《The Isekai Warrior Mage [LitRPG Harem Fantasy]》 B1.C1: Deadly Attraction Life was a joke, and I was the punch line, and sometimes, the punching bag. Louis Larenzo, a 42 year old instructor and gym owner at Boxing Academy, was tossing cross jabs at me in the ring. He was also a good friend of mine, the best, actually. Knowing how tight money was for me right now, the boxing champion of Night City offered me a free pass on the training sessions¡ªa lifeline I clung onto desperately. Duking it out on stage was about the only thing keeping me off the edge lately, and I thanked him big time for that. ¡°Keep your guard up, Lucien!¡± Louis shouted, his voice reverberating around the room. ¡°And stop thinking so much! You¡¯re in a damn ring, not a lecture hall!¡± I managed a half grin, panting heavily and wiping the sweat off my forehead with the back of my glove. Twisting away from his next jab, I winced¡ªmy ribs still stinging from the last hit. My heart was firing in my chest and adrenaline surged through my veins as I prepared for Louis¡¯ next attack. He moved like a panther, quick and unpredictable. I shifted my footing to angle in a hook shot, but Louis pivoted his hips and dodged it. ¡°You¡¯re too slow!¡± he chastised, dancing around me with a smirk on his face, and then he wiped the smile off mine with a counter shot right against my cheek. The room spun around me and I staggered back, blinking through the wave of numbing pain. I could see Louis¡¯ fists swaying before me, a teasing invitation to fight back. Baring my teeth, I lunged forward, aiming a punch at his ribs, but he was quick, dodging again and landing a blow to my gut. Air whooshed out of me and the pain pulsed through my skull. This lesson was free, and so was this beat-down. I swear his shots hit harder today. ¡°Come on, Lucien,¡± Louis taunted, circling me again like a predator. ¡°You¡¯re fighting like ol¡¯ Grandpa Reggie.¡± He was giving that man too much credit. Grandpa Reg couldn¡¯t swat a fucking fly¡­. ¡°Did Samantha break up with you or something?¡± I grunted playfully, trying my hardest not to buck over from the intense pain brewing in my stomach. ¡°Because those power shots are deadly tonight.¡± He laughed. ¡°Nah, you¡¯re just getting soft, kid. Let¡¯s wrap it up here. I can tell, you are not locked in.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, holding back a wince. ¡°I can keep going.¡± Louis walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re done. Go home and catch some rest.¡± I bet my eyes were betraying me the way Louis was staring at them. I had exhaustion written all over my face. Usually I¡¯d last longer in the ring, but Louis was right. I was distracted. Money woes could do that to you, and I was no stranger in the land of Hard Knocks. Boxing kept my mind off of how shitty things had been after my parents died in a car accident ten years ago. Now, I was living with Grandpa Reggie, who smoked more than a god damn chimney. Grandpa Reggie was always high¨Cit didn''t matter the time or the day. He was the ripe age of 61, or so he called it. The guy barely had a wrinkle on him, but he sure acted like he was 90, swearing he was broken from the neck down and couldn¡¯t manage working another day of his life. Which was why he was living off of his social security income along with a can of charisma that never seemed to run dry. Dad used to say that was where I got my charm from, but I begged to differ. Grandma¡¯s smarts, and Grandpa¡¯s swag. Mom used to laugh at him for the saying, but I did recall a few times when this charm of his allowed us to slide a few months of unpaid rent. Aside from being a lady¡¯s man, Gramps was a bull, and he had no problem bragging about it either. Hell, I couldn¡¯t complain about his horny escapades with landlord and recent widow Maria Lopez. Night City wasn¡¯t cheap, and the lights had to be on, hence my reason for pushing it at my dead-end job at Joe¡¯s Bar & Grill, the most decrepit joint in the heart of Night City. Mostly desperate souls looking to drown their sorrows in cheap booze frequented the place. I served as a waiter, where being barked at by drunks was the least of my worries. I unstrapped my sweaty gloves and tossed them into my duffle bag, catching Louis¡¯ sympathetic gaze. He knew about my stressful situation¡ªmy finals around the corner, my dead-end job at Joe¡¯s, and the mountain of unpaid bills piling up on my kitchen table. If money wasn¡¯t tight for him, too, I knew he¡¯d help me out. But these free lessons he was giving me were charity enough. ¡°Anything you want to talk about, Lucien?¡± he asked as he reached over a stool at the end of the ring and took his towel and water bottle. He tossed the towel over his shoulder and handed me the water bottle, the cold drink like liquid gold. I guzzled it down, not knowing how thirsty I was until I finished the bottle in under seven seconds. When I brought my head back down, I took a moment to process his question, being caught up in finally being hydrated again. I shook my head, forcing a smile. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m good. Just got a lot on my mind, that''s all.¡± He studied me for a moment, his eyes filled with concern. ¡°Alright. But remember, you ain¡¯t gotta face all these problems alone. Got it?¡± His voice, gruff as it was, held an undertone of warmth. ¡°Yeah, I know. You¡¯re always here to talk. Aspiring psychologist and all.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t quit your day job.¡± I teased Louis, laughing it out. He knew he sucked at that deep conversation stuff as much as I did. ¡°Who needs a shrink when you can solve everything with a couple of punches, eh?¡± Louis snorted, extending his fists and giving them a prideful look. I smiled, appreciating his attempt to lighten up the mood. ¡°Well, I¡¯m gonna head out,¡± I said, heaving my duffle bag onto my shoulder. ¡°Thanks for the lesson.¡± ¡°Same time tomorrow?¡± ¡°You bet.¡± Boxing was an escape, a constant that I could rely on to suppress the aching pains I endured every day of bleeding into the background of low society standards. I was trapped in a routine of hustling it, and the future didn¡¯t look too promising, either. Sure, I could move, but moving required money, and money was something we barely had. It also didn¡¯t help that the job market was trash, the ultimate decline of Night City right around the corner as hobos continued to pile street corners and subway stations. Gramps swore I was making a big deal out of it, and that my ¡®grass is greener on the other side¡¯ mindset was utter nonsense. Honestly, I just think that the idea of living alone scared him. He¡¯d never admit it, but I was the only thing keeping him together after Dad, his only son, and Mom had died. Even if I technically could leave him behind, my conscience wouldn¡¯t let me. So, here I was, 21, ready to graduate college, with literally no future and nothing to look forward to other than my colony in Chaos Divide MMORPG to distract me from my extended stay in our rundown apartment with my 420 friendly grandpa. I walked a few blocks to our apartment to pick up my laundry bag, passing Gramps in the hallway. He was sprawled across on the couch, knocked out. Half asleep, half dead, I couldn¡¯t really tell. I had to do a double take, and thankfully, he began to snore, his Luscious Ladies show on the TV still chirping in the background. After I took a quick shower, I scooped up my laundry bag from my tiny bedroom. Then I slung it over my shoulder and walked another two blocks to the laundromat. There was a small Latin food truck there, and I hadn¡¯t had dinner, so I turned to the stout man in his late fifties who had a smile brighter than the neon sign above him. His apron was greasy, and his name tag read ¡®Miguel¡¯. I had probably paid his rent many times over with my weekly food truck visits. God knows Gramps and I didn¡¯t know how the cook worth a damn. Miguel¡¯s authentic Mexican food was another thing I looked forward to every day, but not because it was cheap, that was for sure. Miguel and his father Fabino loved to switch up prices, depending on what they saw coming out of your wallet. For the big corporate man upstairs, two fish tacos would come up as ten dineros. But for someone like me, they were the standard six bucks. No one complained because the food was always top tier. So I ordered what I usually did from Fabino¡¯s¡ªtwo chicken quesadillas. Except when I reached down into my wallet to pay, I noticed that I was a few bucks short. I looked up to Miguel, who made it obvious that he¡¯d looked at how broke I was too when he snapped his head back around and began whistling to himself. He turned back to the kitchen and his two spatulas and continued cooking that amazing chicken grilling my stomach into The Great Depression. I didn¡¯t bother asking him for a favor because I knew he wouldn¡¯t give me one. And honestly, I didn¡¯t really like handouts, unless I was really close to someone like my boxing trainer. With a sigh, I turned around and went inside the laundromat so I could hurry up with my load and then go to a 7/11 to get one of their cardboard pizza slices for cheap, before I had to reanalyze my crippling money problems again. ¡°Great, between food and laundry, I don¡¯t have enough on me,¡± I said, staring vacantly down my wallet again as I stood in front of the washer machine. I pivoted my head to the left, where I felt someone was staring at me. An old lady folding clothes on the counter gave me a weird stank eye before she turned back around and minded her own business. I grumbled. Food or clean clothes? Which was more important? ¡°I think I saw an old cup of noodles in the cabinet,¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°I¡¯ll manage.¡± After I did my laundry, I went up to my apartment, my phone suddenly buzzing in my pocket. It was a tutoring gig flagged urgent. What perfect timing. Even though it was after hours, being 10pm, I was desperate, and apparently, so was she. I opened the message and read: ¡®Need to cram in a study session for Mr. Hobo¡¯s Chemistry exam tomorrow! Please, send help!¡¯ She meant Mr. Hibbins, the raggedy-looking chem professor at Acadia University. Her name wasn¡¯t familiar though¡ªLaura Lockley. I knew just about everyone in Acadia. Not that I made it my business to, I just had a very good memory. I was also the highest rated tutor on campus, a badge that I¡¯d like to wear proudly. In Laura¡¯s case, she was having trouble with her chemical reaction equations. I found the location selection odd, since most students preferred meeting up at the main campus library, but I didn¡¯t think anything of it. Her place was less than a five minute walk, so after laundry, I skipped dinner and went out to snag a quick fifty bucks for my wallet.
She lived in a condo complex way more luxurious than anything I could afford. I could tell her parents were rich, and as soon as she buzzed me into the lobby, I felt out of place. From the marble floors, chandelier lights, and gilded elevator doors, everything screamed affluence. I adjusted the strap of my worn-out messenger bag and made my way to the 3rd floor. Up the stairs I went, until I reached a hallway with only four doors. I knocked on the door marked 3C, and not two seconds later, it opened, a lovely Laura Lockley greeting me with a sugary smile. ¡°Hey!¡± I greeted simply. ¡°Hhiii,¡± she said slowly as she stared at me, like she was locked in some type of trance. I could tell that she was ogling my body, and she wasn¡¯t shy about it either. Charisma wasn¡¯t my strong suit, as I had a habit of keeping to myself more times than not. I was a recluse book nerd, according to the word on the college hallways, a tall guy with dark messy hair, thick framed glasses, and a gym bod that occasionally caught some girls peeking over their shoulders. That being said, I wasn¡¯t expecting my tutee to be such a hottie. The slender and curvy vixen with the long silky black hair had on a pair of skimpy silk pajamas on, her jade eyes already inviting me in. She didn¡¯t look like someone ready to hit the books¡­ maybe, hit the bed. For a second I thought I went to the wrong apartment before she asked, ¡°Lucien Barros?¡± ¡°Yeah! And I take it you¡¯re Laura? Nice meeting you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver!¡± She bounced off of her feet, her voice suddenly chirpy and excited. ¡°Thank you for taking the assignment in such short notice! I almost forgot about that stupid exam tomorrow!¡± ¡°Hey, no worries. I¡¯m always happy to help when I can.¡± She stepped back into her condo, inviting me in. ¡°Would you like to come inside?¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. My response was lost in my throat, and I couldn¡¯t understand why I hesitated. There was an awkward pause between us before she broke out into a soft giggle, and insisted, ¡°Come on, I don¡¯t bite!¡± A hot girl invites me over for a tutoring session at her place, wearing barely anything at all, eyeing me like a full course meal. The moon was full, and the sexual tension was high, but there was something else about her that was making my palms sweaty¡­. Warning signs fired off in my head. Right after I accepted her invitation, my chest went tight. I ignored it, kicked my shoes off by the door, and followed her inside, trying to forget about the weird sensation so I wouldn¡¯t look like a total flake. Instead, I focused on how incredibly elegant her place looked¡ªhigh ceilings, modern furniture and an artfully placed abstract art on her white textured walls that added an extra air of sophistication. Everything was so pristine and organized, almost like a staged showing for a property on sale. ¡°Nice place you have here,¡± I complimented after she closed the door behind us. She led me to the living room, my eyes glued on her swinging hourglass hips. ¡°My domain caters to my high standards,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Your domain?¡± ¡°Y-you know, my space?¡± She stuttered, and then turned around to face me as she clasped her hands together. ¡°Please, make yourself at home!¡± My eyes turned to a plush white suede couch. I took a seat along the edge of it, and then I reached into my bag to fetch the chemistry textbook I brought to help her study. ¡°Right, so, we only have about two hours here. Let¡¯s make the best of our time so you could¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, we have time for that later!¡± she beamed. ¡°Right now, I have a guest to tend to. Would you like something to drink?¡± ¡°No thanks. I¡¯m good.¡± She frowned. ¡°I hope that¡¯s not the attitude you¡¯re going to give me all night.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She drew a finger at the corner of her lip and popped her hip out with some sass. ¡°I¡¯m trying to be nice here. You¡¯re ruining the mood!¡± Her directness caught me off guard. She seemed so much bolder than a girl who needed tutoring in chemistry, but I could tell in her tone that she was still being playful about it. So I chuckled and nodded. ¡°Heh, all right, then. Some water would be great.¡± ¡°Perfect!¡± she bounced. ¡°One tangerine flavored sparkling water it is!¡± Wait, what? She and her tiny waist sashayed out into the kitchen, which was open to the living room with the only thing separating the two rooms being a breakfast counter. Laura left me alone with my thoughts, and my first thoughts about her were interesting. She was a character for sure. Her energy filled the room even when she wasn¡¯t around. Assertive, zany, confident, and sexy. Clearly she had other thoughts other than studying in her plans tonight, but either way, I had to be professional about it. When she came back with a tray of two glass cups, I straightened my back and sank deeper into the couch so she could pass me and the coffee table. She bent over to set the tray on the coffee table, and that was when I noticed a sparkling crystal necklace dangling over her busty breasts. At first, I didn¡¯t think anything of the stone with the amethyst-colored crystal inside of it until she tucked her cleavage away by pulling her collar up in an attempt to hide it. The collar of her low cut could only go so high though, and her eyes dodged mine, an uncharacteristic blush spreading across her cheeks. It was the first time she seemed anything less than perfectly composed. ¡°Lovely necklace,¡± I commented, trying to ease her apparent discomfort. ¡°Is it a family heirloom?¡± ¡°Something like that. But enough about me. I want to learn more about you.¡± I smirked. ¡°Is that what you really want to spend your two hours of paid tutoring time? On me?¡± She shrugged, then reached over for our glasses, handing me one. ¡°My money, my rules.¡± She winked. I took her offer, watching her take a sip of her drink before I took a sip of mine. I wasn¡¯t really a fan of carbonated drinks, but I was no douche. ¡°I bet there¡¯s a lot to know about Lucien Barros. The smartest guy on campus.¡± I snorted. ¡°You¡¯re adulating.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re being humble. There¡¯s a reason you¡¯re number one on the tutor board. What else are you good at?¡± she cooed. ¡°I can make some mean scrambled eggs,¡± I said, giving her a playful smirk. ¡°Just about the only thing I could cook without burning my place down.¡± She laughed. She had a cute laugh, too. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sort of a cook myself, Lucien. I can craft all sorts of exotic things.¡± ¡°Cooking is an essential skill. I wish I¡¯d known that early on, otherwise, my meals wouldn¡¯t be a combination of instant noodles and frozen dinners.¡± ¡°Well, it sounds like you need a girl in your life.¡± I chuckled nervously. Was she volunteering? ¡°You know cooking is simply chemistry. Knowing when to mix things, at what temperature, for how long¡­. A recipe is basically just a lab procedure. It¡¯s all about reactions.¡± She lifted the glass to her lips again, her eyes holding mine over the rim. ¡°Seems like you already know your stuff, Laura.¡± ¡°Tell me something. Are you as good at chemistry as they say?¡± she asked me softly, those jade eyes glued to me with an obvious raunchy thirst. ¡°I suppose that depends on who¡¯s asking,¡± I responded with a light laugh, trying to keep the atmosphere relaxed. ¡°But yes, I do know my way around the elements.¡± ¡°So then you know that we have chemistry, right?¡± She smiled. ¡°Chemistry? Us?¡± I chuckled, taking one last sip of my drink before setting it on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t remember seeing that on the periodic table.¡± She giggled, her cheeks glowing a soft pink under the bar¡¯s dim lights. ¡°Why, that¡¯s because it¡¯s an unlisted element. Quite rare, actually. Sneaky too. It likes to creep up when you least expect it.¡± I grinned back at her, amused by her wit and charm. ¡°What are its properties, then?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± she began, putting her drink away and then crossing her legs before she leaned into me with wanton interest. ¡°It¡¯s known to entice uncountable attraction, cause spontaneous arousal, and trigger unexpected happy endings¡­.¡± More than her words, it was her audacity that left me stunned. Sure, I had been hit on before, but no one had ever approached me with the finesse and straightforwardness of Laura. ¡°Lucien, I like to be upfront with what I want,¡± she cooed, her finger lacing along my jawline and her breath pouring over me like sweet wine. ¡°And what I want is an exploration of this chemistry we have. A long and thorough study¡­.¡± Laura made the first move, inching into me and taking my lips with hers. Her lips were warm and soft, my hand instinctively reaching up to the back of her neck to draw her closer to me. Lacing my fingers through her silky hair, I returned her kiss, her tongue playing with mine inside of my mouth. She tasted like cherry gloss and the sangria she¡¯d probably been nursing all night. The soft moan she let out was an invitation for her to press up against me. I wrapped my arms around her waist and drew her flat belly against my body, our lips clashing even harder. The scent of her perfume caught my attention, a subtle hint of vanilla and jasmine. There was something else in there I couldn¡¯t identify, but the thought came and went. I was preoccupied with Laura¡¯s curious hand groping me under my shirt. I found myself wanting more of Laura as she reached under my shirt to explore my abs, the sensation of them making her moan harder in my mouth. I enjoyed her curves, too, her soft velvety skin along my fingertips as I stroked them down her smooth hips. It was impossible to deny the burning connection between us, as electrifying and potent as it was. Hot breaths, heavy pants, and all of that dirty talk she was pouring into my ears. I thought for sure I was going to get lucky tonight, until she whispered something over my neck that made me numb. ¡°I want your heart, Lucien. Right between my teeth¡­.¡± Before I could respond, I felt a sharp pain on my neck. The feeling of liquid pooling down my collarbone was unsettlingly warm. She continued to bite down, and I tried to push her away, but she held onto me with a strength that was shocking for a girl her size. The world spun around me as my heart hammered in my chest, and I began to panic, the first thought to cross my mind being some psychotic bitch was taking vampire role play to a whole new level. Through a bout of stray elbow shots, I managed to wrestle her off of me, the both of us collapsing on the floor. She momentarily released her grip on me from the fall, my chance to crawl back and away from her. As she got up on her feet, she had a sinister look on her face that dropped my heart down to my stomach. I had this looming feeling that she wasn¡¯t playing around, and that she actually wanted to fucking kill me! ¡°Lucien,¡± she murmured, her voice now a far cry from the sultry tone that she had seconds ago. She licked my blood off her lips slowly, eyeing me like a meal. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I thought you agreed that we had chemistry.¡± She snickered. ¡°All I want to do is create bonds with you, sexy.¡± Yeah, fuck that. I was gone at the first sight of those big bloody fangs extending from her mouth. Forget my bag and the shoes I left by the door. The only thing on my mind right now was survival. So I stammered up on my feet and rushed down the emergency escape stairway like my head was on fire. The police station was the first thing on my route, and after I dashed out of the complex, I ran for Seabury Place. ¡°Help, somebody!¡± I cried out, but the road was stark empty. I bolted with adrenaline pumping through my veins, my feet barely touching the pavement as I ran. The night air ripped through my lungs as I panted, but I could not afford to stop. My heart pounded hard in my ears, drowning out everything except for her laughter that echoed around me. All of a sudden, I felt something hit me hard, something so strong that it sent me flying. It flung me into the park across the street, my body bashing right into a tree. I swear I blacked out for a second, but I forced myself to recover. When my vision stopped dancing, I realized it was Laura who had hit me, still standing there in a charging pose like a damn linebacker. Why did a girl no taller than 5¡¯7 and no heavier than 120 hit like a fucking truck? ¡°You still have your strength I see,¡± she said cheekily as I tried to scramble myself off the cold grass. ¡°I guess the poison I crafted into your drink wasn¡¯t strong enough to slow you down.¡± Poison? ¡°No worries! I still love a good chase!¡± Just when I thought this night couldn¡¯t get any weirder, she paced closer to me, those pink polished nails on her fingers turning black and stretching five times their size! I thought I was seeing things, but her nails weren¡¯t the only things that changed. Two fluffy wolf ears materialized from her head, and a huge bushy tail sprouted from behind her. ¡°I wish we could have had our fun together tonight,¡± she sang, her voice velvety and low. ¡°but when I noticed my brew having no effect on you, I started to panic. You didn¡¯t get woozy at all!¡± She giggled. ¡°Silly me, I should have been more patient! Passing a night of hot, steamy fun with a demi-god sex-toy before a feast is foolish, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± I begged, but before I could bargain with her, she lunged at me. The ever assertive and upfront monster girl Laura going after what she wanted. Luckily, I dodged her attack, and I circled around to escape her. She was blocking the route to the police station, so I made a U turn and ran right into an abandoned warehouse building for safety. Home was on the route, but I didn¡¯t want to bring crazy around more people. I figured my best bet was to lose her in here, and then when the time was right, buck it to the police station. Except there was one problem with my plan¡ªshe was stupid fast. And not marathon-runner fast. She had a quickness to her that wasn¡¯t human. It was like she was teleporting from point A to point B, making escaping her that much harder. I scaled the height of the moonlit warehouse, barely dodging her as she tried to slash at me with those big claws. I couldn¡¯t stop moving for one second, because I knew that if I did, it was game over. I tried tossing all types of shit in her way to slow her down, but when I threw a steel pipe at her and she sliced through it, my hopes of getting out of this mess alive went out the window. Just like that my luck followed my hopes as I accidentally drew myself to a dead end inside this four floor warehouse office. ¡°Nowhere to run, Lucien,¡± she said with a twisted satisfaction in her low voice. Behind me were rows of glass, and behind that, a four story fall¡­. ¡°I¡¯m almost disappointed that our time together is cut so short. But I can¡¯t have you sabotaging my operation back home.¡± My mind was rushing so fast that I couldn¡¯t even mouth a response. That pain in my chest started to fire up again, but before I could react to it, Laura lunged at me. This time, I didn¡¯t run. I gritted down on my teeth, squared my shoulders, and braced for that psycho bitch! When she drew close, I step-dodged and crossed her, Louis¡¯ training coming in handy. I caught her off guard, angling for a square punch against her face, but she noticed me. When those jade green eyes on her looked my way turned red, I almost lost my shit. She grabbed me by my collar and chucked me into the wall, my forehead bashing right through. I heard ringing in my ears, the pain that came with it triggering a deep rage inside me. She wanted me dead? Fine. But I wasn¡¯t going to go down without a fucking fight! I grappled her, trying to keep her claws wrangled so she couldn¡¯t build momentum for her strikes. She caught on, and she didn¡¯t like that, flinging her body into mine and tossing the both of us through the four story glass wall! The only thing I could think of at the moment was coming out of this fall alive, no matter how thin the chances looked. As the shards of glass rained around us and the wind whipped at my face, I reached out with a desperate hand. Grasping Laura¡¯s wrist, I twisted her into the path of our fall, but then something weird happened. The necklace around her shoulders began to glow, and so did my chest¡­. As I swung her around and behind me, using her body as a cushion to land on the ground softer, something told me to snatch that necklace in the process, believing it might have something to do with her supernatural powers. Sure enough, it was no regular necklace, because as soon as I snatched it off her neck and squeezed it in my fist, a warbling portal opened up underneath us, swallowing us in. An echo called out in the void whipping with bright bands of translucent colors and cosmic dust. It was an ethereal sound, feminine too, and it said in a balmy, accented voice: Child of the Light Reclaim Your Kingdom Name: Lucien Barros Age: 21 Race: Human (Titan) Level: 1 Universe: Thaerya, Sector: K-2-10 Transfer to Bridge: [Etheryn] Processing¡­ Processing¡­ Processing¡­ Please wait¡­. Transfer Complete. Welcome it Etheryn! B1.C2: Baby Dragon None of it was real. It couldn¡¯t be¡­. Any second now, I was going to wake up, back at my place, lying on my comfy bed, and laughing it off like a bad dream. But this pain running through my body felt real. My head was heavy, and my skin prickled. When I finally opened my eyes, I noticed that I was entangled in a bush, being poked by thorny branches that tore through my clothes and stuck me in some odd places. It was then I realized that I was still holding onto the necklace I¡¯d snatched off of Laura¡¯s chest. My grip around it was tight, the glowing from the necklace continuing to pulsate. My chest raced. I wrestled my way out of the bush quickly, nearly stumbling as soon as my feet hit the ground. My breath heaved and my eyes roamed while I tried to absorb everything around me. I was no longer in the city, but instead in a lush, verdant forest that stretched out into the distance. The air was different here, it tasted fresher, more organic. The trees were tall and twisted, with the colors of their leaves almost surreal. Behind me was a giant waterfall, but its water shimmered like molten silver under the full moon. The sky above me was covered by a canopy of unnaturally huge stars, painting the skyline with shimmering constellations that I¡¯d never seen before. I was on a new planet, or perhaps another realm entirely. ¡°A-a-another planet?¡± I paused for a sec, realizing what I was saying. Did that stupid necklace actually portal me to another planet?!? It took a moment for me to understand that what I thought was an elaborate nightmare was actually my new reality. The crystal I still had in my grip began to shake as my hand throbbed. It was the nerves, and I couldn¡¯t control how fucking terrified I felt! A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead as I tried to process everything, only to find myself pinned down by a sharp pain in my mouth. I nearly buckled down, realizing that it was coming from the roof of my mouth. Fighting a pain that could only be described as having a hot iron rod searing into my palate, I let out a silent scream, my voice caught in my throat. It was as if, with every heartbeat, the flame was intensifying, trailing along the roof of my mouth and then cascading downwards to my chest. Suddenly, the pain subsided as quickly as it had come, replaced by a heat coursing through my veins. The necklace¡¯s glow began to pulse in rhythm with my heart, and then, things went from bad to worse. I thought that pain I¡¯d felt earlier was bad. What happened next was unlike anything I¡¯d ever experienced in my fucking life. A searing heat tore through my body, as if originating from the necklace but radiating out, into my chest, down my arms, my legs¡­. Shit, even my eyes felt like they were burning! A torrent of blue light permeated me, pulsating in time with the pain ripping through my veins. I dropped to the ground on all fours and screamed out, my voice scratching the back of my throat from how taxing the ordeal was. I tried to let go of the stone, but it was like the damn thing had been fused to my skin! Then, just when I thought I would pass out from the pain, everything stopped. I felt¡­ different¡­ not better or worse, just different. The pain receded to a dull throb, and I was able to push myself off the ground. As I rose, I noticed that the crystal was gone, leaving only the chain on the ground before my feet. Panicking, I raced to pull the collar of my shirt down, realizing that my chest was glowing blue. There was a center core of energy with branching lines, almost how a crater smashing into earth would look like. I raised my eyebrow and continued to inspect this strange power fusing with me, and then I swept my hand on the gash that I expected to be on my neck from that crazy girl¡¯s bite. To my surprise, the wound was gone, as well as the stabbing pain I¡¯d felt earlier. It healed up somehow. But before I could process the possibility of that, a screen suddenly appeared out of nowhere: None of it was real. It couldn¡¯t be¡­. Any second now, I was going to wake up, back at my place, lying on my comfy bed, and laughing it off like a bad dream. But this pain running through my body felt real. My head was heavy, and my skin prickled. When I finally opened my eyes, I noticed that I was entangled in a bush, being poked by thorny branches that tore through my clothes and stuck me in some odd places. It was then I realized that I was still holding onto the necklace I¡¯d snatched off of Laura¡¯s chest. My grip around it was tight, the glowing from the necklace continuing to pulsate. My chest raced. I wrestled my way out of the bush quickly, nearly stumbling as soon as my feet hit the ground. My breath heaved and my eyes roamed while I tried to absorb everything around me. I was no longer in the city, but instead in a lush, verdant forest that stretched out into the distance. The air was different here, it tasted fresher, more organic. The trees were tall and twisted, with the colors of their leaves almost surreal. Behind me was a giant waterfall, but its water shimmered like molten silver under the full moon. The sky above me was covered by a canopy of unnaturally huge stars, painting the skyline with shimmering constellations that I¡¯d never seen before. I was on a new planet, or perhaps another realm entirely. ¡°A-a-another planet?¡± I paused for a sec, realizing what I was saying. Did that stupid necklace actually portal me to another planet?!? It took a moment for me to understand that what I thought was an elaborate nightmare was actually my new reality. The crystal I still had in my grip began to shake as my hand throbbed. It was the nerves, and I couldn¡¯t control how fucking terrified I felt! A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead as I tried to process everything, only to find myself pinned down by a sharp pain in my mouth. I nearly buckled down, realizing that it was coming from the roof of my mouth. Fighting a pain that could only be described as having a hot iron rod searing into my palate, I let out a silent scream, my voice caught in my throat. It was as if, with every heartbeat, the flame was intensifying, trailing along the roof of my mouth and then cascading downwards to my chest. Suddenly, the pain subsided as quickly as it had come, replaced by a heat coursing through my veins. The necklace¡¯s glow began to pulse in rhythm with my heart, and then, things went from bad to worse. I thought that pain I¡¯d felt earlier was bad. What happened next was unlike anything I¡¯d ever experienced in my fucking life. A searing heat tore through my body, as if originating from the necklace but radiating out, into my chest, down my arms, my legs¡­. Shit, even my eyes felt like they were burning! A torrent of blue light permeated me, pulsating in time with the pain ripping through my veins. I dropped to the ground on all fours and screamed out, my voice scratching the back of my throat from how taxing the ordeal was. I tried to let go of the stone, but it was like the damn thing had been fused to my skin! Then, just when I thought I would pass out from the pain, everything stopped. I felt¡­ different¡­ not better or worse, just different. The pain receded to a dull throb, and I was able to push myself off the ground. As I rose, I noticed that the crystal was gone, leaving only the chain on the ground before my feet. Panicking, I raced to pull the collar of my shirt down, realizing that my chest was glowing blue. There was a center core of energy with branching lines, almost how a crater smashing into earth would look like. I raised my eyebrow and continued to inspect this strange power fusing with me, and then I swept my hand on the gash that I expected to be on my neck from that crazy girl¡¯s bite. To my surprise, the wound was gone, as well as the stabbing pain I¡¯d felt earlier. It healed up somehow. But before I could process the possibility of that, a screen suddenly appeared out of nowhere: Codex
Name: Lucien Barros
Age: 21
Race: Human (Titan)
Rank: D-
Class: TBA
Profession: --
Location: Sector: K-2-10
Level 1
Attributes Bonuses Total
Strength 12 0 12
Agility 6 0 6
Dexterity 4 0 4
Endurance 7 +5 12
Perception 10 0 10
Fortitude 4 0 4
Charisma 4 +5 9 This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Willpower 8 0 8
Free Points: --
Harem Count 0
HP: 100%
Mana 1,000 MP
Stamina 120
Skill Scroll Locker --
Inventory --
Currency --
Armor Tier: (Fortitude Boost: x) --
Skills Level Description
Multiverse Adaptation -- Instant expertise of languages both written and oral.
Inspect -- Identify the species and level of another creature
Heal 1 Ability to heal living creatures.
Fertile Charm 1 Promote growth to living things. Rate of growth depends on level. (At max level, you will be blessed with natural magic affinity, at which point skill-scrolls will not be required)
*Pure Bloodline* Level up buff
Was¡­ was that a stats sheet? Wait, now that I thought about it, I¡¯d seen something like this before, right when I¡¯d dropped into the portal with Laura. I heard a voice¡ªI thought maybe my adrenaline was making me hear things, but it had called me a ¡®Child of the Light.¡¯ Codex Overview: Present Skills [Multiverse Adaptation] Instant expertise of languages both written and oral. Required for intergalactic communications. Intergalactic communications? I guess my codex was giving me a quick breakdown of my skills, but that phrase there threw me off. It was strange enough that I was as far away from Earth as I could possibly be right now. Adding a means to talk to aliens was just pouring more salt on the wound. Slowly, the reality of all of this was sinking in. [Inspect] Identify the species and level of another creature. Okay, so I really was isekai¡¯d to another world. And not just another world, but one that possibly functioned off of RPG principles. [Heal] Ability to heal living creatures. Wait, so I was a healer? Shouldn¡¯t that be my class? [Fertile Charm] As a demi-god, offspring of the goddess of fertility and creation, Amossira, you have the ability to promote growth to living things. Rate of production depends on level. (At max level, you will be blessed with natural magic affinity, at which point skill-scrolls will not be necessary) Time out¡ªnow you¡¯ve lost me. Something wasn¡¯t processing right in my brain, and I was two seconds from malfunctioning. Son of a goddess? Me, a demi-god? Seriously, was I really awake?! I¡¯d never heard such bullshit. There was no way my mother was a goddess! She was a normal woman. A normal, American woman who worked at Crescent Harbor Hospital as a full time nurse, and took on gardening as a hobby. And damn, was she good at it! Our old place was a veritable Eden in the middle of our suburban neighborhood. My mother was a natural cultivator, her gentle touch seeming to draw the very life out of the earth and nurse it into bloom. Mint, rosemary, thyme, just to name a few herbs. There were also vegetables in a variety that could put entire farms to shame. Carrots, beets, onions, and peas to name a few others. Even flowers and fruits, my favorite being the dragonfruit tree that lasted for well over five years. Her talent harvested life from the most stubborn of seeds, and her garden was a testament to her special gift. Hell, she even got summer seeds harvesting all year around, despite the biting cold and the harsh winter¡­. Holy shit¡­. ¡°No way, that garden is just a coincidence¡­¡± I said, trying to convince myself that there was no correlation to her title my codex was giving her and her exceptional green thumb. My codex had disappeared, but I thought about studying it again, and it popped up just the same. I looked down at my stats sheet, squinting at the [Fertile Charm] skill. My heart pounded heavily in my chest as my body froze under the implications. A demi-god? A son of the goddess of fertility? The mere idea seemed ludicrous¡ªyet, wasn¡¯t this entire situation crazy in itself? I rethought everything over in my mind, trying to reconcile the impossibility of the notion against the evidence in front of me. Was my seemingly natural affinity for fertility honestly connected to my mother¡¯s uncanny knack for cultivation? All those hours spent in our garden related to this [Fertile Charm] the codex mentioned? Was it possible that my life thus far had been subtly influenced by some divine genealogy I wasn¡¯t aware of? And if so, where was it all of those years? Better question than that¡ªwere my parents really dead? I had so many unanswered questions that it was taking my head for a spin. After taking a moment to slow down my thoughts, I finally accepted everything at face value. There was no fighting the truth. Sure, my system could be lying to me, but what was the benefit in doing that? I was a demi-god, an actual demi-god. With no way back home, unless I considered retrieving that damn stone by tearing a hole in my glowing chest. ¡°Shit, this just wasn¡¯t my night. All I wanted to do was get my hands on a few bucks so I can do my laundry and grab dinner¡­.¡± Well, at least that crazy wolf girl was nowhere in sight. Okay, now that my traumatic episode was over, I needed to seriously collect myself here and focus on my next move. Studying my codex carefully, I dissected every section one by one. A lot of this stuff was self-explanatory and common to RPG systems. Race: Human (Titan). Rank: D-? Class: TBA. Profession, unavailable. After reading my location, it was confirmed. I wasn¡¯t in Albuquerque anymore. Sector: K-2-10¡ªyeah, no idea. Then my attributes, and then, something further interesting¡­. harem count? Harem Count: 0 Increasing your harem count levels up your [Fertile Charm] Now that was an interesting concept. But naturally, it made sense, seeing as I was the demi-god of fertility. ¡°One girl equals one level¡­. Huh. That was definitely different. It also says that any girl I bond with gets a 10% stats boost that cannot be affected by items or magic. Endurance gets double that at 20% boost.¡± I scratched the back of my head sheepishly and thought about what all of that entailed. On campus, I kept to myself. I rarely noticed girls looking in my direction. Now I needed to gather a harem just to level up one of my main skills? This was definitely a long shot. But then again, according to the codex, with every girl I added to my harem, my charm would increase, and my party would increase too, hence, making it easier to level up by fighting higher monsters, feeding more points to my charisma. Which had a pretty decent bonus tacked onto it already. Theoretically, it should get easier with each new girl. I sighed heavily, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. So not only was I in some unknown world and a demi-god, but I also had to become some kind of Casanova to survive. The thought was silly enough to make me chuckle. That being said, how important was maxing out my [Fertile Charm]? There was a drop down on my board next to the description, where it further explained the details answering my question immediately: -Max leveling Fertile Charm will grant channel to immortality- And there goes the jackpot. Not only would I acquire natural magical affinity, seeing as it may be better than collecting skill scrolls, I¡¯d also get to be a proper god, and reach immortality. More women equaled more¡­. God. Yeah, let¡¯s go with that. As wild as it sounded, I was starting to get excited about the idea. Despite it being a challenge, the thought of living forever was enough to make me pursue this ultimate goal. However, I felt that there was much more to all of this than being granted a ticket to eternal life. Quest 1 Ah, and there it is¡­. As a god, you are revered to as the answer to all prayers. The land of Nemetesnia is in dire need of assistance. Grusnabi is one of many villages affected by plague. As a healer, you must lend your services to the Grusnabi people. Reward: access to virtual skill scroll shop My reward for doing this mission was getting access to a virtual skill scroll shop, where I could purchase skill scrolls without having to go to a physical location. Which was all swell and dandy, but I was confused, because I thought that being able to heal things automatically designated a healer class. So was healing my innate skill, then? As a son of a fertility god? While looking deeper into my codex, I also realized that I was getting a +5 bonus toward my charisma and endurance stats, two attributes that would help me on my path to immortality. Well, I wasn¡¯t complaining. I only wanted some type of clarification. Obviously, I wasn¡¯t going to get any. My codex wasn¡¯t exactly sentient, and even if it were able to communicate with me, I had an odd sense that it may be a little stuck up. Only delivers the essentials. Nothing more. It was a real no nonsense type of system, which was going to make it harder to navigate this place. ¡°I wonder if my codex has a section for a map,¡± I said to myself, then out spawned one from the next tab over. ¡°Huh, wonder why I didn¡¯t see that before.¡± The words ¡®world map¡¯ instantly translated in my thoughts as I read the strange symbols. That must have been my [Multiverse Adaptation] kicking in. A large map of Etheryn opened up, with six distinct regions. One of them was named Nemetesnia, so I blew up the map and tried to locate Grusnabi. ¡°Oh wait, I¡¯m already in Nemetesnia. That¡¯s convenient. But Grusnabi was pretty far from the marker I¡¯m located on the map.¡± I pondered. ¡°Wonder how long it¡¯d take to get there.¡± I sighed, rubbing my temple frustratingly. I wanted to do this quest for a number of reasons, but mainly, to figure out how I was going to achieve my ultimate goal. Getting some insight on this world, my place in this world, and its people would go a long way for me. And I was sure the quests my codex assigned me were linked to the major quest of reclaiming my kingdom. Yeah, my codex failed to run that little tidbit to me again, but I remembered it mentioned that right before I was vortexed into the portal I¡¯d accidentally tore into Etheryn. Apparently, my kingdom needed reclaiming, but unfortunately, I had no money, no mode of transportation, and no point of contact. I also had no care package, and for someone stranded in some unmarked forest with no idea on how I¡¯d get to Grusnabi, a care package would have been a blessing. ¡°Seek immortality, build my harem, and reclaim my kingdom. Not exactly in that order, but that was the gist of it, right?¡± I sighed exasperatedly. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine my cell phone working in a place like this,¡± I mumbled to myself. ¡°But it should be worth something. Surely, I could sell it for a small profit.¡± The thought of leaving everything behind suddenly dawned on me. I hated the idea of leaving Gramps by himself, but there was no turning back. This was my life now¡­ this was the hand I was dealt. I had to make the best of it as I knew how. Be smart about my choices, and more importantly, be careful. It was then I noticed that I¡¯d lost my glasses. I touched the temple of my face, still fishing for them, before I took the time to search the area. It couldn¡¯t have gone far, I said to myself, naturally dismissing the fact that I didn¡¯t even need them. After that entire painful ordeal, my vision was perfect, but I went hunting for them anyway. It was a signature part of me, and I didn¡¯t want to leave them behind. Unfortunately, they were crushed on my way down here, spotting them by a medium sized rock. The bridge bent and the lenses shattered. ¡°Well, I guess it¡¯s a good thing I won¡¯t need them then, huh?¡± So I went on to find my cell phone. The forest was thick, the path hard to make out from the tall grass that reached beyond my ankles. It felt like I was surfing in foliage, until I tripped on a rock. I sighed, staying on the ground with my grumbling stomach and my empty pockets. Being bombarded by all of this had taken a toll on my patience, and tripping over a rock had nearly triggered me. But I knew that I couldn¡¯t lose it. If I allowed all of this to get to me, I¡¯d be fucked before dawn. When I turned around, I saw the rock that I¡¯d tripped over, but it started¡­. Breathing? I got on my feet right away and backed myself into a tree. Shocked, I continued to watch the rock move. It was about the size of my head. Shallow breaths made it move up and down. It wasn¡¯t until I studied it for a while did I realize that it wasn¡¯t a rock at all, but a curled up baby dragon. An actual baby dragon. I thought to [Inspect] it, the command triggering through my codex. At first the action startled me. I was more surprised that it actually worked more than anything. Immediately, their simple stats came up, and I got to learn more about them: [Southland Dragon, Level 2, Female] -Evolution Stage: Dracapod (1)- Stones left to evolve: 3 Southland Dragon? Was I in the Southland region? I had no clue what it meant, or what those stones to evolve signified, but I took a step closer to her regardless. She was so small, the size of a chicken. The small creature definitely piqued my interest¡­. B1.C3: Healing of the Gods The last thing I thought I¡¯d walk into was a baby dragon. Her scales were obsidian black, shining pretty under the moonlight. She had tiny, folded wings pressed tightly against her body, and a long tail wound around her protectively. But I couldn¡¯t see her eyes. It looked like she was asleep. I had no idea whether it was safe to approach or not. In Chaos Divide, an MMORPG I was low-key addicted to, dragons were notoriously hostile, but this little one seemed pretty damn harmless. Maybe this was a trap? However, my pressing predicament urged me on: my grumbling stomach, my confusion, and a growing sense of dread at being alone in the desolate forest. Maybe the small dragon could help me in some way. On second thought, I might be the one helping her¡­. As if sensing my proximity, her eyes opened up. I froze in place, not daring to move even a muscle. But that stare she was giving me, it wasn¡¯t hostile. In fact, it looked very vulnerable. Her eyes were lightsaber green, contrasting with the black of her scales. They held a sense of innocence and fear, but I wasn¡¯t sure why. I wasn¡¯t a threat. I bet even with her small size, she could roast me with her dragon breath. But, I doubted she¡¯d hurt me. I felt a strange connection with her at that moment, an empathetic bond that was odd considering the circumstances, feeling natural nevertheless. ¡°You¡¯re hurt, aren¡¯t you?¡± I finally said, realizing she was against moving. But then I noticed something else popped up when I inspected her: Condition: Critical ¡°Shit,¡± I hissed under my breath. Being cautious, I crouched down and inspected her further. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I drew close. Sure, she seemed friendly, but she was still a dragon. Again, I had to play it safe. Keeping to that mindset, I gently extended my hand towards her, palm down. Her eyes flickered over to my hand, then back up at my face, studying me intently. It felt like she was sizing me up, determining if I was a friend or foe. After what felt like an eternity of silence, I finally mustered up the nerve to touch her. My fingers came into contact with her scales which were surprisingly smooth and warm. The baby dragon stiffened at my touch but made no move to pull away. She made a small noise, something between a whine and a whimper. It was soft enough that I nearly missed it. I took that as permission to proceed. It was then I noticed the leg she was favoring. There was a huge gash on it, the skin torn and raw, with large patches of dry blood in it. I gently ran my fingertips over the edges of the wound, careful not to hurt her further. She let out an agonized whimper and tried to pull her leg away, but I held it steady. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m going to help you,¡± I said softly, my heart lurching at the sight of her suffering. I had no medical supplies on me, no potions or antidotes for a dragon¡¯s wound. But I did have my natural [Heal] ability. I hovered my hand over her tear and tried to focus on the wound. I had never tried to use the [Heal] ability on a dragon before, or at all for that matter! But I was desperate. The dragon whimpered again at my touch, but this time there was a slight tremble of hope in her eyes. I held my breath and focused, trying to channel all my energy into her. It was no good. Nothing was happening, so I tried again. Quickly, I became impatient at the sight of her breaths becoming more distressed. Those long deep gasps were rattling my nerves and I needed to calm the hell down. So I thought about all of that meditation Larenzo nagged me to do, so I could learn to guide my inner qi to where I need it to be in the ring. Proper breathing led to more control¡ªit was a reach, but to my surprise, it was working. A soft gold glow pulsed from my palm, casting a gentle aura on her. The glow spread over her wound, bathing it in warm light. Her muscles tensed under my fingertips, and her tail coiled tighter around her small body as my healing light intensified, radiating a calm heat. I watched as the light from my hand seemed to seep into her scales, illuminating the individual plates in a soft gold hue before disappearing beneath them. Her breaths started to slow down, becoming more rhythmical and less stressed. Encouraged, I kept up the steady stream of healing energy, until the raw edges of her wound began to close before my very eyes. The torn skin was knitting itself back together under my touch, the deep red of raw flesh giving way to healthier black scales. I nearly tapered off by how shocked I was, losing my concentration, until I realized that it wasn¡¯t my concentration that was affecting my healing rate, but my skill¡¯s level. ¡°Crap, I think that¡¯s all the juice I¡¯m allowed for level 1,¡± I said to her. ¡°But I imagine the more I use it, the longer and deeper I can heal.¡± I smiled. ¡°Either way, you look much better now. Your skin is still a bit raw, but at least the wound sealed up decently.¡± She made an effort to stand, faltering slightly before steadying herself. Her small head bobbed up and down, seeming to understand my statement. I watched as she tested her weight on the previously injured leg, wincing once before managing a tiny, triumphant growl that echoed in the quiet of our surroundings. It made her seem more intimidating, which was adorable. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I sat back on my heels. A weary smile stretched across my face as I watched her hobble around pretty confidently. ¡°There you go,¡± I praised. She turned at the sound of my voice, tilting her head curiously. Her large, beautiful eyes met mine, filled with an intelligence that was interesting and fascinating at the same time. There was a glint of gratitude in them, or maybe I was just reading too much into it. I didn¡¯t talk dragon, even though I wished I could. All I could do was read the little gestures here and there and simply speculate. And then, she did something new, opening her maw slightly, releasing a puff of warm, smoky air. Okay, now she was just showing off. I chuckled, and then shook my head to everything that just happened. I¡¯d just healed a baby dragon. I¡¯d earned her trust enough to allow me to touch her, to help her. Maybe this was an opportunity for an alliance of sorts. With a dragon on my side, so many doors could open up. I reached toward her again, my palm up and inviting. I introduced myself to her, giving the baby dragon my name. She regarded it curiously before taking a step closer. Her warm breath rolled across my skin as she nudged my hand with her snout, a soft glow flickering in her eyes. I let out a breath I hadn¡¯t realized I¡¯d been holding. This little creature, formidable even in her young age, had accepted my help and now seemed to be offering something in return: companionship. An understanding passed between us, unspoken but strong. I wouldn¡¯t hurt her, and she wouldn¡¯t hurt me. She drew her face closer to me, the palm of my hand brushing along the spikes of her spine. I swear I heard her purr as I petted her, until the purring turned into subtle growling. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. That must have been her stomach. ¡°We should probably get you something to eat,¡± I murmured, a sudden feeling of responsibility tugging at me. Since we were going to be traveling with each other now, I had to take care of her. But, what did baby dragons even eat? Sheep? Fish? Berries, perhaps? ¡°Well, now that I¡¯m thinking about it, I should get something for myself, too,¡± I said, rubbing my stomach as the hunger pains began to sink in. That was when my new dragon friend bolted, running deeper into the forest¡¯s path behind me. She caught me off guard and I jumped to my feet. ¡°Hey!¡± I shouted, taking off after her. Shit, she was fast for a baby, faster than I expected. Her little legs worked like pistons, her paws pounding against the dirt barely audible as I chased as close as I could behind her. Her lithe body blurred with the speed, her tail swaying behind her like a flag. I chased her through thick woods and undergrowth, winding around trees and leaping over fallen logs, but my luck was running dry fast. The further we went, the darker things got, the forest¡¯s foliage thicker and denser along the foreground. Crap, it didn¡¯t help that her scales were black¡ªshe was blending in with everything. At one point, I had to slow down. It didn¡¯t feel like I was on her trail anymore. Frantic, I wrapped my hands around my mouth and shouted out for her. She couldn¡¯t have gone far. I had no clue why she dashed off like that in the first place. I began pacing myself, looking over my shoulder left and right, brushing past tall scrubs and snapping long twigs. The woods up ahead were quiet, where only crickets and the sound of trees swaying in the breeze captured my attention as I tried to focus on my surroundings. If I heard her, I could head toward her direction. But so far, there were no signs of her, not any that I could see at least from where I was standing. And then, I heard it: a low, squeaky growl. Dashing toward the sound, I walked into a small clearing obscured by thick vines. There she was, moving along with a pep in her happy step, with something large and brown hanging limply from her jaws. It was a fawn. She had hunted down a fawn. I stood there frozen as she dropped it to my feet, and then looked up to give me a toothy smile. RIP Bambi¡­. For a second there, she looked like a pup that had just fetched me a stick. ¡°You got us dinner, huh?¡± I said proudly. ¡°How considerate of you. But shit, you scared me. Don¡¯t dash off like that again, understood? I don¡¯t want you getting yourself hurt again.¡± She looked up to me with those oblivious joyful eyes, and I just had to shake my head at her. ¡°You have no idea what I¡¯m saying, do you?¡± I said as I crouched down to her level. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to learn how to read your body language better, huh?¡± She did not appear to understand what I was saying. Still, she bit into the fawn¡¯s flesh and began to chew. She nudged her head toward me, inviting me to join her feast. I swallowed hard, realizing that I would need to adapt to my new companion¡¯s diet if we were going to make this work. ¡°Guess it¡¯s fresh venison for dinner then.¡± I said, my stomach churning at the thought of eating raw meat. But life in the woods was different, and I guess I had to see how far I could push myself. ¡°I suppose there¡¯s a first time for everything.¡± But then I thought about her powers, the one that spewed out of her mouth, specifically. Hopeful, I looked around for pieces of twigs and chunkier pieces of wood, taking them all to a leafy pile as I created a primitive fire pit. Looking back at her, I hesitated before asking the question, unsure whether she would even understand me. ¡°Do you think you could... light this for me?¡± The words sounded foolish even as they left my mouth. She looked at me with a tilt of her head, then to the fire pit and back at me again. Her eyes blinked once, twice before she went back to vigorously eating that freshly killed fawn. I pointed to the pile of wood, and then at her mouth, hoping she would understand my gesture. She tilted her head sideways again, a sign of curiosity on her young face, but did nothing else. ¡°Fire,¡± I said, pointing again at the pile and then to her jaws. She continued to stare at me blankly. She tugged at the tough piece of meat that slung back at her face like elastic, the chords of muscle suddenly making me queasy. There was no way I could eat it like that¡­. Sighing in frustration, I picked up a stick from the ground and mimicked the action of breathing fire onto it. Then I pointed at the pile again. ¡°Fire,¡± I repeated. This time something clicked. She dropped the fawn and moved closer to the pile, squinted her eyes, and let out a huge ass flame burp. I jumped back, nearly tripping over my feet. I wasn¡¯t expecting it to have that much range, but before I knew it, the pile was ablaze. The flames roared to life, flickering and dancing before my very eyes. The flame burp was sharp, loud, and huge, but it tapered off just as quickly as she started it. It was short, leading me to believe that her energy was still low, and that she was still recovering. The blaze towered over her, and she bounced up and down with joy. She sure looked proud of herself for understanding and being helpful. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, clapping my hands together to dust off the soot. ¡°Now we have fire.¡± I picked up a thin stick nearby and skewered the fawn through the opening the baby dragon made when she was tearing it up, making sure it went through all the way to make it easier to roast. She kept her eyes on me the entire time as I prepared our meal, her head twitching at every new action I made. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was curiosity or confusion that prompted her gaze, but I decided to take it as a good sign. She seemed willing to learn. ¡°Your stomach and mine are built differently,¡± I began. ¡°While you can eat raw meat without suffering any sickening consequences, I can¡¯t. So, we cook it.¡± I held the skewered fawn above the fire, planning on only eating the leg seeing as I didn¡¯t gut it. I didn¡¯t know about the baby dragon, but for me, this occasion was special, marking the first of our outback dining experience. Slowly, I rotated the carcass over the fire, positioning it in such a way that the heat would cook it evenly. The smell of roasting meat filled the air quickly, her nose poking up and out at the scent of it. Clearly, this was a new experience for her. But she took everything in stride, flicking her tail back and forth and watching closely as the fawn started to brown. ¡°You know, this experience reminds me of a time when Dad and I went camping,¡± I said. ¡°Mom had to tackle an all-nighter at the hospital that weekend. The place was always short-staffed. We missed her company, but hell, Dad and I sure had our fun. We did this during the cold snap after a heavy rain, the kind of chill where your breath freezes midair. It took us hours to get that damn fire lit, but when we finally did, it felt like we¡¯d climbed Mount Everest. We looked at each other with these huge grins on our faces, even though our hands and lips felt frostbitten.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Dad didn¡¯t want to bring too much for what he called the ¡®full effect¡¯. That meant that we had to try that much harder to survive the few days we were out there. I remember our first night like it was yesterday. We were starving, so we went out to fish by the stream. It took us a while before we celebrated our first catch, but when we did, we had an unsuspected lurker around the corner. It was a goddamn bear. Big grizzly looking asshole, too. The first thing I did was trip over my own feet as I tried to buck it out of there.¡± I snickered. ¡°Dad had to drag me up by the scruff, and we ran like the devil was chasing after us. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d ever run that fast in my life. Little did we know, that was the worst thing we could have done. And, of course, later that night, we laughed our asses off about it over a can of beans, because in our hair-raising attempt to save our asses, we dropped the damn fish.¡± I smirked, continuing to recollect my past. ¡°Even though part of our hiking adventure wasn¡¯t the best, we still had a blast. He taught me to fish, and we grilled our catch over the fire, ate s¡¯mores, and told dumbass stories until the fire died out. It was an experience I¡¯ll never forget.¡± My voice faded as memories of my late father washed over me. The baby looked at me with a hint of concern or confusion. It was hard to tell which. But she sat quietly through my reminiscing, her tail curling around herself as if to stave off the cool night air. ¡°I guess what I¡¯m saying is, life here isn¡¯t so different from that camping trip,¡± I continued. ¡°We had better ones after that, but we still scavenged, we ate, and we survived. I think he wanted to test our endurance out there, and even though it was risky as shit, we planned it every year after.¡± She watched me intensively, the light of the fire dancing in her large, glossy eyes. After a few minutes, I pulled the fawn off the fire and took a small piece from it with a stick. The meat was cooked enough to be safe but still red in the center. It was hot and juicy in my hand, but I managed to get it into my mouth without burning myself throughout our meal. Surprisingly, it tasted decent, for meat that had zero seasoning and all. Not Mom¡¯s cooking, but enough to carry me through the night. ¡°I believe we can take care of each other, too,¡± I said to her, and surprisingly, she snuggled against my leg, propping her head on my thigh as she purred satisfyingly. Heh, her belly must have been full. I was just about done eating myself, when suddenly, my codex popped up: Barros Guild Accept Dracapod to your party? [Y] [N] B1.C4: Evolution Chain of a Dragon Girl Invite her to my party? She was curled up tight against me, wanting my warmth and comfort. I reached a hand out, the back of my fingers brushing her soft scales. She snuffled in response but didn¡¯t move, leaving me to think about the question blinking up at me from the screen. I had always been a loner, preferring my own company over that of others. People were unpredictable, their motives unclear. But this creature, this Dracapod, was different. Her intention was pure¡­ her trust in me clear as day. It was an easy question, really. I accepted, and as soon as I did, something else appeared. Her actual codex revealed itself. My eyes jumped when I realized that accepting her into my party gave me full access to view her codex. She was an unnamed baby dragon, with some impressive stats for a creature her level. Then again, she was a baby dragon, with a built in breath weapon that¡¯d make leveling up somewhat easier for her. I also noticed that she was capable of carrying currency, had no class and low rank, and also had very few skills to her name, all of which were innate. ¡°[Deadly Bite], a given, [Flame Breath], also a given,¡± I muttered to myself. They seemed pretty useful, with increased level comes increased radius.¡± She didn¡¯t really have much else to her name, and then my eyes turned to an evolution chart. It had slots, three to be exact, and those slots were empty. ¡°I need more intel on that,¡± I said, expanding the description icon to where a few paragraphs toggled down: A dragon is the only race in Etheryn with the ability to evolve. Collection of evolution stones are required for the maturation of a dragon¡¯s life cycle. Evolution stages are as follows: Dracapod: the most vulnerable state for a dragon is its infant state. All dragon life begins in water. A dragon is born isolated, where its dragon parents leave them to fend for their own. Once their egg hatches, they are vulnerable, so they must adapt quickly. At this stage, a dragon has a tadpole-like appearance, and is about the size of an adult chicken. Some evolution types are born with stubby arms and legs. Usually at this stage, magical affinity is set, and evolution phenotype will correspond to the element inherited. Dracuna: At this juvenile stage, a dragon must strengthen its magical affinity to ward off dragon slayers as it is still considered a lesser dragon. For some evolution types, additional extremities such as wings, legs, and arms are grown. Usually, the dragon will have a round body and a long neck, and is about the size of a utahraptor (approx. 5-7 ft tall). Dragon: At this stage, evolution is nearly complete. Depending on the elemental path, a dragon¡¯s full adulthood will vary in size and environmental preference. Being surrounded by its environmental preference will boost up stats. Dragonoid: Also referred to as dragonkin. This is the last stage of evolution¡ªthe ability to transform into a humanoid being. Phenotypes vary depending on previous evolution stages. So she had three more stages to go? I wondered if they all had three slots, or if they increased the more she grew¡­. I continued reading on, the details of her race more extensive than I thought: As long as magical affinity is established, a dragon is born with a breath weapon and a resistance to the breath weapon type at no expense of mana. Elements naturally inherited are fire, frost, earth, air, and space. There was another section here about phenotypes: All dragons will inherit elemental magical affinity, but not all of them will manage to awaken it. Be it because of malnutrition, genetic mutation, or even natural selection. The evolution path of a dragon is based on the element they possess: Bastodon or Wyvern dragon for Earth, Hydra or Sea Serpent for water, Drake or Dragon for Fire, Caelym or Ether for air, and Cosmyrim for space. Evolution stones found in-world are essential to evolve, and they contain certain stat requirements for usage. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Okay, all of that was extremely informative. But the codex didn¡¯t tell me how we were going to find these stones so she could evolve. There were no more description boxes to open up. This was it. I scratched the back of my head and figured this was one of the challenges of being in a place like this, where codices didn¡¯t like handouts. I scoffed. ¡°All right, you win. We¡¯ll do it the hard way.¡± I looked down at her and smiled. ¡°So you are a fire dragon, huh? Can¡¯t go wrong with that. Classic really.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Heh, now that I¡¯ve officially adopted you, I should probably give you a name.¡± As I stared at her, sleeping peacefully against me, I thought through my options. This strong, brave little creature, barely out of her eggshell, had chosen to trust me. And now she was my responsibility. A name... yeah¡­ she needed a name. But what? I looked up to the darkness over our heads. As if on cue, a star shot across the night sky in a streak of luminescent silver. I watched as it blazed a trail across before disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared. ¡°Hmm, how about Starr? Short for Starrfire.¡± Yeah, that¡¯d work. It was about time the both of us got some sleep for the night; our itinerary for tomorrow was going to be busy, and we needed all the energy we could get to travel to the village of Grusnabi. So I stood up and started with making us a makeshift blanket with a bed of leaves. The forest wasn¡¯t short on supplies, making it easy to gather up large fern leaves for bedding. In a shallow dip in the earth, I checker-boarded them, piling several layers for added cushioning. Once satisfied with my crafty bedding, I gently lifted the baby dragon and cradled her. ¡°I¡¯m upgrading you, Starr,¡± I said with a wholesome smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure this nice little spot is more comfortable than my leg.¡± Her glossy eyes fluttered open at the sudden movement, looking up at me with an innocent curiosity. A soft whimper escaped her as she scanned her new sleeping quarters, her eyes darting about before she let out a big yawn. The thick-leafed barrier I¡¯d assembled got no judgment from her¡ªshe was too tired to make a comment. But something else caught her attention, and she voiced her worries right away. Instantly, she leapt off of me and began circling me defensively. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked her, short grunts escaping her snout. She was focused on something behind me, her small body tense. I turned around and braced myself, my fingers curling up into fists. I didn¡¯t see anything. My perception wasn¡¯t the highest to see in such darkness, so my sense of danger was shot. For her race, she had a better chance of seeing something out there than I did. It also didn¡¯t help that the forest was so damn quiet. I squinted into the dense undergrowth, feeling vulnerable the longer I stood there without any idea what we were up against. I strained my ears, the forest suddenly hushing even further. And that was when I saw something sharpening from the darkness. Instinctively, I froze. Between the thick foliage, my eyes caught a pair of gold glowing orbs staring back at us. We were being hunted. It let out a low growl that tanked my heart into my stomach, my body feeling the weight of its size instantly. Suddenly the bushes rustled. I had to unlock my feet from the ground¡ªthey were welded down from the fear that was running up my spine. Anxiety mixed with a high dose of adrenaline got me moving, that and the overwhelming sense of fight or flight when the beast came out of the shadows. I crouched over immediately and grabbed a wooden stick of fire from our flame pit with one hand, and scooped up Starr with the other. She fussed and writhed in my arm, eager to fight. But when we finally saw the beast, we both stopped moving. With a snarl, the creature lunged out of the undergrowth. He was a massive behemoth, the biggest beast I¡¯d seen in my goddamn life! In fact, he looked like a sabertooth tiger, with dense white fur, fierce eyes, and a chilling roar. I ducked and rolled underneath him when he flung himself at us. From the other side of the fire, the sabertooth searched for us, but only for a second before he realized we¡¯d switched places. Slowly, he turned around, his long fangs reflecting the firelight as he crouched down for another pounce. He broke his path and turned right, and I went left, the both of us circling the fire pit as we sized each other up. His muscular back was arched in clear anticipation of an attack. The beast was a predator, and we were his prey; it was a primal situation that left no room for negotiation or reasoning. Even so, I felt the urge to [Inspect] him subconsciously, the subtle command revealing something interesting about the wild beast: [Sabertooth Tiger, Level: 9] Level nine?! He wasn¡¯t even breaking double digits! For a creature so savage looking, I was expecting a higher level. I had to imagine that his starter stats were high, where strength and agility were more impressive than that of a measly human. Fortunately for us, we caught a break. Underneath its simple stats, I noticed that the beast was being affected by a condition: Condition: Drowsy -Agility and Accuracy Decreased- He must have gotten himself caught up in something before he came our direction. This was a huge advantage for us. That being said, coming out of this fight alive still required careful planning and precise strategy, two things Starr wanted no part of. The baby dragon continued to squirm in my arm, her tiny claws impatiently digging into the fabric of my shirt. She was restless, itching to fight, but I knew she would stand no chance against a beast easily twenty times her size. ¡°Starr,¡± I whispered urgently, ¡°Cut it out!¡± The Sabertooth¡¯s gaze flicked briefly to the dragon in my arms before returning to me. Everything hinged on who would make the first move. I clenched the wooden stick tightly in my hand, hoping beyond hope that it¡¯d offer some form of protection, until Starr wiggled herself free from my grasp, all of her fussing finally liberating her. I lost my breath. ¡°Starr!¡± I cried, chasing after her as the beast capitalized on her mistake. B1.C5: Monster Encounter I panicked, and the first thought to cross my mind was to intercept the beast. Before the big cat could even spring off of his hind legs, I tossed my fire stick at him, managing to land a solid hit on his snout. The creature reared back with a hiss, his attention suddenly drawn to me. ¡°Hey! Your fight is with me!¡± I hollered bravely, despite the fear gnawing away at my gut. Strangely enough, the Sabertooth didn¡¯t scare me as much as a dead Starr did. She was still healing, and the last thing I wanted was seeing her mauled at my expense. I searched the ground for more ammo, and this time, I reached for a thicker branch of wood that hadn¡¯t touched the fire yet. The beast stared at me as I went into our lumber reserve like I¡¯d lost my mind. The sheer audacity of my attack briefly stunned him, and for a second, I thought I was a little crazy, too. But little did I know, the dragon was more strategic than she seemed. She was resilient, taking off into flight, her circling pattern over the beast distracting him away from me. With a war cry, I lunged forward again, but this time, I was going for his eye. I just had to get close enough to hit it. So I took my chance, ignoring the little voices in my head telling me that I shouldn¡¯t climb a prehistoric beast! I did it anyway. I leaped onto the beast¡¯s back, feeling the coarse fur bristle beneath my hand. Immediately, he rejected my brazen move, thrashing around to get me off. His roar filled the air around us, a sound so loud it made my fucking eardrums pop. [HP: 90%] Live health point stats¡ªthat was helpful insight. My codex updated me on dealt damage, which motivated me to continue hammering on. Gripping any tuft of fur I could hold onto, I grappled against his savage writhing. The sabertooth twisted and spun, trying to buck me off his back, however, my body remained plastered against his. I clung on and continued to climb while Starr got dangerously close, trying to thwart his efforts in getting rid of me. I was afraid for her¡ªher options were limited. It was clear that Starr didn¡¯t have enough energy to roast him. If she did, she would have already attacked with her breath weapon. Not only was she out of stamina, but her mana was dry, too. Judging by the state I¡¯d found her in, she¡¯d been in a fight recently, which was why I didn¡¯t want her getting too close to this thing. Either way, she was helping me the best way she could, devoted to bringing this behemoth down. As the sabertooth bucked once more, I tightened my grip around his massive neck, took a deep breath and plunged my wooden spear directly into his eye. The cry that followed was affirmation of my hit. He flicked his head back hard, my grip on his fur slipping. With another jerk, I flew, taking the bloody stick with me. I nearly twisted my ankle on that fall, but that was the least of my worries. The beast was distraught, and I was in line for his strike. On his hind legs, he bucked upward and slashed the air. I dodged the blow, my arm getting nicked in the process. At first, I didn¡¯t feel the sting. With all of the adrenaline pumping through my blood, the intense sensation was delayed. I stumbled back, giving myself some distance to analyze the gash. It was bad, but honestly, it could have been worse. His long claws tore through my muscles, my instant reaction to heal it bringing my hand over my wound. It was at least nine inches long, and I was struggling a bit in trying not to let it gross me out. I triggered my [Heal] ability, a gift I should supposedly thank my goddess of a mother for, and in under five seconds, the wound was already starting to seal up. My arm began to shake. Unfortunately, the monster wasn¡¯t going to stand there and wait around for me to finish stitching up. So as the beast wailed in pain, I had to use this chance Starr and I had to finish it off¡­. I wasn¡¯t a hundred percent, but I¡¯d make it work. One arm was limp, its strength low. My good arm would have to compensate as I mapped out my opening. Aiming for his underbelly was my best bet¡ªthis was where the beast was most vulnerable. The sabertooth swung his gargantuan paw again, and this time, his motives were clear. He wanted to counter my rush down, though the wound I had inflicted on him earlier made his movements slow and awkward. I sidestepped another swipe and darted forward, the tip of my wooden stick aimed for his fleshy underside. The beast roared, rearing back on his hind legs at the last moment to avoid contact. He was smart, but he forgot that this was still a one v. two fight¡­. Starr had a trick up her scales. She swooped down, her razor-sharp talons raking over the sabertooth¡¯s back. That¡¯s right, keep him standing¡­. A forward cut drove more muscle power than an upward cut. This position was perfect for the kill! I thrust my weapon with all of my strength. The weapon pierced through the beast¡¯s underbelly, sending shockwaves of raw pain through his abdomen. His roar was powerful, a sound so primal and horrifying that it gave me fucking goosebumps. Each scream was a terrifying reminder of what this creature could do, but it also gave me hope; I was hurting him, driving him back. [HP: 40%] The sabertooth staggered, a feeble attempt to shake off the pain. I tightened my grip on my weapon, gritted down on my teeth, and stabbed again. My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the beast¡¯s roars and Starr¡¯s frantic screeching. In a flash, the creature lunged at me. I rolled to one side, barely avoiding his outstretched claws. He crashed down onto the ground where I had been standing moments ago. I looked down at my stick¡ªit was splintered from impact, and it probably wouldn¡¯t hold up against another attack. Thankfully, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about that. The beast made a mistake when he lunged at me again. He sped up the bleeding from his wound, draining all the energy he had left. His knees buckled under him, and soon the monstrous beast collapsed onto the ground, stirring a cloud of dust. I panted as I backed my steps toward our fire pit, Starr flying next to me. I was all out of usable wood, so I turned to the femur of the baby deer, the same one that Starr had been chewing on earlier. Her sharp teeth had turned the blunt joints into fine points, perfect for piercing flesh. I picked it up, feeling the weight in my hand. It was lighter than the wooden stick, but significantly sharper. As Starr hovered near me, sensing my plan, I nodded toward her, silently telling her to stay back. Starr examined the fallen beast as she slowly drew back, her reptilian eyes as sharp as ever. Even with his strength drained, we had to be cautious; he wasn¡¯t dead, not yet. Not until I ran in and impaled the side of his neck, the outpour of blood oozing down his white fur. I made sure to keep my exit routes open just in case he retaliated. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t do much of anything as his health continued to drain. Before I knew it, those shallow breaths finally tapered away, and my codex updated his health points: [HP: 0%] At last, I could take a breath of relief in knowing that the threat was gone. After I wiped the sweat from my brow, I realized a notification flickering in my codex. I was being prompted to loot it. ¡°Oh good. Maybe we could get something nice out of this kill.¡± The sabertooth was classified as a monster, which meant that it was to be used for leveling. Slay the monster, and get experience points to level up. There were lesser and greater monsters, and this one was labeled as a lesser. Kinda¡¯ hard to believe, but I¡¯ll roll with it. ¡°Fur pelt, good quality, 10 silver coins, and a simple short knife. Pretty damn decent for a level 9 beast.¡± Starr cooed delightfully, and I was two seconds from celebrating too when I noticed that I¡¯d leveled up quite a bit: You¡¯ve leveled up: Level 5 New Skill Slot Unlocked New Skill Slot Unlocked [current skill slots open: 2] -Free Points Accumulated: 20- Beat one level 9 beast and jump to level 5¡ªno, this couldn¡¯t be the norm. In fact, I knew it wasn¡¯t. I remembered seeing that my pure bloodline gave me a boost in world leveling. As for the reason I acquired two skill slots, I turned to my codex for answers. Luckily, there was a drop down section for more info, which highlighted the fact that I¡¯d surpassed level 2 and reached level 5, rewarding me with two slots. If I¡¯d been magically affirmed, I would have unlocked two new skills right off the bat. But I wasn¡¯t a magically affirmed god just yet. Reaching level 2 triggered another prompt from my codex: You have successfully progressed a world level Select a Class to Master Fighter Hunter Assassin Warrior Knight Barbarian Berserker The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. (personal strength analysis has affected your available options) Really? So my little scuffle with a tiger was enough data for my codex to draw out my class selections for me? Well, what if I wanted to be a mage? Or a paladin? Or even a warlock? I snorted at the thought of being a healing tyrant, but I guess these selections made sense considering my background. I was a fighter at heart. You could always find me in the ring, perfecting my skills and learning how to channel and conserve my energy while sparring. So these options were fitting. Speaking of mage, my codex mentioned that the use of skill scrolls was optional. If I didn¡¯t want to use them, I could invest in buying specialized magic infused weapons, which didn¡¯t work as well as skill scrolls, but they did get the job done. My system also advised me that using skill scrolls would define me as a mage, and that my skill scroll options would cater to my class as well. For example, if I selected warrior, I¡¯d only get to select warrior-class scrolls, and summon warrior-class magic. Granted my selection wouldn¡¯t be as diverse as a white or dark mage¡¯s, I was still thankful that I¡¯d get to use my mana tank. ¡°Hmm, honestly, it¡¯s between fighter and barbarian. A fighter gets lower class bonus values, but they are spread across three attributes. While a barbarian gets only one high value for strength. My natural bonuses for charisma and endurance for being part god were high, 5 points per level up, but limited to only those attributes. Getting a boost for strength would definitely come in handy if I¡¯m to protect my harem¡­.¡± I stroked my chin at my options, then considered warrior-mage for a second. I¡¯d get a bonus of two points for two attributes whenever I leveled up¡ªdexterity and willpower. ¡°Warrior mage is a middle ground between fighter and barbarian, and the mage aspect leans into more spells,¡± I whispered to myself, then asked my codex to give me a synopsis of the available skills scrolls for warrior-mage. Each required specific world levels, and upgrading them also required specific skill-type leveling. Though, for the most part, a warrior-mage¡¯s options weren¡¯t bad. ¡°A lot of AOE attacks, some defensive spells and offensive spells. Hmm, I guess warrior-mage wasn¡¯t too bad.¡± So I selected my class, warrior mage. Instantly, my codex updated itself: Codex
Name: Lucien Barros
Age: 21
Race: Human (Titan)
Rank: D-
Class: Warrior Mage
Profession: --
Location: Sector: K-2-10
Level 5
Attributes Bonuses Total
Strength 22 0 22
Agility 16 0 16
Dexterity 4 +10 14
Endurance 7 +20 27
Perception 10 0 10
Fortitude 4 0 4
Charisma 4 +20 24
Willpower 8 +10 18
Free Points: --
Harem Count 0
HP: 90%
Mana 1,500 MP
Stamina 270
Skill Scroll Locker 2 slots free
Inventory Cellphone, Fur pelt, simple short knife
Currency 10 silver coins
Armor Tier: (Fortitude Boost: x) --
Skills Level Description
Multiverse Adaptation -- Instant expertise of languages both written and oral.
Inspect -- Identify the species and level of another creature
Heal 2 Ability to heal living creatures.
Fertile Charm 1 Promote growth to living things. Rate of growth depends on level. (At max level, you will be blessed with natural magic affinity, at which point skill-scrolls will not be required)
*Pure Bloodline* Level up buff
I applied 10 points to agility and 10 points to strength. My codex also applied all of my class bonus points as well, adding 10 points to dexterity and 10 points to willpower. Skill Level Up [Heal] Level 2 Great, I just leveled up my healing ability. ¡°I¡¯ll just have to be patient for now and wait until I complete my first quest, so I can fill up these skill slots,¡± I said, then turned to Starr. ¡°You did good, Starr,¡± I congratulated with a smile. I noticed she didn¡¯t level up, probably because the baby dragon didn¡¯t do any damage. I was grateful for her help regardless, letting her fly in my hand so I could give her a loving pet. I finished healing her wound before I tended to my own, patching us both up. Once I was done, I turned to Starr. ¡°How about we find a cave to bunk in for the night? That way we can avoid more unwanted guests.¡± Honestly, finding a cave was my first thought, but I couldn¡¯t spot any around us. I didn¡¯t want to exert more energy than we needed to search for it, though after being attacked by a giant tiger, we really had no other choice. ??B1.C6: Sexy Maidens and Steamy Sunrises AN: Steamy content blocked to adhere to RR rules. You can read the rest of this chapter on my Patreon page! We relocated to a different area after I¡¯d found my cellphone. It was a long walk, but well worth it for our security. Staying out in the open posed a few challenges that I just wasn¡¯t equipped to deal with right now. Being a low leveled human in a world like Etheryn wasn¡¯t easy, so prioritizing safety was crucial for survival. After an evening meal chased down with a tiring battle, Starr and I finally had time to rest for the night. When morning came, I made plans to head to Grusnabi. With our new location, we were now only five miles away from the village according to my codex map. After a full night¡¯s rest, I had no problem with hitting the trails by foot. Not that we had much of an option anyway. I was dying to find civilization, and aching to get into some clean clothes. I rubbed the rest of the sleep out my eyes and stretched, letting out a long yawn. For a small patch of dirt and leaves, my makeshift bed wasn¡¯t too bad. I poked my head out from the mouth of the cave, the sun¡¯s hot rays making me squint. A new day was promising, and despite the ordeal we went through last night, I was more optimistic than usual. ¡°Could be the fresh morning air,¡± I muttered to myself, and then I remembered the stream Starr and I had passed when we were looking for a cave last night. It wasn¡¯t too far from us, but I didn¡¯t want to leave the sleeping baby dragon by herself inside the cave. So I tried to wake her up, but Starr was a heavy sleeper. I nudged her and called out her name, but she was knocked out cold. ¡°Ah, come on, Starr. We¡¯ve slept for at least six hours. We need to get moving.¡± I got nothing in return. Nothing but cute bubbles blowing through her snout as she snored peacefully. I sighed, left with no choice but to scoop her up in my arms and carry her to the stream. As I left the cave behind, the morning sun dropped on us full force. Its heat caught me by surprise, though its warmth was nice nevertheless. Soft rays teemed through the thick tree heads, dappling our path along the grass with spots of gold. I had to admit, daytime Etheryn was a lot more peaceful and forgiving than nighttime Etheryn. The gentle rustling of leaves and the chirping of unseen birds filled the air with a serenity I didn¡¯t know Etheryn had. As we walked through the foliage, I noticed vibrant hues of wildflowers blooming, their sweet scent wafting through the cool breeze. The stream was a ribbon of crystal clear water, sparkling under the morning light. I gently laid down Starr by its bank, making sure to hide her in between some bushes where she could be safe. The sound of the stream was resonating, inviting me in for a swim. Water gurgled over smooth pebbles and twigs, rippling out to gently lap over the bank. At the peak of dawn, you could easily mistaken this area for a Garden of Eden, a stark contrast from my first impressions of this world. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. I knelt along the bank, a few yards from Starr. Eagerly, I dipped my hand into the stream, feeling the ice-cold water rush along my fingers. It was refreshing, my body aching for a soak. When I splashed the water over my face, I held my breath and took it all in. I closed my eyes and allowed the droplets of water to slide down my skin, then let out that breath I was holding. My fingernails were caked with blood, my clothes dingy with dirt, and my hair greasy from muck and clay. While Starr was still in a deep sleep, I stripped down to my birthday suit and edged closer to the stream. As soon as I dipped my feet in, the rocks underfoot stabbed into my soles, the chill of the water biting at my ankles. As I moved further in, the water rose up, past my knees, my hips, until I was waist-deep inside of it. A shiver ran through me, chilling and refreshing. Everything was still as I enjoyed my morning swim. The forest was quietly alive around me; I let myself become immersed in the sounds, feeling my tense muscles start to relax. I brushed my fingers over the crystal in my chest and rolled my shoulders back. I was becoming more and more accepting of it. The crystal was a new part of me, and it was going to take some getting used to, just like being an inhabitant of this strange world and all of its interesting creatures. Good thing I was pretty good with adapting. I continued enjoying my bath, submerging myself completely in the cold water. The chill sent a gasp from my lungs, but after a moment of icy shock, my body adjusted. Until I heard something that prompted my head up and out of the water, where I noticed bubbles suddenly appearing along the surface. ¡°Huh?¡± I raised my eyebrow, not understanding where the bubbles were coming from. When they got closer to me, I took a step back, the water up to my waist as I contemplated escaping to the safety of the shore. Something about those damn bubbles kept me in the water, my gaze fixated on them as they continued to ripple and expand. Another attack? This bright and early? Not that I could control Mother Nature and her impeccable timing, but shit, all I was asking for was a few minutes to bathe. But just as I was ready to get out of the water, a girl emerged. I froze, fighting the flush off my face. Her skin was a pale turquoise for the most part, leaving only the middle of her face flesh colored. Her hair had a strange texture to it, shiny and stretchy like seaweed. It fell past her neck and over her collarbone in what could only be described as chunky locks. She had a few darker spots on her shoulders too, their reflection glistening under the sun, giving off a rainbow of colors as water cascaded off of them. The mysterious fish girl kept her large eyes on me the entire time, while mine was preoccupied with the fact that she might have been naked, the rest of her large bouncy breasts submerged underwater. I was only able to see about 30% of her. I felt cotton-mouthed as I continued to gawk blankly at her. I was caught off guard, lost in her aquatic features. She even had a tail poking out of the water, no wait, tails¡­ tentacle tails, to be exact, with suckers, and their texture seemed glossy just like an octopus¡¯. They were long and blue with the tips of them bleeding into a dark amber color. With a flush on her beautiful face, she giggled, those wet curious fingers of hers fishing closer to me. I saw them hovering under my midriff from inside of the water. I stiffened up when she stopped short and said, ¡°Buliba¡­.¡± I scrunched my eyebrows and repeated, ¡°B-buu¡­ liba?¡± B1.C7: The Female Exclusive Ecuzni Sect The Village of Grusnabi POV: Kaitarra We are running out of resources¡­. In under a month, our village would meet its end, and we¡¯d have nothing but the Infernal Surge to blame for it. Ten years ago, the massive clump of clay appeared miles from the coastline without source or reason. It came soon after our gods, true titans, and demi lords had left. Many say that the forbidden island spawned as a curse to our once flourishing home, where many of us beastkin practiced The Path of the Light. We were one of very few branches left, our other disciples of the Light succumbing to darkness. I couldn¡¯t blame them¡ªdesperation, confusion, and manipulation could lead even the strongest of us astray. It was a difficult endeavor to fight this plague that continued to threaten our way of life, the Infernal Surge casting its dark clouds over us each and every day. Fighting the waves of demons that spawned from those clouds was incredibly taxing. The mist from the surge was particularly fond of nightfall, where our source of light was limited. They promoted scrimmaging among the trees after midnight, and they loved to spread out and hunt my people in droves. The darker our borders were, the better for those savages. The Ecuzni Sect believed that Pethium, the God of Malady and Plague, had touched our Grusnabi before his mysterious disappearance, but it feels like his presence had never left¡­. The Path of the Dark¡ªtheir influence ran its course no matter our circumstances. The disciples of those discrepant gods would never rest, and neither would I. In the face of adversity, I gave an oath to stand and fight, with everything that I was worth, and everything that I stood for. Despite our grim times, my spirit refused to surrender. Our food stores were meager, our water wells depleting, and our once lively wildlife was dwindling away, but I had faith. Even when we¡¯d reached out to our sister-lands for aid, and they wanted nothing to do with us, my hope held strong. To them, and much of everyone else around us, we were tainted. If we helped, we¡¯d become hopeless too, I heard many of them say. At some point, I was so tired of the excuse that I¡¯d almost forgotten my place as a high priestess of the all women Ecuzni Sect and spoke outside of my tongue. But my work here at the temple¡­ it meant everything to me. It saddened me seeing my sisters so helpless, that despite all of my efforts, our morale continued to plunge. Until we eradicate the surge, our reputation would never change, but that didn¡¯t mean that aid would never come¡­. ¡°I believe in the prophecy,¡± I whispered to myself as I sat cross-legged before the divine pool of our underground temple. ¡°Our guardian is near. And my people will not fade.¡± I looked down into the pool as it revealed my reflection. I wore a long white robe that matched the color of my four feathery wings. My long platinum locks were pinned behind my head with floral clips, keeping my strays away from my face. Not a hair was out of place, and not a wrinkle fell on my attire. I was an image of perfection, a symbol of calm in the midst of chaos. My fingers traced along the warm waters infused with the ley lines of our beginnings, The Tree of Infinity, where it was said that our gods and all creation in the universe came from. With my title came responsibilities, and one of my roles in the sect was to channel these ley lines and talk to our goddess, Amossira. To my sect, I was an oracle. My special connection with the divine ley lines had always been treasured in our small village. Not even our Elder had such a bond, not in the magnitude as Ecuzni¡¯s high priestess. The goddess spoke to me through prayer and meditation, unveiling truths, delivering prophecies, and occasionally providing guidance in the darkest times. I had thought for a while that my powers were fraudulent, caving into those nonbelievers who rumored that I was conning everyone. But the messages I received were too potent, too specific to be anything but divine. Which was why I clung onto salvation. The first time I realized I had this special gift was when Amossira whispered news of a prophecy to me. I was very young at that time, and still a servant to the sect. The prophecy spoke of a hero who would arrive at the first light of dawn, as bare as the sun and as bright as its rays. A hero who would cut through our trials and tribulations and set forth a new era of perseverance and prosperity. A hero, seemingly ordinary, who would harness the power to conquer all wickedness and free our land from its relentless grip. The longer I thought about it, the more my heart swelled up in my chest. My purpose in this prophecy was to be her compass, showing her the way to our freedom. I believed that with her mighty blade, and her fierce bravery, she would dispel the unholy clay island and restore balance between light and dark. My sect Elder believed in the prophecy too, but not because of her own faith. I¡¯d foreseen the disappearances of our six gods and goddesses years ago, and sure enough, it had been 10 long years without them. In this adversity came a challenge I sought to overcome. The ley lines were empty, their words swallowed and their voices quiet. For 10 long years, everything was still, and I was becoming more and more restless with each passing day¡­. ¡°We need you, my goddess¡­¡± I whispered softly, my eyes beginning to swell up with tears. ¡°Our people are dying¡­.¡± ¡°I always find you in our sub temple,¡± a raspy voice called from behind me. I turned to face my Elder, a ripe owlkin woman named Athoz. She was well beyond her prime, with a crooked cane to her hip and a hump on her back. Her eyes were milky-white with pupils nearly gone, but her vision was as clear as a bat¡¯s. She wore the same white robe as I did, but on her breast plate were many sashes demonstrating her rank in our sect. As a high priestess, I was below her rank, my sashes limited to three. Her long robe dragged behind her as she took her place next to me on the other side of the divine pool, her attention on the still waters, too. ¡°Every day for a decade now,¡± she continued, taking two steps closer to the pool. ¡°Elder Athoz.¡± I bowed, showing my respect, and then answered her, ¡°I am persistent in my duties as a high priestess. I don¡¯t find my commitment a burden.¡± She chuckled. ¡°No one said it was.¡± ¡°I suspect you are hard at work as well. You¡¯ve been up for 18 hours.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re my age, you¡¯ll find that sleep isn¡¯t the only way the mind can rest,¡± she said, with a smile hidden in her gentle voice. With one palm cupping the other at the crown of her wooden cane, she bore her weight into it, a clear sign that she was in fact tired. She refused to tell me what was keeping her up at night. At a certain point, I stopped nudging her about it, feeling my superior would tell me if it were something serious. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°You should get some rest, Elder Athoz,¡± I advised, my eyebrows furrowing in concern. The lines on her face were deeper than usual, and I realized that all of the stress might have finally gotten to her. The burden of our deteriorating land weighed heavy on all of us, but our Elder most of all. ¡°As you should, high priestess,¡± she replied. ¡°The waters are dead, and the sensation is crippling.¡± ¡°Oh, then more of the same,¡± she said defeatedly. ¡°I cannot sleep when our people are suffering,¡± I replied earnestly, then sighed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense that our goddess would abandon us like this.¡± ¡°The Shuntaki herbs aren¡¯t working. You should make arrangements,¡± she said after a long moment of silence, her gaze now turning to me, ¡°and pay your respects before it¡¯s too late.¡± ¡°I do not appreciate where this conversation is heading,¡± I replied as I got up on my feet, with the placidity in my voice strong. She was prone to change the topic in our discussions, though these last few weeks, it had been more frequent than usual. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, she isn¡¯t going anywhere anytime soon.¡± She sighed, a deep and melancholy sound that echoed in my ears and made my chest tight. She said nothing for a while, merely basking in the solidity of the temple, as if calculating what to say next. ¡°I have lived many years,¡± she said finally, fixing her eyes more sternly on me. ¡°But never have I ever witnessed such turmoil within you, Kai.¡± ¡°I will not entertain this topic further,¡± I said seriously. She shrugged. ¡°Very well. It is clear that your heart is still troubled. Who am I to test the integrity of our village¡¯s moral compass?¡± ¡°I am glad to see that despite our circumstances, you continue to revere me as such. For that, I am grateful.¡± ¡°Our dilemma doesn¡¯t negate the respect you¡¯ve earned, Kai,¡± she said solemnly. ¡°Even in the face of our dire situation, the service you¡¯ve rendered to our sect remains paramount.¡± Her eyes smiled at me with promise. ¡°Do not let your heart falter, Kai. The prophecy still has time to unfold.¡± I nodded, grateful for her comforting words, but they only provided temporary relief¡ªnothing to heal the actual ailment. I looked back at the water, the mystical stillness reminding me of my duty. We had mere weeks left¡ªthe thought of the prophecy not coming began to frighten me. But if Elder Athoz had faith, so should I. ¡°Our hero shall come,¡± she said solemnly, staring into the water. ¡°And when she does, she will need you.¡± I remained silent, unable to find the right words to respond to her. I was humbled and at the same time, afraid for what lay ahead. The prophecy was a beacon of hope in these dark times, but her absence bore the weight of expectation and the uncertainty of the future. ¡°I will make preparations for Usindi to look after my mother while I¡¯m gone,¡± I said confidently. ¡°As for our little temperamental army insisting we evacuate our land?¡± she asked with an eyebrow up. ¡°We will not be evacuating,¡± I said strongly. ¡°I will inform General Buliba.¡± She snickered. ¡°Buliba and her views often clash with yours. It makes for an interesting dramatic comedy.¡± I fought the urge to roll my eyes. ¡°She still believes in evacuation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because she isn¡¯t a disciple of the sect, as most girls in our village strive to become.¡± My elder shrugged. ¡°If everyone was the same, life would be boring, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± She smiled. ¡°I am grateful for her services, however unorthodox they¡¯ve become.¡± ¡°Become? She was always unconventional¡­ and not to mention a tad too jaded for my taste.¡± ¡°She respects you though, Kai,¡± she admitted. ¡°If she didn¡¯t, then she wouldn¡¯t give your opinions the light of day.¡± ¡°She ought to respect our village¡¯s sect. It¡¯s the least she could do after she tainted our women.¡± Elder Athoz giggled. ¡°So then, high priestess. What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send for the dragon rider squadron to dispatch across Seiddaya. They will hunt for food, harvest herbs for medicine, and gather intel on water sources. Meanwhile, I will have Buliba strengthen our defensive barriers, and I will search for our hero.¡± Elder Athoz, with a pensive look, nodded in agreement. ¡°An admirable plan. But remember, Kai, it¡¯s not just about the survival of our village but also its spirit. Our people look to you for guidance during these trying times.¡± ¡°My very being is devoted to preserving our way of life,¡± I assured her, my gaze now returning to the silent expanse of our divine pool. ¡°I know that leaving our village before she comes is risky, but it is something I must do. We cannot sit around and wait. Our village can¡¯t afford it.¡± ¡°Well, where would you look?¡± ¡°Everywhere I can,¡± I said, feeling the massive amount of responsibility weighing down on my shoulders. To scour this entire region in only a few weeks would be a monumental task, but it was one that couldn¡¯t be overlooked. ¡°You¡¯ll need to take my place, Elder Athoz.¡± ¡°Oh no, not I,¡± she refused quickly. ¡°I¡¯m much too old for that. But, I know a bright young pupil that could sit in for you.¡± I grimaced. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not talking about¡ª¡± ¡°Very bubbly, very energetic.¡± ¡°And clumsy to a fault,¡± I reminded her. ¡°No one is perfect, Kai. Your pupil would be perfect for the job!¡± ¡°High Priestess! High Priestess!¡± a boisterous voice cried out. Just as I was about to make another comment about my priestess acolyte, Tanvi, she stormed right in, her heavy panting breaths echoing along the cavernous walls of the temple. Elder Athoz stepped to the side to see the leopardkin behind her, and I walked the distance around the pool to meet with her. The look on her face worried me. Something was wrong. ¡°High Priestess!¡± she wailed again, and then dropped down to her hands and knees. Tanvi bowed to us as she struggled to catch her breath. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked her. After a loud gulp of air, her flushed face looked up to us and screamed, ¡°Buliba brought a man to our village!¡± I stared at her confused. The village of Grusnabi didn¡¯t have any men. We had youth under the age of 14, but no one of the opposite sex worthy to be called a man. They all died during village raids years ago, and they died honorably. They had defended women and children from other regions who thought us weak enough to suppress, and because our gods had vanished, we had no divine defenses. It was at that time we built a stronger army, and Buliba had been doing a pretty good job at keeping our borders safe. So the first thought that crossed my mind was that this man was an outside spy, and Buliba caught him in her net. ¡°Where did Buliba catch this man?¡± ¡°In a swamp, a few miles from us,¡± she heaved. ¡°All right then. Let her handle him.¡± ¡°Um,¡± she paused, scratching the side of her chin. ¡°What is it, Tanvi?¡± ¡°Well, the decision of what to do with him is causing a lot of tension in our village, High Priestess¡­.¡± ¡°What kind of tension?¡± ¡°Respectfully, you should see this for yourself!¡± I turned to Elder Athoz skeptically. I had no clue what I¡¯d be walking into. Either way, I excused myself, Elder Athoz insisting she stay here in the temple just in case. I doubt the situation was something Buliba and her warriors couldn¡¯t handle. When I met the sun¡¯s gaze above ground, Tanvi dashed off even faster. She was a leopard beastkin after all, and very fast on her feet. Sometimes she didn¡¯t realize she¡¯d left me in the dust, the girl backtracking three times already. At this point I decided to fly, seeing as the situation was urgent for her. When she told me we were close, I descended, and the outlook before me nearly made me trip on my feet as it met the ground again. ¡°See?! He¡¯s over there!¡± Tanvi cried, my eyes ballooning to the scene of warriors surrounding a half-naked man tied to a pole. I walked in closer, noticing that he was unconscious as he knelt on the ground. His waist was bent forward as tight ropes linked his bound wrists and ankles to the long pole. His arms stretched long behind him, his wet hair dangling over the damp hot sand they imprisoned him on. I couldn¡¯t see much of him with how slumped over he was, but I could barely see the tapered end of the loin cloth that was draped over his indecency. ¡°High Priestess?¡± I heard Tanvi called out, snapping me out of a momentary daze. ¡°Oh, morning, your highness!¡± Buliba said, waving over to me delightfully. ¡°I see you eying my morning catch! I found him in Esbetha¡¯s Swamps. Wanna¡¯ help me carve up this turkey?¡± B1.C8: Village Prisoner The Village of Grusnabi Lucien She wasn¡¯t a mermaid; she was a goddamn siren. The implication crossed my mind in the blackness of my muddled consciousness. In mythology, sirens were the luscious ladies of the limitless sea that lured men to their deaths. They were notorious for their enchanting charm and beguiling beauty, both of which I had fallen for. While I felt a little betrayed, the pang of grief was much worse. I couldn¡¯t imagine what state I¡¯d left Starr in now that my senses were coming to me. My mind was stringing thoughts together as I slowly collected myself. The charm had taken a toll on me, but I was fighting to come back. Gradually, I fished myself out of the numbness in my bones and the limpness in my muscles. Paralysis was no joke, and for a long while, there was only silence¡ªa profound, resounding silence that filled my ears until it was all I knew. And then, I heard whispering. Lots and lots of whispering. And then talking. I made sense of the muffled words I heard, and then I caught an alarming statement. Something about carving me up like a turkey? Okay, it was time to wake the fuck up! ¡°Mmmm!!¡± I gasped, trying to catch my breath. I snapped my eyes open, realizing that I was wet and surrounded by women. The muscles to my jaws stretched, but I couldn¡¯t say a fucking word. It was then I saw that I was bound, hog tied to some pole behind me, wrists and ankles, with some sticky slimy shit plastered across my mouth to keep me from talking. My eyes darted back and forth between the women. Altogether, there were three of them in chainmail armor. The armor looked a lot like medieval cuirass armor, with brass breastplates, shoulder guards, and gauntlets. The tribal overtones to their gears made me scrunch my face as they surrounded me in a half circle, holding spears, swords, and daggers. I turned my head to my right, noticing the girl that got me into this mess, standing there with a proud smile on her face. Buliba had chainmail armor too, but hers had less layers. ¡°Oh good, he¡¯s finally awake!¡± Buliba cheered. My breathing became shallow. I tightened my fists, the ropes around my wrist not budging an inch. As I fought to break free, my head tilted down, where I realized that someone had draped my crotch with a piece of fabric. It was doing a poor job hiding my junk, seeing how short it was, but as I hoisted my head back up, I saw my baby dragon behind me in a small cage. Seeing Starr instantly made my head snap right back up. I jerked my head over my shoulder and shouted, my shout coming out as muffled noise. Thankfully she looked fine, still sleeping through all of this, with her belly up and her soft snoring giving me some piece of mind. Before I could turn my head back, I heard footsteps coming my way. When I veered, I saw Buliba, her large breasts casting a shadow over my head as I looked up. ¡°My, you were an easy catch!¡± she tittered, pinning her hand to her hip. ¡°A slice of paradise, with a sexy fish girl as the cherry on top. I didn¡¯t have to do much to seduce you, did I?¡± She grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry spy, we¡¯ll be keeping your dragon pet alive and use her for our dragon riders.¡± Spy? Dragon riders? ¡°You should burn him where he stands!¡± someone called out from a distance. It was then I realized that we weren¡¯t alone. There was a cluster of women along a ring they¡¯d formed around us, regular village folk I assumed. All of them were women, from young to old, except for a few young boys. ¡°We¡¯ll not stand for spies in the land of Grusnabi!¡± Grusnabi? Was I in the village of my first quest? No wait, I thought that Grusnabi was five miles away from where I was? Did they own the surrounding areas, too? Come to think of it, I couldn¡¯t be sure of where I had been, seeing that Buliba just admitted to putting me through some type of illusion. And that smell coming off of me¡­ like I¡¯d just taken a bath in swamp water. ¡°We should chop off his head!¡± another woman suggested. She had horns on her head and a long thin tail, with two kids at her hips. ¡°And then ship it to that witch as a message!¡± ¡°It¡¯ll stop her from bringing more men over here to torment us!¡± another one shouted. This one had a horn, too, but on the middle of her forehead like a unicorn. ¡°I don¡¯t care how we kill him, just get it over with already!¡± the next one squeaked, sporting these huge mouse ears and long mouse tail. Okay, that confirmed it. This was definitely a case of mistaken identity. In the land of beastkin girls, I was a threat. Well, to most. Some of those girls wanted to keep me as some sort of sex slave, breeding around the clock to repopulate the village. I had no clue how to plead my case, seeing as my lips were bound. Fortunately, the girl behind Buliba had taken an interest in me¡­. My eyes had glossed over her once before, but they found themselves gravitating her way again when I realized she¡¯d been staring at me the entire time. I tried not to glare at her given the predicament I was in. I was upset, but not at her, per say. So I tried to look more approachable, fixing my face so she could give her judgment. From her clothes, I could already tell that she held a higher position in this society. She was a priestess, dressed in all white, and looked as pure as falling snow with her two sets of bird wings pinned to her sides. Her eyes were honey gold, and she had short pointed ears. She looked regal, commanding, and her eyes were studying me intently. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. But the more the girls around us shouted to end me, the more frustrated she appeared. Until she pressed her eyes shut and pent up her shoulders and cried, ¡°Enough!¡± she commanded, her voice echoing through the crowd causing every mouth to snap shut instantly. It was so damn quiet that all you could hear was Starr¡¯s snoring behind us. ¡°Let law decide his fate,¡± she demanded, before she walked my way, her graceful steps quickly intercepted by Buliba. ¡°Excuse me, princess¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s High Priestess Kaitarra, general,¡± she corrected. ¡°This issue here isn¡¯t part of your divine duties. Deciding how to dispose of this filthy spy falls in my jurisdiction.¡± ¡°I am well aware of my divine duties, General, but this isn¡¯t about disposing of a spy. It¡¯s about discerning the truth.¡± Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but the priestess held up a hand to silence them. ¡°We are not barbarians. We observe the laws of fairness and give all beings a chance to speak before we pass judgment.¡± ¡°Laws of fairness, aye?¡± she sassed. Kaitarra¡¯s icy eyes met Buliba¡¯s fiery ones, their gazes clashing. The crowd held its breath, waiting for the outcome. Then, in a velvet soft voice, Kaitarra replied. ¡°I know it¡¯s easy for you to forget that it is our divine duty to uphold justice and mercy in these lands, even towards our enemies, but this is law. Convicting an unarmed stranger without trial goes against our customs and beliefs.¡± Buliba¡¯s hackles raised at the retort, her lips peeling back to show her teeth. I could tell that she wasn¡¯t thrilled with anyone contesting her authority, especially not in front of her warriors. But Buliba wasn¡¯t a fool either. It seemed like crossing the high priestess could lead to serious consequences. The tension between them was obvious. Hmm, I wonder what their levels were¡­. Just like that, I initiated [Inspect] on both girls: [Squid Beastkin, Level: 92] [Hawk Beastkin, Level: 31] Holy shit. Buliba was three times stronger than her. ¡°He was my catch,¡± Buliba growled under her breath. ¡°My village, my laws,¡± Kaitarra struck back, taking a bold step further. ¡°My army, my rules,¡± Buliba hissed, crossing her arms under her breasts. ¡°If you don¡¯t step down, I will disband your station in our village,¡± Kaitarra warned, her stance unwavering. ¡°Don¡¯t test me, Buliba. You know I will not hesitate to do so.¡± Buliba snorted. ¡°In the state we are in, you wouldn¡¯t do something so stupid.¡± ¡°You want to take that chance?¡± she threatened. ¡°I am a resourceful woman. The contract of our agreement doesn¡¯t take kindly to breeches, and I¡¯ve allowed you to trounce over the line one too many times. This situation, however, is something that I will not overlook. You either step down, or you and your squadron will revert to your previous conditions, which I believe is nothing shy of slavery for a very porcine, and very adventurous distasteful nobleman.¡± She whispered that last part, but I was close enough to them to hear. Her comment made Buliba¡¯s confident smirk falter for a moment. But she didn¡¯t let her face show any signs of fear as she raised her hands up and peacefully surrendered. ¡°Very well, High Priestess,¡± Buliba conceded, her eyes flickering with a hidden simmering rage that promised retribution. ¡°We will give him the chance to speak.¡± Silence fell as every eye turned toward me, their stares filled with suspicion and distrust. Buliba swung on her heel to turn to me before she sashayed over and stripped the sticky shit that taped my mouth together. I winced, the sting from the tear bringing back sensation through my bones. My mouth was dry, and my body was sore from being tied and thrown onto the ground. Buliba gave me a cheeky look before she stepped aside, letting the priestess through. She looked down at me with a lot of emotions spread across her face, but the loudest one was pity. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Lucien,¡± I said, kneeling up straight. ¡°And I¡¯m no spy.¡± When I straightened out, her eyes dropped to my chest, but not in a wanton way. Her attention was invested in Laura¡¯s crystal that had infused itself inside of me. The High Priestess¡¯s eyes grew, and she made a command. ¡°Untie him.¡± Buliba rolled her eyes before nudging her head to her warriors, and they swiftly did as they were told. Limb by limb, I could feel the sensation coming back, blood rushing through my veins in a sweet release of pain. I slowly rose to my feet, trying to keep my balance as numbness gradually receded. Around me, the crowd murmurs increased, as I heard whispers of disbelief and suspicion. ¡°Lucien,¡± Kaitarra repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°A level 5 human.¡± Her eyes remained focused on Laura¡¯s crystal embedded in my chest. It was glowing faintly, a blue hue mystically pulsing against my skin. Finally, she looked up to me. ¡°What were you doing alone near our land?¡± ¡°Honestly, just taking a well-deserved bath,¡± I answered truthfully. ¡°Didn¡¯t think it was a big deal until I realized that my bath wasn¡¯t as private as I thought. Or a bath at all¡­.¡± The priestess shot Buliba an odd look, the general cheekily shrugging her shoulders. Kaitarra turned back to me, probably understanding the details on how I got here from my statement alone. I wasn¡¯t ashamed of it¡ªthe girl was obviously a pro at her job. With a body like that, she could seduce any man, however, Kaitarra wasn¡¯t impressed. When she turned back to me, I noticed some hesitation on her face. She parted her lips, almost like she was about to ask me another question. Her eyes fell on my chest again. This time, she reached her hand out, her fingers hovering just above my crystal. I had no idea what she was trying to do, maybe read its aura? Her reaction justified my wild guess, a pale look crossing her shocked face. ¡°Our prophecy is a man?¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°What?¡± ¡°A hero who arrives at the first light of dawn, as bare as the sun and as bright as its rays¡­.¡± she whispered to herself, her eyes locked on mine now. ¡°What did¡­ you say your name was again?¡± ¡°Lucien¡­ Lucien Barros.¡± ¡°Come with me, Lucien.¡± B1.C9: The Priestess and the Prophecy And just like that, I was released. From village prisoner to village guest¡ªthe transition was jarring, but I didn¡¯t complain. Kaitarra promised me that Starr would be fine as she walked me to her monastery. The short trip was quiet for the most part. Her attention remained forward while mine wandered throughout the village, taking in its architecture and culture. Grusnabi was a quaint rural village with big hills and long cobblestone roads. Under the morning sun, the orange clay tile roofs along these stone homes glistened, reflecting a warm golden glow that bathed the village. I got to see the brighter side of Grusnabi to the left of me, where women in colorful clothes were sweeping off the porches of their homes, while children ran through the winding roads, their laughter echoing through my sharp ears. I also noticed warriors, probably from Buliba¡¯s squadron, standing on these incredibly tall trees with their eyes on the horizon, ever vigilant. To my right, I noticed more beastkin women and children going about their daily chores. Some were carrying baskets with fruits and vegetables while others were tending to livestock. But the picture to my right and the picture to my left were a contrast of night and day. These workers weren¡¯t smiling. In fact, they looked tired and defeated. I studied the foreground more closely, where I noticed that the field along the horizon was barren. Those baskets with food were scarce, and the harvest didn¡¯t look very fresh at all. The reality of their situation overshadowed my first impressions of the village. Despite its seemingly idyllic outward appearance, Grusnabi was a village on the brink of desolation. This was where my quest would come in. It was up to me to repair it. Kaitarra guided me toward a private chamber at the back that contained an impressive shrine. The shrine was adorned with small, jewel-encrusted icons and surrounded by offerings of flowers and fruits. They looked a lot better than what the outside had to offer, my eyes lingering on the shrine a little longer before Kaitarra made an abrupt stop. I bumped into her, apologizing right after. ¡°No worries,¡± she said softly, her face still away from me. ¡°We have reached our destination.¡± Two girls walked into the courtyard from the back entrance, one with red hair and another with blue hair. They looked like twins, with curled horns at the sides of their heads. They bowed respectfully to their High Priestess before she gave them commands, ¡°Please prepare Lord Lucien to sit with me by the springs.¡± Eh, Lord? Was it that easy to reach social status in this interesting village? She went off while the two girls approached me. I¡¯ve never met a pair of twins as bubbly and excited to meet me as they were. They must have been disciples in this monastery, and while they catered to my basic needs, they shared with me a few things about their sect that I didn¡¯t know. Ecuzni was an exclusively female sect. They¡¯ve been around for centuries and had grown in both size and influence over the years. Their mission was to promote prosperity and creation, both physical and spiritual. Their influence stretched not only in Grusnabi, but throughout other territories as well. The twins seemed proud as they narrated their sect¡¯s history, every word spoken with enthusiasm and confidence. The energy around them was infectious, making the gloomy atmosphere outside seem distant. They were young¡ªprobably younger than me even¡ªand yet, they held an unwavering faith in their teachings and spoke of it with intelligence and prestige. The twins prattled on about their training regimens, the meditative practices they followed, and went into light descriptions of their annual events. One was a grand feast that welcomed all beastkin to commemorate the founding of Ecuzni. Although Ecuzni were a female-exclusive sect, they didn¡¯t shun men. They merely believed that women had a stronger spiritual connection that allowed them to tap into the powers of the universe more effectively. This was because the goddess they worshiped was no other than my mother¡­. That still seemed pretty damn wild to say. I kept my mouth shut about that little secret, continuing to listen on as the twins told me stories of their lineage, and of the strength and knowledge their ancestors passed down to them. Their tales were filled with both culture and traditions, but I couldn¡¯t help but notice a hint of sadness in their eyes as they spoke. The state of their village was a far cry from the prosperity they once knew. ¡°Our High Priestess believes the prophecy will come,¡± Phenrie, the girl with the red hair, said to me as she escorted me to my final destination. By this time, I¡¯d gotten a proper bath, a change of clothes, and some water to drink. ¡°And she will be glorious!¡± I smiled. ¡°She is the only one who can save us from this unbearable desolation!¡± her sister Hyla added, with a passionate and fierce voice. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Soon, I found myself in a tranquil area of the monastery grounds by the springs. The sound of bubbling water echoed throughout the serene courtyard. Ancient trees towered above us, their leaves brisling in the wind. The radiant sun cast its soft glow across everything, reflecting off the spring waters and giving our surroundings a dreamlike quality. Birds sung, flowers bloomed, and morning dew clung to every grass blade beneath my bare feet. The High Priestess Kaitarra arrived shortly after. Her entrance was as dignified as her persona, the air around her carrying an unspoken authority that commanded respect. The twins bowed and made their exit, and as my eyes continued to roam the area, I noticed that this meeting with the priestess was accompanied with breakfast. To my right, I saw a large flat stone close to the ground garnished with a variety of fruits, freshly baked bread, and a creamy cheese. In the center stood a clay jug filled with a spicy and aromatic broth. The spread looked out of place considering the dire situation of the village. Nevertheless, I approached her as she bowed down to me. The gesture felt odd, but I did the same and showed her my appreciation. ¡°Thank you for inviting me,¡± I said behind a gentle grin. She smiled. ¡°You look presentable,¡± she said, commenting on the fact that I actually had clothes on for our second encounter. The twins had taken me into a small room where a selection of fine silken robes were laid out. They helped me select an outfit, their hands fluttering about my choices as they sized me up for a fit. Honestly, I felt like a dress-me-up Ken doll, but the experience was interesting to say the least. After the affair, I committed to a deep blue robe. It was a simple design, almost looked like a yukata kimono robe, but the softness of the material made me feel like royalty. ¡°Please, sit.¡± She gestured her hand toward a plush floor pillow on the ground, her seat right across from me. ¡°Breakfast smells great,¡± I replied as I took my seat. ¡°And everything in this temple looks so alive,¡± I complimented. ¡°That comment speaks of your witness to the bareness of our home,¡± she said as she sat across from me. ¡°Our land is not as fertile as it used to be. We have suffered great droughts the past few years¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡± ¡°Please,¡± Kaitarra gestured toward the food with a delicate wave of her hand, ¡°Eat. You must be hungry.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mean to keep bugging you girls about this, but where is Starr?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°The baby dragon?¡± ¡°Oh, the last I heard of her, she is still sleeping. Don¡¯t worry. She is in the monastery as well. Apologies for the cage. Dragons can be¡­ unpredictable.¡± ¡°As long as she is comfortable.¡± I made myself at home, downing the food like I hadn¡¯t had dinner last night. A well-seasoned meal after the short adventure I¡¯d been through felt like heaven, everything melting in my mouth as I chewed and drank. As I sat and indulged, Kaitarra watched me in silence, her eyes studying me skittishly while she took nibbles of her food. Here and there she¡¯d steal longer glances, just as long as I didn¡¯t make it obvious that I¡¯d caught onto her staring. My ravenous eating might have triggered some discomfort, at least that was my first assumption. But when I stared at her longer, she started to blush and look away. And then, something strange happened. I got a request from my codex: House of Barros Add High Priestess Kaitarra of Ecuzni to harem? Preliminary must be met: bond with the High Priestess to appease [Fertile Charm] level upgrade [Y] [N] I choked on my food, caught off guard by that left-field suggestion from my codex. My codex wanted me to reclaim my kingdom, starting with building ties and bonding with women. Except I wasn¡¯t ready to have sex with a girl I just met, let alone a priestess of a sect. Though, I had to admit, the priestess was pretty and had a hidden charm in the details of her flawless features. She was slender but shapely, her hips accentuating by the long white robe she wore. Her ivory hair was braided in a style that seemed complicated, twined with small golden rings that tinkled softly under sunlight. She¡¯d changed her hair for our breakfast, this new style pronouncing the warmth of her gentle gold eyes. Either way, I rejected the suggestion for now. That wasn¡¯t to say that I wouldn¡¯t try getting close to her, though. It was obvious that my attraction to her was not one-sided. I found it pleasantly surprising that a woman of such high status would blush at my glance. That cute reaction from her couldn¡¯t stop me from smirking as she tried to cover herself by saying, ¡°Lord Lucien, I¡¯m sure you are wondering why you have been called here.¡± ¡°In fact, I had been wondering. About a lot of things, honestly. But the first thing I¡¯d like some clarity on is why the title?¡± ¡°The title?¡± ¡°I¡¯m no lord,¡± I replied. ¡°Yet, you¡¯re the first person to address me as such.¡± ¡°Does the title offend you?¡± I chuckled. ¡°No, well¡­. Yeah.¡± She gave a slight gasp. ¡°I¡¯d prefer you just call me Lucien. Or Lu. On rare occasions, some people even call me Ian.¡± ¡°It was not my intention to offend you, Lucien.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as big of a deal as you¡¯re making it, promise! But¡­ I was a prisoner of your village only a half hour ago. I¡¯m curious why you hold me with such high regard?¡± She brought her fork to the edge of her plate and dabbed a napkin to her soft lips. ¡°Well, Lucien. I¡¯d like to be as transparent with you as possible. If I can be frank, referring to you as lord is a dishonor to who you really are. I should be calling you a god¡­.¡± I choked. I bit down into my jaw as I furrowed my forehead. ¡°As you are the descendant of our fertility goddess, Amossira.¡± B1.C10: I, Titan So, she knew. Question was, how did she know? I wasn¡¯t planning on disclosing my true identity until I got some more information about Etheryn. And yet, this high priestess unraveled me within the same hour I first met her. Was I shaken up? Yeah, a little. I mean, it seemed that she knew more about me than I wanted to admit, so I needed to start asking some serious questions here. But first, I allowed her to talk. ¡°Grusnabi, as well as many regions in Etheryn, practice in the Path of the Light. We are disciples of one particular goddess, but we have various gods, to which there are six of them: Amossira, the Goddess of Fertility and Creation, Fernessi, the Goddess of Peace and Forgiveness, and Godorion, the God of Wealth, Prosperity and Health.¡± ¡°I thought you said there were six of them?¡± ¡°There are. Then there¡¯s Zerdies, the God of Sin, Pethium, the God of Malady and Plague, and Aradamus, the god of death and war. Three gods of the light, and three gods of the dark. All six gods came from different roots of the Tree of Infinity, where it is said all creation originated from.¡± ¡°It¡¯s funny, mom never told me that bedtime story.¡± ¡°Where are you from, Lucien?¡± ¡°Earth.¡± ¡°You knew of your mother¡¯s origins?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t, actually. Not until I found myself in Etheryn for the first time last night.¡± Her eyes jumped. ¡°Last night?¡± ¡°Yeah. I haven¡¯t been here long.¡± ¡°Then how did you level up in such a short amount of time?¡± I sighed. ¡°Long story.¡± ¡°We have time, Lucien. All the time in the world to get to know each other, as we will be traveling together soon.¡± I raised my eyebrow at her. ¡°Traveling together?¡± ¡°You are the prophecy, the chosen one to restore our world to the flourishing land it once was. These words were spoken to me by your mother, our goddess.¡± ¡°How did she do that while she was on Earth?¡± ¡°I have a spiritual connection with her. It¡¯s a very special gift I hold dear. When I connect to the channels of the ley lines from The Infinity Tree, I feel her presence, much like I sensed her lineage through the crystal on your chest,¡± she said, glancing over the rock under my collar bone. ¡°A ley crystal, only capable of being carried by the blood of a god.¡± I smiled. ¡°So we were destined to meet, huh? Which means that it was destiny that I dropped here.¡± ¡°She told me to guide you to our new kingdom.¡± ¡°A tour guide is exactly what I need right now. But if I can be transparent with you too, priestess¡ª¡± ¡°Kai,¡± she interjected. ¡°If I am to call you Lucien, you are to call me Kai.¡± I nodded with a smile. ¡°Kai. I¡¯m still a bit new to all of this. It took me a while to accept that I am a demigod. And honestly, I¡¯m not entirely sure if I really have accepted it. I¡¯m just going with the flow, doing what I have to in a foreign world to survive the best I can. Last night, I was dropped into a forest, met a baby dragon, hunted for food, was hunted as food, and tried to sleep the craziness of all of this away. My codex has its own mission for me too, which coincidentally enough, aligns with this prophecy of my mother. I am to reclaim my kingdom and reach immortality. I see she has bigger plans for me.¡± ¡°I know all of this is a lot to chew on right now, and I¡¯m here to answer any questions you may have.¡± ¡°To that, I say I have many. But I¡¯ll hold a few for later. I want you to continue with the tale of these deities.¡± ¡°What would you like to know about them, Lucien?¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Where did she go?¡± I asked. ¡°You said that you have a spiritual connection with my mother. Where is she? On Earth, I was forced to believe that she¡¯d died in a car accident. With this side quest of gaining immortality, I don¡¯t see that being possible. Which begs the question, where did she go? If she¡¯s not on Earth with me, then is she in Etheryn?¡± She sulked. ¡°No¡­ she isn¡¯t here, either. Ten years ago, my connection with her faded.¡± Ten years ago¡­ the same time she had that car accident¡­. ¡°Usually, in our divine pool in our underground temple, I¡¯d be able to channel her essence. I haven¡¯t been able to do that since then. And it¡¯s not only her; all of our deities have gone missing. Some theorized that they abandoned us and left us to deal with our own problems for reasons unknown. Others believe that the ley lines called them back, but that doesn¡¯t explain why I can¡¯t feel her presence.¡± ¡°What do you believe?¡± I asked. ¡°I¡­ am unsure. I don¡¯t know what to make of this strange absence, but believe it or not, she did warn me. I guess I¡­ was in disbelief. Our titans have also vanished, left without a trace. This happened the same night.¡± ¡°Titans?¡± ¡°Titans are demigods, the offspring of gods, such as yourself. Whether half god or true titans. True Titans call themselves the offspring between two gods, but they are forbidden. There has been an ongoing feud among the Titans, between the pure and the imperfect, the hybrids or half breeds being the latter. Unfortunately, the Titans governed all of Etheryn with their wars and their sovereign order, ruling kingdoms through noble houses where their heirs cannot be touched nor tainted.¡± ¡°So ten years ago everything went to shit when they mysteriously disappeared?¡± ¡°Not entirely. The noble houses now take charge, and without the ongoing feud between the Titans, things have calmed down some. After all, noble houses may be royalty but they are not of godly blood. However, there have been some residual effects of their disappearance, mostly chaotic and destructive.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about the island? The Infernal Surge?¡± Her eyes grew. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°The twins told me.¡± ¡°They gossip too much¡­.¡± She sighed. I chuckled. ¡°I was bound to know one way or another, wasn¡¯t I? So the gods vanished and left a mess for your village to deal with. And I, standing in as the prophecy, am to restore everything. But why aren¡¯t we talking about bringing the gods back?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure where to even begin with that task. Another issue arises after¡ªif we bring one, we must bring them all.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because Lucien, balance. Light and dark. One cannot live without the other.¡± ¡°So we¡¯d create an imbalance. Isn¡¯t there already an imbalance with this Infernal Surge? Nothing was ever balanced once they left. The girls told me the Surge happened soon after.¡± ¡°This is correct, and because of this lack of balance, we are suffering¡­.¡± ¡°Huh¡­ I see what you mean.¡± Kai nodded solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s not an easy task, nor is it a fair one to put all of this on your shoulders. But your mother believed in you, Lucien. She knew that you had the strength and courage to face this challenge. I cannot force you to fulfill your destiny, to force you to accept the title of demigod, or to even protect these people, many of whom you have never even met. But I can and will stand beside you, guiding you through this journey, teaching you the ways of our world and offering wisdom when needed.¡± Her reassurance was comforting, though only marginally. The burden of responsibility still felt like a heavy cloud. I sat there silently as her words sank in, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The prospect was daunting to say the least¡­ to embark on a journey to restore balance in Etheryn, to live up to an expectation that seemed impossible. Impossible, but doable. I¡¯d already made up my mind last night, hadn¡¯t I? All Kai did here was remind me how important my mission was. I turned to her, her eyes already begging me. It was a subtle request, the priestess anxiously waiting for my decision. I found myself anchored by her gaze, caught in the depth of her hope and desperation. But before I could give her a solid response, I sensed something around us. The sensation was troubling enough to get me on my feet. Kai shot up off her seat too, the look on her face asking me the question before she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The crystal in my chest was putting off some heat, more than usual. It was nothing like the first time it fused itself with me, but noticeable enough to give it all the attention it wanted. Before I could make any sense of it, a prompt from my codex appeared: Innate Skill Discovered [Undead Sense, Level 1] Detect nearby undead creatures Undead sense? There was no time to dissect this new innate skill, because one moment we went from a breakfast for two to a breakfast for three¨Can uninvited guest suddenly spawned out of a pool of black in the middle of the monastery¡¯s backyard. I took a step back as the amorphic figure of black began to take shape. Limbs stretched, a spine straightened and red eyes glowed as it continued to take its form. Its humanoid form. A large green seven foot bug with thin transparent wings, four arms and a pair of spindly legs popped up, its antennae twitching as it sensed us. A gurgling noise came out from its mandibles, those two pairs of upper jaws grinding together to create that disturbing sound. I pulled out the only weapon I had, the knife I was rewarded after taking down that saber tooth tiger. It spread out its wings and turned its narrow head to us, the sheen of those large round bug eyes glowing. Its wings extended and the dark shell on his back bristled, the creature letting out a screeching roar. B1.C11: The Undead ¡°What the hell is that?¡± ¡°A demon,¡± Kai said a bit too casually. And then she reached her arm out, an electrical current suddenly permeating her hand. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s new,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°Demons make it a habit of trespassing into our village quite often. They are different from the regular monsters you see in Etheryn and marked as the undead. That being said, they usually hunt at night.¡± ¡°Well, this one¡¯s an exception to the rule, a true rebel.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have my arrows, but I should be able to get rid of this one quickly.¡± Just like that, Kai summoned a sigil in the air. The lines of the circle began fizzing, an electrical current running through her arm and out her hand. Before I could blink, she shot a lightning bolt right at the demon. The creature let out a screech as the bolt hit, its wings fluttering wildly. But instead of falling to the ground as I expected, it straightened up, surprisingly unphased by the attack. Its mandibles clicked together, more of that disturbing sound coming out of it. If I had to guess, the bastard was taunting us. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like that worked,¡± I whispered, taking another step back. Kai didn¡¯t respond, instead her hand began to glow again with another wave of electricity. Another shot, this one a lot bigger this time. It was about half the size of the demon, yet it stood there, ready to take on the damage. Kai hit the creature square in the chest, causing it to jerk back with a shriek. The demon shook itself and then let out an even more menacing roar, its antennae quivering. I noticed that it didn¡¯t seem particularly hurt, just rattled. Two shots like that and still standing, without a scratch on it, either. Despite her last bolt pushing him back a few feet, the demon wasn¡¯t backing off. I held my blade tightly in front of me, ready to defend us if the demon decided to charge. But instead of coming at us, it started a series of complex movements with its arms. It seemed to be drawing something in the air, a faint, glowing symbol that hung there for a moment before dissipating into thin smoke. ¡°An invocation, a demonic ability to channel and use dark energy for summons. I¡¯m not sure if it was letting me hit it on purpose to absorb my energy for its summon. I need to kill it now.¡± The demon¡¯s eyes flared brighter, and all of the hair on my body stood on end as I felt a dark aura ripple through the air. This energy coming directly from the demon was definitely something that warranted all of my attention. Kai cocked her elbow back as two fingers pointed at the bug. The other arm was stretched out, and then between two arms, a thunder arrow took shape. Okay, this had to be the big daddy of moves under her tool belt, because that arrow¡¯s aura was packing one hell of a punch. Torrents of wind surrounded her, blowing her hair back as the energy crackled around her. The demon, sensing the change, finally decided to take flight. Noticing this, Kai unleashed the arrow without hesitation. It shot toward the bug creature with an unnatural speed. Seriously, I didn¡¯t even see it! One moment the bug was intact, and the next, not so much. Kai cleaved it in half. The arrow on steroids left a vibrant yellow trail behind. The residue looked like it had power of its own as it hovered in the air. The demon wasn¡¯t looking too fucking smart after that amazing move, shaking under the pressure of pure magic. A smile stretched across my face as I stared at the beast, impressed with how strong Kai was. But we couldn¡¯t celebrate just yet. Again, the demon proved to be resilient. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. That energy I¡¯d felt earlier came back, and before we knew it, the demon¡¯s thorax began to bubble from its tear. There was another energy that I was sensing, one closer than the bug demon in the sky¡­. ¡°Kai, look out!¡± I shouted, shoving her away from the acid spew of a demon bug that came right behind us. We landed on the ground, my back hitting the dirt hard, but we were safe from the green acidic spray that the demon spat at us. Kai got up from my chest, her hair tousled over her face as she fought to recompose herself. ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡± I asked her as she sat over my waist, trying to fight a blush creeping up her face. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said as she cleared her throat and dismounted me. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± I assured her, getting off my ass. ¡°Thank you.¡± She nodded. ¡°But our challenge here has multiplied.¡± She looked across from us at the demon bug that looked identical to the one in the sky. When I looked back up, I realized what had happened. Instead of dying as it should, the demon had healed. Worse than that, its split body had regenerated; both the top half and the bottom half that¡¯d fallen on the ground when Kai had attacked it. ¡°Regeneration, another neat trick,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°Between the summoning powers, the acid spit, and this new number, we might have our hands tied. But I noticed something,¡± I said, Kai turning to me to elaborate. ¡°It¡¯s not very fast on the ground. More than likely, the other half teleported behind us. Another trick. Otherwise, we would have seen it coming. Since it spawned, it hadn¡¯t made an effort to show us its foot speed. So, I¡¯m going to say that it¡¯s safe to assume that its footwork is slow.¡± I tightened my grip on my knife, and squared myself for a melee fight. ¡°We even the odds. I¡¯ll take this one on, and you tackle the aerial bug. Should be easy, right? Seeing as you have those pretty angel wings?¡± ¡°Are you sure? Your level may hinder you in this battle.¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sure. I might be a low-leveled human, but I can fight. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± She smiled. ¡°You¡¯re brave, Lucien. Let¡¯s fight¡­ together.¡± Kai spread her wings, the massive span making me feel small in comparison. They were magnificent and radiant up close, the idea of flight making this low-leveled human a bit jealous. While Kai looked a little worried about me, she didn¡¯t hesitate to take flight, shooting up into the sky and leaving me behind to face my half of the demon bug. I turned around and let out a ready sigh, the creature putting off more of that same aura. It was big, but it wasn¡¯t sabertooth tiger big. My first encounter with a threat truly set the bar high. The demon bug was grotesque, with its slimy exoskeleton and jagged mandibles, but it was nowhere near the beast that could have torn me to shreds with one swipe of a paw. I wouldn¡¯t drag my feet with it, seeing as I knew what it was capable of. When I dashed in, it towered over me, emanating a greenish glow, its huge mandibles opening up as if to swallow me. Its mandibles opened wider and I saw the green glow of toxic spit building up. I dodged sideways, just as the acid came gushing out. It let out another screech and then lunged at me. I took a deep breath, tightening my grip on my knife. The bug was easy to read, and I managed to roll out of its way just in time, feeling the gust of wind as it missed. This new angle was perfect. It was dangerously close, and my position left me with a clear advantage. I pivoted at my heel and swung my knife straight through the demon¡¯s exposed underbelly. Hot, pus-colored guts sprayed from its insides, more than I expected. Shit, it felt like I¡¯d just stepped on a giant roach, the smell alone enough to force me back as it oozed. The demon bug roared in pain and thrashed about, its mandibles snapping wildly at the air. With a deep breath, I charged toward the infernal creature again. The demon gave a low hiss as it saw me approaching, its clawed appendages reaching out toward me. I swerved to avoid them before rushing in again to deliver a stab at one of its legs. Now, it decided to play defensively. Two shots to zero¡ªhonestly, I would have done the same thing if I could teleport. He vanished, but there was one thing I noticed about my [Undead Sense] that I hadn¡¯t before. I focused on the skill this time, and I was able to track the fucker down as he teleported, my instincts kicking in just as it reappeared on my left. The demon was quick but not quick enough. I spun around, jamming my blade into its side. It howled in pain as more pus poured from the wound. Suddenly, the demon vanished again, only to reappear several feet away this time. It was limping now, one of its legs dragging. Its mandibles clicked and clacked together, its alien eyes focused on me with a desperate fury. Overhead, I heard the piercing cry of the second demon bug and craned my neck to see Kai soaring through the sky like a fiery comet. She was hurling bolts of divine light at the aerial demon which was trying to evade her attacks yet failing miserably. Dark smoke was trailing its flight, its wings visibly singed by Kai¡¯s relentless barrage. I had no time to relish in her victory though, as my demon had bolted upward, flexing its wings out and taking immediate flight! B1.C12: Sparring with General Tease ¡°Kai!¡± I shouted, then soon realized that the bug wasn¡¯t aiming for her, but for its other half. Could it be itching for a fusion? It was weak, so the possibility did make sense. So I fixed my knife to toss it at the fleeing creature. I exhaled, gauged the distance, and called out to it with a taunt, hoping it¡¯d be bitter enough to fall for my bait. And after the damage I¡¯d dealt, it was. As soon as it turned around to look down at me, I launched my knife and watched it disappear into the sky. For a moment, there was silence. Then came a piercing screech, followed by the demon insect crashing down to the earth a few yards away. Kai dealt fatal damage to her bug pal as well, impaling it with a thunder arrow right through its cranium. When it dropped on the ground, Kai landed. ¡°Decapitate it,¡± she said to me, and I turned around to my bug creature, who¡¯d been still a second ago, and was now twitching. ¡°Demons are confirmed dead when you decapitate them.¡± It was a messy job, but I terminated the pest for good, and then walked over to Kai¡¯s demon and did the same. At the end of it, I had guts all over my hands, but Kai was ready with a bucket of water from the stream, hosing down my blade and my fingers. ¡°A level 5 human defeating a category B demon with a simple knife,¡± she sang, ¡°Surely, you are a demigod.¡± I chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re being modest. I did have some help.¡± She set the bucket aside and walked over to the demon as it began to decompose. ¡°We categorize these demons in grades. Since they cannot be inspected, and we cannot know what level they are in, or see their HP when we fight them. They don¡¯t follow the same principles as our codices, seeing as they aren¡¯t from our dungeon core.¡± ¡°Dungeon core?¡± ¡°The core of our planet.¡± She smiled. ¡°Soon, you will learn everything there is to know about how it works, and where to find the dungeons it creates.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m definitely looking forward to that. With dungeons come leveling.¡± She giggled. ¡°So much leveling.¡± ¡°So this nasty bug was a category B, huh?¡± ¡°Yes. We rate them by how many skills they have, and how strong they are. While this one had enough skills to be a category A, it wasn¡¯t as strong as one.¡± ¡°Shit. It had over five, didn¡¯t it? Some type of power absorption, maybe, the ability to summon, regeneration, multiplication, and acid spit.¡± ¡°And don¡¯t forget teleport.¡± ¡°Right, so six.¡± ¡°Higher grades are more deadly. I guarantee you that.¡± ¡°Hell, I¡¯m taking your word for it. It¡¯s just a crazy thought.¡± ¡°But you handled yourself quite well.¡± She smirked. ¡°Speaking of, how did you detect it?¡± I turned back to her from my distraction of slimy body parts desecrating holy ground. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You sensed it before it presented itself. Usually demons are undetectable.¡± ¡°Not¡­ sure,¡± I said, lightly running my fingers over my chest. ¡°I just felt this weird tingling in my chest, followed by some heat. I looked down on the ground, and then saw that weird black pool start to form. My codex called it an innate skill that I discovered, [Undead Sense]. I did nothing to activate it. Pretty much triggered on its own.¡± ¡°Innate skill. Does it have a level?¡± ¡°Yeah, one. Much like most of my skills.¡± ¡°The more you use it, the better the detection would be. I suspect either you¡¯ll become more proficient in early detection, or the radius of detection may increase. This will become very useful.¡± ¡°How frequently do these things pop up in the village?¡± ¡°Too frequently,¡± she said, and when she pulled her hand back from her arm, I noticed that she was burned.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re hurt.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing a healing potion cannot fix,¡± she reassured me. ¡°Can I?¡± I said, tilting my head as I offered her my services. She was floored, with no idea what I was implying. Even so, she stretched her arm out to me and I summoned my healing. In the blink of an eye, the soft glow from my palms met her wounds, my fingers tracing the blisters and scars that were left by the demon¡¯s acid. The injuries on her arm began to fade, the skin restructuring itself under my touch until it was as flawless as ever. Once I was sure every blemish had been eradicated, I retracted my hand. Her fingers stroked her skin, Kai at a loss for words. She looked up to me and asked, ¡°You... you have healing powers?¡± ¡°I do, actually.¡± ¡°But you...¡± She paused, her fingers still brushing over her unblemished skin. ¡°You used magic... healing magic.¡± ¡°Eh, is that so surprising?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°It is, in fact. You are human, and are not magically affirmed. Unlike dragons, drow and elves, you need a skill scroll to utilize magic. Skill scrolls usually require summoning mana, and I didn¡¯t see a rune or sigil when you healed me.¡± ¡°Well, healing is my innate ability. Comes with the perks of being a goddess¡¯ son!¡± I chuckled. ¡°Back home, I just called her Demri, or mom.¡± ¡°What a beautiful gift to have, for a remarkable and humble man. Thank you Lucien,¡± she said sincerely, her smile bright. I couldn¡¯t tell if she was flirting with me or not, but the words of appreciation were warming. After our fight with the demon, the servants of the sect came to clean up the mess, and the High Priestess pardoned herself to make preparations to leave. Where? I only had a vague idea. We needed to raid a few dungeons to beef up my level, so I could be strong enough to defeat the horrors of that island. The Infernal Surge would be something Buliba and her warriors would have to tackle in the village without their beloved Kai, a decision that was hard for Kai. Nevertheless, she made it clear that it was her duty to come with me, and she wasn¡¯t going to hear any objections from me. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Traveling with a baby dragon and a beastkin priestess that looked like an angel seemed like the wildest fantasy I could have ever dreamt of. All my life I had been living in a small cage, oblivious to not only other countries in my own planet, but entire worlds and galaxies. But now, this strange turn of events had led me on a path filled with magic, dungeons, mythical beasts, and gorgeous ladies. ¡°Hmm, I wonder how well Starr will get along with Kai¡­¡± I whispered to myself. Speaking of my baby dragon, I ought to look for her. But Kai left me in the front courtyard of the monastery, where she expected me to wait for her. I shouldn¡¯t go back inside and stick my head where it didn¡¯t belong. Honestly, I should feel right at home. The thought of sullying sacred grounds was ludicrous. I was a demigod, and after I reclaim my kingdom, their worship and praise would fall on me. The idea made me chuckle softly. The joke that kept getting funnier the more I said it. The grandeur was ironically more humorous in the moment of quiet solitude. I looked up at the sprawling monastery, the ancient architecture a testament to faith and tradition, still holding strong to its virtues and beliefs. And then I thought about being above all of that. Though my blood was divine, I was undeniably human in my tastes. I was a simple man to please; I liked warm beds and good food. I had a thirst for knowledge and an itch for adventure that went deeper than any rational explanation. I also had plans for the future, living on a farm by the mountainside, with a beautiful wife, fathering children and taking care of livestock. Except now I was to have many wives and many kids. Same dream, just bigger. ¡°Ah, fuck it.¡± I said as I stood up from the front steps. ¡°I¡¯ll be back before Kai gets here.¡± I turned back around to go search for Starr. Kai said that she had Tanvi looking out for her, but as soon as my foot reached the top step, I heard someone call out to me. ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± she said, the familiar voice making me turn around. It was Buliba standing at the foot of the stairway, giving me a sassy look. Again, my codex gave me a suggestion. My system was impeccable for its perfect timing, asking if I wanted the general to be part of my household: House of Barros Add General Buliba of Grusnabi to harem? Preliminary must be met: bond with the General to appease [Fertile Charm] level upgrade [Y] [N] Yeah, absolutely not. With careful scrutinizing, I realized a pattern with my codex¡¯s suggestions. As long as I had an emotional connection with a girl, or a physical one, it would suggest that girl for my harem. Unfortunately, the sweet time I had with Buliba was only bait to have me executed in front of her entire town. After I rejected the offer, I gave the general my undivided attention. ¡°Oh, ugh, hey. I¡¯m just going to get Starr and¡ª¡± ¡°You know, you may have gotten the priestess fooled, but I¡¯m no idiot.¡± Buliba interrupted, crossing her arms under her breasts and sashaying my way. The determined glint in her eyes told me everything I needed to know¡ªshe still saw me as a threat to her village. ¡°I¡¯ve seen your kind before. Trying to infiltrate our land by betraying our trust. You are not the first to try and win our women over, but I promise, you will be the last. I know how to deal with vile men like you!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I might be easy on the eyes, but don¡¯t be fooled¡ªI can snap your neck before that gullible priestess could take one sip of her morning tea, and have your body buried before she could put her cup down.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ um¡­¡± I stuttered, a bit thrown by her stubbornness. ¡°Well, that¡¯s impressive and all, but you got me all wrong. I¡¯m not¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they all say. But the pride and lust of men are their biggest downfall.¡± ¡°Hey, I was minding my own business. You were the one who interrupted my bath and¡ª¡± ¡°You mean, your swamp bath?¡± she tittered. ¡°Yeah, laugh it up all you want. I¡¯m not the one who is bent on seeing a level 5 human as a threat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯ve seen all types of tricks, some more impressive than my own. Illusion charms aren¡¯t easy to come by, and potent ones even harder than that. But that doesn¡¯t mean that they cannot be accessible to scum like you.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°Do you usually make out like that with scum men like me?¡± She glared. ¡°Because you seem to have enjoyed our time together in that swamp water, too.¡± ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± she hissed, summoning a light blue sigil in the air. Unlike Kai¡¯s, hers was triangle shaped, the inlays growing brighter as it grew. Before I knew it, she had two water blades in her fists, General Buliba squaring up to fight me. ¡°Hey, hold on,¡± I tried to reason with her, holding my hands up to convince her that I wasn¡¯t filled with all of that trickery she was blaming me for. ¡°I just want to find my dragon! She¡¯s probably scared without me. The last thing I want to do is pick a fight with you.¡± ¡°A fight?¡± she cackled. ¡°No, this isn¡¯t a fight. This is a murder!¡± With a battle cry, she lunged at me, her water blades charging my way. ¡°Wait¡ª¡± My words were cut off as she slashed, her water blades cutting through the air when I dodged. Buliba was quick to reposition herself, the confidence in her fighting style making me falter a bit. Water droplets splashed on my skin, the cold liquid shocking me into a reaction. I ducked under her first thrust and rolled to the side. ¡°Wait, Buliba!¡± I shouted, scrambling to my feet and backing away from her. ¡°Hey, get a grip, would you?!¡± But she wasn¡¯t listening. She was too enraptured by the thrill of this forced fight. I had to put her in the ring with me, figuratively speaking. I could pull my blade at her, but that might not be necessary with the way she was moving. She was overzealous, eager to put me down in this wild flight of rage she was promoting. So naturally, I played the patient game, watching her foot placement and her swinging arms. There was a fluidity to her movements as I continued to dodge, duck, and shamelessly hide behind stone statues around the monastery. Studying her pattern wasn¡¯t too hard¡ªI had a feeling this wasn¡¯t how she normally fought. Seeing as I was a low leveled human, she underestimated me, susceptible to mistakes and more importantly, handouts. She was fast, and her water blades were deadly in her hands, but she was so focused on overpowering me that she left openings. And I was ready to exploit them. Her last strike slashed the poor statue of a mother holding a child. At a quick glance, it almost looked like mom. When the statue crashed on the ground, clouds of dust coughed in the air. The temporary blindness didn¡¯t stop me from dodging Buliba¡¯s next move as she slashed vertically. As soon as I step-dodged the attack, I spun, aligning my back against her. I grabbed her arm and rammed my elbow into her, then I flung her over my shoulder. She landed with a thud and a grunt, her water blades disintegrating on impact. I didn¡¯t waste a moment to press my advantage. In a swift move, I pinned her down, with my knees to her hips and my hands pinning her wrists against the ground. ¡°You have no respect for sacred ground,¡± I hissed. ¡°Making a mess out of a temple just because you¡¯re too thick headed to notice an ally when you see one.¡± She giggled. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one with a thick head.¡± She grabbed my arms with her tail, and before I could pull back, Buliba swung me over her head like I weighed nothing! She body slammed me hard. I swear she gave me a concussion. The blackout was temporary, but this dent in my pride wasn¡¯t. She got me twice, and my side of the scoreboard wasn¡¯t looking too impressive right now. I didn¡¯t know she could stretch her tails out like that, using them as an edge in a fight. This psycho was full of surprises. With another tail, she slapped me in my face. Shockingly enough, it was a playful slap, not enough to knock me out, but enough to send the message. Buliba was giving dom vibes the way she looked at me upside down, her tails continuing to pin me. She had five tails all together, using four of them to pin my limbs and one to taunt me. ¡°Clever boy, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± She smirked. ¡°But your smarts would only get you so far.¡± She summoned something else from her skill locker of secrets¡ªa big water ball. Before I could plead with her, she stuffed my head in it, the general trying to drown me! B1.C13: Fertile Charm ¡°Ggrrggghhh!¡± I gargled as I fought to breathe. It didn¡¯t help that I continued to pull away from her suckers, further exhausting my strength and making breathing even more taxing. But I couldn¡¯t help it¡ªI was panicking. I wasn¡¯t immortal yet, which meant that my mortal body was susceptible to death just like any non demi-god body would be. I needed air, and I needed it now. My hands were still pinned by her tails, but my fingers were free. I jabbed my fingers into the suckers on her tail that trapped my hand, hoping to make her release me. She flinched and tensed up, then slapped my face again with a, ¡°Stop that!¡± A flush fell on her face¡ªlooked like I found her sensitive spot. But she didn¡¯t let go. ¡°Do you seriously think that tickling me would get you out of this shit storm you found yourself in?¡± she sang, running that one free tentacle down my chest and below my belt. ¡°There¡¯s a cyclone in the sea, Lucien, and your ship is sinking in it!¡± There was no break in the relentless pressure from her tails, even as I tried to dig my nails into her tails to break free. A rush of adrenaline surged through me as darkness started to creep into the edges of my vision. My body was fighting to stay conscious, though fate was on my side. The twins came to my aid, Phenrie, the sheep girl with the red hair, summoning vines from her back to snatch Buliba¡¯s tentacle tails with. While her sister Hyla, the sheep girl with the blue hair, used her mana to lift the water ball from my head. Nature and gravity¡ªdefinitely an interesting duo. ¡°General, that is enough!¡± Hyla cried. ¡°By the order of the Ecuzni Sect, I command you to stand down!¡± her sister followed. The water ball around my head dissipated instantly, and I gasped for air, choking and sputtering as oxygen filled my lungs. Buliba sucked her teeth. ¡°Meddling kids.¡± The general collapsed her tails and released me from her grip. She patted the last tentacle on my cheek with a chuckle before rolling it off of me completely. ¡°Such spoil sports. Can¡¯t you see that the adults are playing?¡± Buliba dusted her clothes off before tossing a nonchalant glance toward Phenrie and Hyla. ¡°We are eighteen,¡± Hyla retorted. ¡°Stop treating us like we are children!¡± ¡°Oh I¡¯m sorry. Should I refer to the both of you as slaves instead?¡± ¡°Providers of the sect!¡± Phenrie schooled immediately. ¡°Servants. Pesky, nosy, servants.¡± Servants? I just had to check their levels, starting with Phenrie, engaging my [Inspect] to discover just how strong they were for servants: [Sheep Beastkin, Level: 45] [Sheep Beastkin, Level: 40] Damn, they were stronger than the High Priestess, but nowhere close to the level of the general! ¡°Better servants than a reckless harlot!¡± Hyla spat back at Buliba. ¡°You watch your tone with me, imp!¡± Buliba growled. ¡°I am still your superior!¡± Seizing my chance, I sprang up, ready to strike. But the twins took their spot to my sides and Phenrie stretched out her hand in front of me. ¡°There is no need for that,¡± she said. ¡°She won¡¯t be attacking you anymore.¡± ¡°Mana versus brawn, there really is no competition, is there?¡± I smirked. ¡°Thanks for the save.¡± Phenrie nodded, and then she turned her gaze to Buliba. ¡°General, I will report this incident to the council, where they will review it and come to a conclusion of what to do with you and your squadron.¡± ¡°More empty threats,¡± she scoffed. ¡°You keep throwing that in my face like you girls have a choice.¡± She snickered. ¡°Whether you want to believe it or not, you need me. Take away armed forces from an already dying village and what are you left with?¡± Phenrie and Hyla exchanged worried glances. I swallowed hard, feeling an uneasiness inside of me as well. ¡°A doomed village,¡± she spat, her eyes glaring at them. ¡°A village overturned by the Infernal Surge, a village that will fall prey to the dark, and then what? All of your pompous preaching and grand ideals would mean nothing. You¡¯d be left with nothing but ruins and regret.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need you!¡± Hyla shouted. ¡°Our prophecy will save us!¡± ¡°Who? Him? A scrolless, level five sage wannabe?¡± She chuckled. ¡°News spreads like wildfire in Grusnabi. Mention of Lucien here being the prophecy already blessing the ears of desperate girls and women. Kai is so sure that he is the one, her followers blindly listening to any nonsense that comes out of her bossy mouth.¡± Phenrie stepped forward, determination burning in her eyes. ¡°We do not place our trust in faith alone,¡± she declared as she retracted her vines. ¡°We place it in unity, in compassion, and in the spirit of the sect! Our prophecy may be novice, but with our help, he will fill the gaping hole in our defenses. We will not fall to the Infernal Surge, nor any other darkness!¡± So, Buliba was right. News did spread around quickly. It wasn¡¯t too long ago that these girls thought I was just a special visitor of their sect¡ªnow they regarded me as their one and only prophecy¡­. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Buliba folded her arms under her large breasts, her lips curling into a twisted grin. ¡°Is that so? Well then,¡± she said, her voice heavy with condescension, ¡°What confirmation did the holy spirit of the sect give you?¡± The twins looked at each other again. ¡°The both of you aren¡¯t kids, right? Which means that you aren¡¯t dense. You have minds of your own, independent of the princess. You can¡¯t possibly believe all of this bullshit blindly, so what proof do you have that this man here is your chosen one?¡± ¡°We have faith in the word of our¡ª¡± ¡°Hush with all of that,¡± Buliba said, cutting Hyla off. ¡°That might work for the sect, but the people are going to need proof. And honestly, you should, too. Because right now, he falls under the category of any man trying to waltz in here and take us for fucking fools.¡± There was a long silence as Buliba tried to turn the twins against me. Hell, I couldn¡¯t tell if Buliba had a hate boner for me or what¡ªthis hate and love relationship was confusing. But seeing as she was a few seconds from killing me, I¡¯d take it that she was serious about this proof that she wanted. Luckily for me, I had a quest and a skill that would satisfy both sides of the argument. So I stood tall and took a step forward and said, ¡°Then, let me give you the proof you need.¡± She snorted. ¡°And how do you plan on doing that?¡± ¡°Bring me to one of your dying crop fields. I¡¯ll show you how this wannabe sage intends to bring life back to them.¡± Buliba arched an eyebrow, her scornful smirk still clinging to her face. ¡°Bringing a field back to life? What a bold statement.¡± ¡°I have the power to back it up,¡± I said, halfway confidently. I wasn¡¯t sure if I was talking out of my ass right now, seeing as I wasn¡¯t sure how this [Fertile Charm] worked. I¡¯d never tried it before, and considering how Buliba was looking at me right now, she thought I was full of it. ¡°And what if you fail?¡± she cooed. ¡°Then you can do with me as you please,¡± I said, before wanting to take back what I said. With that smile curling on her lips, I bet I could think of the ideas fluttering through her thoughts right now. ¡°But if he succeeds,¡± Phenrie interjected before Buliba could say another word, ¡°Then you will abide by our decision without resistance!¡± ¡°That means no more attacking our hero!¡± Hyla retorted. ¡°Do we have your agreement?¡± A mirthless laugh echoed from the general as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, this is gonna be gooood,¡± she said, unfolding her arms. ¡°Choose your field; we have plenty of dead ones to spare. We¡¯ll see if your prophecy amounts to more than just empty words.¡± ++++ Phenrie did the honor of selecting a crop field for me to restore. My collar was getting pretty damn stiff the closer we got to it. Luckily for me, I wasn¡¯t the type to toot my own horn, so I didn¡¯t disclose just how much of it I could restore. After all, my [Fertile Charm] was only at level 1. I doubt I could do miracles at such a low point. The more girls I inducted to my den of wonders, the stronger at restoration I would become. It was something to look forward to, because these village women needed all the help they could get. We passed many starving faces in the part of the village, a reminder of the dire situation they were in. Women with gaunt cheeks and hollow eyes carried babies with the same sunken features, their small bodies wasting away from lack of sustenance. It was a depressing sight, one that served to fuel my determination to complete this quest. We finally arrived at the chosen field. It was as dead as Buliba had described on our way here. The soil was barren, the crops wilted and brown. I watched as the smirk on Buliba''s face began to stretch even wider as I looked along the horizon. She was so sure of herself, but I didn¡¯t give her the satisfaction of letting this huge task scare me. ¡°A demonstration, your highness?¡± she sassed. ¡°We are waiting for you to restore this land to its rightful glory.¡± ¡°I never said I could cure this entire field,¡± I reminded her. ¡°My [Fertile Charm] is only at level 1. But I will give you a demonstration.¡± ¡°[Fertile Charm]?¡± Hyla repeated. ¡°Is that a skill you¡¯re using to bring back our food?¡± ¡°So you do have a skill scroll?¡± Phenrie followed. ¡°No. [Fertile Charm] and [Heal] are my innate abilities. I don¡¯t require skill scrolls for them.¡± ¡°There is no such thing,¡± Bulida said. ¡°Innate abilities are only gifted to those who are magically enlightened.¡± ¡°There is such a thing for me.¡± ¡°Then show us already,¡± she hissed. ¡°Go on, then!¡± Over my shoulder, I heard how the twin girls whispered among themselves of the unusual feat of mine. I turned my focus to a patch of dead crops and knelt down, pressing my palm flat against the chalky, dry soil. I closed my eyes and focused on the image of vibrant, healthy crops where there were none. If my [Fertile Charm] worked anything like my [Heal] ability, then all I had to do was focus on the life I wanted to revive, and the vitality I wanted to infuse into this dying land. I thought about the desired outcome, believed in its potential, and let the magic do the rest. Each exhale I breathed out was a plea to the earth, and each inhale a promise of hope. From within me, I felt the flicker of energy, that familiar warmth in my chest that had similar qualities to that of my healing ability. It was as if the power I possessed bloomed, unfurling like a flower basking in the rays of dawn. And just like my healing, it was a slow and steady process. Patience was definitely a virtue. Buliba snorted behind me, and started taunting me too, making it harder for me to focus. ¡°Is this some kind of joke?¡± Buliba¡¯s sharp voice broke through my concentration. ¡°Your so-called power is taking an awfully long time. Are you buying time for your forces to join your raid?¡± I took a deep breath, gritting my teeth, refusing to let her words distract me. Concentrating even harder on the feel of the earth beneath my hand, I felt the power of my skill flowing through my veins more vividly. The power pulsed stronger as I visualized the withered crops glowing with life force, then suddenly, I felt a spark. The sensation surged from my chest and spread outward like a ripple in a pond, making its way to the palm of my hands. A soft, gentle hum of energy coursed through my fingertips and reverberated beneath the soil, seeping life back into the dead earth. My eyes flew open as tiny sprouts began to push their way through the barren ground. At first small and pale, they gradually became stronger and greener, stretching toward the sunlight thick and tall. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched more life sprouting up around me, tuning in on Phenrie¡¯s shocked gasps and Hyla¡¯s cheering me on. Buliba on the other hand, was quiet for a change. A few moments later, fully matured stalks of what looked like wheat were standing in front of me. The radius was decent for a level 1 ability, about a yard wide. Just like my [Heal] ability, I spent some considerable amount of mana on it, but it didn¡¯t go to waste. The cool-down matched that of my [Heal] ability, and just like my mana, it¡¯d take some time to recover. ¡°Oh my goddess! Look at the harvest!¡± Hyla tweeted. ¡°And it¡¯s not withering away!¡± ¡°Quick, Hyla, find a basket!¡± Phenrie ordered her sister, and Hyla ran toward the nearest wagon to fetch a woven basket. ¡°Hmph,¡± Buliba grunted, before she summoned a sigil underneath her feet and disappeared in a flashy splash of water. Guess I finally got that target off my back. Quest 1 Complete Reward: access to virtual skill scroll shop Sweet. I can finally get my hands on some skill scrolls.