————————————————————————————————————————
Fucking Tom. Honestly, why do I give him so much credit?
I've just barely reached the western giants settlement after leaving Garrin, Phoebe, and Becky with Korbin at the Elysium to finish their contracts. It didn't feel necessary, but Korbin insisted once he found out I left Tom unattended that I rushed back, even though I explicitly expressed his weak state. I was rushed out without another word before explaining the emergence of those undead gorillas, whose bodies were collected after our defense. The healer mentioned Tom was making strides she'd never seen before leaving for the Elysium, but I chalked that up to her not having experience in stronger individuals.
However, Korbin's paranoia proved merited, as the locals informed me Tom took Barry and Steve with him to that fucking island. Didn't Korbin explain to them the gravity of our intel? A new beast tamers' hawk flew overhead, and was quoted to have seen "innumerable mythological beasts of unseen strength". We weren't even to engage, only scout from a distance with my upgraded Identify skill, thanks to my last profession level up.
Instead, I'm sure Tom's over there right now fighting anything interesting with a pulse. He'd left behind a few sharks at the beach side facing the island for me, however I'd taken the ship from Savants Elysium around the western side of the Pylon facing the island, making his sharks more of an escort than anything.
Honestly, he chooses to be at his dumbest at the worst possible fucking times.
Memories of when Tom and Steve had first saved me, before Steve grew fucking wings surfaced to my mind. I'd been so abrasive, barricading the room I was in far too well, delaying my joining in exterminating those repulsive spiders that overwhelmed my…people. Tom's prowess in combat was undeniable, so much so I'd assumed him a calculated warrior unwilling to find himself in a bind he couldn't escape.
Instead, he'd proven himself impulsive with only his talents keeping his heart beating every day. Tom's eagerness to nurture his strengths was admirable, and his discipline to follow that path was just as reputable, no doubt. He just lacked…intelligence?
No, he wasn't an idiot per se, his creativity in battle had proven that plenty. From what he'd shared, wisdom was both his greatest pursuit and one of his higher natural stats, so it wasn't a lack of virtue. So, what exactly was he missing? Or better yet, what was I missing?
A bone chilling roar echoed from the island, cutting my contemplations short. A massive stream of flames peaked over the trees deep into the island, a mixture of anxiety and anger for my friend bubbling in my chest.
After 30 nerve-racking minutes of sailing slowly closer, my eyes narrowed focusing on the island's shore, past the many smaller islands scattered around it. A clump of tall reeds lining the southern edge I was approaching from blocked my view, forcing me to turn the ship at an angle to get a better look. As I brought it around, a large crash thumped behind me on deck.
Spinning around to meet the intruder revealed Steve, with Barry leaping from his back looking utterly panicked, his arm completely charred over dangling beside him.
"TOM! TOM'S FIGHTING A WYVERN! I-ITS GOT TWO HEADS, HE'S GOT NO CH-"
A terrible screech thundered through the air from much closer to the shoreline, sounding just around the mass of reeds I was trying to reposition to see past. Staring intently through the gaps in the reeds trying to make out the giant dark figure moving behind, a person-shaped blur flung from the greenery, ricocheting off the ocean surface before sinking below. Steve immediately slithered into the water chasing after what I could assume was Tom's corpse.
Soon after Steve emerged from the water, gliding overhead with Tom before spiraling down and landing on the side of the ship, sliding his body onto the deck. Tom's chest was still rising, but way slower than any healthy breathing pattern ought to.
"BARRY, grab the health potions from below deck right now, Steve help m-" Steve's eyes were locked toward the shore behind me. I turned the boat cranking the wheel around, I looked back myself to see why he'd frozen up. At the edge of the sandbar, standing high above the water stood a giant two headed Wyvern, waving its massive tail behind while it watched us float away intently. My eyes never left the monster as the ship turned around until we'd drifted fully out of view, headed back for our Pylon.
Barry eventually returned and helped me force the health potions down Tom's throat. His body was horribly burnt all over, similarly to the charred state it was in after the defense wave yesterday. However, the sheer quantity of burns and bursting bruises painted a far more painful picture. Lifting his shirt my hand grazed his side, his shattered rib cage moving along his skin with my finger.
"Tom, what the hell were you thinking?" I groaned, still forcing health potions down his gullet. His minor injuries healed over visibly, however he remained unconscious the entire ride back. Once Steve carried him back to the settlement, their healer glared like a hungry dog seeing Tom plopped back onto his bed. No doubt, all the healing of the unique ailments Tom's suffered here resulted in a great deal of experience for them.
Barry chugged away at his own health potion while he awaited the healer's assistance in the room beside Tom, where I thoroughly questioned him for all that occurred on the island. The mention of slaughtering Minotaurs was concerning given our recent mutual understanding with their leadership to leave each other be. Of course, there had to be plenty of different tribes roaming the tutorial, meaning he might've encountered Minotaurs separate from those we'd negotiated with. There was no need to jump to conclusions right now.
After an hour, the healer finally finished their work on Tom. Once again, his healing has already proven far and beyond their expectations for anyone his level. Except now, I believed them after taking a glance under the covers at his sleeping body. The bruises had already all but cleared, his ribcage already mending into place.
"There were traces of a scary mana type in his burns as well. My earth mana began reacting manically when contacted in small doses, indicating this type was meant to distort one's energy, or send them into disarray. Much of this mana congregated around his brain." The healer informed with a less than sympathetic tone.
"So, his mind's gone then?" I asked, as I felt pain welling in my chest. Not physical pain, the loss of a friend kind of pain.
"No, no far from it actually. It was the only area in his body it couldn't affect, other than his spirit." The healer added, cutting my sorrows off completely.
What?
"Wait, how does that make sense?" I asked, confused based on his description of the foreign mana.
"It doesn't. He's no mage, yet his resistance to such potent magical energy is unlike anything I've ever seen. I have no idea what your friends got going on but, my professional opinion? He's a tough fucking cookie." The healer had so expertly determined, with an astonished chuckle. Looking down at Tom, a smile crept over my face at the spitfire that was our best soldier.
"Oh, Tom. You're either one lucky son of a bitch, or we are."
——————————————————————
Day 17
My eyes fluttered open, coming too in the familiar hospital bed I'd spent the night in yesterday. My ribs ached, but the weakness and overall lethargy in my body was nothing compared to what it had been after the wave. It took a few minutes to realize I had absolutely no clue how the hell I got back to the Pylon, considering the last thing I remember was getting blasted by a fucking Wyverns tail into the ocean, and maybe Steve swooping me up. At the time, I feint my recall accepting I'd become fish food.
That damned Wyvern, how the hell were there beasts that fucking strong already? I assumed I'd gotten ahead of the global curve by a decent margin, with only the Tournament's top 10 to worry about. Now, I'm not so sure I'm even on par with the local wildlife, much less among the elites of earth.
Though, I suppose fighting a beast 6 levels stronger than you, which was more than a third of my total class levels, will hardly end well for most. All the same, that boosting skill helped me actually hurt that Wyvern pretty good, even if it took somehow focusing on my water affinity to the point of changing the nature of my twinblade strikes and mana type surging through them momentarily.
How the hell did I do that? The boost allowed for some damage to be feasible, yet it wasn't until I was nearly dead and swirling with pure water mana before I did any notable damage. It wasn't until my exhausted mind leaned on the water style fighters' mantra for defense that Korbin taught me.
"What is defense? Countering. What is countering? Aggressive defense. What is aggressive defense? Countering." Essentially meaning even defensive actions are to inflict damage, whether that be a strong knee to the attackers bones, or my own offensive strike interrupting or following theirs. Anything that ruins their offense and gives me my gaps to crash into.
Yet, that voice was definitely not Korbin's that finished the first line of the mantra for me. It sounded so damn familiar though, not invoking an ounce of concern after hearing it echo through my mind. I heard it somewhere, but couldn't quite put my finger on it…
Regardless, one factor of the fight during that pure water state was absolutely clear; I'd used a new skill. Those water slashes that removed its fingers felt entirely new to my body. Well, outside of my familiarity with water mana in general that is. It'd served as a resource for me up to this point, a wonderful energy I could soak up or expel during my Water Steps. The slashes I used were different though, feeling as easily malleable as the Lightning mana that typically surged through my twinblade.
Yet, no notification of a new skill arrived during my slumber. This wasn't the first time a skill was delayed to develop, having most of my early ones coming at the tournament after some meditation on their inner workings. Closing my eyes, I slowly swayed like waves along the sea entering Flow Meditation in hopes to jar up a new ability.
Obviously, in order to practice any skill, one had to replicate it first. That method was completely out of the question considering the water slashes occurred using my boosting skill in a way it hadn't been described to work in the first place. Unless, it absolutely worked to perfection?
The moment my energy switched had been the same in which my mindset had. I'd completely forgone any forms of initiating an attack after being tossed around by the superior fire breathing Wyvern. Yet, being pushed back hardly stopped me from pressing forward against any other foe up to this point. In fact, I had to be self conscious throughout many battles to remain disciplined in counter striking.
So why did I finally commit to countering? It wasn't fear, having made that beast bleed was all the confidence I needed I had a chance. Meaning, if he'd killed me then and there it was deserved, as we were comparable enough in power for neither party to truly be in the wrong. My loss would've been no one's mistake but my own. No, it was something else. I'm missing so-
"Ohhh well good morning sunshine!" Cassi blurted as she barged through the room interrupting my meditation before it could truly start.
"Hi, Cass…"
"Hey dumbass. What the hell were you thinking?! How many times are you going to nearly get yourself killed, you do realize you're an asset for this blossoming faction, right? Lives are at stake when you go out there fucking around, not just yours!" Cassi bellowed, laying into me fully. I had no words, knowing damn well she was correct in her assessments.
"…don't make me watch you die, Tom. You need to be more careful. Please." Cassi continued, her tone far more woeful than angry now.
Oh shit, she picked me up?!
"I'm sorry, Cassi. There's nothing I can really say, other than I'll try to be better. I know I need to be. I promise you that much." I answered, remorse crashing down like a tsunami of shame for having both jeopardized our developing little faction's futures, and worrying my friend needlessly all at once.
"You lived, which is good. But not for you for a while." She answered, stiffening her upper lip.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean no fucking around hunting alone unless I give express consent and, after this little stunt? Good luck with that." She snickered, her brow furrowed as her face wore her familiar devious grin. I sighed in annoyance.
"…fine. That's fair. I really do need to get stronger if shit like that fucking Wyvern exists though, and you didn't even see what it killed before it got to me. Don't tell me you're cutting me off from helping now?" I asked, trying my hand in politicking.
"Oh, I'd never dream of it. You'll have assigned regions between Pylons, however we'll be rather busy for the coming week. Korbin and Garrin, along with their respective gods have agreed to the terms of absorption into our faction, with the condition of seizing all other Giant Demigod factions Pylons in their region they've been at constant war with."
Perfect, more 'Giant' conflict.
"When will we leave for the next Pylon then?" I asked, eager to get a victory under my belt after getting slapped around thoroughly.
"Well, thanks to your little rogue mission with Barry, we're down our squad tank. I reached out to Korbin for a replacement, but he can't afford lending Lonni to us. However he does have an Enchanter he wished to train under our army's ranks. I guess he plateaued in his profession due to his low class levels. Apparently he was in the tournament with you and Korbin, so he won't be completely green." Cassi informed, her tone filled with clear indignation at the circumstances.
"Wait, where's Barry? How bad is it?" I asked, fearing for the worst hearing he couldn't join us in conquest due to the island trip.
"He's relatively fine, but his arm was completely charred from the top of his shoulder blade down, so he'll need time and routine healings to heal back his skin before he's fit to fight." Cassi reassured, her tone far softer in response to my rapidly compounding guilt.
"I just can't believe something can be so fucking tough already. If we all started out here roughly around the same time, then that abomination shouldn't be that powerful." I exclaimed in frustration. True, I learned not to just throw my weight around which I suppose is valuable. However, it didn't make any sense based on the rules I'd been given. It didn't seem fair.
"Well, that islands certainly not typical. Weird shit goes on just across its waters, from the insanely strong beasts we dealt with, to those undead from the wave defense. By the way, we had them autopsied back at the Elysium. Most of them were ruled to have died only a few days apart from one another." Cassi said, her eyes shooting up at the memory of the zombie studies. She looked at me expectantly, though I had no clue why.
"Okay? So they're new I guess?" I said, trying to guess whatever she was trying to get at. Her shoulders dropped disappointedly before she finally just told me.
"No. It means they're turning people and beasts alike actively. As in with purpose."
"Right, I mean that makes sense. At least according to old zombie 'rules'. They bite for food, you join their team." I deduced, recalling old secret movies I'd watched as a child that I most certainly should not have.
"No. It doesn't. You ran into human zombies, right? What were they doing when you got there?" Cassi inquired.
"Uh, well really nothing. They were wandering around the Pylon settlement until me and Lonni showed up." I said, recalling our first encounter with the undead.
"Right, and they didn't leave the area even though there wasn't food. They just let people come in, or didn't bother to think of it in the first place then, correct?" Cassi continued, now only providing me with more questions as she expanded her own.
"Alright, if these zombies are acting with more intent, then what's making them?" I asked, now feeling a bit peeved at the predicament.
"EXACTLY, Tom. There's something else that's causing them to work with such a purpose. Possibly even someone." Cassi offered, her eyes trailing away in thought.
"I'm not sure, but we won't know until we leave the settlement walls. Any idea when that Enchanter trainee is supposed to show up?" I asked, having grown tired of the 'what if' game.
"Soon. The carrier bird's message came while I was busy saving your ass. He's traveling with Garrin, Phoebe, and Becky, so I'm sure they won't delay returning home," Cassi replied, before looking me up and down.
"You look like you need a little rest anywhere there, champ. Two near death experiences in less than 7 days, how do you feel?" Cassi smugly asked, adopting an old time reporter's tone.
"Well to be honest Cass, the first one never really hits you I don't think. But uh, you know I came out for the second one swinging, and I can't be upset with the grit me and my team showed out there. Just need better execution." I replied, leaning into her feigned interview further. We couldn't help bursting out with laughter, cackling at our own stupidity.
"Listen, I'll inform you when everyone arrives. Once they're here, we'll regroup and make our timeline. Just don't leave the settlement until I say so, and everything will be fine. Okay?" Cassi instructed with a pleasant smile.
"I won't, but where's Barry staying? I want to check on the big man." I said pulling my legs free from the covers and placing them on the cold floor. They decided to undress me this time, most likely to check for physical wounds. My legs felt stiff but otherwise fine as I got up to gather my belongings.
"He's in the room next door, but do be careful please. We can't afford losing another big player out here, especially if the overall power scale is tipped so high. There's little telling what we'll find." Cassi implored as she headed for the exit.
"Okay, okay I'll be cool, I swear. Don't worry about it." I reassured hoping to settle her suspicions of me bailing again.
"Right, because it's so unbelievable you'd fuck around and get yourself hurt. But, thank you." Cassi replied as she left through the door, back out into the settlement.
After throwing on my clothes and grappling hook, I snagged my twinblade from the wall and headed next door. My body wasn't nearly as sore as I felt it ought to be, and I was on restriction for my antics. As a result, I figured I'd camp out with Barry until everyone got back from Savants Elysium. Entering his room, the Giant was reclined on his bed with a hand behind his head. The other was hung up by a few bandages from the roof at his side. It was completely black with pus-dripping scabs across his burnt flesh.
"Hey buddy, how you feelin'?" I asked sheepishly, knocking on Barry's already open door.
"Burnt out, for a lack of a better term." Barry answered with a chuckle, sounding far more lax than he typically did.
"Yeah I'm sorry I got you hurt, man. I never meant to put you in any danger we couldn't handle." I said, guilt building higher in my chest looking at his arm.
"Don't be. There's a level of certainty I've developed after fighting that beast that my brothers couldn't have survived. While that may sound terribly disappointing, and it is, it's also quite freeing to know they're not suffering." Barry remarked with a grin I'd yet to see him wear.
"I'm glad you feel that way, but is everything okay Barry? You're acting a bit giddier than usual." I pointed out, noticing he'd yet to look me in the eye.
"Oh, well, turns out healing past your health bar can feel pretty damn cool but, messes with your motor functions or whatever. Healers been treating me real good." Barry answered, a slight mumble indicating the constant healing somehow served as a sort of depressant.
He's high.
"I get you buddy. Say no more, I'll leave you to your recovery process if you'd like." I offered, not wanting to kill his buzz.
"No, no stay please. I might doze off here or there but, I could use the company." Barry answered, waving his gold hand over. Not willing to look for another place to rest, I plopped beside his bed on the floor and entered meditation. His snores nearly snapped me from my trance, however I'd gotten pretty good at maintaining a stable stilled mind from meditating so often.
Most of my thoughts dwelled on that damn Wyvern. More importantly, that water slash. There had to be a way for me to unlock using that skill, I just had to familiarize my body with it. Standing up, I entered Flow Meditation while performing some old Tai Chi I used to do. It helped with getting in touch with both Flow and many water techniques before I had mana to help tap into these concepts easier. Slowly, my body swayed as I threw variations of unarmed combination attacks, my eyes shut the entire way.
Focusing on using water style forms, my body slowly started familiarizing with the water mana in the air around me exclusively, the energy whirling and crashing around my body. My hands felt almost weightless waving through the air, my pace naturally picking up.
The mana began burrowing into my skin, which I willed to receive with open pores and arms. Finally, I felt myself latch onto the water mana that converged in my body, feeling it become completely obedient to my commands to travel along the Flow of my strikes and movements, amplifying my speed and power in my attacks immensely.
*ding*
Finally.
Relieved to finally achieved the skill, I opened my notifications to review its details and…
*Congratulations!* You've upgraded a class skill!
Water stance (common) - +3 agility +3% perception when in perpetual motion using this stance
-6% debuff endurance after deactivation.
->
Fluidic Fighters Stance (rare) - your endless quest to unify the perpetually oiling concepts within has formed a drop of mutuality in an otherwise sea of violent discord. Your spirit has bonded your Water and Flow mana enough to utilize both in concert while skill is active, increasing its potency exponentially.
+6 agility, +6 wisdom, +3% perception
(all when in perpetual Flow)
-6%. De buff endurance and willpower for a period after deactivation
Now, I could pretend like I have any right to be upset with this skill upgrade. Having an extra 3 added to agility when activated was already quite the boon, but now the added wisdom bonus was like having my favorite candy served after cake. I never dreamed of requesting such an addition, but damn was it sweet. Especially given the experience had apparently pushed my class level over the edge.
*Congratulations!* You have upgraded your Class!
[Storm Strider (Level 8)]
->
[Storm Strider (Level9)]
+3 agility, +3 endurance
+1 free point
I knew I'd received plenty of experience from that monstrous boss filled wave a few days ago, and had hoped I was at the precipice of another upgrade. Lo and behold, one of my theories finally proved correct. Proudly, I tossed my extra skill point into willpower. After the small rush of elation feeling what can only be described as inward expansion however, I pondered exactly how much experience a skill upgrade afforded.
It wasn't exactly a great metric of reference, considering I jumped right over the uncommon rarity. I assume that's due to interpolating Flow, which was only growing easier to do. It's my wonderful Water affinity I'd had to really hone in on to even maintain, let alone progress. There's also the fact I'd get to really upgrade any skills since the tutorial began, adding the possibility of a first time boost. All the same, I still managed to be a little peeved not having earned the water slash skill yet.
About an hour elapsed before a soldier came in and summoned me on behalf of Cassi to the settlement entrance. Saying my goodbyes to a groggy Barry before he received another round of healing, I headed for the front gate. Cassi was discussing something with Phoebe when I'd caught up to our army's reunion. Phoebe spotted me, flicking her chin up prompting Cassi to turn and face me as well.
"Well well, I heard you got busy almost dying again while we were away?" Phoebe teased, though my retort was cut off having seen her new leather armor and cowl.
"I see Korbin gave you a little more than a beast tamer class. I take it he likes you?" I countered, after inspecting her armor thoroughly.
"And here I thought you were staring me up and down because the new leather just looked good on me." Phoebe teased back, brushing her hair to the side sarcastically.
"Where's Becky? I was curious if she got a new class from becoming your beast." I asked, genuinely curious.
"With Steve I imagine. Yeah, she got a little boost in power, but nothing too crazy. It's the fact that she levels my profession and her access to wind affinity skills that's insane, not to mention how easy it is to travel now." Phoebe answered excitedly, also peaking my interest at the mention of an adopted affinity.
"You two can geek out about your pet snakes later. The sooner you meet our new tank, the sooner we can head out for the next pylon." Cassi interrupted, pointing her head over to follow her which I did reluctantly.
"So what do we know about this guy's fighting ability? He's got to be decent if he's going to sponge our damage out there?" I asked as we weaved through the mingling soldiers catching the top few of the first 15 eater druids up on the last few days.
"Korbin's note mentioned he had crazy potential due to his affinity and natural ability." Cassi answered.
"What's his affinity?" I asked, curiously.
"I guess 'void magic'? I didn't know it was a thing, but there was no further explanation on that. Nor did Korbin say whether he possesses more than one affinity." Cassi answered.
Void magic, huh? That sounds pretty cool.
"Did he even say how he fights?" I asked, astounded at the lack of information Korbin provided.
"Well, a little. He said the enchanter was annoying to fight because the guy can practically teleport." Cassi answered, stopping me in my tracks.
"What?"
Cassi clearly didn't hear me, continuing forward and tapping a large man's shoulder, a massive purple and black halberd on his back. The man turned around, revealing an oh-so familiar smug face.
"Tom, this is our new tank, d-"
"DERRICK?!"