is a pain. Look. I''m no strategist, but I''ve lived long enough to notice a diversion when I see one. Those fires are definitely man-made, and for them to start right after you bring in the brat of that influencial Vladi family that has been turning the island upside down looking for her is not a coincidence. Whoever abducted the kid wants her back. And with her family beelining over here as we speak, they want her back now. The fires are going to remove most of our fighting force from play. And if these bastard were able to snatch away a kid with such a background, it''s fair to assume they''re pros: Second Stage at least. We don''t fully understand what fighting force we''re dealing with here. I''m assigning you this Quest because you''re the only B-rank Adventurer in this town. That''s what you''re getting into." "Oh my." "Indeed." "Why do you think they''re after her?" "I don''t know, and honestly, I''m not at liberty to care. I just want this hot potato out of my hands. We have to hold out till the family arrives, and that''ll be in 2 days if we''re lucky." Chanty contemplates for awhile before turning to her side. "Jason?" "Huh? Yes?" "Are you willing to weather this storm with me? There''s a good chance we might be wept away." "What are you asking all of a sudden? You know I got your back. Isn''t what a party is all about?" "Hmm! Good, good! Well said." Chanty then turned turned to the GM. "We shall take it." The man raised an eyebrow. "We?" After convincing the GM of Jason''s competence, the quest was officially assigned to the two. The vladi girl was placed in a guest room within the Guild with Chanty, while Jason guarded the door. They had to send a messenger to the merchant about their change in plans, plus revise their deal. Standing guard like that was hella boring for Jason, so he decided to play around with something he would see in lots of anime: Strings. String users would cover an area with wires which they used as an early warning system for approaching enemies. Jason kicked things off by conjuring a string of ki from a fingertip. It was too thick and visible plus he had difficulty controlling the thickness. His solution to this problem was to pull out a strand of his hair, coat it in ki, then extend the ki thread. He let the thread extend from his finger to the ground, then run along the floor down the hallway. As it got to the hallway entrance, he made a curtain of threads. Jason''s ki strings had the strength of hair. Any stronger would cost more ki. He didn''t fully understand the depths of this world''s power system, so wanted to be prepared against a potentially invisible foe, or one who used illusions or the like. If they were intangible, he''d rage quit. With that taken care of, Jason began going a step beyond by covering the entire hallway surface with a grid of strings. Now only a ghost could approach without him noticing. By meditating and sinking his consciousness into the string, it was like an extention of his body and he was aware of every square inch. Not one to be satisfied, Jason extended the grid into the room behind him where Chanty and Vladi-chan were. This didn''t count as peeking to him unless he was into feet. This wasn''t 360 degree vision or local omniscience. It was just the 3D outline of the room plus pressure sense. However he soon had to forgo griding the stool and bed after feeling Chanty''s butt pressed on the stool as she sat. ''Dang! She''s thicker than I thought... Huh?!'' Jason senses movement in his domain. Judging by the pressure signals, it was something smaller than a clenched fist, had four legs with a long tail dragged behind it. Looking in the direction he sensed it, Jason saw a white mouse. Both their eyes met and the rodent froze it''s advance. Jason stared at it for a long minute while the mouse acted oblivious but still remained in place. Then out of nowhere it began grooming itself for a short time, before scurrying unhurried in the opposite direct like nothing happened. "... Do you think I''m retarded or something?" Jason wasn''t leaving anything to chance. That mouse was acting all kinds of sus. He immediately took control of the threads in such a way that he was griding 1 meter square around the mouse as it moved, and retracting said grids over areas it had already passed. This was to save surface area and not spread his consciousness too thin. "I don''t know if it''s different in this world, but white mice aren''t usual in the wild. They''re primarily bred by people. Either this punk broke free, or it was sent here." That wasn''t all that was running through his mind: Taming! Jason didn''t know much about the mechanics of taming. But judging by the mouse''s behavior, it looked like it was being controlled remotely as it was showing rather human mannerisms. He had to make sure. Knock knock. "Hey Chanty?" "Yes, pupil." "Can tamers control animals remotely?" "Why the sudden odd question?" "Well..." Minutes later in a shady part of town, a white mouse crawls into a cage, then a meditating figure beside it sighs. "Report." Orders a cloaked figure. "There''s a guy guarding the door. He matches the description of one of the people who brought in our target. He was somehow able to sense me the moment I entered the hallway and kept staring like I owed him money." Answered the once meditating figure as they got to their feet. "Hmm... Ki sensing or hightened senses. Since he didn''t notice you earlier, it''s fair to assume he has a limited range. Were you followed?" "Nah. He didn''t tail me. He hasn''t even left the guild." "Good. Regardless, it seems they are expecting us. Further preparations are unnecessary. Signal the others. The operation starts in 15 minutes. Go!" "Aye aye!" Shirebunkle, Dakota Dukedom World: 86 days. Shirebunkle: 2 days. 19 No Rules Against Human Smugglers Shirebunkle, Dakota Dukedom World: 86 days. Shirebunkle: 2 days. The things Jason would have given to be able to listen in on their conversation. He couldn''t complain, however. Tracking down their enemies gave them a huge advantage. When he located the two, he wasted no time griding their bodies. They weren''t owed any decency. During their conversation he managed to get their physiques, heights and hair info. He didn''t know what their faces looked like because he couldn''t risk them feeling the threads on their bare skin. He did know that the meditating one was female and the other one was male. He also ensured the thread attached to them had near zero resistance so they wouldn''t feel anything. On top of that, he coated the soles of their footwear with ki and made it so that with every step they made an instant grid would be created for a few seconds and give Jason a snapshot of the area around them. As Jason tracked the two, he was able to detect 2 additional assailants who he tracked as well. However, unbeknownst to him there were others that were beyond his range. "Shouldn''t we tell the GM about this? Have him do something at least?" Jason asks Chanty through the door. "GM? Oh! Right. Well, we can''t leave out post for obvious security reasons. If you have a means of contacting him without moving from where you stand, I wouldn''t be against it." Replied Chanty. "Oh? Then give me a minute. I''ll get him down here in a minute." Minutes later. "He''s not coming." "What?" "He won''t leave his office." "What did you do, exactly?" "I wrote a message using ki strings on his desk." "Are you sure he saw it?" "He knocked down his chair in surprise. He saw it." "Oh? Did you try explaining better?" "I''m writing him an essay of everything going on. He''s still not leaving the office." "Oh well, he must have a reason. The plan hasn''t changed. We protect this girl." "Hmmm..." "That aside, have I ever told you how odd you are?" "Dafuq? Am I being insulted here or-" "Oh no no, do forgive my wording. I just struggle to find the words to describe you sometimes." "Must be rough for ''odd'' to be the best you could do." "You are performing at least 2 unfathomable feats of ki control that would each require complete meditative concentration SIMULTANEOUSLY while chatting with me." "... Ok, I get where you''re coming from now." "Now that I said it out loud, I think you shocked the ''GM'' into inaction." "How? Oh wait. Crap." "Nhn! He doesn''t know if he''s dealing with an unfathomable enemy or ally. He probably wouldn''t dare make a move for fear of dire concequences if he makes the wrong call." "Well he''s going to be making a call soon whether he likes it or not cuz one of my targets i''m tailing is hiding near the Guild and the other 3 have stopped at the other end of town. Something is about to happen." At different locations around the town, hooded figures initiate their plan. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions go off all around town. Multiple buildings are set ablaze. Resident run around screaming in terror. It''s absolute pandemonium. "There it is. It''s begun." Jason says dreadfully. Elsewhere in the GMs office, the man himself looks upon his town aflame through his window. "That''s it. I''ve had enough!" Roars the GM as he grabs his weapons and dives through his window into the streets below. He was out for blood. "GM has left the building. We''re on our own." Jason announces as his shoulders sag a little. "Ah. The guy waiting nearby is approaching fast. Get ready. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Speak of the devil... " At that moment a black clad individual reaches the entrance of the hallway. Without missing a beat, he unsheathes his sword, coats it in ki, then suddenly runs at Jason with blistering speed. Seeing this, Jason immediately coats his own sword: the good quality one from the former Bandit Boss. A sword coated in ki was sharper than a ki blade with the same output. He had to fight fire with fire. As the assailant got within range, he somehow tripped out of nowhere the very moment Jason swings his sword. Despite this, the black clad man manages to block Jason''s attack just enough to trade death for a useless left arm. Despite the save, with one arm used to block, and the other out of commission, the black clad had no way to break his fall, so he landed face first. Hard. Jason goes for a follow up attack on the prone figure, who somehow manages to quickly recover and make a faster low horizontal slash at Jason''s legs from his prone position. This forces Jason to abandon his swing and hop over the slash. The figure uses the momentum from his missed slash in tandem with leg movements to perform what Jason would consider a Breakdance maneuver to get himself back on his feet without using his arms. He does so just in time to parry another swing from Jason while pulling away from him with a floor tile attached to the sole of one of his boots. Turns out the reason he tripped was Jason''s doing. By giving the layer of ki at the sole of the figure''s boot an adhesive quality at a well-timed moment during his mad dash, this stuck his boot to the group and made him trip. Jason was glad he did so because from this short exchange he learned that his opponent was not just faster and stronger than he was, but also above him in skill. The impossible block was a testament to that. He''d wager this guy could beat Chanty 8/10 times. Taking one of his arms made things less one sided. Deciding to not give the figure breathing room, Jason goes on the offensive. However his attacks are expertly dodged and parried. This continues for a few seconds before the figure flips the tables out of nowhere. Jason was now forced to dodge and parry desperately. Despite his efforts, attacks slip through frequently and he''s accumulating damage one shallow cut at a time. The figure hadn''t taken a single additional hit in this exchange. Jason was adapting to the assailants fighting style, thanks to his [Muscle Memory] Skill, but it wasn''t getting any easier as the figure seemed to have an endless supply of new moves to throw at him. He was hoping to weather the attacks and improve till they were on equal footing, then stall till the injuries slowed the figure down enough to overcome him. Problem was, Jason was taking injuries too, and soon they would be equally hurt if this keeps up. ''This is going to be hella close. I have to get more skilled faster. But how?'' At that moment, Jason could sense the GM engaging one of the individuals he tagged in combat. ''That''s it!'' Thinking fast, Jason covers the GM''s body in grids of ki threads. This gave him a 3d rendition of his body in his mind. As the GM fought, Jason memorized his moves and his Muscle Memory did the rest. Of course he gridded the bodies of the others he was tailing as well for good measure. As the seconds ticked by Jason gradually went from desperate defensive to just plain ol'' defensive. He was taking fewer and fewer hits as time went on, which didn''t escape the notice of his foe. ''This... I have never met a man who could adapt this quickly during a life and death battle! It''s like he''s compressing days of training into seconds. "Kuh!" The man grunts in pain as Jason manages to get a hit in. He''s still taking more hits, but now he''s able to retaliate on occasion. ''I''ve wasted too much time. And the more time I waste, this man becomes more skilled, and wears me down further. I still have the woman inside to worry about, and I''d be in no condition to face her if this continues any longer. I have to use THAT and end things right here and now. There''s no other choice.'' With the man in black''s mind made up, he bites unto a pill in his mouth as Jason delivers a downward swing. Clang! ''What the?!'' It was Jason''s turn for dismay. His attack was just swatted back with such power the sword in his hands was almost knocked out of his hand as it bled from the force. Whatever it was the assailant took, it granted him a notable boost in strength.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Riding on his momentum, the black clad man raised a leg and kicked at Jason''s midsection, which was blocked just in the nick of time with a raised knee. Despite that, Jason was sent flying down the corridor. Landing with a roll, Jason quickly gets back to his feet just in time to block an overhead swing which makes his arms buckle. What followed is a more aggressive offensive from the man which Jason had to endure. Some deep and nasty cuts were a result. The blows were too heavy. He had to adapt. FLOW STYLE! A sword swing with a lot of weight and power behind it was deflected with great finesse. Like surfing the waves of a torrential sea, Jason let the forces guide his flow; abandoning the concept of ''blocking'' completely. SLASH! The black assailant was becoming dispondent. He just consumed an Adrenalin Pill to grant himself a temporary boost in strength which he hoped to use and overwhelm his man, then the woman, before grabbing the target and escaping to the rendezvous point before the sideffects kicked in. Despite that, he was only able to seize the advantage for a brief moment before the fight returned to how it was going before he took the pill. The man had adapted once again by changing his fighting style to one that renders his strength advantage irreverant. He was now in a worse situation and a tighter time crunch. If he''s unable to take this man out in the next 1 minute, not only will the mission be a failure, he''d also be unable to get to the Rendezvous point before side effects hit if he decided to bail. It was time to get reckless, lest the worse case scenario come to fruition. So with conviction, he bites down on another pill. A moment passes before his ki erupts violently off his body. This knocks off the grid Jason placed on his body. Noticing the change, Jason braces himself for what may come. Suddenly, a burst of ki flies out of the adjacent wall and strikes the man who was unable to dodge it in time because he was so preoccupied with Jason that he completely forgot about his other foe in the next room. That was an advanced form of burst ki that passes through solid objects without damaging them, but would regain it''s lethal properties once there was a sizable change in density. Chanty knew where on the wall to strike because Jason had a moving crosshair on the wall showing where the dude in black was. Chanty proactively attacked when she felt the eruption of ki. This attack striking home gave Jason an opening to get a hit in, but he did less damage than he expected. Seems like the ki covering the man''s body was offering some degree of protection. There was an immediate retaliation which Jason almost didn''t perceive. He tried his best but, despite dodging and deflecting, Jason was still hurt by the attack. ''Bro somehow got even stronger; and faster too, this time.'' Lukily, another burst of ki slammed into the man as he made to attack again. Jason was giving Chanty signals when to fire off attacks using his threads. This allowed them to sync their attacks and punish every move the man made. He may be faster and stronger now, but he''s getting double teamed in response, and was suffering for it. This continues for 45 additional seconds before the man couldn''t take it anymore. Even at full health, the backlash from stacking these two Pills would risk his life. He had played all his hidden cards but was still unable to get past the weakest link. The mission was an abject failure, and he had to get out now if he wanted any hope of living long enough to try again. So out of nowhere, the man clad in black turns tail and runs. His attack speed was impressive, but his movement speed was something else. Jason wouldn''t be able chase him at his normal speed, much less this amped one. Additionally, because of the ki coating his body, Jason couldn''t reattach the thread and track him. He was truly gone. Jason stood there, sword in hand, breathing heavy and bleeding all over. Despite the double teaming, Jason was taking quite a bit of damage and was hanging in there desperately. The enemy retreating was a huge relief. It was at that moment Chanty opens the door. "Well done, my pupil. That was a splendid figh- oh my!" The bloodied figure of Jason stops her praise in its tracks. "I could hear you were struggling, but I didn''t think it was that bad. Well, your opponent was strong, so it made sense." Spoke Chanty looking him up and down. "Come inside. I''ll need to treat you quickly before you bleed out." Doing as told, Jason sits in the middle of the room as Chanty rubs salves on his cuts and gashes before bandaging the wounds. Meanwhile he''s keeping tabs on the GM''s movement as he throws a Healing Pill into his mouth. A Healing Pill is an edible product made by Apothecaries using herbs and various animal parts. In a pill form, it''s more portable, store better and longer, and acts faster. A Healing pill stimulates the red ki which speeds up healing of injuries. Higher grades of healing pills require more rare and expensive ingredients to make, and heal faster. Jason was using the lowest grade because he''s not that rich. "Hn" Hearing the alien noise, Jason''s attention turns to its source which was the young Vladi girl they were protecting. She was sitting on the bed with her knees to her chest, and was covering her mouth and nose with a hankerchief with a strained expression. ''Oh right! She''s vampire-ish. The smell of my blood must hit different for her. Hope she doesn''t pounce on me and suck me dry. Pause! That last part was uncalled for.'' There was nothing he could do about the blood. Vladi-chan would have to endure for the time being. While recovering from his injuries, Jason decides to try something novel. He uses the ki threads to stitch up his cuts; closing them, and help accelerate the healing. Good thing too, cuz he was getting a little lightheaded with all that bloodloss. Anymore would be troublesome. With that taken care of, Jason went back to spying on his other targets. Turns out the GM had taken down one guy and was chasing another. Meditate-chan and someone else were keeping their distance. They weren''t as strong as the guy he fought, but they were pretty good for hanging in there against the GM who by his observantion was as strong as Chanty. Jason thought of ways to make the fight easier for the GM, and almost slapped his forehead right way. "The same thing, of course!" The GM was having a bad day. His town was on fire, and the Sons of Wenches responsible were too slippery to catch. He was the only one in this town strong enough to keep up with them, and everyone else was busy dealing with both fires, so he was on his own with zero support. "Ahh! Oof!" Out of nowhere the guy he was chasing trips in his attempt to jump from one rooftop to another, and falls down to the street below. The GM let''s out a bark of laughter at this, and pounces on his injured target; impaling him to the ground with his sword, before ripping it out and continuing his chase of the others. He didn''t have the luxury of taking prisoners. As the GM chases one of the other two, the same thing happens. The man trips out of nowhere and falls from the rooftop, giving him time to close the distance and finish him off. There was no bark of laughter this time. There was no way that was a coincidence. Someone was responsible for their falling. This brought his mind back to the strange writings that appeared on his desk earlier which explained the whole situation to him. He believed a very powerful person was pulling strings here, and he was just a pawn in his chess game. He''d investigate this later, but for the meantime, he decided to play along. The meditating female who Jason refers to as Medi-chan sees her companion fall, and a chill runs down her spine. Someone out there was responsible for their falling, but she couldn''t even guess how they were doing it. At that same moment, she hears a loud whistling sound in the air. She recognizes the sound, but looks anyway to verify. It''s a special arrow that makes such a sound when fired. This was their signal that the mission was a failure and they should retreat. ''What the hell is going on?!'' Medi-chan almost has a mental breakdown, but keeps it together long enough to go into hiding. She didn''t want to be moving in the open and risk the mysterious attack getting her too. She''d sneak around in the shadows of town, escape, and meet up at the rendezvous point. This turned out to be a good decision, as the GM loses track of her, and begins looking hopelessly. However, this didn''t matter because Jason knew exactly were she was, and was feeling a bit mischievous, so he decided to do something he would never consider in real life because well, it''d be illegal and he''d have to make direct physical contact. But a modified version of his favorite quote came to mind "There''s no rules against the human smugglers." So with a mischievous smile that somehow made Chanty quiver a bit despite being behind him and unable to see his face, Jason controls some of the ki threads on Medi-chan''s body, wraps it round a specific part, then squeezes. Hard. A earsplitting scream erupts at the dead of night. Any who heard it would shiver involuntarily. The GM follows the noise and quickly finds who he''s been chasing unconscious on the floor on a puddle of her own pee, clutching her crutch with her mouth foaming. That''s right, Jason had pinched the hell out of her clitoris. The GM didn''t bother wondering what happened, and instead took in his prisoner for questioning. She was the last of the group he knew of. This was one of the craziest nights he''s ever had. Day 87 Jason and Chanty were in the GMs office with Vladi-chan in a corner for a debriefing on the previous night''s events. The fires were being taken care of, and more adventurers were available to help with the protection. The GM informed the two that a prisoner was being interrogated as they spoke, and in return was also made aware that one of the assailants attacked Jason and Chanty, but was denied his prize, yet was still able to get away. With their discussions out of the way, Jason and Chanty left for a different Safe Room within the Guild Building. This was a two bedroom apartment design selected because 2 more people were acting as guards. Jason used this opportunity to get some shuteye. He hadn''t slept in 2 days, plus last night''s battle did a number on him. He needed the rest. The day was peaceful. No shenanigans or attacks, so he slept till evening. Then Chanty slept that night. Day 88 Early in the morning Jason hears some familiar beastial roars. He looks out the window to verify, and sure enough it''s the Wyvern Rider Trio they met back at Escaville. "Wonder why they''re here. Oh well, we''ll say hi if we get the chance." Noted Jason as he watched them land near the Guild Building. This close, Jason was able to notice that the trio of Skyler, Adair and Sid were each carrying a passenger. Black hair, leather clothing, Emo vibe. One of them who looked quite attractive despite the distance happened to look at Jason''s direction and he could just barely see they had black lipstick on. "Holup. Um Chanty, could you bring the kid over?" "What for, pupil?" Asked Chanty as she beckoned the girl over. "I''m not completly sure, but I think her family''s here." Right after saying that, Jason could hear running behind him as Vladi-chan dashed to the window and peered out in the direction Jason was looking. She and the figure downstairs locked eyes, and for the first time, Jason heard her speak. "Brother!" She yells out in a cracked voice barely concealing her emotion. ''Brother? That''s a dude?!'' Jason''s thoughts were interrupted by Vladi-chan trying to climb out the window. "Woah Woah woah woah! Easy there, kiddo. You''ll reunite in a bit, so just hang in there for a few more minutes, OK?" Jason told the girl as he pulled her back into the room. And as he guessed, the ''brother'' downstairs began briskly making his way towards the Building. Minutes pass which felt like an eternity before there was a knock on the door. It was opened to reveal the GM and the person from earlier. Vladi-chan ran at her brother who got on one knee and caught her in his arms. There, she cried loudly into his shoulder while having her head caressed. It was quite the touching scene. After that, everyone met up in the GM office for various discussions. Turns out Vlad-chan is actually Victoria Hemorrh: the last born of the Homorrh Family, while the brother is Reese Hemorrh. They seemed to be nobility, but not Duke level unlike the Dakotas who rule this island. The custody of the prisoner was transfered to Reese. Something about taking over interrogation and a trial. Jason and Chanty were officially thanked for their part in protecting Victoria, and told their family will remember their deeds. During the meeting, Jason took stock of Reese. He was wearing form fitting pair of red leather pants with black highlights, a skintight top that reminded him of the material spats were made of which was under a black and red t-shirt that only covered the upper half of the torso, all under a long sleeve jacket of the same design as the pants. His figure was very similar to Sam, except he had slightly wider hips, more pronounced abdominal muscles, plus a bit taller. He had a mostly stoic face that was rarely expressive, and spoke in an all business monotone voice. After talks conclude and everyone exits the room, Jason is immediately approached by Reese. 20 The Promise Shirebunkle, Dakota Dukedom World: 88 days. Shirebunkle: 4 days. "It''s quite impressive that you were able to force that man to retreat. You must be quite the skilled Swordsman." Commented Reese. "Oh? You know the guy?" asked Jason. "Indeed. During the abduction of my sister, he blocked my path which allowed his comrades to escape with her. I was heavily injured in the exchange, and he managed to get away; outrunning all who pursued him." "Yeah. He''s fast. I didn''t have a chance chasing him down when he took off. Anyway, you''re more impressive: you fought a version of him using both arms. I struggled with a one arm version." "And who disabled his arm?" Reese points out. "Additionally, by your description of events, he most likely consumed an Adrenalin pill which boosts one''s strength, followed by a Ki Eruption Pill which boosts both strength and speed." "Oh..." "Oh indeed. He had no need for either of those when facing me, but against you, not only did he use both, but stacked them. That''s extremely dangerous. He put his life on the line to defeat you and was still pushed into a retreat." At this point Jason gave up on downplaying things. "Very well, I concede. You make a good point." His behaviour brought a ghost of a smile to Reese''s face for the briefest of moments. "I''m glad we''re both in agreement, Mr Jason. Though your humility is admirable. If it''s not too much of an ask, I''d like to spar with you for a bit. Would that be possible?" "Hm, uhhh..." Jason looks to Chanty for a reaction, but receives a passive nod in response. This makes him shrug in response. "Sure, why not? Wouldn''t hurt." "Excellent. We can use the sparring arena in the basement. The Guild Master already granted us access. Do come along." As they walked, Reese continued their chat. "Quite an interesting sword you have there, Jason." "Oh this? It''s not really mine. Took it from the Bandit Boss we took care of a couple days ago. I intend to have my own forged soon, but I''ll make due with this one for now." "I see. I can''t help but be curious as to who your teacher is. He or she must be one of great renown to have trained you to such a level." "Uh... About that... He wants to remain low key and even made me promise to keep my mouth shut about him as part of our deal to get him to train me. So sorry, can''t spill on that." Jason made something up on the fly. "Oh? Not a problem, really. I was only curious." They eventually made their way to the sparring arena and they both took their respective wooden weapons and got into position. "I shall begin." Declares Reese as he closes the distance and slashes at Jason who parries it casually. Compared to the fast paced fight against the masked man in black, this wasn''t as intense. The spar continued with Reese attacking and getting nowhere past Jason''s defense. He now had a clearer picture of how Jason was able to endure against the attacker. It was time to take things up a notch. "Kuh!" Let out Jason as he eats a kick to his side. Reese managed to create the opening and attack with his leg since Jason didn''t expect such an attack. ''Well, guess that explains the wider hips. That kick was heavy.'' Thought Jason as he tries to recover, but before he can, his torso is caught in the vice grip of Reese''s legs who uses his arms on the ground as leverage to throw Jason into the air. Once again, Jason does not have enough time to regain his bearings before Reese attacks by catching Jason''s head between his thighs, then proceeding to perform a midair hurricanrana that sends Jason flying out the stage. Jason lays there for a few moments contemplating the last couple seconds. Reese casually struts over to the edge of the platform and peers down at him. "Are you good to continue?" The question jolts Jason back to attention before he starts getting to his feet while sporting a smile. "Yup. I''m good. Let''s keep going." The spar continues and Jason does his best to stay clear of the legs. "By the way, thanks for not smashing my head into the ground." "Think nothing of it. It would have been rude of me to do such a thing to my benefactor." The two shared a respectful smile as a final clash separates them. Jason decides to have some fun as he drops his guard with his sword on his side, and begins to walk slowly yet leisurely towards Reese. The vladi finds this behavior odd, but doesn''t let his guard down. He knows he wasn''t dealing with an amateur. Jason soon enters striking range were Reese immediately sends a kick aimed at his head. However, as soon as the movements leading to the kick begins, Jason drops low as he performs a Spineroony on the ground; using the force from the Burst of ki fired from his palms and soles to quickly accelerate his spin. Midway through Reese''s kick, Jason sweeps his other leg from the ground, before kicking his body some feet into the air. Then with a handstand, knocks Reese even higher into the air. It was Reese''s turn to be... The feeling was hard to describe. However he recovers faster than Jason did, and just in time to block a thrust coming from right underneath him on his way down using the side of his sword. He was stock in midair with no leverage. The two held the position for a few tense seconds before Reese smiles down at Jason who returns the smile with a nod of understand before angling his sword down for Reese to land safely in front of him. "Well I must say I thoroughly enjoyed that spar. I do appreciate you humoring me." Reese says as he reaches out a hand which Jason takes and shakes. "Yup. Same here. Your fighting style is awesome." "As is yours. Now. Do forgive me for bringing this up so abruptly, but would you consider working for me?" Reese drops a bombshell out of nowhere. "Uhhh..." "Of course. Allow me to elaborate. You see, I am in need of individuals as skilled as yourself in my employ. You can join a raid or expedition under my Group, become a guard, trainer, so on and so forth. You shall enjoy a generous salary while continuing your adventuring under me." Reese paused to let his words sink in. Jason thought for a bit before answering. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. "I appreciate the offer, but I already have a party. Plus I have a very packed year with lots of things I wish to do. Sorry, but I don''t think it''ll work out." "Don''t be so quick to decline. Aren''t you being a tad too hasty? Tell me, what are the goals that you believe my influence and resources can not help you accomplish in record time?" "Hmmm... Dang. You seem pretty important, so I''m guessing alot. Well, let''s just say they''re quite private affairs, so I intent to handle them myself. Please understand." Jason''s words made Reese quirk a brow. "Oh? I find your wording odd. Do you by chance not know who I am?" "You did introduce yourself earlier, but this is the first I''ve heard of you." His words flabbergasted Reese. He looked to the side of the room where the spectators were and got shrugs and confused looks before turning back to stare at Jason. "OK, I know that look. Listen; just assume I''ve been living under a rock all my life, and just crawled out recently. OK?" Jason responded defeatedly as Reese let out a scoff followed by a chuckle. "I must say, you are quite the character. Still, I am quite dismayed at your rejection of my offer. Is there truly no way to win you over?" Reese places a hand on his hip as they continue their talk. "Trust me when I say I''m all kinds of tempted right now. But it just won''t work out. Sorry." Reese does a heavy exhale before closing his eyes to think for a moment. After awhile, his eyes flash open as he looks to Chanty once again while asking Jason. "Are you by chance affiliated with the Primordial Fist Sect?" The question came out of left field and threw Jason for a loop. "Well, that was out of Left Field." "Left Field?" "I mean!.. That was sudden." "... You mentioned a year to complete tasks. At the end of a year is the Primordial Tournament. Your party member over there is clearly affiliate by virtue of her attire, also, during our spar, you fired bursts of ki which was reminiscent of the Burst Style from the Sect." "Uuuhh Dang. You''re smart. Haaaa. Fine. I''m participating in the Primordial Tournament a year from now. I was nominated my teacher over there who you''re staring at." "Hm? I thought you''re a Swordsman." "I''m alot of things." "How many things?" "Forget I said that." "I shall remember it well.~" "Fine. Be that way. You were asking about my connection to the Primordial Fist Sect. Where were you going with that?" "Are you joining the Sect?" "No. After the tournament, I''m going my merry way." After saying this, Jason hears a gasp from the side. He turns to Chanty and spreads his arms indignantly. "What?" Jason asks and Chanty responds by placing her hands on her hips like a disappointed mother. "..." "..." "Then... what are your plans after the tournament?" "Ah... Nothing of yet. We''ll think of something along the way." "Excellent!" "Huh?" "Then you wouldn''t mind me inserting myself into your plans, would you?" "Hold on a moment..." "I would like to make my case to completion before you object. May I?" "Hmmm... Sure. Fine. Go Ahead." "Thank you... A year from now, after you''ve finished your business with the Tournament, I''d like to ask for your answer once again. I will be in the city at the time, and you can use this badge to gain access to me if you are blocked. Therfore I would like you to accept this badge from me now, but only do so if you promise to reject or postpone any future offers you may receive from others at least until you give me an answer one year from now. Will you at least accept this condition, Jason?" Jason scratches his head in exasperation, but doesn''t see any downside to this. "Very well, I promise. One year from now you''ll have my answer. Happy now?" "Very much so. You have my thanks for indulging me as long as you have. I''m sure you have lots to do, and so do I. So I''ll leave you to your business." And with that, Reese hands Jason the badge, then turns and walks away with his entourage, leaving Jason and Chanty in the basement. Minutes later Chanty and Jason are exiting the guild and are met with the Wyvern Rider Trio. "Hey! Jayjay! Chanchan! What took you guys so long?! We''ve been waiting forever." Hollers Skyler as she energetically bounds over to them with Adair and Sid walking behind her. The two groups reconnect over lunch at the nearby Diner. Turns out the Wyvern Riders got a quest to ferry Reese and 2 others as soon as they received word that Victoria was found. Jason took this opportunity to ask about the Hemorrh Family. Sid explained that the Hemorrh Family are a 2nd Circle Vladi Noble Family. Jason didn''t know what the 2nd Circle part meant, so Sid elaborated further. "Every landmass is divided into concentric regions called ''Circles''. These represent what grade the majority of Hazard Beasts in the area are. It starts with the First Circle which we''re in now, all the way to 8. The highest Circle in the Dakota Dukedom is the 3rd Cycle, meaning the strongest Hazard Beasts here are majority 3rd Stage of the Mortal Realm with few that have broken through to the 1st Stage of the King Realm. Other places have more or less, but the mainland is the only place with an 8th Circle: Majority 2nd Stage of Saint Realm with very few at the 3rd Stage. Inorder to be a Second Circle Noble House, they have to fulfil a number of requirements such as clearing acres of territory, establishing settlements, etc all in the 2nd Circle before they are recognized as Second Circle. In terms of wealth and influence, they are second only to the Dakota Family." Jason whistles at the revelation. "So I guess Reese is some huge hotshot then." Sid would correct him on this. "It''s not that straightforward, Jason. Yes, he has power and influence, but not as much as you think. Another thing about 2nd Circle families is that they''re divided into 2: the Main and Lesser Family. The Main family is located in the 2nd Circle of the land and headed by the Head of the Family. They have the greatest wealth and influence in the family. The Lesser family on the other hand is located in the 1st Circle of the land and are headed by the descendents. They have less power and influence relative to the Higher Family." Jason understands the context. "So he''s basically on the lower end of his Nobility hierchy." Sid agreed with his accesment. "Plus he''s not even the first born, who is the head of the family, so his status is lower still, therefore he has to pave a way for himself independent of his family." ''That would explain why he''s trying to rope me in. He''s trying to build his own faction and grow his own influence and power.'' Jason thought to himself. After their meet and greet was over, the two returned to the guild to send a letter over to Sam, collect their pay for protecting Victoria, and accept an Escort Quest for a carriage heading to Lassie Town where Jason will be learning to Tame. After finishing their business, they return to their Inn to relax for the rest of the day. Day 89: The Departure Jason and Chanty leave town in a carriage. An attendant of Reese watches them depart before returning to make a report. In a more expensive Inn in town, Reese is lovingly stroking Victoria''s head rested on his thigh. After the report, Reese turns to the other attendant and asks. "What are your thoughts surrounding Jason?" The attendant thinks for a moment before responding. "He''s quite the free spirit. Even his party member who is also his teacher can''t rope him into her Sect. But he''s also quite loyal, it seems. He stuck to his party despite your generous offer. If we manage to bring him into the fold, he''ll most definitely remain out of a sense of duty. We just have to not give him a reason to leave, as he is shown to be quite decisive." "Hm. I thought similarly. Additionally, I can''t leave things to chance. All I have is a promise to answer, and not a yes. Someone else might woo him within that time and he would just reject me and leave with them. I must place my finger on the scale: make him feel more favorably towards me by the 1 Year deadline." "Quite insightful, Sir. But how do we go about this?" "We shall improvise as we go. For now, we observe their movements. Also have our people help them when possible. If it is true he knows nothing of me and my Family, then it would be best to give him the best impression possible. That will be a good start." "Of course, Sir. We''ll see to it." "Good." That evening Jason and Chanty arrive at the town of Lassie. According to Sam''s notes, there is a woman here who specializes in the art and will train Jason if properly compensated. Sam emphasized the need for calm and respectful persistence lest they lose her cooperation. The two walk through town and soon reach a property in the outskirts which matches Sam''s description. The place was shut tight and the lights were off. So too were most of the houses around, which made sense since it was late. So the two doubled back to a local Inn to spend the night. They''d pay the woman a visit in the morning. 21 Taming Lassie Town, Dakota Dukedom World: 90 days. Returning in the morning, the two had a better look at the property. There were different animals frolicking around. Deer, rabbit, birds of different kinds, etc. A couple crows nearby started making noise as soon as they reached the front gate. Jason wondered if they were a form of alarm system. Soon the front door opens and a woman yells "Off!" which immediately silences them. It was loud to silent in a second. The woman looked like she just got out of bed since she was wearing a pair of pajamas and had long messy blond hair. As she approached the gate, the duo were able to notice her pointy ears. She was an elf; the first female one Jason has seen so far. Reaching the gate, the woman speaks with barely concealed annoyance. "So early in the morning... What do you people want?" Jason responds politely "Good morning, madam. Apologies for disturbing your sleep. I am seeking someone to train me in taming. You came highly recommended by my good friend Sam. So we''ve traveled quite a bit to meet with you, Miss Deborah." "Hm! Sam, eh? Even if you drop his name, my answer is no. I''m too busy to train anyone, plus it''s a hassle. Goodbye." "If you are busy, I can relieve you of a sizable chunk of your work and give you free time. Plus I''m rather quick on the uptake, so training me will be a breeze. Here''s a letter from Sam to you. I trust you will be convinced." Says Jason as he hands the letter over. Deborah looks at it, then at Jason''s salesman smile, then back at it before sighing and taking it. After 5 minutes of reading, the woman gives Jason an odd look which makes him wonder what Sam put in that letter. "I haven''t agreed to anything yet. I''ll let you prove yourself. If I''m not satisfied, the deal is off and you leave. Agreed?" "That''s fair. Thank you for the opportunity, miss." "Hm." Deborah opens the gate and leads to two into her home. When the interior is revealed, the sight throws the two for a loop. There are animals everywhere in various cages and confinements. Deborah grabs a vaccum cleaner ki tool and hands it to Jason. "You said you can buy me time, right? Vacuum this room for a start." Jason hands the tool to Chanty then performs a series of Hand Gestures before slamming his palm on the ground. This causes all the dirt on the floor to flow to his hand and make a small pile which he takes up into his mindscape. This all happened in seconds and Deborah whistles at it. "Hmmm... Nice. But I''m not done testing you yet, though. Next up is cleaning the cages and removing the litter." Deborah then goes to each cage and does demonstrations. Unsurprisingly Jason picks things up quickly and ends up completing his tasks faster than she does. Deborah doesn''t know whether to be happy or not. "Next is feeding. Come on!" Jason overperforms once again, and Deborah eyes are twitching. She soon takes a deep breath before speaking. "Looks like you''re the real deal, huh. OK, final test. I''ll show you how to get food and bedding for the animals. If you can pull that off too, I''ll agree to train you. You''ll have to handle all these tasks as the price of my time. Agreed?" "Yup! Agreed. Let''s go!" Replied Jason, and all three left through the backyard door. Different animals were frolicking around, and there was a humble garden in the corner. They made their way to a shed nearby and Deborah opened the door to reveal different types of plants, fruits and grain neatly stored. Deborah went about describing each plant, it''s purpose, for which animal, and how to harvest them. After that, she grabs some sickles and a... Farming tool that looks like a Grim Reaper Weap- Scythe! before leading the two to edge of the property and further into the wild lands. There she gave explanations and demonstrations, and Jason copied and pasted her work. Soon he took over collections and they were done in no time. When the trio returned to the house, Deborah made her decision. "Very well, you win. I''ll train ya..." "Woohoo! Yeah!" Jason rejoices as he highfives Chanty. An hour later, Jason is sitting on a stool in the kitchen facing Deborah who has by now bathed and changed clothes into something more presentable. As for Chanty, she had left for the Guild to find Quests to take care of in the meantime. Deborah proceeds to explain the concept of Taming to Jason first. The first step is to channel ki into one''s "Mental Gate" located in the forehead until a ''click'' like a door unlocking is felt. Deborah does a demonstration which Jason replicates immediately, so she proceeds to the next step when she brings over a baby chick. The second step involves connecting one''s Mental Gate with that of the creature they wish to tame through direct contact. Doing this with transport a fragment of the consciousness of the Tamer in the form of a Mental Avatar. After reiterating her instructions, Deborah brings the chicks forehead over to meet Jason''s. When contact is made, Jason''s perspective immediate changes to him slamming through a gate before falling through the air like it was water. Below him was a blank landscape with nothing but a maze; the entrance of which is directly below him, with a door at the other end connected a cube. According to Deborah''s teaching, This Maze represents the creature''s intelligence and mental development. The older and more intelligent the creature, the larger and more complex the maze becomes. Jason''s first goal is make it through the maze as quickly as possible. This is because his Mental Avatar is made of Mental Strength or ''Mind''. Breaking through the chick''s Mental Gate cost Jason a fair bit of Mind, plus the water-like atmosphere was constantly sapping Mind from his Avatar. If he wastes too much time, his Mind will deplete to nothing, and force him out of the Chick''s head which will result in a backlash of an intense migraine, plus a longer recovery period than if he had cut the link himself. Jason soon lands at the entrance to the maze and takes off running. He had memorized the layout during his descent, and figured out a path before reaching the ground. This would be a barrier of entry for most people trying to Tame. Individuals who have photographic or eidetic memory like Jason and those who are good at memorizing would have an easier time than the average Joe would. After reaching the exit, Jason comes face to face with a ''door''. Looking at it reminded him of those portals in Korean Manhwas that serve as entrances to dungeons. Deborah told him it''s like moving through jelly, and that it would drain his Mental Strength (Mind) many times faster. If he fails to get through before his avatar is completely drained, he''ll suffer the backlash. He was advised to cut the link before it came to that. However if he manages to get through the door, he''ll enter a domain called the Room of Consciousness (ROC). Unsurprisingly Jason gets through the gate, but only by the skin of his teeth. He was currently semi-transparent like a ghost. The fact that he breezed through the maze was what preserved his Mind and gave him the edge. Deborah was expecting him to fail his first try, and she would have been right if he wasn''t such an absolute unit. Entering the ROC, Jason looks around. It was a semi-spherical space the size of a house that reminded him a snow globe. To be more precise, it looked like a replica of the interior of Deborah''s home, which made sense since the chick only knows of the inside. Outside the Snow Globe was an expanse of nothingness. "No, more like the world ended at the glass of the Snow globe." Jason corrected. At the centre of the ROC was a floating sphere containing what appeared to be the chick in a fetal position. Jason just stood there admiring the whole scene for quite awhile. After he was done feeding his eyes, he walks up to the chick, places a hand on the ball, then begins channeling his very being into it like he would ki. After a short while, he feels a click and his perspective changes. "Woah!" Jason exclaimed. The reason for this was because he was looking at the chick through his eyes, and at himself through the eyes of the chick simultaneously. It was quite the trippy feeling. ''So this is what it''s like to control the 6 Paths of Pa-" "So, how''d it go?" Deborah asks interrupting his thought. Jason turns to the bored elf as he thinks of an appropriate response. Telling her he''s got it in one is a no go, as he doesn''t want to deal with too many questions. So he cancels his link to the chick before settling for the story that he canceled his dive after reaching the door to the Room Of Consciousness (ROC). Deborah is impressed by his report and instructs him to rest his mind before retrying, and to repeat the process till he''s successful. She then hands Jason the chick and leaves to go do something out of sight. Jason does as he''s told. However instead of making his way through the Maze and Door like last time, he links to the chick''s consciousness directly without going through the earlier steps. That''s what happens when one makes it all the way to the ROC and completes the final step. The Avatar leaves behind a trail of one''s will, which when connected to the floating sphere in the ROC, creates a direct link between Jason and the Chick. With the link made, Jason sets the chick down to roam around freely, while he looks through both their eyes simultaneously. He was currently in the first of the 3 Stages of taming called The Observation Stage. The other 2 being the Coersion Stage and Domination Stage respectively. "OCD. Pfft! What are the chances?" In the Observation Stage, all Jason can do is passively receive the chick''s senses. Right now, all he was getting was sight. He''ll unlock the other senses automatically as time passes. "Hehe! Soon I''ll break through the Eyeball Stage of the Observation Realm, and enter the Nostril Stage." The Coersion Stage involves influencing the pets behaviour where it feels similar to a ''thought in the back of their mind'', a ''gut feeling'' or an ''epiphany'' from the creature''s perspective. They still have full control of their faculties and can move by themselves, but the Tamer can still influence them to some degree. The Domination Stage consists of taking over the creature''s body completely and controlling it as if it''s one''s own body. This costs quite a bit of Mind to pull off, and has a high failure rate if the connection between Tamer and Tamed isn''t strong enough. As time passes, Jason''s Mental Strength had drained by quite a bit, so he made sure to cut the link before he reached his limit. After a redo, Jason was pleased to learn that he lasted a bit longer. A normal person would be displeased at this rate of growth because they have to be meditating through it all to maintain focus, and not be able to do anything else, however Jason was a unique case, and could do other stuff in the meantime. That was another reason why Taming was such a niche profession. You had to spend so much time training that you didn''t have much time for other things, plus it was virtually impossible to combine taming with any martial training because you''d be spreading yourself too thin and end up mediocre in both. It was either all taming or no taming at all. Jason remembered the Wyvern Trio saying that their Sect has specialist tamers who''s whole job is to tame and train the baby wyverns to make them easier for their assigned riders to control. That was all they did. Nothing else. They had very little combat skill, and were employed by the Sect. This had Jason wondering about Deborah. She had no backing from a Sect, plus she ran this place by herself. "How does she do it all and also find time to train in taming?" Jason keeps up his training while doing his regular ki meditation inorder to maximize his time. Noon roles around and Deborah returns to the kitchen. Seeing him in a meditative pose, she assumes he has formed a link with the chick, and does a silent whistle. ''Damn! Guess he''s not all talk. A day nowhere near enough for me to get this far, and here he is doing it in a few hours.'' She takes a seat intending to wait for him to finish his session, but Jason stops meditating right away to save her the wait. "Not bad for your first time, kid. Guess you''re as good as you say you are. Got any questions?" Questions indeed. Jason needed some advice on what creature he should tame, so he asked about that. "It''s not that tough of a choice. Since you''ll be traveling alot, it''s best you get something that flies. You can''t go wrong with any species of Eagle. They grow fast, they can take down prey larger than them, carry prey heavier than them, and are great for scouting and tracking as they give you a birdeye view. Heck! They can even catch fish." Advised Deborah. "So, where do I get me an eagle?" "Go check the guild if there''s a quest for that. Folks hire others to help them capture all kinds of Hazard Beast young''uns. If you don''t see what you''re looking for, then put up a quest yourself and someone with info will tell you were to find it, and maybe give you a hand too." "I see. I''ll do just that. Thanks for the info, Deborah." "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, keep training with that Lil guy I gave you. After you unlock all the senses, come back and I''ll give you pointers on the Coercion Stage. Now off you go, mister." Deborah waves him off. Jason give a casual salute before exiting Deborahs home. He walks down the street with the little chick tweeting in his hand. "Chanty shouldn''t be back until evening, so I''ll explore the town while grinding my Mental Strength." Lassie Town was very similar to Tatter Town as they were both quite agricultural. A key difference was that different kinds of little critters were running around the place. The animals weren''t dangerous, plus they wore collars, so he knew they had owners. Jason had a hunch they were quite a few other tamers in town. Soon he reaches the Guild, then looks upon the Quest Wall. He unfortunately doesn''t find what he''s looking for. So as per Deborah''s suggestion, he put up a Quest for an Eaglet sale or capture. While that was being processed, he also checked if Sam sent mail. "Oh? It was only on a whim. I wasn''t expecting there to actually be one." Quickly reading the overly formal letter, Jason learns Sam is done with his business in Tatter Town, and is on his way over to rendezvous with them at Lassie Town. By the math, he should arrive in 9 days. "Ah... My favourite elf is coming soon. I sure have missed the guy. He''s walking into the mother of all bear hugs when he gets here. His reaction will be hilarious. Hehehe...". Finished with his business, Jason exits the Guild and makes his way to the Inn. Unsure of how to kill time, he decides to meditate for the rest of the afternoon in his room. Halfway to the Inn, the chick begins crying loudly, and it takes only a moment for Jason to realise that it must be hungry. "Sorry little guy, we''ve been training all morning and you must be starving." Finding an unocuppied bench beside the road to sit on, Jason materializes a smoked piece of meat before cutting out tiny pieces he feeds to the chick who eats greedily. After stuffing the bird to the brim, Jason continues on his way to the Inn. When he gets there however, his eyes widen in shock and wonder as he looks upon the now sleeping chick in his hand. "No... Effing... Way... Are you for real?!" Rushing to book a room, Jason gently places the bird somewhere comfortable as he steps back and looks upon the sleeping creature with awe. "So I can use my Lucid Realm when the chick''s asleep, huh. And we''re both sharing the space. Little guy must be confused as all heck in there." Jason wasn''t sure of the implications of this, so he would just go with the flow and see what he learns. So he sits his main body down to cultivate, while the him in the Lucid Realm does his thing. Lucid Realm Jason thought for a moment before deciding to turn the little chick into it''s adult form. It was quite the colorful little thing Jason thinks he might have seen before on some nature channel, but can''t remember. Ironic. Colorful, sharp beak, and the size of a chicken was description enough. The little guy was waddling around in its new body for awhile before Jason willed it to fly. It ''took off'' with Jason hot on its tail. "Looks like I have complete control of this Space." The two dreamers flew around for awhile until Jason had another bright idea, and decided to turn the bird into a Harpy. This transforms everywhere but it''s wings and feet into human form. "Ahh... So it''s a female, huh." "Keee! Keee! Keee!" Sounded the now harpy as she inspects her new body. " "Hello kiki, how do you like your new look?" "Keee!" Sounded kiki as she examines her bosom. Which is immediately covered by a t-shirt, and her crotch covered by Jean shorts both of which Jason materializes. "Let''s not get distracted now. Hey Kiki, Do you understand what I''m saying?" Jason calls out to her. "Keee!" Kiki responds while flapping her wings excitedly. ''Not sure what that means, but I''ll verify.'' "Kiki, nod if you understand me." "Keee! Keee! Keee!" The harpy nods energetically. ''Hmm?'' "Kiki, spin around." "Keee!" She spins. "Kiki, backflip." "Keee!" She flips. "... Kiki, make an ahegao face." "Keeh!" She ahegaos. "WTF?!" Jason exclaims in shock. ''That''s a fricking chick! It knows nothing compared to an adult bird, and even that''s not much knowledge. So how the hell does it understand everything I''m saying? Are our minds linked that strongly? Is it because we''re in a my Lucid Realm? What in blazes is going on here?!'' Jason wonders aggressively while Kiki is off playing by herself. He initially thought that Kiki was a figment of his imagination he created in his Lucid Realm, however the fact she gives off the same feeling as that sphere in her Room of Consciousness made him believe otherwise. "Wait. Is it possible that I converted the ROC into my Lucid Realm?" Jason ponders the interesting possibility for a moment before stopping and taking note of his own person. "Interesting. I wasn''t paying attention so didn''t notice my body here is still my Avatar of Consciousness. My guess might actually be true." To test this out, he looks to Kiki and calls her over, to which she obeys. "I''m going to try something out real quick. Pleases hold still." Jason explains as he places a hand on her head, and begins channeling his very being into her like he would ki. In no time, there''s a sudden change is perspective. He was now seeing through the chick''s eyes. However Jason realizes this time was different. Why? Because he just stood up using the chick''s body. Not only that, but he also had access to all of her senses. "I have full control of Kiki?! But shouldn''t that be in the final stage? How did I skip all the way to there?" Jason continues to ponder on this as he gets used to the chick''s body. He later decides it best to save these questions for Deborah tomorrow. Fast forward to dusk, and Chanty arrives at the Diner portion of the Inn where a waiting Jason waves her over. They order food, and update each other on their day. Chanty was off scouting the surrounding forests, while unaliving anything that dared attack her. She explained that there were a few tamed animals running around. They wore collars to distinguish them from regular wildlife, despite that, she had a few close calls and almost left some people a pet short. She was glad the Guild gave her a head''s up. Jason on the other hand explained the Taming training, the letter from Sam, and the Quest he put up. He didn''t bring up his shenanigans with Kiki because it was too fantastical and game breaking. It would force him to explain alot more than he would like, and he''d rather keep those things to himself. Just before concluding their dinner date, Chanty expressed her intention to spar with him again. "I do not wish for my skills to dull by only fighting mere beasts. Besides, as Teacher and Pupil, regular sparring comes with the territory. We haven''t had the opportunity till now, so I intend to seize it. What say you, Jason?" "Sure. I don''t mind, late morning to early afternoon tomorrow after a session with Deborah sound good?" Offered Jason. "Very much so. I look forward to seeing your progress, pupil" And with that, the two settle in for the night. DAY 91: After breakfast, Chanty escorts Jason to Deborah''s place once again. She had no plans for the day, so she decided to tag along. When they got to their destination, Jason knocks on the elf woman''s door and waits. Quite awhile later, Deborah answers with a confused look. "Da heck?! Why are you back so quickly? No way you''ve gotten past the first stage in less than a day." "Good morning to you too, Ms Deborah. No, it''s nothing as impossible as that, I just happened to have tonnes of questions I need your guidance on." Replied Jason, who got a raised eyebrow in response. "Oh really... Fine by me, I guess. You know your fee, come in and do your thing." Answers Deborah as she opens the door for the two. An hour later, Chanty is petting a baby otter in the corner of the house while Jason and Deborah are having their sit-down. "So, what you wanna ask, kid?" Inquires Deborah as she sits casually. "Well, first I''m curious as to what happens if you''re linked to your pet when it falls asleep." Deborah raises a brow at that before responding. "If that happens, the Tamer would fall asleep as well, which causes them to lose concentration and leads to the severing of the link. It''ll give them the mother of all headaches just like with the other cases. Why''d you ask?" "I was just curious, is all. The chick got sleepy after I fed it, so I wanted to make sure it was safe." Replied Jason. "That''s fair, I should have warned you about that. Since we''re on the topic, try your best to make sure the creature you''re Taming doesn''t get knocked unconscious or killed while you''re linked, or the backlash will be just as bad if not worse." "Good to know. Now another question: is there a shortcut to controlling one''s pet?" Deborah had to think about that one for a bit. "... Hmmm. Well, if you have a whole lot of Mental Strength, you can brute force it and control the critter''s body. Problem is, that breaks the mind and leaves it in a catatonic state." "Is there a way for someone who doesn''t have an overwhelming amount of Mental Strength to pull it off? Like a walkaround or backdoor, or something?" "Nope. No shortcuts for you, buddy. Taming is pretty rigid. Just keep at what you''re doing. Any more questions?" Jason thinks for a moment before asking. "What do you know about Mind Break?" Hearing the question causes Deborah''s face to immediately turn serious. Her reply sounded frosty. "Why do you ask, kid?" Jason notices her change in tone. It makes sense to him, as it''s a generally sensitive topic. "You mentioned that if someone brute forces their pet, they''ll break their mind. Is it possible to tame such a pet? Also, is that, and ''Mind Break'' people suffer from the same thing, or different?" "To answer your first question, yes its possible to tame a pet that has its mind broken. In fact, its the easiest way, because their Mental Gate is wide open, the thick atmosphere is non-existent, the maze is a rubble, the Door has lost its barrier, and the Room of Consciousness is in ruins. All you have to do is walk directly in, and touch the floating sphere to have complete control. The reason it''s so easy is because the creature is basically in a coma. Yeah, it''s the shortcut you''re looking for, but I''m strongly against you doing that. I''m sure you can guess why." Jason didn''t need to think too deeply about that. "I''m guessing because it''s unethical." She nods to his answer. "Bingo. Even if Tamers control animals and Hazard Beasts, they''re still pets and companions at the end of the day. Turning them into an empty husk and using them as a meat puppet is all kinds of fucked up. Besides, at least a pet tamed properly can still take care of itself. You''re asking for more problems if you take this path." Deborah says pationately. "Fair point..." Jason wasn''t an animal lover to the point of saying a pet is a member of the family Iike some weirdos and cat ladies do, but he drew the line at abuse of this level. "Yeah, but shit gets worse. There are some folks out there who are so fucked in the head that they''d take little kids, shatter their minds and then do all kinds of messed up shit to them. Folks call them "Human Puppeteers", and they give Tamers a bad name. Heck it''s so bad that a lot of folks get all kinds of antsy about you being around their kids if they learn you''re a Tamer. I don''t blame them, but its still so fucked up. They make you feel like you''re some creep, and I hate it!" Jason didn''t know how to respond for a short while. Deborah''s words were rather illuminating, all things considered. She then excuses herself to pour a cup of juice for herself and downs it as if it''s beer. "OK! Before I answer your second question, let me rephrase ''breaking the mind'' into ''mind shatter'', to avoid confusion with ''mind break''. First off, they''re not the same. Mind Shatter happens when you brute force your way into a pet''s or person''s mind and fry it in the process. Mind Break on the other hand is caused by psychological trauma which only affects the 4 races as far as I know. Another difference is that the maze is destroyed in a case of ''mind shatter'', but remains intact when it comes to ''mind break''. So one still has to traverse it inorder to reach the Room of Consciousness, but it''s still much easier." "So I''m guessing someone with Mind Break would be a preferred target for ''Shattering'' since their minds are already damaged to such a degree." Jason points out. "Actually, no. A Shatter is done from the... You know, I don''t wanna tell you how it''s done. Just know those with Mind Breaks can''t have their Minds Chattered, and leave it at that. " Deborah replies. "Fair enough... Hey. Is there any way to cure people of Mind Break?" Deborah raises a questioning brow at his inquiry. "Why are you so interested in this topic, kid?" Jason tries to ease her concern. "Well, you see, my partner and I saved a bunch of women from a Bandit camp some time ago. You can guess the rest. The whole thing has been messing with my head since then. That''s why I''m curious." "Damnit. I get it now. Sorry kid, but I''m not an expert on that side of things. What I do know, is that its really fucking hard to treat, and folks who recover are really fucking rare. It''s basically a death sentence." "I see... Well, for my last question, why do you cuss so much?" "Fuck you, kid. This is my house, and I''ll talk however the hell 8 want." "Easy there, I don''t have a problem with it. I''m just curious, cuz you''re the 3rd elf I''ve ever met, and the other 2 speak with more... class. I thought that''s just how elves talked till you threw me for a loop." "Ohhh? I''m guessing Sam''s one of the 2 you mentioned. You''re talking like it isn''t obvious why. Are you saying you don''t know Sam''s background?" Jason scratches his head in embarrassment at the question. "He doesn''t know anything about my background either. So..." "You don''t look like you have any background, so what''s there to know?" "Ouch!.." "Am I wrong, kid?" "No, but it still stings." "I don''t give a fuck. Sam''s background is between you and him anyway. You that curious, then ask the guy. So are we done here? It''ll be noon soon, and I want to eat my lunch in peace." "Yeah. That''ll be all for now, really appreciate the feedback." "Yeah yeah sure sure, now git."The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. 22 Master Student Skinship Day 91: Lassie Town After getting ''kicked'' out of Deborah''s home, Jason is led by Chanty into the nearby forests to the venue of their spar. As they walked, Jason hears barely audible muffled noises. He silently gets Chanty''s attention before they both sneak to the source of the noise. It seems to be coming from behind a particularly large tree which the two approach, and peak their heads around one side. They look down, and see a very strange sight before them: two rabbits mating. Sounds mundane, however... "Hey, Chanty. Is it common for rabbits to mate in missionary?" Jason whispers to his teacher. "I believe not, pupil." Was her whispered reply as she too watched the scene dumpfounded. However on closer inspection, Jason noticed something: a collar. Two, actually. Both rabbits were wearing collars. "Oh!" Jason forgot to whisper, and his outburst spooked the rabbit couple who looked up at the two, proceeded to scream in fright, then run off back to the town at full speed. "I get it! They''re tamers. And they''re using the rabbit bodies to get frisky." Jason explains. "Such degeneracy!" Exclaims Chanty in disgust. "Guess that''s another thing giving Tamers a bad name. Oh the possibilities." Jason comments as if impressed. Chanty instantly whips her head in his direction with an agast expression. "No possibilities, Jason! No pupil of mine will engage in such degeneracy. I won''t allow it!" "Woah! Woah! I''m not. I won''t. You saw me, I was grossed out as well." After spending quite awhile convincing Chanty he would never engage in indirect zoophilia, the two resumed their trek. Eventually they made it to a clearing, and wasted no time doing their stretches in preparation for their spar. After they were done, they got into position facing one another. "Let''s see how much you''ve grown. Eh, pupil?" Chanty takes her stance. "Sure let''s do this!" Jason takes out a practice sword. "Good, good!" Both combatants lunge at each other. One hour later, Jason is laying on his back and panting hard. He was very dirty with bruises all over his body and face. Chanty on the other hand was standing over him right as rain with her hands on her hips. She was half as dirty and bruised as Jason was, plus she wasn''t out of breath. Taking her hands off her hips, she began slowly clapping with a proud smile on her face. "Good, good! Despite lacking in speed, strength, ki, and stamina compared to myself, you performed quite well." Praised Chanty. Their sparring consisted of 13 minutes of intense sparring followed by 2 minutes of rest. They did this for each of the 7 styles plus a final all encompassing spar which had left Jason in this sorry state. Thats 2 hours in total. Jason compensated for his lower strength by leaning heavily into Flow Style. In terms of speed, he used his encyclopedic knowledge to predict her moves before she made them and get out of the way before any strikes were thrown. It was his form of Precognition, however he struggled whenever she threw faints. Jason''s ki levels were quite a bit higher than an average adventurer of his age, but he was still on the low side and conserved said ki as much as he could. He struggled from start to finish, but he did get some hits in, so he was happy for that. "We should spar more often; it is quite beneficial to us both. Nevertheless, we are both dirty as pigs. There is a stream nearby. There we shall bathe. Come along pupil." Chanty beckons Jason over. He scrambles to his feet and follows as she leads the way. After 15 minutes of walking, they reach the aforementioned stream that''s waist deep and gentle flowing. Chanty walks over to a large rock by the stream before she starts disrobing. Jason is shocked by her boldness and makes to leave. "Alright then, I''ll head back a bit and keep watch." At his statement, Chanty turns to look at him with a puzzled expression. "Hmm? What ever do you mean? You''re joining me in the water, pupil. Do take off your clothes too." It was Jason''s turn to look puzzled. "What? Isn''t that inappropriate?" Chanty nods in understanding before explaining. "It''s safer to bathe together. We can watch each other''s back and deal with any threats swiftly. Besides, Sam, myself and others of our former party did this often back in the day. Now, don''t dally. We won''t be here long." Jason didn''t need to be told twice. He understood the assignment. His articles of clothing began disappearing one by one very quickly as he moved them into his Mindscape with help from his [Parallel Thought]. He was in his birthday suit within 3 seconds and at the same time Chanty was taking off her panties. Getting a good look at her nude form, he could see she had an athletic figure with B-cup breasts and a big butt. Not massive, just bigger than the average Jane. She begins wading into the water and he follows behind her. The gentle murmur of the stream was the only sound accompanying the adventurers as they relaxed in the crystal-clear water. The sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the surface. Jason leaned against a smooth rock with a relaxed expression. Nearby, Chanty reclined comfortably, her long hair slicked back and glistening with water. After a moment of silence, Chanty broke the calm. ¡°You know, pupil, I¡¯ve been thinking about something.¡± Jason glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Chanty smirked, leaning forward slightly, her tone light but teasing. "Hmmm... Tell me, Jason. What is your ideal woman like?" Jason blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Wait, what? That''s kinda out of left field.¡± Chanty tilts her head in confusion? "Left field?" Jason corrects himself. "I mean! Out of nowhere." Chanty playfully scoffs at his antics. "Nothing too serious, just a little smalltalk to calm your nerves. Besides, we don''t get much alone time to talk. We barely know each other, you see. Its a great way to deepen our bonds." Jason sees her point. "OK, let me think... Ah! A tall girl with dusky skin, pixie cut and tomboyish personality." Chanty chuckes at the answer. "Huuu? You just described an Earth Draklin to a tee. I didn''t think you were that exclusive." Jason raises a hand out of the water as he clears the minor misunderstanding. "First off, that''s what they look like? Sweet! Second off, I cast a very wide net and love most shapes and sizes. That was just my favorite." Chanty asks a followup. "Oh? Most woman are fine with you? Are men truly honest when they say such a thing? I hear it quite alot." Jason shrugs. "In general, yeah. We''re not that picky. Most girls are attractive. Even the ones considered plain have their appeal." Chanty nods in understanding. "With such a wide net, why haven''t I seen you persuing any women during our travels. You¡¯re great with a blade and your fists, but when it comes to girls, you don''t seem to put in any effort despite how sociable you are with people." Jason pushes back. "You make it sound so easy. I don''t know anyone, plus we only stop at towns for a couple days before we leave. Not enough time to do anything with anyone. " Chanty concedes a little. "Oh, I agree with you, but only in part. I have seen many Adventurer men bed a woman the same night they arrive in a town. They, however are very charismatic, good with their words, attractive and usually have a reputation that precedes them." Jason agreed. "Hmmm. I get the picture you''re painting. But I sense there''s a more you''re trying to get across. " Chanty chuckled, waving a hand. ¡°Glad you understand... You know, you¡¯ve got all this skill, Jason. People are starting to notice you. Word¡¯s spreading about how good you are, and it¡¯s only a matter of time before influential people start trying to get on your good side¡ªor take advantage of you. And trust me, they¡¯ll use whatever means they can, including sending attractive women to ¡®befriend¡¯ you.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Jason leans forward as he makes and o face. ¡°Oh! A honeypot. The greatest weakness of dudes. Yup! I''m danger. I wouldn''t put it past Reese to try that one on me. If he''s willing to wait a year for me, he ain''t sitting idle. I just hope he doesn''t try it himself. If he seduces me in person, I''m a goner.¡± Chanty rolled her eyes, splashing water at him playfully. ¡°At least you understand. It¡¯s important you learn how to handle yourself around women. Social and, yeah, sexual experience matters, Jason. If you¡¯re clueless, you¡¯re vulnerable. People can use that against you.¡± Jason shifted his posture, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Alright, so what do you recommend I do? I''m no playboy, so I''m going to need your guidance on this.¡± Chanty grinned. ¡°You can start by showing off a little more. You¡¯ve got the skills, Jason. I''ve seen you do fantastical things¡ªlet people see them. Do a few flashy moves in public. Be confident. Women love confidence. When you''re in town, take our time to talk to people, especially women. Charm them. Make them laugh. Be yourself.¡± Jason thinks for a moment, then nods. ¡°Show off, ey? I can do that. I''ve got a couple ideas already. However my main issue is sealing the deal. I can talk to a girl, no problem. But the special kind of talk that get a girl to follow me to my bedroom, that''s another story. ¡± Chanty¡¯s grin failed abit, though her tone remained light. ¡°Don''t worry too much about such things. You¡¯re young and talented, therefore people will be drawn to you. I''d say you have it easier than most men. Just remember¡ªconfidence, charm, and a little bit of skill. You¡¯ll be fine. And if all else fails, just smile. You¡¯ve got a good one¡ªit¡¯ll work wonders.¡± Jason laughed, shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, you''re right. Guess I''m overly worried about being rejected. I''ll just concentrate on the showing off part for now, and deal with the talking part when the time comes.¡± Chanty gives a nods at Jason in agreement before looking down and gasping lightly. "It seems my attempts to calm you down have failed. That looks painful." Jason doesn''t meet her eyes. "And whose fault is that? I have seen you in all your glory, and that''s not something my body can recover from so easily." Chanty chuckles at his overdramatic statement. "You flatter me, pupil. To think you have such a strong reaction to seeing my body. Very well, as an apology, I will help bring you relief. Do scoot to the side a bit, will you?" Jason is agast at her offer. "Woah! Really? Isn''t this against some teacher-pupil code of ethics?" Chanty presses against him, an arm draped over his shoulder, and a leg over his own, as she reaches down with her other hand. "Huuu? Nhnhnhn! Nothing of the sort. This is well above board. Skinship comes with the territory. Now relax and leave it to me." Soon Chanty and Jason were done with their bath and were returning to town. When they got to the outskirts, Chanty turns to Jason. "I can''t believe you are still giddy. Was my service really that stimulating?" Jason kept facing forward with a massive grin on his face. "More than you will ever know. You took a sizable slice of my virginity pie back there, and it was awesome. I''ll remember it forever..." Chanty deadpans. "You can''t seriously be this easy, my pupil... That is it. Your first assignment begins when we get to the Diner. You will stay there till well after dark doing what we have just discussed. We shall in time rid you of this weakness." When the two finally made their way to the inn, they both had their dinner, after which Chanty went straight to her room, while Jason stayed behind sipping a large mug of mead. He decided to just gather information instead of winging it. He paid close attention to conversations around him, especially from the ladies who worked at the inn. He''d do this till it got pretty dark and he went to bed. Day 92 The morning sun filtered softly through the windows of the bustling inn, casting warm rays over the wooden tables where a few travelers were already enjoying their breakfast. The aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon filled the air, mixing with the rich scent of brewed coffee. At one corner, Jason and Chanty sat across from each other, a map spread out between them on the table. Jason took a bite of his bread, swallowing before speaking. ¡°We¡¯ve got nine days give or take before Sam arrives. How do you want to spend them?¡± Chanty¡¯s eyes scanned the map for some time. ¡°I was thinking we could take three trips into the forest. Not too far each time¡ªlet¡¯s take it slow and steady.¡± She tapped her finger on the map, her nail tracing the forest''s outline. ¡°I want to check out the deeper parts of the forest where we can encounter stronger Hazard Beasts more frequently.¡± Jason sees no issue with the plan. ¡°Sounds good. Three separate trips over the next nine days. We''ll do a short hunt each time, and then we¡¯ll return to town, check on the quest board, pick up any mail, and I''ll check in with Deborah with regards to my training.¡± Chanty quirks a brow. ¡°Speaking of your elven trainer, how goes the Taming? ¡± Jason smirked, setting his coffee down before scratching the head of Kiki eating it''s bowl of schredded smoked meat. ¡°Progress is great. I''ve got a few more senses under my belt. Can''t wait for the next stages.¡± Chanty leans back in her chair. ¡°Good, good! As aways, you learn fast and progress faster. As expected of my prized pupil.¡± Jason rubs the back of his head in embarrassment. "Ah, Shucks..." The two sat in companionable silence for a moment, the plan taking shape in their minds as they imagined the coming days. Soon they finish their meal and exit the inn. Minutes later, they''re out of town and heading into the woods following a trail adventurers have been using for ages. There are many of these trails branching out the deeper one travels into the woods until they reach the stream. Shorter trails reach the stream sooner like the one Jason and Chanty used the other day, while longer end further upstream with the longest running parralel to the stream. For today''s journey they''ll travel till noon, pick a camping location, then hunt till evening. Tomorrow, they''ll hunt all day, and the day after, they''ll return to town by noon. The trek was quite boring for Jason, so he took the time to think of ways of improving his [String Arts] which he developed back in Shirebunkle. So far he can make a hair thin strand of ki he can extend for vast distances at low cost to his ki thanks to it''s very small surface area. He can also create grids to map out 3-dimensional space which included the environment and individuals. This granted him superb spacial awareness as well as tracking and precognition when fighting others. This also grants him the ability to compromise people''s movements by giving his ki adhesive properties and making them stick to surfaces at when they least expect it, creating and accident and leaving them wide open. He hoping to increase its lethality; neutralizing targets with a minimal amount of ki. He already had some ideas he wanted to try out in the wild to see if it''s doable. "Who''s going to be my little guinea pig?... Oh! You''ll do." Jason sends a ki string ahead and up a large tree till it reaches a palm sized lizard basking in the sun. Grids made of ki strings form across its body in no time, and Jason initiates his first test. He gathers a circle of ki on one side of the lizard, before firing ki the shape and strength of a needle into the body, hitting the organs within. The lizard lurches before making erratic movement as it appears to be in very visible pain. Not wanting to torture the creature, Jason immediately started firing off ki needles out of the main needle in every direction which turned the internal organs into pin cushions and ending the lizard''s life quickly. "Maybe I should have gone for the head..." Jason vanishes the body of the lizard into his mindscape through the strings as he searches for his next lab rat. He''s next victim is a rabbit foraging at the entrance of its burrow. The experiment repeats, but this time the ki needle is plunged into the skull from the top of its head. It''s instant death: an improvement. He continues the experiment with another rabbit hiding within the burrow. This time he stakes the brain through the eye, which cost less ki. Both rabbits were remotely retrieved without a hitch, as the experiments continued. After several minutes of doing this, Jason concluded that this method of killing was quite effective and efficient, however it was lacking in power and was only good for taking out small animals and blinding larger ones. He could give it more kick, but that would be less efficient than stabbing the creature directly with a ki blade for reasons the mechanics of his [Thread Arts] wouldn''t allow. Experiment 2: Internal Thread. "Everyone is squishy on the inside. I''ll try that next." Picking another poor woodland creature from several yards away, Jason feeds the ki thread into it''s mouth, down it''s digestive tract, and out it''s back door with it being non the wiser of it''s violation. During his invasion of the creature''s body, Jason notices his ki string ''dissolving''. It was losing volume like dry ice in room temperature. Jason had to continue feeding the string as much ki as it was losing to maintain it''s form. This was costing Jason ki overtime, and added another level of complexity. He speculated this phenomenon was a result of the creature''s ki clashing against his own and eroding it. This meant that Jason was on the clock, and couldn''t casually explore it''s insides. Back to the experiment: Jason could have ruptured the guts this way, but he wanted to try the lungs first, so he fed the ki string down the respiratory tract this time, and mapped out the insides of the lungs in a grid. That way, he could feel the lungs expand and contract as the creature breathe as well as the heart beating right behind it. "Bingo!" Jason gathers ki to a spot in the lungs closest to the heart, then he fires a ki needle through the lung and into the heart. The little critter was dead in seconds. Jason was gobsmacked by how easy that was. He decided to test this on larger prey to see if it would take it down too. A 6 foot long wild boar was his target, Jason did his thing, but was forced to expend alot more ki per second to counteract the ''ki decay?'', ''ki erosion?'', ''kivaloration?'' as well as speed things up to save his ki expenditure. But the end result was the same, and the boar died with a ki stake through the heart. This cost Jason a quarter of all his ki to pull off, but it still shook Jason to his core. Yes, it would have been faster and cost zero ki to snipe that boar from that distance, plus he had way more than 4 arrows to work with, so it seemed overly costly to add to his moveset, however his accuracy with a bow had its limit. With his ki thread, Jason could kill any Hazard Beast at least with ki levels up to 4x what that boar had from miles away with a 100 percent guarantee. Basically, Jason can kill anything that has less ki than he does, so long as can get his string on it. This revelation was scaring him quite a bit. "This is how someone turns into an evil villain. All I''d need is one bad day, and someone''s dying mysteriously. Better keep myself in check." Chanty notices the distress on his face. "Is something wrong pupil? You seem troubled." This snaps him out of his thoughts before he let''s out a sign of relief after seeing his teacher''s face. "Hey. If I ever look like I''m about to go on a killing spree out of rage, could you smack some sense back into me?" Chanty tilts her head in confusion for a moment before nodding as though she understood. "What teacher would I be if I couldn''t do at least that much. Worry not, for I shall strike you with all my strength if that day ever comes." The declaration sends a shiver down Jason''s spine. "Oi. I didn''t say you should kill me. Just smack some sense back into me and stop there." Chanty returns a cheeky grin. "Good,Good! I have established a strong deterance. You will be fine so long as you dread this outcome." Jason throws his hands in the air in surrender as he laughs. "I can''t argue with that..." 23 Party of Four Day 92: Lassie Town (Outskirts) The late afternoon sun filtered through the forest canopy, painting the dirt path in fragmented patches of light. Jason and Chanty walked side by side, their steps steady and unhurried as they made their way down the trail. The faint rustle of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, and the whimpers of dying Hazard Beasts by Jason''s hands accompanied their journey, filling the quiet air with a sense of calm. That calm was broken by sharp, raised tones of voices through the trees. Jason¡¯s ears twitched, and he slowed to a stop. ¡°You hear that?¡± he asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity. Chanty stopped beside him, her sharp eyes narrowing as she focused on the distant sound. ¡°Sounds like an argument. And not the friendly kind.¡± Jason glanced in the direction of the noise, his brow furrowing slightly. Without waiting for further discussion, he changed course, stepping off the path and heading toward the commotion. Chanty followed, though her pace was more relaxed. ¡°You¡¯re going to get involved, aren¡¯t you?¡± she asked with a hint of amusement. ¡°Can¡¯t ignore it,¡± Jason replied simply, his voice steady. "Indeed. Do what you must, pupil. I shall enjoy the show." Chanty gives her blessing. The voices grew louder as they approached, distinct enough now to discern the tension in the words. Jason pushed aside a low-hanging branch, stepping into a small clearing, and immediately took in the scene before him. A group of six rough-looking men and women loomed over four younger adventurers, their demeanor hostile and overbearing. The younger group consisted of two girls and two boys, none of whom looked older than their late teens. The boys stood in front of their companions, their postures defensive, while the girls hovered behind them, clearly intimidated but trying to look brave. The leader of the ruffians, a burly man with a crooked nose and an ugly grin, stepped forward, his attention fixed on one of the girls. ¡°Come on, sweetheart. Join our group. We¡¯ll take good care of you.¡± The girl he addressed had auburn hair tied back in a loose braid. She clutched a spear in her trembling hand aimed at the group, her voice shaking as she spoke. ¡°We already said no! Leave us alone!¡± The burly man¡¯s grin widened, showing yellowed teeth. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be like that. You¡¯ll be a lot safer with us than with these kids. Besides¡­¡± His eyes glinted maliciously. ¡°We could use some good company.¡± The lanky man beside him, whose face was marred by a deep scar, laughed mockingly. ¡°Yeah, these boys aren¡¯t gonna protect you from anything. You¡¯d be better off with us.¡± One of the boys, tall but scrawny, stepped forward. ¡°Are you deaf? Leave us alone already.¡± he said, his voice steady despite his nerves. The burly man sneered and took another step closer. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Jason¡¯s calm voice cut through the tension like a blade. All eyes turned toward him as he stepped into the clearing, his expression casual but his presence commanding. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword, though he made no move to draw it. Chanty leaned against a tree at the edge of the clearing, crossing her arms and observing with a faint smirk. Jason had left Kiki in her care, the bird sitting obediently on her shoulder. Jason¡¯s gaze swept over the scene, taking in the adventurers¡¯ nervous forms and the ruffians¡¯ predatory grins. He focused on the burly man, addressing him in an even tone. ¡°I think they¡¯ve made themselves clear. Why don¡¯t you move along before this gets ugly?¡± The burly man turned to face Jason fully, his grin faltering for a moment before twisting into a scowl. ¡°Who the hell are you supposed to be? Some kind of hero?¡± Jason shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°What does it matter? If I say I am, will you leave?¡± The lanky man snorted, stepping forward with a sneer. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, kid. This isn¡¯t your business. Walk away while you still can.¡± Jason met his gaze without flinching. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance to walk away too. You can take it or not. I don''t care. You''ll be making tracks regardless.¡± The ruffians exchanged glances, and then the burly man let out a barking laugh. ¡°You¡¯re outnumbered, kid. Guess we¡¯ll have to teach you a lesson.¡± Jason smirks, his hand falling from his sword hilt to his side. His body shifted into a relaxed stance, his eyes steady and calm. ¡°Your choice. Come and get rekt.¡± The clearing grew tense, the air heavy with anticipation. The rookie adventurers watched in wide-eyed silence, the party of 4 clutching their weapons tightly while they held their breath. Chanty remained at the edge of the scene, her expression one of mild amusement, and her posture hinted at zero readiness to intervene because of her confidence in Jason. The leader of the ruffians barked out a command. "Get him!" Jason stood firm, his posture relaxed, almost bored, as the first ruffian--a towering man with a thick, muscular build-charged at him. The man was swung a claymore toward Jason''s face. Jason didn''t flinch. At the last moment, he shifted his head slightly, the blade sailing harmlessly past his cheek by inches. Before the man could recover, Jason kicked his leg at such an angle and timing that he lost balance and was sent tumbling like a clutz. "Next," Jason said simply, while making a beckoning gesture towards the rest of the group. A lanky ruffian with a scar across his cheek sneered, drawing a dagger. "Cocky little brat. Let''s see how tough you are up close!" He lunged at Jason, aiming the blade for his side. Jason moved like a shadow, sidestepping the attack with ease like it was the most telegraphed move ever. Before the man could even begin to stumble past him, Jason kicks his exposed torso with a flash of speed. The dagger fell to the ground with a clatter, as the man crumbled unto the dirt. The remaining ruffians hesitated, glancing at one another nervously. The confidence they''d had moments ago was rapidly evaporating. Chanty, who had been watching from the sidelines, leaned casually against a tree, a faint smirk on her lips. "Pupil! Do that really flashy uppercut you like so much. I want to see what it''s like when not aimed at me." she called out, her voice laced with expectation. Jason turned his head slightly towards her before his face morphs into a mischievous grin. "Sure!" The leader of the ruffians snarled, his face contorted with anger. "Stop standing around! Take him down!" Two more ruffians charged at Jason simultaneously-one wielding a metal club and the other a sword. Jason blitzes over to the Swordsman and knocks him out with a soccer kick to the head. "I only need one of you." After seeing his companion taken out so swiftly, the club guy begins attacking Jason in a panicked frenzy hoping that if he doesn''t give Jason breathing room, he can''t take him out so easily. However, all his attacks were dodged with ease. Eventually, he swings his club in a horizontal arc, which Jason ducks under while simultaneously moving closer, before delivering a sharp jab to the gut which hit with surgical precision, burying deep into the man''s stomach. The club guy froze, his eyes widening as the air was forced from his lungs. He doubled over, his guard dropping for a crucial second. Shifting his weight, Jason stepped in with his other fist, driving it up into club guys chest with a forceful thud. The blow cracked against the sternum, lifting the man slightly off the ground. Without changing his stance, Jason launches upward in a powerful, rising motion, his fist arcing cleanly into club guy''s jaw. The force of the uppercut was clean, brutal, and final. Club guy''s head snapped back, his body lifting off the ground as if gravity had momentarily abandoned him before he came crashing down a moment later, limp and motionless on the forest floor. From her spot near the edge of the clearing, Chanty perks up at the scene. "Oh! I haven''t seen you use that one before. Quite the flashy move, pupil." Jason responds with a thumbs up. The leader gritted his teeth, his pride warring with the reality of the situation. Finally, he softened his grip on the axe. "This isn''t over," he spat, glaring at Jason. "You''ll regret crossing us." Jason didn''t respond, he just waved them goodbye as he watched the man retreat. The other ruffians dragged their unconscious friends and followed their leader, casting wary glances over their shoulders as they disappeared into the forest. Once the clearing was quiet again,This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Chanty pushed off the tree and strolled over to Jason, her arms crossed. "Well, that was entertaining. I would have loved to see more of your unorthodox techniques. Impractical as they may be, they are fun to watch. By the way, what''s this one you just performed called? " Jason rubs the back of his head, his tone casual. "Oh, that? I call it Shin Shory-." "That was incredible! You didn''t even use your sword!" Interrupted Alisa, her wide eyes filled with awe. The party of four, who had been frozen in place throughout the fight, finally seemed to snap out of their stupor. The younger boy, Rooney, nodded enthusiastically. "You made it look so easy. I''ve never seen anyone fight like that before." Jason turned to face them, offering a big smile. "Thanks! I do my best. That aside, how are you guys holding up? You''re not hurt are you?" The auburn-haired girl nodded quickly. ¡°W-we''re fine, thanks to you.¡± The scrawny yet tall boy steps forward, his face flushed with gratitude. ¡°We don¡¯t know what would¡¯ve happened if you hadn¡¯t shown up the way you did. Those guys weren¡¯t going to leave us alone.¡± Jason gave a small nod, glancing briefly at the others. The second boy, a shorter but sturdier figure, seemed less shaken than his companions, though he kept shifting his weight from foot to foot. The second girl, with short black hair and a wary gaze, remained quiet but studied Jason with a mix of curiosity and awe. The auburn-haired girl lowered her spear and offered Jason a brilliant smile. ¡°Thank you for helping us. I¡¯m Alisa. These are my siblings, Rooney and Karen.¡± She gestured to the shorter boy and the other girl, who both nodded in turn. ¡°And this is our friend, Terry." she gestures to the scrawny one. Jason gave them a polite smile. ¡°I¡¯m Jason, and this is my master, Chanty.¡± Chanty gave a lazy wave, her expression relaxed. The party of 4 nod to the Martial Artist before Alisa begins to speak." I''m sure you''re wondering how we got mixed up with those brutes. Well, we just ran into them and out of nowhere they wanted Karen and I to join their group, and when we refused¡­¡± Her voice trailed off, and Rooney clenched his fists, his face hardening. ¡°They got aggressive. We tried to stand up to them, but¡­¡± Terry interjected, his tone defensive. ¡°We could have taken them on if they didn''t have us outnumbered. It wouldn''t have ended well for us if a fight had broken out.¡± Jason nods in understanding. ¡°Yeah. Shit happens. Alot of these things can''t be helped.¡± Alisa nodded, her expression somber. ¡°You¡¯re right...¡± Karen decides to speak up at that moment. "I remember you two. You came into town a couple days ago." Jason perks up at this. "Yeah! So you''re from Lassie Town, then. Are those guys from there too? I don''t remember seeing any of them, though." Karen shakes her head. "No, they''re not. We''ve never seen them before either. They must be a group of adventurers passing through." Jason considers things for a moment. "Those guys come off more as bandits in Adventurer clothing than anything. There''s a good chance you guys will encounter them again while you''re out here, but next time they''ll have an even bigger bone to pick with you. So, you got any plans for that?" The group of 4 turned pale at the question while Chanty shakes her head as if feeling sorry for them. The 4 regain their senses soon enough and ask for a moment to consider things, as they huddle up and talk in hushed whispers like they''re football team, or something. After a couple minutes of this, they all turn to face Jason as Alisa speaks for the group. "You''re right. If we run into those guys again, we''re basically goners. However we still have some options. One way is to somehow sneak past them, and head back to town to inform the Guild and warn other adventurers about them. Another way is to meet up with other parties from town, and stick together so we can rival their number and deter them from trying anything funny. But either of those are pointless if we run into them again beforehand." Alisa hesitated before continuing. A look of nervousness on her face. ¡°Do you think¡­we could travel with you? At least for a little while? I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but... ¡± Jason crossed his arms, considering her request. These guys were cooked if he left them alone with those other guys running around out there. However, playing babysitter could undermine their own plans. "Let''s say we grant your request. What are you going to do then? Backtrack to town, find and merge with other adventurer parties, or something else? Cuz I''ll tell you right now, we''re not heading back, at least not today. We just left town this morning, and we plan to be out here a couple days before heading back. We''re not changing that plan even for you guys, so put that into consideration if you will." Alisa is taken aback for a moment, but still nods in understanding. "You''re right, it''d be too much to ask you to throw away your own plans just to protect strangers you just met. We''d be more than happy conform to your schedule, as we too intend to hunt out here for some days as well. We believe sticking close to you would be the best strategy no matter what. We''d be wasting precious time blindly searching for other adventurers out here in the forest when we could be hunting Hazard Beasts instead. We''ll be sure to hinder your plans as little as possible. It''s the least we could do. Is that a sufficient answer." Jason finds her response reasonable. He turns to Chanty for her opinion. But she waves him off. "Oh, don''t mind me. So long as you do all the protecting yourself, you can decide on your own." Jason turned back to the group, his decision made. ¡°Alright. You can travel with us for now.¡± Alisa¡¯s face lit up, and the boys exchanged relieved smiles. Karen looked as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. ¡°Thank you,¡± Alisa said earnestly. ¡°We promise not to slow you down.¡± Jason nodded. ¡°Good. Let''s iron out the details as we walk. I have a feeling that together we''ll be getting alot more done than otherwise.¡± "I think so too. We look forward to working with you both." Was Alisa''s earnest reply. After a bit more talking, The group began to move out. Jason and Chanty walked side by side with the other party, who''s expressions a mix of gratitude and determination. Not too far away, the group of ruffians trudged through the dense forest, their spirits low and their pride battered after their humiliating defeat at Jason¡¯s hands. The leader, a burly man named Hardy, clenched his fists tightly as he stomped ahead of the others, his face a mask of simmering rage. The air thick with unspoken tension. Behind him, the lanky man with the scar, Allen, broke the silence first. ¡°So what now, boss? We just let that kid humiliate us and walk away like it¡¯s nothing?¡± Another ruffian, a shorter but stout man named Jerry, grumbled as he rubbed his sore ribs from the earlier fight. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve got to do something. We can¡¯t let this slide, Hardy.¡± Hardy abruptly stopped in his tracks, whirling around to face his subordinates. His broad shoulders loomed over them, and his piercing glare silenced the murmurs of dissent instantly. ¡°What do you want to do, huh?¡± he growled, his deep voice reverberating through the trees. ¡°Go back and get your asses handed to you again? You think any of you could lay a finger on that kid? He didn¡¯t even draw his sword, and he mopped the floor with us!¡± The men shifted uneasily under his furious gaze. Allen opened his mouth to protest, but Hadran¡¯s sharp glare stopped him cold. ¡°Listen up,¡± Hardy barked, pointing a thick finger at the group. ¡°That kid isn¡¯t normal. He¡¯s some kind of freak. For now, we stay clear of any other parties, got it? We can¡¯t risk running into another group with someone like him.¡± There was a moment of sullen silence before one of the younger ruffians, a wiry man named Brian, muttered under his breath, ¡°What kind of adventurer doesn¡¯t even use their weapon? It¡¯s like he was toying with us.¡± Hardy glare snapped to Brian, and he took a menacing step toward him. Brian immediately recoiled, his back pressing against the rough bark of a nearby tree. ¡°You¡¯ve got something to say, Brian?¡± Hardy growled, his tone low and dangerous. ¡°Because if you do, say it louder so I can hear it clearly.¡± Brian shook his head quickly, his face pale. ¡°N-No, boss. Nothing to say.¡± Satisfied, Hardy straightened and turned back to address the group as a whole. ¡°Good. Now quit whining and focus. We¡¯ve got a job to do, remember? We came out here to hunt Hazard Beasts, not pick fights with adventurers.¡± Jerry frowned, still nursing his ribs. ¡°Aye, boss. ¡± ¡°Good. Now let¡¯s move. And remember¡ªno more messing with adventurers. We can¡¯t afford another setback.¡± As the group began to fall into line, muttering quietly among themselves, Hardy lingered for a moment. He turned back in the direction they had retreated from, his teeth grinding together in frustration. The image of Jason¡¯s calm, almost dismissive expression burned in his mind like a brand. ¡°Cocky little brat,¡± he muttered under his breath. ¡°You think you¡¯re untouchable? We¡¯ll see about that.¡± His fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms as he imagined the day he could wipe that smug look off Jason¡¯s face. He wouldn¡¯t forget this humiliation. One way or another, he would make Jason pay. With a final growl, Hardy turned and began walking again, his heavy boots crunching against the forest floor. His men followed silently, their earlier complaints stifled by the simmering fury radiating from their leader. The forest swallowed their retreating forms, the echoes of their steps fading into the distance. But as they vanished into the trees, the memory of Jason¡¯s effortless dominance lingered in Hardy¡¯s mind, a festering wound to his pride that wouldn¡¯t heal anytime soon. Back to Jason, Chanty and the party of four. The group trekked deeper into the forest, the sunlight filtering through the canopy above and casting dappled shadows on the ground. Jason walked at the front, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Beside him, Alisa kept pace, her curiosity brimming as she tried to strike up a conversation. ¡°So, Jason,¡± Alisa began, glancing up at him. ¡°I can''t help but notice you look around our age. Is it so?¡± Jason tilted his head, his tone casual. ¡°I''m 19, if that clarifies things.¡± Alisa¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re only a year older than me,¡± she said, her voice tinged with awe. ¡°And yet you¡¯re¡­ well, you¡¯re ridiculously strong. I mean, you took down those ruffians like it was nothing. Most Adventurers your age wouldn''t have managed that." Jason shrugged modestly, keeping his gaze ahead. ¡°What can I say, I¡¯ve had good training.¡± he said, casting a quick glance back at Chanty. Chanty, walking a few steps behind with her arms crossed, smirked but said nothing. She seemed perfectly content to let Jason handle the conversation while she observed in silence. Jason had a couple questions of his own. "I noticed you guys all use spears. Is there a reason for that?" Alisa explains. "We were all trained by my father. He''s an expert Spearman, and taught us everything we know. He always goes on about how the Spear is the perfect weapon and all that. He''s really laid back just like you. I''m sure you two would get along very well if you met each other. Hehehe~" Jason snorted. " What''s with people who use spears and claiming it''s the best weapon? I''ve met other spearmen, and they say the same thing. " The image of an eccentric Wind Draklin came to Jason''s mind. This makes Alisa giggle. "There are legitimate reasons though. Spears have longer reach, so you can keep your foe at bay better, as well as control space. It''s the easiest weapon for beginners to learn, and a sharp tip is great for stabbing deep and dealing heavy damage." Jason debates her. "Yeah, I''ll give you that, but a sword is more versatile. Any situation I''m in, the sword gets me out of. You find yourself having to fight in a narrow corridor with a spear, you''re cooked!" The weapons debate carried on for a few minutes till Rooney notices something. "You know I''ve been wondering for awhile now, but I''ve noticed your master is a martial artist, yet you carry a sword. What''s the deal with that?" Jason points to his blade questionably. "Oh this? I''m self taught in swordsmanship, after I was trained in Martial Arts. Hope that clears things up." Rooney nods in understanding, satisfied with the answer. Alisa tilts her head, her curiosity only growing. Her eyes drifted to the small bird perched on Jason¡¯s shoulder. The bird chirped softly, seemingly content with its place on Jason. ¡°That¡¯s a beautiful bird,¡± Alisa said, pointing to it. ¡°Is it your pet?¡± Jason glanced at the bird, before rubbing its head with a finger. ¡°Yup. Her name is Kiki. Say hello, Kiki.¡± "Kiki!" The bird greets. Alisa¡¯s brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°It''s awfully well trained... Is it a tamed pet from town.¡± Jason hesitated for a moment before answering. ¡°Yes. Yes she is. ¡± He left out the part that he tamed Kiki himself. That would have been too much for their minds to handle. The bird on Jason¡¯s shoulder chirped again, as if adding its own opinion to the conversation. This only seemed to endear it further to Alisa. She reached out tentatively, her hand hovering near the bird. ¡°Does he let people pet him?¡± she asked, glancing at Jason. Without letting him answer, Kiki hops unto Alisa''s shoulder which startles her a bit. Jason laughs at her reaction. ¡°Guess that answers your question.¡± The bird tilted its head, studying Alisa for a moment before it nuzzles against her gently. Alisa let out a delighted laugh. 24 Killzone Day 92: Lassie Town (Outskirts) The noon sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays piercing through the dense forest canopy and illuminating patches of the ground below. Jason led the group alongside Alisa, his eyes scanning the terrain for threats while hers scan for proper killzones. If one were to explain killzones to a lay person, they''d be High ground, narrow spaces, anything that forces Hazard Beasts into a disadvantage. Like setting the stage for a fight one is guaranteed to win. The group continued their search, weaving through the forest in silence. Alisa¡¯s sharp gaze swept over every rock formation, every rise and fall of the terrain, calculating the possibilities. After a few minutes, she came to an abrupt stop atop a small ridge. ¡°Here,¡± Alisa said, pointing to the area below. The group gathered around her, peering down at the spot she had chosen. Chanty gives it a scrutinizing look before turning to Alisa with a smile. "Good, good! This will do. You have a good eye, little miss." The ridge sloped downward into a shallow depression surrounded by large boulders and thick trees. The narrow entrances to the depression would force any creature to approach in single file, while the surrounding rocks provided excellent cover for ranged attacks. Alisa blushes at the praise before turning to her party to explain. ¡°The terrain works in our favor. The bottleneck entrances will keep the beasts from swarming us, and we¡¯ll have plenty of places to hide.¡± Rooney nodded, his expression relaxed. ¡°Looks solid. Now for the gross part: Bait.¡± Jason steps forward. "Leave that part to me." He descends into the depression and soon found a clear spot in the center where he materialized, then dumped a Goblin Corpse he''d been holding on to since Arkensaw. The carcass landed with a wet thud, its exposed flesh glistening in the sunlight. Next he materialized a bucket which contained a grisly mix of bloody offals with an odor so strong the others could smell it from where they were standing. Terry grimaced, his nose wrinkling. "Woo! He''s got the good stuff." Everyone giggled and chuckled while holding their noses. Then Karen chimes in. "That''s great. The stronger the smell, the further the scent would carry, and the faster the Hazard Beasts will come. We''re going to be really busy soon." ¡°That should do it,¡± he said, stepping back and cradling Kiki who fainted from the intense odor. He looked up at the others, who were still watching from the ridge. ¡°Alright folks, go find your hiding spots, and remember to follow the plan once the beasts show up, Kay?¡± The group dispersed without a word, each person choosing a position that suited their skills. Jason sat perched atop a boulder, his bow resting lightly in his hands, the tension in the string relaxed but ready. Chanty found a perch in a tree, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. The Party of Four spread out around the depression, their movements careful and deliberate. Alisa and Karen took positions behind separate rocks, their spears and javelins ready. Rooney crouched near a narrow entrance, while Terry chose a spot with ample cover but a clear line of sight to the bait. The forest grew eerily quiet as they waited, the only sounds being the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. Kiki woke up. The stench of the bait began to permeate the air, thick and cloying, carried by the gentle breeze. Time stretched on, the tension building with each passing minute. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig set the group on edge, their anticipation sharpening like a blade. The sound of rustling leaves drew everyone''s attention, and moments later, a Terror Bird stepped cautiously into the killzone. The creature was massive, easily eight feet tall, with sharp talons and a wickedly hooked beak. Its feathers were a mix of gray and brown, blending seamlessly with the forest undergrowth. Jason¡¯s eyes widened as he watched it approach the bait, its predatory gaze scanning the area. ''A Terror Bird,'' Jason thought to himself, a smile forming. ''I remember watching a video about these things back in the day. I can never get tired of seeing Extinct creatures in the flesh. Hope I get to see a Tazmanian Tiger and Dodo someday.'' He raised his bow and drawing back the string, he took aim, the Terror Bird¡¯s massive frame in his sight. Jason exhaled slowly, his focus sharpening as the creature pecked at the offals. The arrow flew true, piercing the bird¡¯s side with a sickening thud. The creature screeched in pain, flapping its puny wings in a futile attempt to balance itself. Jason lowered his bow, choosing not to fire another shot. Instead, he leaned back slightly, curious to see how the Party of Four would handle the situation. The wounded Terror Bird let out a guttural cry, its talons digging into the ground as it tried to escape. It stumbled toward the edge of the killzone, but before it could get far, a javelin whistled through the air. The weapon struck the bird square in the head, its sharp tip penetrating through bone and brain. The Terror Bird collapsed instantly, its body twitching once before going still. Rooney stepped out from behind a tree, fist bumping the air as he strides toward the downed beast. He pulled the javelin free with a grunt, wiping the blood off on the grass before turning to the group. With a cheeky grin, he gave them all a thumbs-up. Jason smiled at that, impressed by the precision and timing of Rooney¡¯s throw. "Not bad, these guys are better than they let on. If the rest of them are as skilled as Rooney, we''re cleaning out this forest.¡± The afternoon progressed with a steady rhythm. Hazard Beasts of all kinds wandered into the killzone, drawn by the scent of the bait. Velociraptors appeared in small packs, their sharp claws and cunning movements making them formidable foes. Spotted Wolves followed, their predatory instincts driving them to attack the bait with ferocity. Jason was the first to act each time, his arrows striking true and crippling the beasts. The Party of Four would then swoop in, finishing the creatures off with impressive coordination and skill. Alisa controlled space with her spear, Karen stabs at weak points to slow down or disable, Rooney¡¯s javelins landed with unerring precision, and Terry would deal killing blows by impaling vitals. Chanty, meanwhile, had yet to lift a finger. She lounged on a tree branch, her arms behind her head and her eyes closed, a contented smile on her face. Jason glanced at her occasionally, amused by her apparent lack of concern. ¡°Sometimes I wish I was as laid back as she is. She''s living her best life up there. ¡± Hours passed, and the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The group had successfully taken down a Short-Faced Bear, a Saber-Tooth Tiger, and several other Hazard Beasts. Despite the intensity of the battles, their teamwork made each victory look almost effortless.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As the light began to fade, Jason called out softly from his perch. ¡°One more kill, then we¡¯ll set up camp. Alright, folks? ¡± Nods, and a thumbs-up were the reply he got as their others moved quietly as they returned to their hiding spots. They waited in silence, the forest growing darker with each passing moment. Finally, the sound of something slithering reached their ears. Jason¡¯s eyes widened as the creature entered the killzone. It was a massive serpent, its black scales shimmering with an almost oily sheen in the fading light. Its eyes glowed faintly, and its forked tongue flicked out as it tasted the air. The snake¡¯s size was staggering, its body as thick as a tree trunk and its length disappearing into the shadows. The Party of Four froze, their earlier confidence giving way to hesitation. Alisa¡¯s hands trembled slightly as she held her spear, her gaze locked on the serpent. Karen and Terry exchanged uneasy glances, while Rooney¡¯s grip on his javelin tightened. Jason began assessing the situation. He could see the doubt creeping into the younger adventurers¡¯ faces, but he didn¡¯t blame them. This beast was far more intimidating than anything they¡¯d faced so far. It was no ordinary Hazard Beast: the way its tongue flicked out, tasting the air, and the calculating way its glowing yellow eyes scanned the surroundings. From her own vantage point, Chanty stirred. She had been lazily watching the events of the day unfold, content to let Jason and the others handle everything thus far. But the appearance of this creature changed everything. Leaping down from her perch, she moved swiftly yet silently to Jason¡¯s side. ¡°It¡¯s a Wyrm,¡± she said in a low, urgent voice as she crouched beside him. Jason¡¯s eyebrows arched. ¡°A Wyrm? Oh dear, it''s the Ogre all over again, isn''t it?¡± Chanty nodded, her gaze fixed on the massive serpent. ¡°Your concern is warranted. Some snakes, like giant anacondas or pythons, can evolve into Wyrms when they break through to the Second Stage of the Mortal Realm. This one¡¯s no ordinary predator, Jason. It¡¯s far more dangerous than anything else we¡¯ve encountered today. An ogre would be pleasant meal to this thing.¡± While she was explaining, Jason had sent his ki string into the Wyrm''s mouth in hopes of killing it. Unfortunately, it evaporated as soon as it got in the body, making Jason almost cuss. ''This thing has too much ki! I can''t kill it from the inside with my current levels.'' he thought. ''Change of plans. I''ll take out an eye or two to make things easier for us. Until then I''ll grid this whole place and everyone in it.'' As Jason went about manipulating his ki strings, he reached for the sword sheathed at his hip. The blade slid free with a quiet hiss, its surface gleaming faintly with the ki he instinctively infused into it. ¡°We¡¯ll need to work together to bring it down,¡± Chanty continued, her voice calm but firm. ¡°A Wyrm¡¯s scales are nearly impenetrable, but its underbelly and mouth are vulnerable. Aim for those.¡± Jason nodded, a plan already forming in his mind. ¡°Got it. Don''t be shocked if it recoils in pain out of nowhere. Attack it during that opening.¡± A small smirk tugging at Chanty''s lips as he said that. ¡°Understood, pupil.¡± she said with a nod. ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± Jason said, his voice resolute. The two of them descended from the tree and began circling the killzone, their movements swift and silent. The Wyrm remained focused on the bait, its massive body coiling and uncoiling as it investigated the bloody carcass. Jason and Chanty used the creature¡¯s distraction to get into position. Jason took the lead, stepping out into the open and raising his sword. He channeled ki into the blade, which began to glow faintly, then slashed through the air. A crescent-shaped wave of ki shot toward the Wyrm, slicing through the air with a faint hum. The attack struck the creature¡¯s side, leaving a shallow mark that drew its attention immediately. The Wyrm let out a guttural hiss, its head snapping toward Jason. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, and it lunged forward with surprising speed for something so massive. Jason dashed to the side, evading the attack effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. At that moment, Chanty darts in from the side. Her fists glowed with concentrated ki as she closed the distance between herself and the Wyrm. When she was close enough, her right fist thrust out in a jab. ¡°Fatality Jab!¡± she shouted as her fist connected with the Wyrm¡¯s side. A burst of concentrated ki erupted from her hand, sending a shockwave rippling across the creature¡¯s body. Though the attack didn¡¯t achieve its full potential, the Wyrm still recoiled in pain, hissing angrily as it reared back. Jason was scratching his head for a moment. "Why yell out the attack? Is this an anime, or something?" Chanty didn¡¯t wait for retaliation. She darted back to a safe distance, regrouping with Jason as the two of them began peppering the Wyrm with light attacks. Their strikes were calculated and precise, aimed at keeping the creature on the defensive while they searched for an opening to exploit. While they fought, Jason yelled out instructions to the Party of Four, telling them to create distractions with their spears and javelins. Rooney and Terry hurled their weapons at the Wyrm from different angles, forcing it to divide its attention, while Alisa and Karen focused on hit-and-run tactics, darting in to deliver quick strikes before retreating. The Wyrm thrashed and roared, its massive body coiling and uncoiling as it tried to fend off its attackers. Despite its size and power, it struggled to keep up with the coordinated assault. An opportunity presented itself when the Wyrm charged Jason and Chanty, its gaping maw wide open. ¡°Now!¡± Chanty shouted, pouring most of her ki into her right fist, her expression focused and determined. Beside her, Jason takes an iaido stance. He channeled even more ki into his sword, the blade glowing brightly as he prepared to strike. The Wyrm lunged, its jaws wide and ready to snap shut on them. But before it could reach them, Jason and Chanty unleashed their attacks simultaneously. Jason¡¯s horizontal slash struck first, cutting into the Wyrm¡¯s maw and leaving a wound. Chanty¡¯s ki-infused punch followed, firing a concentrated ki projectile which flies true, and strikes the back of the creature¡¯s mouth, releasing a powerful concussive blast. The explosion sent chunks of flesh and blood flying, the force of the impact causing the Wyrm to rear back in agony. The creature¡¯s movements became erratic as it thrashed in pain, its underbelly briefly exposed. ¡°Underbelly! Now! ¡± Chanty shouted. Brief and precise. Rooney, Terry, Alisa, and Karen didn¡¯t hesitate. They rushed forward, their spears and javelins aimed at the vulnerable underside of the Wyrm. The coordinated assault was brutal, many strike found its mark and added to the creature¡¯s mounting injuries. Chanty managed to land two perfect Fatality Jabs, each one ignoring it''s defenses, and dealing significant internal damage even if neither struck vital organs. The Wyrm¡¯s thrashing grew weaker, its movements sluggish as it struggled to defend itself. Rooney narrowly avoided being struck by its powerful tail, the appendage grazing his feet and sending him into an unintended series of backflips. He landed on the ground in a heap but quickly sprang back to his feet, unharmed and ready to rejoin the fight. Karen plunged her spear into a small wound on the Wyrm''s side, and it retaliated faster than expected, which didn''t give her enough time to pull away. Jason acted fast and fired a stake of ki he had prepared since the start of the battle through his ki string. into one of its eyes which made it recoil, and allowed Karen to escape. Alisa seized the opportunity to toss her spear into the Wyrm¡¯s mouth, the weapon lodging itself in such a way that the creature couldn¡¯t close its jaws. As the Wyrm struggled to dislodge the spear, Jason and Chanty capitalized on the opening, delivering a series of devastating attacks to its exposed mouth. ¡°Almost there!¡± Jason called out, his voice filled with determination. ¡°One last push!¡± The group roared in agreement, as they intensified their attacks, with their combined efforts creating a opportunity for Chanty to end things. Leaping off the underside of a large branch, using multiple of her techniques to increase the power of said leap, she flips 180 degree midair before stomping on the Wyrm''s head with tremendous force. This causes Alisa¡¯s spear to pierce through the roof of its mouth, and into it''s brain. The beast collapses, its massive body falling still. The forest was silent for a moment, the only sound the labored breathing of the adventurers. Jason looked at the corpse of the Wyrm, blood and grey matter pouring down the length of Alisa¡¯s spear. Rooney was the first to break the silence, raising his spear high and letting out a triumphant roar. The others quickly followed, their shouts of victory echoing through the forest as they celebrated their hard-earned triumph. 25 Dinner Day 92: Lassie Town (Outskirts) The journey to the nearby stream was filled with a sense of relief and triumph. Despite the exhaustion from the intense battle with the Wyrm, everyone¡¯s spirits were high. The surrounding forest glimmered softly under the rising moonlight, the occasional chirp of crickets filling the silence. Chanty led the way, her gait relaxed as she hummed a soft tune, while Jason walked beside her, his [Ki Grid] spread out and sensing any movement around them. When they reached the stream, Terry and Rooney immediately set about arranging the ki-powered lanterns, their faint hum adding to the serene atmosphere. The soft, white light created a safe perimeter, casting long shadows that danced across the trees. Alisa unpacked her portable shower frame and curtain she pulled out of her Mindscape. This earned an impressed whistle from Jason, who then turned to Chanty as he wondered why a veteran like her didn''t have something like this, but preferred to bathe the old-fashioned way. Not that he was complaining. The frame, made of lightweight yet sturdy material, was assembled quickly. A small water reservoir attached to it used a simple ki-infused mechanism to heat and pump water, ensuring a warm, pressurized shower even in the middle of nowhere. ¡°The boys can keep watch while we go first,¡± Alisa said, motioning for Karen and Chanty to follow her behind the curtain. Jason nodded. ¡°You got it.¡± While the girls disappeared behind the curtain, the sound of rushing water and muffled voices drifted toward the boys. Rooney leaned against a tree, his javelin resting at his side, while Terry paced near the stream, occasionally throwing rocks into the water. Jason sat cross-legged on a boulder, his bow across his lap, his mind half-focused on the surroundings and half on fighting his temptation to grid the naked bodies of the two girls. ''Sometimes, I gross myself out. My power is corrupting me. I need to get laid soon and purge myself of this Incel nature.'' Jason chastises himself mentally. When it was the boys¡¯ turn, the roles were reversed. Alisa, Karen, and Chanty took up the watch, their laughter and teasing remarks filling the air as they joked about the boys taking too long. By the time everyone had cleaned up, the group felt refreshed and energized, their earlier exhaustion replaced by a sense of camaraderie. As night deepened, they set up camp beside the stream. Tents were pitched in a loose circle around a central fire pit. Jason and Karen took charge of cooking, their movements efficient as they worked over a portable grill powered by small ki stones. The meat from the Hazard Beasts they had hunted earlier sizzled and crackled, its aroma filling the air and making everyone¡¯s mouths water. ¡°Wow! This tastes wonderful. You''re such a great cook, Jason.¡± Karen said, her eyes gleaming as she eats a slab of Short-Faced Bear meat. Jason tries to downplay her praise. ¡°I just follow the instructions to the letter. Besides, you did half the work.¡± Rooney shook his head. ¡°No need to be so modest. You added quite a bit of herbs from the area, and they really brought out the flavor in the food. I''ve had a lot of Karen''s cooking, and they''re not on this level¡­ No offense, sis." Karen eyebrow was twitching, but she let it slide, as Terry chimes in. "Food aside, I still can''t believe we took down a Wyrm. Every part of that creature is really valuable. Some specific parts of its body can fetch as much as entire Hazard Beasts because of the medicines and elixirs that can be made with them.¡± Jason listened intently as the group discussed the rarity and value of dragon-type Hazard Beasts: Drakes, Wyrms, Lindwyrm, Wyverns, and the last one that''s a hassle to pronounce. Their excitement was palpable, their voices animated as they shared their dreams of what they could accomplish with the materials they had collected. Their mother was mentioned quite a bit during all that, but not in detail, so Jason assumed she wasn''t well, but couldn''t put anything together beyond that. After dinner, the group settled into their tents. Jason and Chanty volunteered for the first watch, their eyes scanning the dark forest as the others drifted off to sleep. Jason''s ki strings extended outward, creating a virtually invisible web that covered hundreds of meters around them. Whenever a Hazard Beast entered his range, he manipulated his ki string to stake their hearts through their lungs. And whenever he was low on ki, he''d use his bow. Chanty watched in amazement as Jason occasionally fired an arrow into the darkness, always hitting his target. She couldn¡¯t see the beasts he was aiming at, but judging by how long the arrow flew before she hears a cry in the darkness, she guessed it was sniping distance. ¡°Are you using that technique you developed in Shirebunkle? The one you write on walls with?¡± she asks as Jason returned to his perch. Jason smiled. ¡°Yup. It''s really useful.¡± Chanty giggled, while shaking her head. ¡°You are quite the anomaly, pupil. You do such fantastical things casually. I wouldn''t be surprised if in a year you leave Sam and me in the dust and begin rubbing shoulders with people 2 Stages above yourself.¡± Jason was taken aback by her words. ¡°Woah! Where did that come from? I wouldn''t just throw you two to the wayside like that. Sam''s taken good care of me from the very beginning until now. And you''re my teacher and we''ve adventured together ever since. We''ve gone through a lot together. I''d never throw all that way. " Chanty tilts her head and smiles. ¡°Oh! Your passionate words warm my heart, pupil. Knowing you feel so strongly about Sam and I makes me so happy. Be sure to tell our elf friend the same when we reunite. I trust he will be equal touched." She closes her eyes for a moment to let her feelings sink in before reopening them to continue resume her point. "Alas, my point still stands. Once you surpass me, I''ll only be holding you back in battles. I''d be of no better use to you than a housewife.¡± Jason made a cheeky grin at that. ¡°What''s so bad about that? I wouldn''t mind wife-ing you up if I could. You''re fun to be around, I trust you with my life, and you''re gorgeous. That''s perfection, right there.¡± Chanty''s face fell for a moment, then her eyebrow began twitching as she clenched her fist and spoke in mock outrage. ¡°Such audacity! I am still your teacher, and can ragdoll you whenever I choose. Yet, you feel comfortable enough to say such scandalous things to my face¡­ Hahaha!¡± She couldn''t maintain character. ¡°That aside, with your virgin-like mentality, I bet you would ''wife up'' any woman who showed you a lick of attention. An afternoon in a stream together, and you are already pointing a ring in my direction. Try again after bedding more women until you begin thinking less with that appendage of yours. Moreover, what would become of Sam, hmm? I''ve seen the way you look at him. Don''t tell me you have similar intentions with him.¡± Jason was getting a headache from this topic. ¡°Look, I don''t like bending over backwards to convince of stuff I''ve already said. I will drag you two along for as long as you''ll let me. You are two of the most important people in the world to me, so I''m not letting you go that easily. If we split up, it''ll be you guy''s doing, kicking and screaming. So let''s not talk about stuff like this anymore, OK?¡± Chanty smiles at Jason before over and pinching his cheek, as he protests. Unbeknownst to them, they had an eavesdropper pretending to be asleep. Day 93: Lassie Town (Outskirts) The next morning, the camp came alive with the soft rustle of activity. The group gathered around a simple breakfast of roasted meat and fruit, their chatter light and cheerful as they recounted the events of the previous day. Once breakfast was done, the group set to work processing their haul from the previous day. The corpses of the Hazard Beasts were brought out of their respective Mindscapes and hung from sturdy branches. Each beast varied in size fro large to massive, their forms casting shadows under the morning sun. Rooney and Terry took charge of draining the blood from the carcasses into large containers, its rich crimson color gleaming in the light. Meanwhile, Alisa and Karen focused on removing the offal, and extracting the Life Cores from the hearts. As the group worked, the smell of blood and guts began to permeate the air, attracting other Hazard Beasts. Jason and Chanty sprung into action. A pack of Velociraptors was the first to appear, their sharp claws and predatory eyes gleaming as they prowled toward the camp. Jason¡¯s bow sang as he fired a series of arrows, each one finding its mark and dropping a raptor in its tracks. Chanty, meanwhile, was getting up close and personal ending lives with well placed blows, chops and ki slashes. The group worked seamlessly, and by the time the last beast had been dealt with, the area around the camp was littered with bodies. Terry couldn''t help but comment on this. ¡°Do we even need a kill zone with those two around?¡± The siblings couldn''t help but agree. After adequate rest, Jason made an announcement. ¡°Alright guys, I got good news and bad news. Good news is, we caught more Hazard Beasts than we were expecting. Bad news is, it seems all our respective mindscapes are almost full to the brim. This means anymore hunting would be wasteful. So my teacher and I decided its best we head back to town early. You guys cool with that?¡± The party of Four wasted no time responding, starting with Alisa. ¡°It''s no problem at all. This hunt has been the most productive we''ve ever had. Plus it would make no sense to stay any longer. We''re more than happy to head back home right now.¡± Her siblings plus Terry were in agreement and eager to get going, so the group packed up their camp and made their way back to town. Their estimated arrival time should be just before sunset. The trek back was relatively uneventful. Well, as uneventful as a forest filled with dangerous creatures could possibly be. They were attacked by the odd Hazard Beast then and again but Jason dealt with them all from a distance. Soon they arrived back at Lassie Town, the siblings plus Terry hooting in joy at returning home. However, they all had something to handle before going their separate ways, and that was distribution of their kill. Plus the Wyrm had to be taken care of in a special way. Getting to the guild, the party of four greeted a few of their friends and colleagues as they led Jason and Chanty to the cashier. Being the most experienced of the group, Chanty did all the talking to said cashier who rushed to the back to call someone and grab paperwork. After a few minutes, another guild staff arrives and leads them through a back door to an open space where he asks them to place the Wyrm corpse on the floor. Chanty does as asked and staff member whistles at the sight with eyes as big as saucers. ¡°Wow! You guys took this down? And lived?¡± He turns to the party of four before shaking his head. ¡°That''s a 2nd Stage Hazard Beast. No way you four took it down, no offense.¡± Rooney shrugs in resignation; he wasn''t wrong. The guild staff then turns to Jason and Chanty. ¡°It must have been you two then. Must be second stage yourselves, then. That''s pretty impressive.¡± Jason and Chanty both shrug in response. The staffer took the subtle hint, and went to work measuring the Wyrm and taking notes. At that moment, the receptionist arrives with paperwork and gawks at the beast before her, then swiftly regaining her professional demeanor, and handing over the paperwork to the 6 adventurers present. According to guild policy, certain Hazard Beasts of high value, and in high demand are auctioned off to buyers. When a purchase takes place, the guild takes its commission and pays out the adventurers responsible for the catch/kill. After signing on the dotted line, Jason couldn''t help but ask. ¡°Who are the kind of people who pay for a Wyrm? Must be really wealthy and influential.¡± The receptionist explained. ¡°It would most likely be the Temple of Healing Wind. They have the resources to bid right away, and fulfil just as quickly. They provide many guild branches with a long list of creatures and plants they''d like to be provided. This is one of them, so it''s quite likely they purchase it.¡± Jason remembered the name. Chanty mentioned the Temple of Healing Wind in passing back in her Dojo. He decided he''d ask for more details from her when he had the chance. ¡°Oh! One more thing. We would like to make a report¡­" Jason went on to explain what transpired between the ruffians and the Party of Four. The receptionist nodded in understanding before leaving to retrieve more paper. ¡°Please provide a detailed report in writing along with names and descriptions of those involved. The guild will take note of this, and act accordingly.¡± Terry squinted his eyes. ¡°What does ''act accordingly'' mean exactly?¡± The receptionist made a troubled face at that, but Chanty cut in. ¡°It''s a long-winded explanation I don''t feel like re-hearing. Just know the guild''s hands are most likely tied because all you have is an allegation without evidence. Best case is they''ll give those six a lecture to be safe, and hope they don''t reoffend.¡± Terry was reigning in his outrage as best he could. ¡°So what do we do about them, then? They already threatened revenge, were sitting ducks if they''re not dealt with.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The receptionist sighs, she understood his dilemma. ¡°Use your discretion in accordance with Guild rules. That''s all I can say on the matter. Sorry, a wasn¡¯t of better help.¡± Her apology pours cold water on Terry, who now looks regretful for losing his cool on someone unrelated to the issue. ¡°Nah, it''s¡­ Don''t be sorry, it''s not your fault. We''ll figure something out.¡± Out of nowhere, Karin exclaims some distance away. ¡°Wow! You''re superb at drawing. It''s so lifelike.¡± Everyone turns to the brunette who is craning over Jason''s shoulder, who himself is scribbling something on a desk nearby. Literally, everyone walks over and joins her, eager to see what all the hubbub is about. They all let out gasps as Jason finishes drawing the leader of the ruffians in such great detail, that someone from Jason''s world would have mistaken it for a white and black photograph. ¡°Nahhh¡­ You''re exaggerating. Dude''s so plain anyone can draw him.¡± Jason tries to brush it off by gaslighting so badly everyone deadpans at him. Jason, however, has no artistic skill. With the help of his [Eidatic Memory], [Parallel Thought], and [Muscle Memory], he could draw from memory as though he were tracing a picture from his perspective. Chanty took the finished drawing, as Jason started on another. She inspected it for a bit, impressed with the quality. ¡°This is excellent work, pupil. I''d like to commission some drawings of my own when you have the spare time.¡± Her words make Karin and Alisa perk up, before they join in and request drawings of their own. This makes Jason sweat drop a little. ¡°Chill, you people. Relax, dang¡­" Soon enough, he finishes drawing all six of the ruffians in vivid detail, with a very detailed description of each of them written on the back. The receptionist takes the papers and begins looking through till she eventually staples them together. ¡°I shall prepare your receipts. Would you like to collect them in a few minutes or tomorrow morning?¡± All 6 agreed on tomorrow morning, before leaving the guild. As exited the building, Alisa turned to Jason and Chanty. ¡°If it''s not too much trouble, I''d like to invite you both to have dinner with us. You know, as thanks for yesterday.¡± Jason turns to Chanty, predicting her response, but wanting to verify regardless. The Martial Artist for her part, twirls her wrist casually, which makes Jason snicker at her free spirit antics before answering for them both. ¡°Sure! We humbly accept your hospitality. Do lead the way.¡± His half-assed butler talk got a few laughs out of the group as Alisa beams, happy they accepted, before leading the way back to her home. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the streets of Lassie as the group approached Alisa¡¯s family home. The cobbled path beneath their feet was worn from years of use, lined with small patches of grass sprouting between the cracks. The air carried the scent of cooking fires, baked bread, and the ever-present metallic tang of the blacksmith nearby. Jason and Chanty followed behind Alisa, Rooney, Karen, and Terry as they turned down a familiar street. The houses here were modest but sturdy, built from thick stone and reinforced wood. Alisa''s house stood out slightly from the others, a larger two-story structure with a reinforced wooden fence surrounding a small courtyard. The place had a welcoming feel to it, with a well-tended herb garden growing along the side. It reminded Jason of the Clarkson''s home back in Tatter Town. Alisa steps onto the porch before knocking on the door, calling out. ¡°Daaaad! We''re hoooome!¡± Everyone could hear loud rushed footsteps approaching quickly like someone was being chased by their worst nightmare. The front door burst open with the force of a battering ram. A tall figure lunged forward, engulfing Alisa in an embrace so tight it lifted her feet off the ground. Jason and Chanty watched as the man¡¯s arms wrapped around her, his fit frame shaking with emotion. ¡°My sweet girl! You¡¯re finally home!¡± Alisa let out a wheeze, her arms flailing helplessly in her father¡¯s grasp. ¡°Dad¡ªcan¡¯t breathe¡ª!¡± However, Rooney, Karen, and Terry, stood beside Jason and Chanty, and simply exchanged amused glances. Rooney crossed his arms and smirked. ¡°This never gets old.¡± Karen nodded in agreement. ¡°Yup! As long as you''re not on the receiving end.¡± Terry chuckled. ¡°Not sure if I should be envious or not.¡± Jason cracked a smile. ¡°They sure are a lively bunch.¡± ¡°Nhnhn.¡± Chanty chuckled, watching the scene unfold with an expression of mild fascination. Alisa, still struggling in her father¡¯s grasp, managed to free one arm just enough to motion toward Jason and Chanty. ¡°Dad¡ªguests¡ª¡± she gasped out, desperately trying to loosen his grip. ''Dad'' blinked, his overwhelming excitement temporarily interrupted. His gaze shifted, finally noticing the two unfamiliar faces standing just behind his children. Jason, dressed in his usual travel-worn gear, did a brief bow with the palm of one hand facing him chest. It was something he saw butlers in TV do a lot. Chanty, placed one hand on her hip, and waved with the other as she studied their soon to be host with quiet curiosity. Realization dawned on Alisa¡¯s father, and he immediately dropped his daughter with a loud thud. Alisa stumbled, nearly falling onto her rear before catching herself, clutching her ribs as she sucked in precious air. ¡°Oh. Guests.¡± Lampard coughed into his fist, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. ¡°My bad. Got a little carried away.¡± Straightening himself, the mans cleared his throat and stepped forward, extending a hand. ¡°Name¡¯s Lampard. Alisa¡¯s, Rooney, and Karen''s father. And you are?... ¡± Jason shook his hand, noting the man¡¯s firm grip. ¡°Jason. Pleasure to meet.¡± Chanty, maintaining her usual composed demeanor, also accepted the handshake. ¡°Chanty.¡± Lampard studied the two for a moment, his sharp eyes taking in the details. ¡°The pleasure is all mine.¡± Alisa, having finally regained her breath, crossed her arms and huffed before giving her father a brief summary of why she invited the two over. Lampard¡¯s brows shot up. ¡°Truly?¡± His gaze flickered toward Rooney, Karen, and Terry for confirmation. Karin stepped in quickly. ¡°It¡¯s true, Dad. After that happened, they helped us hunt numerous Hazard Beasts, and we were able to bring down a Wyrm too.¡± Lampard¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°A Wyrm?!¡± ¡°A Wyrm, yes. It was huge. The guild is handling it right now.¡± Terry verified, grinning. For a long moment, Lampard simply stared at the group, then burst into a hearty laugh before clapping Jason on the shoulder. ¡°Guess I owe you two a proper thanks.¡± He turned and gestured toward the door. ¡°Come in, both of you. You¡¯re staying for dinner.¡± Jason and Chanty exchanged a glance before nodding to each other. ¡°Sounds good.¡± Jason spoke for the both of them. As they stepped inside, Jason took in the cozy interior of the house. The walls were lined with wooden beams, the floor covered in thick, well-worn rugs. The air smelled of spices and freshly baked bread. A large dining table sat in the center of the room, with a fireplace crackling in the corner, adding a welcoming warmth. Lampard clapped his hands. ¡°Alright! Alisa, Karen, you two get started on dinner. Rooney, get us some drinks. The rest of us will sit and chat.¡± The wooden chairs creaked softly as Jason and Chanty settled into their seats at the long dining table. The glow of ki lanterns cast a warm light over the room, flickering off the well-polished wooden surfaces. The walls were adorned with weapons of various kinds¡ªan old but well-maintained Pike mounted above the fireplace, a rack of throwing spears along the far wall, and a few ornate swords in a display case. This was clearly the home of a warrior, and it reflected in every detail. Lampard took his seat at the head of the table, stretching out his muscular arms with a satisfied sigh. Rooney and Terry sat to his right, Jason and Chanty across from them, while Alisa and Karen worked in the adjacent kitchen, cutting vegetables and preparing the evening meal. The smell of roasting meat and herbs was already filling the space, giving the house an even cozier atmosphere. Lampard let out a pleased hum as he rubbed his hands together. ¡°So then, Jason. Tell me something¡ªwhat¡¯s your weapon of choice?¡± That threw Jason off. ¡°Aren''t you curious about the stuff your kids told you about?¡± Lampard waves it off. ¡°There''s plenty of time for all that. But first, I''d like to know what kind of man you are.¡± Jason shrugs, deciding to play along. ¡°Swords.¡± Lampard grinned, as if expecting that answer. ¡°A fine choice. Versatile, deadly, good for both offense and defense. But let me ask you this¡ªwhat makes you think swords are the best?¡± Jason exhaled through his nose, ready to defend sword lovers everywhere. ¡°The versatility of swords is understated. You can use them to cut, stab, parry, and counterattack with speed. They¡¯re not as heavy as axes, not as awkward as hammers, and they don¡¯t require as much space as pole arms. It enables me to adapt to almost any situation, I don''t need to carry any other weapon.¡± Lampard leaned back, rubbing his gruff beard. ¡°Not a bad argument. But let me tell you why you¡¯re wrong.¡± Jason smirked. ¡°Oh?¡± Rooney and Terry exchanged amused looks. Lampard leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. ¡°Swords are great, sure. But you know what beats adaptability? Reach. A spear lets you strike before your enemy can even get close. You don¡¯t have to dodge as much if they can¡¯t touch you. A properly trained Spearman will keep a swordsman at bay every time.¡± Jason nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true, especially with Hazard Beasts you would rather not be anywhere near, but spears have one major weakness.¡± Lampard tilted his head. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Grappling.¡± Jason tapped the table for emphasis. ¡°Once an opponent gets past the spearhead, the spear loses most of its advantage. If a swordsman closes the distance, a Spearman has to either disengage or rely on their sidearm.¡± Lampard grinned. ¡°Which is why any Spearman worth their salt knows how to use their shaft as a staff. A spear isn¡¯t just a stabbing weapon¡ªit¡¯s a leverage tool. Ever tried to close in on someone who knows how to use sweeps and counters?¡± Jason smirked. ¡°Oh boy, do I. Believe it or not, the spear was the first weapon I trained with. My teacher was an amateur compared to you guys, but he was decent enough to give me trouble. But I still think a sword gives more options. You can control the flow of battle without needing as much space.¡± Lampard laughed heartily, clapping a hand on the table as he gave a rebuttal. Alisa, from the kitchen, spoke out loud to Karen without looking back. ¡°Told you they¡¯d get along.¡± Karen chuckled as she stirred the stew over the stove. ¡°It¡¯s like watching two battle junkies flirt.¡± Jason shot her a dry look, but Karen just giggled and went back to cooking. He then shrugged before leaning back in his chair, exhaling through his nose. ¡°At the end of the day, it depends on the user. A bad swordsman will lose to a good Spearman, and vice versa. The weapon doesn¡¯t make the warrior, but the debate is fun to have.¡± Lampard nodded approvingly. ¡°Now that, I can agree with.¡± Rooney, watching the whole exchange, grinned. ¡°Well, at least Dad found a new sparring partner.¡± Jason raised an eyebrow. ¡°You spar a lot?¡± Lampard grinned. ¡°Every day we''re not out adventuring. You¡¯ll have to join us sometime.¡± Jason''s eyes sparkled. ¡°It will be my pleasure. I love learning new martial arts.¡± The discussion shifted from weapon preferences to training methods. Chanty complimented the party¡¯s skill with the spear, noting that their teamwork and coordination were exceptional for their age. Lampard beamed with pride at the praise. ¡°I trained them well, didn¡¯t I?¡± he said, folding his arms. Chanty nodded. ¡°No doubt. At their level, most first-stage cultivators are still on the basics. But they have form, technique, and finesse." Jason hopped in. "That''s for sure! I remember when Karen over there dodged an attack from the Wyrm by pole-vaulting into the air, before stabbing down on the top of its head while still airborne. Now that was cool! And it says a lot about their teacher.¡± Lampard chuckled. ¡°I appreciate that, lad. But let¡¯s talk about you for a second.¡± Jason blinked, then tilted his head. ¡°What about me?¡± Lampard rested his chin on his fist. ¡°You took down those ruffians barehanded, right?¡± Jason shrugged. ¡°I''ve fought stronger guys and Hazard Beasts. I didn''t need my weapon to handle them.¡± Lampard smirked. ¡°See, that¡¯s what I mean. Most cultivators your age would have been overwhelmed without their weapon, but you handled it like it was nothing. That¡¯s not normal.¡± Rooney nodded. ¡°Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. We¡¯re not bad for our stage, but Jason fights like he¡¯s in the second stage.¡± Jason began making placating gestures. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. I''m helpless against my teacher over here whenever she gets serious.¡± ¡°That doesn''t disprove anything.¡± Lampard argued. ¡°At first-stage Mortal Realm, even the best fighters still rely on weapons to compensate for gaps in skill. A barehanded martial artist would lose against a weapons wielder of equal skill most of the time. But you? You didn¡¯t just beat those guys. You dominated them so badly one would be forgiven for thinking they were amateurs. That¡¯s the kind of talent that only comes around once in a thousand years.¡± Jason blinked, caught off guard by the statement. He had always known he was strong for his level, being OP and all. He knew he was far ahead, but not this far. Chanty, who had been sipping a cup of tea, finally spoke up. ¡°He¡¯s right, pupil. I don''t praise you so much for nothing.¡± Jason rolled his eyes at that. Before turning to Lampard. ¡°Well, regardless I still got a long way to go. Plenty of people out there who can just quash me with like a bug.¡± Lampard studied him for a moment before grinning. ¡°It''s good you''re humble, it''ll keep you alive longer. Regardless, you¡¯ve got my respect. Just don''t go pissing off the wrong people. Heck! I recommend you find some powerful faction or family and grab ''em by the thigh. You''re gonna attract a lot of attention, and some folks believe in the ''If I can''t have him, nobody can!'' approach.¡± Jason nodded at him. ¡°Thanks! I''ll keep that in mind.¡± Before the conversation could continue, Alisa and Karin walked over with trays of food, setting steaming plates of roasted meat, fresh bread, and vegetable stew on the table. ¡°Alright,¡± Karin said, setting a bowl in front of her father. ¡°The food is ready. Dig in.¡± Lampard grinned. ¡°Don''t mind if I do.¡± The sounds of clinking utensils and low chatter filled the dining room as everyone enjoyed their meal. The wooden table, though aged, was sturdy and well-worn from years of family gatherings. The rich aroma of seasoned meat and freshly baked bread lingered in the air, complemented by the herbal notes from the steaming bowls of vegetable stew. Jason ate as dignified as he could manage, listening as Rooney and Terry joked about past sparring sessions, while Alisa and Karin occasionally scolded them for their table manners. Chanty remained mostly quiet, eating with the same calm precision as always. Lampard, however, had an expression of quiet contemplation, occasionally glancing at Alisa. After a while, he set his spoon down with a small clink and exhaled. ¡°Alright, it''s about time we talked about those thugs.¡± The atmosphere around the table immediately shifted. The lighthearted conversation died down, and the siblings exchanged curious looks. Alisa placed her spoon down as well, turning her full attention to her father. ¡°Yes, Dad. What in particular?¡± Lampard leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. ¡°Not sure yet. Fill me in on what went on, and how the guild reacted when you reported the incident.¡± After listening to Alisa¡¯s lengthy explanation, Lampard sighed. "Yup. The guild won¡¯t act unless those men do something so blatant that it can¡¯t be ignored. That¡¯s the reality of it. But just because the Guilds hands are tied doesn''t mean ours are. I know some ways to deal with them.¡± Rooney leaned forward, eager to hear. ¡°Sweet! What do you have in mind, Dad?¡± Lampard nodded. ¡°First, we spread the word.¡± Rooney frowned in contemplation. ¡°Spread the word?¡± ¡°Yes. Tell everyone we know about what happened. The more people who are aware of those bastards and their behavior, the harder it will be for them to act without scrutiny." Terry rubbed his chin in thought. ¡°That could work. It''ll keep our friends and colleagues on guard.¡± Lampard continued. ¡°Second, you strengthen your numbers. Currently, they see you four as an easy target because you¡¯re a small group. But if you combine forces with others¡ªmerge into larger parties for hunts¡ªthey¡¯ll think twice before trying anything.¡± Karen¡¯s blinked a few times. ¡°Why didn''t we think of such a simple solution?¡± Lampard grinned. ¡°Good. That leads to my third point¡ªwe stay on guard until they leave. According to what you guys said, they''re not from around here, and are most likely passing through. Just stay on guard for a few days until they leave and become someone else''s problem. ¡± His kids and Terry had no qualms with the plan. They voiced their support and willingness follow it through. Lampard claps his hands together. ¡°Alright, then. Tomorrow, you all will start reaching out to some people about forming bigger hunting groups, as well as the other stuff I told you to do.¡± Jason raises his hand. ¡°Guess this is good enough of a time to let you know that we are actually planning on partying with them for a while. Chanty and I will continue hunting with them for the next week at least. They were a huge help, and we had quite the haul yesterday. ¡± Lampard looked at him in surprise. ¡°Really? Hahaha! That''s great. It''s mutually beneficial. I got no issue with that. I bet you kids don''t either, right?¡± Rooney grinned. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. In fact, I was hoping we''d adventure more.¡± Alisa smiled. ¡°We''ll be in your care.¡± Lampard let out a hearty laugh. ¡°Alright, enough talk. It¡¯s late, and you two should get some rest. I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± Jason and Chanty stood up, nodding in gratitude. As they made their way toward the door, the warmth of the home lingered behind them. Outside, the night air was cool and crisp, and the streets were dimly lit by scattered lanterns. Lampard walked with them for a short distance before stopping. ¡°Jason, Chanty.¡± He turned to face them, his expression serious. ¡°Take care of my kids, alright?¡± Jason gave a firm nod. ¡°I will.¡± Chanty gave a slight nod. ¡°We won¡¯t let anything happen to them.¡± Lampard smiled, stepping back. ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll see you both soon. Maybe get in a few spars. ¡± With that, Jason and Chanty turned and walked into the night. 26 Hazard War Day 93: Lassie Town As Jason and Chanty enter the inn, Chanty suddenly begins describing the location of a certain table in the dining hall without missing a beat or turning her face as she continued walking toward the stairs. Jason is confused for a moment, but turns to where she describes and sees an unexpected sight. The two women who were part of the 6 person ruffians they encountered the other day were eating and drinking together. The first woman had short, messy black pixecut hair that gives her a wild and untamed look, with piercing dark eyes, and a mischievous expression. The other woman has long straight platinum blonde hair, giving her a sleek and elegant appearance. Her eyes are striking blue, with a calm and composed expression. Jason looked around in hopes of finding the other four, but they were nowhere in sight. ''That''s odd...'' At that point, both women noticed him as well. The blond stared with no change in expression, but the brunette gave a big toothy, yet smug grin his direction before raising her mug as if it were a gesture of greeting. Jason didn''t know what to make of their actions, so he didn''t bother. He sends a ki string their direction as he turned to the stairs and went up to the second floor. When he enters the hallway, he sees Chanty leaning against the wall right next to her room. When he approaches her, she speaks. "Your thoughts, pupil?" Jason just shrugs in response, to which she nods in agreement. "Inconsequential, I agree. I lose no sleep over that lot. Then goodnight, my pupil. I''m going to bed now." Jason tells her goodnight as well, and they both enter their respective rooms. Jason let''s Kiki off his shoulder and unto a small desk on the side before laying down on his bed. Elsewhere, the two women from earlier were coming up the hallway after finishing their dinner. Jason had already grided their bodies and the space around them in hopes of gathering information on what they were up to. The next few minutes was nothing of note: they both went into the same room, changed clothes, got on the same bed, and... "Oh dear... I didn''t know they were in that kind of relationship..." Jason was tempted to give them some privacy, but instead decided to enjoy the show. By superimposing his memory of their appearance on top of the grid of their bodies, as well as the room they were in, it was like Jason was right there in their room watching them like some 3D VR pornography. Jason watched the two passionately go at it for over an hour before they fell asleep in each other''s arms. "Not the kind of info I set out to gather, but it is relevant to the assignment Chanty gave me, so it''s all good." He said while wiping his hand clean. With his voyeurism session over, he goes to bed for real this time. "Now for the real deal." Manifesting in his Lucid Realm, Jason immediately creates a bedroom with a king sized bed. Then he manifests the two women on the bed, before walking over while shedding his clothes. "Time for some practice." Day 94 The first rays of sunlight filtered through the large windows of the guild lobby, casting long golden streaks across the polished wooden floor. The morning bustle had already begun, with adventurers of all ranks shuffling in and out, some eager to take on new quests while others lounged at tables recounting tales of their latest hunts. To one side, Jason and Chanty stood side by side, reading the quest wall as they waited for the rest of their group. "Any word from Sam?" Chanty asked, arms crossed. Jason merely nodded. "Yeah, he''s still on his way. Says he got the Wyvern Trio to give him a ride. I gotta say, we sure do run into those 3 alot." Just as he finished speaking, the sound of rapid footsteps caught their attention. "Morning!" came Alisa¡¯s cheerful voice as she led the Spear Party toward them. Karen, Rooney, and Terry followed closely behind. Jason nodded in greeting, while Chanty smiled. "You all ready?" Jason asked. Rooney stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah. Let¡¯s get moving." With their pleasantries exchanged, the group departed from the guild, making their way toward the butcher¡¯s district. The streets were lively this morning, filled with the scent of fresh bread from nearby bakeries, the distant clang of blacksmiths hammering away at metal, and the constant chatter of merchants hawking their wares. The butcher¡¯s district was no different¡ªrows of specialized vendors lined the streets, some displaying whole carcasses of beasts they had just processed, others boasting exotic cuts neatly arranged behind glass. As they arrived, a few butchers recognized the Spear party and called out. "Ah, Welcome back, Aly! I see you brought others with you this time. What have you got for us today?" One butcher spoke. Alisa nods enthusiastically before gesturing to Karen. "Quite abit, uncle." Karen, steps forward, then a flick of her wrist, the air before her shimmered as one by one, the corpses of freshly preserved Hazard Beasts materialized in front of the waiting butcher. A few bystanders let out surprised whistles at the sheer number. "Damn, that¡¯s a fine haul," the butcher from earlier remarked as he knelt to inspect a carcass. "Aly was right, it way more than you lot usual bring. More dangerous too." Chanty wanted to help Alisa handle negotiations, but the butcher waved her off. "No need for that, miss. Their old man''s a good friend of mine. I always give them a good price." Once the sale was completed and everyone else''s Mindscapes emptied of excess storage, the group stepped away from the market district, their purses heavier with coin. "That was a good haul," Terry said, patting his pouch before sending back to his Storage Space. "Yeah, with some time to kill," Rooney added. "Oh!" Karen suddenly perked up. "Jason!" Jason turned to her, curious about her sudden outburst. "Uh... Yeah?" Karen hesitated for a moment, her expression uncharacteristically sheepish, before taking a breath and saying, "Can you sketch me and Alisa?" Jason blinked. "Uuuhhhh..." Karen pouted. "Please?" Jason folded his arms. "I don¡¯t have any sketch equipment with me." Karen¡¯s lips curled into a triumphant smile. "That¡¯s not a problem." With a flick of her wrist, a small wooden box materialized in her hands¡ªa portable sketching kit. She opened it, revealing charcoal sticks, fine brushes, and a selection of parchment. Jason sighed, rubbing his temples. "You really planned this, huh?" Karen wasn¡¯t deterred. Instead, she fixed him with a pleading gaze, her eyes widening, her lower lip trembling ever so slightly. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. It was the classic puppy dog look. Jason exhaled through his nose, shaking his head as he chuckled. "OK! Fine, yes. I''ll do it." Karen beamed. The group found a quiet corner near a small courtyard, where Jason sat on a wooden crate, sketching away. Karen and Alisa posed beside each other, one standing with her spear resting on her shoulder while the other leaned slightly against her sister with a grin. Jason worked quickly, his hand moving with practiced efficiency as he captured their likenesses with precise strokes like a human printer. As the drawing neared completion, passersbys started to gather. At first, it was just a few curious onlookers. But as they saw Jason¡¯s skill firsthand, murmurs spread, and soon, a small crowd had formed. "Hey, are you taking commissions?" a man asked. Jason blinked and turned to him. "No... " "I¡¯ll pay." Jason still shook his head. "Not interested, sorry." Another person stepped forward. "I¡¯ll double what he¡¯s offering." Jason opened his mouth to decline once more, but before he could, Chanty placed a hand on his shoulder. When he turned to look at her, she gave him an "okay" sign, then turned to the crowd. "My pupil here, will be doing five family sketches," she announced. "Highest bidders only. You have thirty minutes to gather your families and payment." The crowd immediately dispersed, rushing off to prepare. Jason stared at Chanty with wide eye. "You''re a genius!" She smirked. "You flatter me, pupil. Besides, remember my homework to you." Jason nodded in understanding as he watched the sisters be giddy over the sketch of themselves. "Yeah, you''re right." Over the next half hour, Jason quickly completed the commissions, earning far more than he expected. When the last one was done, the group finally prepared to leave. "Again, you''re a genius." Jason admitted to Chanty. She hummed in satisfaction. "You still owe me a private session, remember?" Jason merely chuckled, and gave her a mischievous grin. "Oh, I''m looking forward to it more than you realize. Hehehe..." Chanty couldn''t help but feel a touch unease at that. By the time they reached the town¡¯s entrance, their hired carriage was already waiting. The sturdy vehicle was designed for long-distance travel on the narrow trails cutting through the forest. It''s driver¡ªa middle-aged man¡ªleaning lazily against it. Lampard stood nearby, arms crossed. "Ready to head out?" he asked as his kids approached. "Yeah," Rooney said. "We¡¯ll be back before you know it." Lampard ruffled his son''s hair. "Watch each other''s backs as always, alright?" The farewells were short but heartfelt, especially with Karen receiving the bone crushing hug this time around. Soon, the carriage was moving, carrying them away from town and toward their hunting grounds. During the journey, Jason employed his usual tactics¡ªdeploying Ki Strings to scan the surroundings while eliminating threats with his Patented Ki Stake to the heart, then his bow whenever his Ki ran low. His precise shots left the driver gaping in astonishment. Rooney patted the man''s shoulder while making a sage face. "You''ll get used to it." By the time they arrived, they had cut their travel time in half. Upon reaching their previous campsite, the group wasted no time setting up their tents. Jason, Rooney, Alisa, Karen, and Terry then left Chanty and the driver behind to guard the camp as they moved a moderate distance away to process Jason¡¯s earlier kills. As expected, the scent of blood attracted Hazard Beasts. But the group worked efficiently, eliminating them as soon as they appeared. When the task was complete, they cleaned up by the nearby stream before heading back. With the sky darkening, the smell of roasting meat filled the air as dinner was prepared. Jason sat back, watching the fire crackle, satisfied with the day''s work. And with that, the night settled in. Day 95: The Morning Hunt Begins As the first hints of dawn crept over the horizon, the camp was already stirring with life. The cool morning air was thick with the scent of roasting meat as breakfast cooked over an open fire, the soft crackling of flames a steady backdrop to the quiet conversations shared among the party. The mood was lively, filled with anticipation for the hunt ahead. Jason sat cross-legged near the fire, sharpening his blade while Chanty stretched her arms, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. Nearby, Rooney, Karen, and Alisa finished up their meals, their spears resting within arm¡¯s reach. Terry was grumbling about something beside the carriage driver, clearly unhappy about the role he¡¯d drawn for the morning, while Kiki was happily devouring her plate of meat. Finally, Chanty gives Jason a gesture to which he nods in understanding. ¡°Alright,¡± Jason said, standing and sheathing his blade. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving.¡± With that, the group set off. The dense foliage of the forest enveloped them as they navigated the familiar trail leading to their established kill zone. The undergrowth was damp with morning dew, leaves glistening in the soft sunlight filtering through the thick canopy overhead. Birds chirped in the distance, momentarily breaking the silence before being drowned out by the heavy footfalls of the group. The moment they reached their destination, they wasted no time preparing their bait. The stench of fresh blood and exposed innards quickly filled the air, potent enough to make an inexperienced person gag, but the group was used to it by now. Meanwhile, Terry led the driver and his horse a short distance away, ensuring that they remained hidden and out of harm¡¯s way. The young man didn¡¯t bother hiding his frustration as he took on the less exciting task of standing guard. ¡°I better not miss out on anything fun,¡± he muttered, arms crossed. Jason smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. Just keep an eye on the driver. You¡¯ll swap out with the others later.¡± With everything set, the hunt began. It started out as any other hunt. Jason took his position at an elevated vantage point, eyes sharp as he waited for the first signs of movement. His bow was already drawn, a Ki-infused arrow nocked and ready to fly. The others got in position, prepared to ambush whichever beasts that get drawn in by the scent of fresh blood. And, as expected, the first wave arrived within minutes. A pack of Short-faced Wolves, their dark fur bristling, broke through the underbrush. Jason loosed an arrow in a single breath, piercing the skull of the lead wolf before it could even let out a snarl. Rooney, Alisa and Karen wasted no time in engaging, their spears striking with brutal efficiency. More creatures followed. Sabre-tusk Boars charged recklessly into the killzone, only to be met with swift counters from the melee fighters. Jason continued picking off stragglers from above, his arrows precise and deadly. The team was like a well-oiled machine, each member playing their part in the relentless dance of combat. Hazard Beasts fell one after another, their corpses piling up at an alarming rate. Yet, something felt... off. It started with Rooney. ¡°Hey¡­ is it just me, or are we getting fewer beasts than usual?¡± Jason thought for a moment before responding. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. The numbers are lower than usual.¡± Karen, standing nearby, twirled her spear absentmindedly. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t make sense, does it? The smell of blood should be spreading by now. We should be seeing more Hazard Beasts, not fewer.¡± Jason rubbed his chin. He didn¡¯t like this. The pattern was simple¡ªthe longer they hunted, the more creatures arrived, drawn by the scent of carnage. It was a constant in their strategy. But instead of the expected increase in enemies, there was a sharp decline. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Karen shifted uncomfortably. ¡°I hope this isn¡¯t a bad omen, or something¡­¡± Jason inwardly groaned. ¡®Great. She just jinxed us.¡¯ Beside him, Chanty¡¯s usual carefree expression had hardened into something much more serious. Her eyes were sharp, calculating. She had noticed something. Then, without warning, she raised a single finger to her lips. A silent command. Be quiet. The group obeyed immediately. A tense silence followed, stretching for what felt like an eternity. Then they heard it. A faint buzzing noise. At first, the sound was so soft that it could have been mistaken for nothing more than an insect flitting through the air. But as the seconds passed, it grew louder¡ªan unsettling, almost mechanical hum that sent a chill creeping up Karen''s spine, and that of her siblings. Jason scanned the treetops, searching for the source. Chanty found it first. Her hand shot up, pointing at a rapidly approaching figure. A cat-sized insect hovered in the air, its wings a blur. Its body was that of a massive bee, but its head belonged to a hornet, complete with monstrous mandibles that twitched menacingly. Jason immediately recognized that this was no ordinary creature. Chanty confirmed it. ¡°No one move yet. Do not attack it.¡± Her tone was sharp, almost commanding¡ªa stark contrast to her usual laid-back demeanor. The others hesitated but followed her orders, watching as the grotesque insect lazily circled the blood-soaked clearing before landing on the bait. Its mandibles clacked, as it began harvesting pieces of meat. Chanty didn¡¯t take her eyes off it. ¡°Alisa, empty out all the Corpses in your Storage Space. Now.¡± Alisa blinked. ¡°What? But¡ª¡± ¡°Now.¡± Alisa didn''t need to be told a third time. She complied, materializing her portion of the remains of their previous kills onto the ground. Chanty took a breath. Then, in the most serious tone they had ever heard from her, she spoke again. ¡°We¡¯re leaving. Right now. Back to Lassie Town.¡± Before anyone could even process her words, she turned on her heel and bolted toward the cart driver. The abrupt shift in atmosphere stunned everyone. For the first time since meeting her, Chanty looked... afraid. Jason rushed to catch up, matching her stride. ¡°What the hell was that thing?¡± Chanty didn¡¯t slow down. ¡°A Grim Bee.¡± Jason¡¯s stomach sank. He had heard that name before. It was on a special list of creatures provided by the Guild with orders to report wherever sighted. She glanced at him, her eyes dark with urgency. ¡°A hive of them is a much greater threat than a Goblin Horde. Once we report this to the guild, they''re going to declare a Hazard War. ¡±