Barry's head darted frantically across the water standing hip deep in the ocean on the sandbar, tracking the massive great white shark swimming up to him. The coast had only been a few miles northwest of the pylon, and the wildlife along the way hadn't bothered us any.
Once me and Steve got our toes and tails wet in the ocean however, the energy shifted drastically. We'd never established ourselves within this or any nearby oceanic territories, with many ignorant native predators scrambling after us the result. It was their nature to seek means to ascend their local food chain, and we're rather powerful prey if they could manage it. Most every new territory fostered new hungry, voraciously powerful challengers. Luckily most of the population willingly pledged loyalty after a few of the bigger beasts were slain or tamed.
There weren't any signs of any notably strong individuals in our immediate area unfortunately, making for a quick quelling of the local beasts who mainly consisted of different variations of shark species. As far as predatory beasts, that is. The other creatures of the sea less dependent on killing for growth remained flourishing at every turn, which genuinely surprised me given the quantity of predatory beasts we'd encountered.
One of the far less conscious species included a concerning number of colossal purple jellyfish, with massive spiked prongs along their tentacles underwater. The tentacles themselves were longer than the Stentorian Mother Orca Steve and I had slain by a wide margin. Easy to avoid, but the mass of unidentifiable fish bones floating in a clustered oceanic graveyard indicated their stings were not to be underestimated. Especially watching them slowly drag freshly stung fish up its prongs, the fish remaining completely limp making its way up the jellyfish.
After Steve and I returned with a group of sharks to escort our travels and give Barry a lift, our journey toward the mysteriously infamous island on the horizon commenced. After a few miles of blocking out Barry's incessant screaming gliding along the top of the water, the details of the island became easier to distinguish.
The 'island' looked more like a continent peppered with large islands, isthmuses and peninsulas. Many connected by channels. Each island's biome differed completely from the others in nature. The nearest had an odd combination of beach to desert sands and towering mesas peppering the flat lands. A thin strait separated it from a thriving tropical island full of vibrant purples and greens, with massive trees and small strips of green mountain pastures.
Another island to the opposite direction took on many similar characteristics of a taiga's, the ocean channel transitioning seamlessly into a raging river running over dark protruding rocks. The center of said island enjoyed its own personal rain cloud, somehow persevering through the blistering sun that shone cloudlessly overhead.
Focusing further out in the distance, the distinct red-orange glow of magma leaking down a snow tipped mountain caught my attention. Below the distance irruption sat a Savanna, flat and toiling with beasts large enough to be visible from hundreds of feet away, roaming along the tall grass. At the island's edges surrounding both biomes sat a massive muddy marsh, covered in thin tall green and violet plant life leading to a swamp.
"Wow, this place is gorgeous!" I exclaimed our group of beasts and Barry slowly floated toward the main island between the others.
"Indeed, still no sign of my brothers, though." Barry said without averting his narrowed watchful eyes from the many islands now surrounding us.
"Hey, I get that. It sucked watching my brothers fall yesterday, I can't imagine not knowing their fates at all. However, there may be a chance they took this places Pylon, and were merely marooned here." My optimism found little success in cheering up my massive companion, though he did listen enough to turn his gaze toward me as he spoke.
"Your brothers? I did not know you had family on the battlefield. I would have defended them had I kn-"
"No no no, not my literal brothers." I interrupted, seeing the misunderstanding.
"Then what would you mean by 'brothers'?" Barry asked, the gravity of what he'd shared now fully digesting in my mind.
"Oh…wait our actual brothers were the warriors your father sent?" I asked, in a low tone no longer trying to relieve his worries. He had every right to be diligent in searching for his lost soldiers, and family. Barry only nodded in solemn confirmation.
"I'm sorry, Barry. I thought you meant your fellow soldier being a part of a 'brotherhood', not your literal blood family." Barry didn't respond, instead hanging his giant-sized head. For a moment, I considered my own family and my uncertainty of their fates. I've taken care as to avoid my worries the way I always have, through keeping absurdly busy. Barry doesn't strike me as much of an avoidant type, however.
"We'll find them. One way or another, we'll know what happened to them. I'll be sure of it." I told Barry, who smirked nodding in appreciation.
"Steve, don't let me forget to tell Korbin to send search parties here, in case we don't find them today." I mentally messaged Steve as his body wriggled across the ocean surface, carrying us closer to shore.
"Let's focus on getting out of here first, Tom. I'm picking up some crazy scents I've never smelled before. I have no clue what's waiting for us." Steve warned, sounding concerned.
"Relax, buddy. We got back-up in the water here, we just won't head too far inland until Cassi arrives." I reassured Steve, referencing the group of 8 sharks in total we'd tamed before arriving here. It could have been more, but we were quickly losing daylight as it was.
"Last time you reassured me like this, you seized control of my body t-"
"Yeah yeah yeah I get it I jacked your skin, won't happen again. Stop holding it over my head, Steve. Not cool." I interrupted, tired of being reminded of my errors in judgment. As far as I'm concerned it saved our lives, regardless of how many serpent feelings it hurt in the process. Besides, I felt bad already, like a week ago.
"Let me take your body over and see how you like it, Tom. It was terrifying." Steve answered, unrelenting.
"I said sorry. Just forget I asked you anything." I replied, hopping down onto the sand bar from Steve's back. We'd discuss this issue later, my eyes having caught a glimpse of movement through the tall reeds bordering the portion of the main island we washed onto.
Barry, Steve and I got about waist high out of the water before I remembered to instruct the sharks to remain and defend this area, being sure of our ride and some free experience in my profession. A few timid confirmations later, we headed inland.
Beyond the reeds revealed a 50 foot long isthmus extending out from the mainland at a downward incline. Just beyond the sand, the island transitioned into thick, vibrant green shrubbery with a variety of differing tree species. A few of the plants even appeared sentient, one snatching a fruit bat clean out of the sky as it passed by. Its faceless maw that extended about 5 feet high out from the ground, and bared purple crystalline teeth that excreted purple glowing ooze as it bit down. The bat struggled for only a few seconds before visibly rotting from its bite wounds.
"Don't fuck with the Venus flytrap looking plants. Or kill them, but don't let them bite you." I called out, mainly to Barry. Steve had his uncanny sense of smell alerting him of such dangers, hence why he was already the furthest from the murderous plant of the group. A quick identify confirmed the system acknowledged this thing as a creature of some sort.
(Dionaea Zootoxicarian [Level 10])
The large plant didn't appear to have any physical senses except touch, given its violent reactions to the air whenever a strong breeze blew. Not willing to fuck around with plants today, we collectively pushed further into the island, but not too far.
Okay, that was the plan at least. However, the sound of a raging fire in the distance prompted all three of us to pursue, assuming it may be Barry's brothers camped out.
"Brandon!! Danny!! Where are you?!" Barry called to the woods jogging toward the sound of flames. My attention rested solely toward finding the source of the fire, until a large harmony of footsteps approaching shot my head to the size.
Just in time to avoid an axe swinging down toward my face. A diagonal Water Step revealed a bull, in full metal armor standing on two legs. Lightning Strike broke through its rusted armor easily, piercing into the man-shaped beasts' chest. Another 3 of the monsters tailed behind it, engaged now with Steve and Barry. They were far shorter, only at about 6'6 compared to the over 7 foot monster my sword now yanked free from.
It clutched its chest, before a set of fiery red eyes stared menacingly into mine. Its hooves feet kicked dirt behind it before charging once more, its massive axe plummeting at far a superior speed than prior. My twinblade grazed the axe as I shuffled to the side, landing a Flow Strike via body kick. The Minotaurs armor dented, even opening in parts from bending. The beast itself hardly moved, though showed signs of injury with a shaky retreat step.
Barry's loud growl preceded one of the smaller Minotaurs skulls bouncing off a stone at the larger ones hoofs as it fell hard to the ground. The injured Minotaur grabbed weakly onto its larger kin's ankle, a wave of golden energy manifesting in its hand as its body shriveled from the bottom up. The still standing Minotaur began to grow in size rapidly, giving all the correlation I needed to chop off the martyr at its hooves.
The energy dispersed with a flash, as did the life within the prone smaller Minotaur, a ding providing confirmation. The now nearly 8 foot Minotaur roared into the air as it chased my retreat from Its fallen comrade. It fully abandoned its weapon altogether, now charging with its massive horns atop its head. A look back revealed its horn not more than an inch from my head, prompting a quick change of direction.
The Minotaur slid hard across the forest foliage, scrambling quickly back into a relentless beeline toward me. Finally facing the beast at a distance, I faked my body one way with a stomp and activated Water Step to fling myself the other direction. The Minotaur took the bait, but recovered more gracefully than I'd anticipated. Its hand swung across its massive head heading for my ribs. My nearest elbow slammed into its arms Flow Point before swiping it away from his face and stabbing my blade into its throat, activating Flow Strike. The armor covering its neck broke like wet tissue as my blade sliced across the beasts' neck.
Not willing to allow the Minotaur a moments reprieve, I advanced forward with another stab piercing through its furry stomach. The beast parried my following slash, shoving my weapon away with their own. Seeing my opportunity my chains snatched around its sword hand, yanking hard. Both our bodies lurched toward each other, my elbow slamming into the its bullheaded temple. Another quick slash cut across its cheeks, causing the Minotaurs mouth to fall unnaturally wide as it roared in pain.
The Minotaurs soulless eyes still raged a fiery orange at the whites, the incensed monster pressing on further with armor and hide drenched in its own blood. Just as it began to charge, however, one of its smaller comrades' bodies crashed into the beast, its chest goring onto one of its horns. The Minotaurs head jerked to the side, exposing its fur covered neck. Lightning mana radiating from my weapons, I sent my steel piercing through its neck. Flesh ripped from the Minotaurs neck pooling in a sickening pile of blood, having twisted my hilts pulling my weapon free and widening the wound. Turning toward the others, I found them waiting patiently beside the final unaccounted Minotaurs corpse.
*ding*
*Congratulations!*
You have slain (Minotaur Warrior Chief [Level 10]
Bonus experience awarded for slaying a stronger foe.
"Well, didn't know those existed." Barry said after a pause. Steve nodded in agreement as we looked over their monstrous corpses. As did I, however there was this nagging sensation I'd forgotten something relevant about these things. The itching suspicion pestered my brain until the sound of crackling flames broke through our renewed silence.
"Oh shit, the guys!" Barry yelled urgently, sprinting ahead and resuming our prior pursuit of the fire source. The familiar smell of smoke and burning wood only quickened Barry and I's paces through the forest. Eventually, the flames were visible above the trees.
In fact, a specific tree was engulfed in flames. A sentient one, adorning a massive reptilian shaped head made completely from tree bark and vines resembling that of concept arts made for dinosaurs. It stood at a towering 14 feet high on all fours, with the body shape of a lion. On its back sat two massive wings, made entirely out of leaves and foliage. Though, as it spun in burning agony, the leaves burning away in chunks revealed large thick branches serving as a skeleton.
Leaving Steve and Barry hiding 25 feet away behind the trees, I managed to crawl on my belly ahead of the group just enough to get off an Identify, my body prone under some fallen trees as heat radiated from the battle.
(Dryadic Chimera [Level 14])
I'd heard of both Dryads and Chimeras before, at the peak of my nerdier stage in highschool. Dryad's were revered sentient trees, while 'chimera' was just a term for multiple beasts combined into one. Its body burned a bright orange, yet it attacked its foe with reckless abandon regardless. Its snapping maw fired out a massive rope of vines around a tree overhead, giving it lift to glide just enough for another bite attack that leaked a massive purple cloud trailing behind. The attack looked promising, only to be met with a flaming claw that pierced and ripped its head to the side violently.
What creature was giving this chimera an absolute beat down? Only a 2 headed Wyvern radiating flames from its skin. Its tail had an extra set of claws at the end that waved the length of its body in the air.
(Wyvern of Raging Bedlam [Level 16])
My eyes followed the powerful beast in wonder, watching as it fired massive orange flames from its mouths, dousing the Chimeras body in one big breath. Its tail flew around its body, the claws at the end glowed the same fiery hue as they extended into the Chimeras body, ripping chunks of flaming bark.
The Dryadic Chimera dropped to all four knees in pain. Still, it showed no signs of giving up, lifting its head and spraying a cloud of purple mist at the fiery serpent. The Wyverns' face that was hit immediately began melting at its scales. The Wyvern roared into the air, flames purging the purple mist from its face.
Its claws ripped open the Chimeras jaw as it fell down from its hind legs, both of the Wyverns jaws opened as Flow clearly traveled from deep within its belly upwards. All at once, two smaller streams converged into one massive beam of orange energy blasted down the Dryadic Chimera's gullet. Its body charred and charcoal rapidly from the inside out before finally falling limp, the earth rattling a little as it did.
The Wyvern roared with both heads once more victoriously, flames shooting from its mouth into the air. My eyes shook and turned at the sheer decibels the beast's high pitched screech reached. It turned to take off into the sky before its nose wiggled in the air, its head lifting in response. Slowly, its head wrapped all the way around until its eyes rested, directly staring into mine.
Oh shit.
The Wyvern reared one of its heads back, its stomach forming Flow patterns working up its body. My eyes locked onto a nearby branch, firing my grappling hook and yanking hard as a massive ball of flames flew by behind me. The concussive blast of head propelled me forward as my grappling hook reeled hard. I yanked my arm hard to add additional momentum through the air. Returning my grapple to my wrist and rolling over the foliage, the Wyvern lifted into the air maintaining its piercing stare at me.
"RUN!" I yelled back to Barry and Steve as I took off toward the beach. The Wyvern shrieked behind me as I easily caught up with Barry.
"Your snake's already left!! Went back toward the beach!!" He bellowed, answering a question I hadn't even bothered asking myself yet. Frankly, good for Steve.
My focus on the beach and Steve momentarily distracted my wherewithal for Barry until the sound of massive flames projecting from the Wyvern overhead brought my attention behind me. Barry barely avoided most of the blast diving to the side, his arm nearest to it instantly charred having been hit with the splash of flames however. The Wyvern dove down for Barry as he screamed in pain.
Stupid bird.
My weight shifted back toward the Wyvern, leaping hard off the ground to meet its trajectory. My blades danced through the air with a white hot energy as a mana filled Lightning Strike flew for its nose. The beast barely spotted me before my blade made purchase, only to pierce a quarter of an inch deep and recoil off its scaly layers.
My body contorted around one of its heads from the energy thrown back into my shoulder, causing me to spin out and crash to the ground by its side. The Wyvern stomped hard, aimed to crush my skull. My feet barely pushed off the ground in time to spin away from its long clawed feet toward its belly.
The Wyvern rose onto its hind legs, revealing its bare belly that held far less layers of scales. A simple Flow Strike pierced much deeper into its stomach, dark red blood spurting from the wound as my blade exited. Another stab was already barreling for its belly when the Wyverns wings flapped hard, propelling it upward as a massive gust of wind threw me hard to the dirt.
One of the Wyverns mouths reared up for another flame breath while the other shot down its massive neck for a bite attack toward me simultaneously. Water Stance allowed me to dodge the surprise bite in time to avoid its path with relative ease. There was no time for another grapple, so I jumped and rolled to the side as fast as I could.
The other head unleashed its fire breath in a massive sphere of flames, emitting a concussive flash of orange flames that caught my ankle as it impacted the earth behind me. My leg instantly screamed in agony as the burns settled in my skin. The Wyvern was already about to land right on top of me, no doubt ready for a much weaker snack after its larger, more worthy meal.
Fuck it.
Seeing no choice, I activated Spirit of the Storm before Water Stepping away while still on all fours. My body fulminated with vibrant lightning mana while exploding into a deadsprint like an Olympic athlete, accompanied quickly by a terrible aching in my stomach. There was no time to be mindful of resources however, as the Wyverns relentless pace proved its lack of apprehension towards my massive boost in power.
My legs tapped and twisted faster than ever before, retreat Water Stepping at differing angles avoiding one heads bites and claws marginally well. The massive fireballs that punished making too much distance however, had narrowly incinerated me on multiple occasions along the way. One head would dart down for a chomp, earning itself a few counter Flow Strikes across its face whileI dodged, dislodging many of its weaker facial scales. The other head would wait for the opportunity to vomit another massive fireball that resembled a small sun in appearance, forcing me to dash away at full speed. The fireballs' concussive impacts onto the earth dispersed fragments of flaming stone, many smacking into my back and sides. All the while my skin began crisping and smoking from the inside out.
Every movement was torment, my muscles burning from to the bone marrow as I struck across its biting maw once more, overdrawing my energy for the boosting skill. The second wyvern head changed its tactics up and joined the prior, entering for a bite from the other direction. Another Flow Strike slashed across its eye, causing its head to turn in pain. Its skull still smashed into my body, throwing me through the air and onto the isthmus that led back to the ocean.
Lightning mana hummed all around me, its potent energy palpable in the sweat beading down my face. Yet, my muscles rebelliously refused getting back to my feet, the Wyverns massive outline bursting from the greenery it had launched me through. It briskly approached with hips swaying, both massive curved chins up to the sky indicating a level of intelligence high enough to exude arrogance. For good reason, as almost nowhere during our exchange did I find a single meaningful opening I had time or the range to attack through.
I can't beat this thing yet, it's too fucking strong. I have to just focus on defense.
'What is defense?' A familiar voice echoed Korbin's most cherished mantra during my early studies of water style fighting forms. The snake towered over me as I struggled to a knee. One of its heads lazily drifted down as it opened its mouth, the shadow over the sand inching nearer to my head.
Countering.
The lightning that encompassed my blades and body disappeared in a blink, replaced entirely with swirling water mana that spiraled and raged like a river around me. My hand shot up feeling the snake's hot breath turn the air humid around me. The water mana circulating around the blade clung tightly to the metal, sliding smoothly through the bottom of the Wyverns biting jaw, a loud sizzling stirred as blood shot out of its face. The beast growled showing signs of frustration, resuming its swiping attack at me.
'What is countering?'
My steel blades flashed with deeper blue afterimages with every strike, both blades slashing across the Wyverns incoming claw larger than my torso. Both sliced clean through the Wyverns fingers at its knuckles, leaving me untouched with the Wyverns claws detached at its side.
Aggressive defense.
The Wyvern yelped a shriek pain I'd yet to hear from the monster. Its other head flared angrily at me while the injured one exuded fire from its scales. Everywhere glowed a fiery blaze except where I'd stabbed into the beast, which streamed with blood. The fiery Wyvern roared madly as it spun its body around violently. Its tail was sweeping straight for me, prompting me to prepare another series of Watery Slashes when my body finally failed me.
The energy that swirled around me all dissipated into the air, my body falling limp under the Wyvern's tail smashing me across the ocean that bordered the isthmus. My spine bounced off the water surface before finally sinking into the sea. My vision had begun fading when the sensation of a scaly mass under my legs ignited a few moments of consciousness.
"Thanks, Steve."