It was not the first time she faced his wrath, nor would it be the last. She boldly rushed forward, matching his fury with her own.212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj3sQ4yXNO
Terra's dad had been training her for months with two hammers to teach her how to overcome the brute force and speed of a raging beast. As a former berserker, he knew what it took.
Even now, if she lost focus and gave in to fear and hesitated, he would break her like so many times before.
Swoosh…
The hammer skimmed her face, a light brush versus the skull-shattering impact if she was a split second late.
Swoosh… swoosh… BANG
She dodged between the strikes, trying to close the distance from his massive reach before being forced into blocking the last hit.
She pulsed mana slightly in the shield to push the arms of the beast of a man back, creating an opening as she watched the steel glint in his red eyes as he focused on taking her down.
Yet just as quick as it came, her opening to strike went away as she watched a slight earthy tone cover his flesh.
He used his earth blessing to counter her move and proceeded to swing down with both hammers at full force to end her.
BANG BOOM…
The hammers slammed into her block, yet she held. The reverb from the impact made a sonic boom, and the force made an indent of her slightly in the ground.
While the backlash pushed him back slightly, just enough for her to try pulsing more mana into her shield once.
The effect once more knocked his hammers back, and this time unbalanced him, even with him reinforcing his body with earth mana.
Yet before he could counter with anything else, she rushed forward, closing the distance, slamming the shield into his chest, and pulsing mana twice more in rapid succession into her shield, draining her slightly from repeated burst use.
The first pulse he braced against and took easily, barely moving him in the ground before her.
Yet the second pulse of reverb in his body was too much to hold, and it threw him back, breaking his defense and smashing him backward into a roll.
"I yi-eld chi-eld" the beast spoke calmly from the ground, pulling himself up as she drew deep breaths, covered in sweat and drained from the mana used. Finally, it was over.
A cheer from the side made her smile. "U kep gettin butter Lun!" As the big girl ran up and hugged her, before the joy she expressed turned to a frown " U smell thu "
She could not help but laugh at her bluntness. After all these months of fighting and training, she was used to her bites.
Her dad moved in close, also covered in dirt and sweat, and slapped her side, wanting to share in the pride of her win.
"Like mu secund daughter I'm prud of u" She felt that pride going from time to time again, him breaking her, pushing her to the edge… Yet now?
She held her own more often than not and won.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGJj4y6kYc
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVkiP2jwgW
She felt he still held back at times, but less for concern of her feelings and more for not wanting to kill her with random strikes…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9Pm5iMeev
The last strike at her head was a rare, dangerous one that she wasn’t sure she could heal from. Her rare healing magic was good, but she never had to test a skull smash that big….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtPLRXHMri
They kept potions thanks to her brother as a fail-safe, but magic or not, nothing was absolute…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUp9mxc9Xz
She was happy with how far she came with Terra's dad training her and Terra's support. She felt blessed to share in their lives. She knew, though, that the dad loved a good fight. Their passion was really blacksmithing, and she kept it up from then on with the long training…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVl7icriCF
Yet neither seemed to mind; perhaps, like her, it gave them something more in life. She wasn't sure where she'd go from here after no more training.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlhywMFPdH
With the excitement of the morning training ending, they all agreed to clean up before the real adventure could start with her friends. She borrowed a shower from there so she could start the long-awaited dungeon hunts!
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWL4l1lsFX
Terra surprised her with a gift before they left that she had been working on in secret for months: a sturdy set of leather boots with wind enchant. She said, I can hold my own but still needed to be able to rush the front lines or fall back quickly; this will help with that.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl0tn1udsX
She warned me to control the mana flow, as it had a kick but needed to be used to really get how it feels…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQjU7MJ12r
I was humbled but planned to give back with the mana crystals so it no longer felt like begging for free things, like when they first met all those months ago…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoDy7gNHJD
Well, that and Terra and her dad now felt like extended family, so it felt more like a gift of love than a handout too.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKBh2ZD6IF
It took a lot of bickering and planning to get the cast and team together and moving forward from their daily tasks…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjuMsjr7vE
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gbLuv8Zqc
But now we were finally gathered and ready to run dungeons. It seemed everyone kind of lost interest and kept having their own life issues… Where was the joy for the hunt and exploring something new?
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fqgycs8RU
Only Coby and Terra were really supportive. Nina and Arlin wanted to do other things than fight…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIzzL6709h
I had to explain again we're a team, and we need to see how far I've come, or why was I training this whole time…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP9cqdwsO2
Nobody disagreed and even tried to show support, but it felt hollow after their lackluster response to even going to the dungeon…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vupLKXZsZ
We manage to make it to level 3 of the dungeon fairly easily, a good sign, and start…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS4fBjc0cH
Level one was so mundane, as it never changed its layout of a normal cave, and was so traveled by all that beyond the random person coming or going, there was nothing to see, much less find…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUFpe0LCoP
But level two was at least interesting in its random new layout.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkG9Z2lpJE
This time it was a calm forest with a lot of herbs and berries. We had a light snack from there. Everyone seemed to be having fun, but I kept it brief as we came to hunt, not gather… Coby kept tracking for us and assured us it was safe. Even as we found the door, nothing happened, to my relief.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIHAMZOlNB
Yet now in level three? It was a vast plain with random slopes in terrain, or there would be nowhere to hide for us or them, assuming there were any monsters.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrTGdpohNG
I turn to Coby, who already knew the drill and checked. Surprising all was how close the door to the next level was; it was a mere few hundred feet away, with nothing stopping us from going beyond…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZPJ7AIzeX
We could even see the door clearly if we looked for it embedded in the distance of a small mound…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi4jqZ5TuD
I wasn’t sure if it was a trap or a choice, as this would mean those that stayed knew and were looking for a fight… At least that's what I assumed was the gods' intent.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdbEuYkYli
I voice my desire to stay and search for a fight, as the deeper we go, the more we risk.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbclBz3wEov
“Dunno why we have to fight. Do we need these mana crystals that badly?” Arlin asked, “I did not want to waste my day off for this…”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUMmqaMa6u
“Dun be luk thut U gut me !” Terra tried to cheer him up, which seemed to just get a glare versus support from him…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZmqgCi3NG
I watched to see how others felt. Nina was bored, and Coby nodded to me, which made me smile, getting some support.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d9NJZti8B
“We’re a team, we fight,“ I said with a finality everyone just got somber and accepted it.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXZGG0lJUW
Why is everyone treating this like a bad thing…?
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ1a988Og4
Coby guided us deeper into the plains. He used his wind gift to sense things beyond us and said he could see five monsters in the wind with his mana sight. three close to us and the other two much farther… I thank him for his insight as we focused on the closer set.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhmYgTuu4m
As we climbed a nearby hill, we saw them, those monsters Coby mentioned before… There was a goblin-looking thing with a staff with two bouncy blue slimes nearby.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdvtdczHAq
“Seems simple enough…” I said, watching from there, but even in the distance I saw the smile on the face of the goblin… There was a trap… I knew it.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR71KS9FtbE
“This is to open… Too easy, it's a trap.” I said, making my thoughts clear.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6l7vtn61M
“Really?” Arlin squinted and looked around, not agreeing.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEYZoNGXsN
“I feel things in the earth but don’t see anything there?” Nina replied, Confused?
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt0pJTqEAd
“I scouted as best I could. There’s nothing hiding, I can sense …” He looked conflicted as he hated missing a trap.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDc8wBHKSO
Terra was getting tired of all the talking….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HYBiDp5yp
“We came tu fight su less fught” She drew her hammers, limbering up, getting ready to bolt.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJRuUSnq2e
I wanted to assure the team, A trap or no, we got this, but actions spoke louder than words, so as I spoke… I kept it brief.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vCdTLSbtX
“Give me a second to go first,” I asked before anyone moved.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUGKtigrPE
“If it’s a trap and I get surrounded, I can hold my own, but if anyone is near me?“
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G3XDf7F7W
“Friendly fire,” Coby said, slowly understanding he always tried to watch his shots, but with unknown variables, he did not want blind fire, wind mana guiding shots or not…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Voohsw0fq
“Whatever, we got this… Have a little faith. We've done this before.” Arlin still was treating this like a game despite all they had been through…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEDkydPZ2T
Nina smiled. Sadly, I felt bad I pulled her into this. I forgot how little she wanted this. She really was happier at home…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n3WQxcWFJ
I breathe in deep and out slowly.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9tv0BhFi6
“Trust me.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeCNw83jbi
“ We got this; follow my lead. I will cover our faults.” With those words I rushed and saw the surprise in the goblin’s face despite the distance from us…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KXsTDOtJP
Did it think we would all come as one? Or was it surprised I foolishly came alone…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKL84W6TFW
Time and time again she was not allowed to think in past battles, forced to react while the monsters gained control, so now she would return the favor tenfold…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79Ffhr9uz7
I wasn’t going to wait to see their thoughts, as I learned fortune favors the bold. Since I got the new boots, I wanted to see how well they worked…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabufc7uucV
There was still a good distance between them, with plenty of time for it to cast many spells…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WqZAv3FJF
So closing the gap before the goblin could, or whatever the trap was, she would stop them first…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5ZLHuJxMC
She pushed mana into the boots for the first time, not sure what to expect, and the next step after she touched the ground launched her forward, and she flew, closing the distance…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7JdTrtUn8
She would’ve screamed at the sudden rush of speed and distance being closed if the slime near the goblin by fluke or twist of fate did not move just enough to block her from slamming into the shocked goblin’s face…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Kdy1cBhgs
She slapped its jelly body with an odd smack. It did not hurt so much and disorient her from the sudden shift to stop. She could feel the body about to bounce her back and would throw her sprawling on the ground.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZumQ44cZF
Yet instinct from all her battles kicked in, and she pulsed mana into her shield first, which pushed the force of her impact deeper into the slime instead of her and sent the slime rocketing now into the goblin, who was still in a state of shock at the absurd flying girl moments before….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDAcqABm0V
So now instead of her tumbling backwards, flying away in shame from slapping the slime from her failed flying attack…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0EMKW2xy1
The slime now smashed the goblin backwards, making it skid before tumbling into a roll on the ground, stunning her into inaction as that wasn’t the plan…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt0ckvbUgq
She heard laughter as Terra and Nina caught up, full of cheer. Even Arlin was singing her praise. As they quickly and quiet easily smash the poor single smile that was watching the event unfold….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj9DqQ2cf3
The other slime that she hit before burst soon after hitting the goblin, leaving a stunned, wheezing goblin trying to recover with no allies….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0baYMVj4Uo
She did not want cruelty merely to end a hunt and was debating on killing it herself or allowing another…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVSXLfVsp0
Yet she remembered the feeling of a trap and wasn’t going to let it recover to hurt her friends, so she was about to rush it when the goblin wheezed odd words.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3P07fb1CX
“Reinee!” The goblin gasped between breaths. The words made no sense, but she saw four sets of hands pulling out of the ground, reaching for them…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EzBzvtjr1
“THE GROUND MOVE!” She tried to warn them, but the time it took for her to speak and for them to register the words, only she moved in time….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryCToJ4dJr
Arlin, when grabbed, quickly turned to shadow mist and escaped easily.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKulGMnwzJ
Nina, when grabbed, was indifferent, as she soon broke free with little effort, as the hands seemed to be made of rocks, and she shifted them off her with her power.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC8DO1Na66
Even Terra did not struggle to break free; in fact, she welcomed the challenge, laughing as she used her hammers to smash the hands free of her legs, surprising me how everything was being handled so easily…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhtoYzEDDj
The hands from the earth, knowing their plan failed, soon rose to full form from the ground as rock golems trying to shift the battle since the surprise attack they tried failed.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iSq0tfQPN
I did not trust the goblin not to add to the fight and went to finish it.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYD7E7GJLn
Yet it seemed I needed not worry; it was down, dead, with three arrows in its chest, making me smile. Coby was always watching, even now…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWlWO7HxwS
Terra was having a field day as everyone watched in amazement as she showed why she was her father's child and should be feared as much as her father was as a berserker…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyQYlOOZHu
She flared her fire mana within her hammers and herself, boosting her strength and speed, and she bellowed more laughs of joy as the golems were no match for her mad fury, the flames of her hammers matching the red of her eyes, a furious look for the usually lovely girl who was now all warrior.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmvnhb78Ev
Smash, smash, smash the hits, seeming to have no effect at first… As she danced and weaved, endless strikes to the slow-moving fists of the golems that could land no strikes while hers rained endlessly till….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpieJSLABR
BOOM… BOOM… BOOM… BOOM…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTLXO3q8Oy
The bursting of the rock golems' stone form happened soon after in a sequence as she fed flames within their core frame with every strike…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3HRZbmhxl
Everyone stood back, partly to avoid rock shards and to not add confusion to the fight. This was Terra's moment to shine, and they let her have it…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7MjxgaU7m
I watched to make sure no surprises came, even as the thundering of the hammer rained down, mixed with the laughter of her joy of victory…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMc661eKhC
So I calmly kept watch as others enjoyed the spectacle.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6LwCg6gar
“U see thut arlun? I gut em gud!” Arlin could not stay sour; even he was impressed with the feat and gave her rare praise, which made her blush with pride at finally winning his acknowledgement, even if only a little.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSakgYjqrM
Coby came closer to me, assuring me the other two beasts were still far away. He also apologized for not knowing about the trap, feeling he let me down…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCTh52bpIP
I returned the favor and assured him he did more than enough and made sure to also thank Nina for trying to warn us with what she did know.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nNeN2PYua
I felt we all did good and once more wished they wanted to stay a team…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbRfoix5Ad
We searched for our prize among the fading bodies. There were only two crystal gems despite the number of monsters we fought, but Terra, still flushed with joy from the victory, sobered quickly seeing one of the two crystals.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz7ZacKMj4
“Thut a rare une “ she said, pointing at one of the two Coby held from gathering.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCUlp4zFQ3
“Level three wuter gem, any chunce I cun huve it?” I wasn’t sure why she was asking; she was usually much more forceful, and she gave me plenty… Plus, this was a long overdue payback for what she gave me, even though she said my debt had long since been paid.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrQ1LAojBz
“I plan for you to have all the gems. Was that not what we all agreed to ?” I looked at the other but only saw bored indifference. It seemed nobody cared much about mana gems, not even me.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4JV3PYcnV
Yet Terra gave me a sour look as if I tried to scam her out of a meal…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0dJ3mdbt7
“U all dun knuw whut u given freely,” she points at the crystal.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAURfYZ5cWO
“Wuter level three is rure wurth lut money.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMClDlHOC5d
“It culd puy fur hulf the thungs in my shup”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymxWYzBsoc
“It cun heal and cure poisons; nu magic needed.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVc0dbIEAM
“So it heals and cures passively ?” I asked, and she nodded eagerly. Everyone looked mildly interested with the talk of worth, but nobody wanted greed over friendship, so they kept quiet…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawldmHx7sb
Coby spoke first, breaking the building tension: “I came to hunt, not for profit, plus you helped my sister when she needed it, so this, to me, is a debt paid.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze4k6Ks7Gh
“I just want to see my brother…” Nina said plainly, looking bored once more despite the battle just fought, and I and Terra could not help but laugh at her earnestness, which made Nina laugh, tail wagging, enjoying the moment.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMCJxMARDb
That just left Arlin. As we watched him, he was lost in thought until he saw all eyes on him, and he panicked. “What? I’m not greedy. I never wanted it either… I also was just here to help.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfZYKHDS5b
He looked away, abashed. “I was just thinking about what I was going to do when this was all over, is all…”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0sswBJHyJ
I did wonder why he felt defensive, but Terra beat me to it, trying once more to win his heart… Yet he shifted to a shadow mist, running to me, avoiding her completely, and souring Terra’s good mood a bit.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY7eAFfgHJ
I wanted to end this on a high note, so I tried to regain control.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡialynaWQKo
“Let’s hunt the last two since nobody wants to keep being a team. It’ll be our last hurrah.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatBGhfk8Iv
Arlin looked uncomfortable at my side but spoke clearly, surprising me: “ I still want to see you, just not fight…” He looked up, noticing what he said, and panicked.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K67HhW6Df
“ALL OF YOU”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGgqXaCLNa
“We’re a team! Doesn't mean we have to be a team that fights…“. He looked around, still in a bit of a panic, trying to find the right word…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OilqNogZ5
“FRIENDS,” he shouted as if he figured it all out in between his rambling….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMQaa19tbr
“We’re friends… I just don’t want to fight.” He looked desperate seeing Nina's indifference. Even now he clung to that. “Nina, you agree, right?”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY4xm3D5gq
She looked over at him skeptically but took pity and relented. “He’s right. I never wanted to fight. I hate magic.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J4vRa2rnG
“I do it for you guys…”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPuuLFjlzu
Looking to the side, concern now etched my face. How much did people despise this life? She saw Coby conflicted…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO58JGIzKdJ
He saw me and shrugged, seeing I wanted an answer. He spoke, “I like to hunt, but more to protect the town than for random killing, so I understand both sides. I’m neutral on this really…”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslYxW7Io5Y
She was going to sigh and say it was all right till Terra spoke, startling her, forgetting she did not say her piece…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLrm1vSfmI
“I luke to fught but I luke to luve too!” She definitely focused on Arlin with those words as she went on…212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhT7LAzbV8
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0MAM16f6K
“If I gut a choice? I du buth!” She laughed at her joke. I smiled to be polite. I did not feel the same joy knowing we were divided and not united in a desire to hunt.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eLQaIA4W6
“Thank you all for helping me grow,” I said calmly now that all had said their piece.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSd7LBPrNLl
“We will always be friends; that doesn't change… But it seems we don’t all want to fight, so we won’t be a team that fights. I still want to go on, but we can end it here.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnDcfzpvU3
Everyone agreed one more fight to end on a high note was better than just walking away, but to take it slow lest they bring misfortunes.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUQ79D9RNR
The travel was simple, and they were able to see the monster even in the distance, yet unlike before, it seemed these monsters would not wait for them to strike…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6d6H7N101
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2HWgtpC9V
They were smaller versions of the boulder monster they fought so long ago, but their shell tops looked different. One swirled with water; it was still and watching. The other was almost translucent and moving erratically as if not able to sit still…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmS0ICFGz4
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV06cJqKMR
We only had enough time to notice those details when a fist-sized water ball flew by them…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekT1yuCPMB
I wanted to comment on a plan, yet four more flew soon after two hit Arlin and the other two barely missed Coby and Nina as we tried to scatter…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbnoZ0mIJu
“AAAHHH,” Arlin shouted from the hits, stumbling to the side to avoid being the focus…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhknDBCCrJ
I reach to heal Arlin. It seems the force was enough to fracture bone even at this distance, so how bad would it be point-blank?
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPbqq7sKaa
My light blessing easily counters these hits. Yet mental exhaustion was starting to hit me from training today plus these battles, and even if my mana recovered quickly, it still ate at me…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGgfZIDgAT
I did not think I would feel it so soon. After months of pushing myself, I thought I would get better at avoiding mana drain…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJjD8QCC4M
Maybe it was healing others vs. myself that did it, as I suffered more in training and healed easily, never feeling the drain, yet healing Arlin drained me?
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24ueglwg6H
I knew I needed to focus and get the team moving, so I shouted orders to the team…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfOSUdGNHS
“ Keep moving, follow my lead.”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAK73S9zIF
“Coby, don’t stand still unless you're sure you're not a target.“
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhhIozIuLy
I flared my mana in my boots and once more almost tumbled and hit my face, underestimating what the wind boots did as the angle of my feet as it pushed me forward was throwing off my balance…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEc1WUwOI7
Last time it was the speed that threw me forward that caused me fear and panic, yet now?
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SUo2h8UBs
As I pushed forward, I used a little too much mana and was not just shooting forward anymore; now it was also up!
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXq1NXpnm5
The sheer height as I flew through the air… was awe-inspiring. I was learning quickly how much mana to push into the boots did not just affect speed but also granted flight… Well, big jumps.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpreFrDJAj
The view was amazing. I was ten feet in the air, flying forward, but as quickly as I was amazed at the versatility of the boots, it shifted to panic when the truth hit…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcco6u4EBi7
I literally painted a hit me sign on my face while flying forward midair… as a volley of water balls soon greeted me as if to prove my case…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP9TuGUfHg
I never tried reinforcing earth mana in my shield to make me solid while flying forward midair… But there's always a first…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQHf6rktDS
So I shrank my body as best I could behind my shield and reinforced the earth mana, making me solid….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6rOjtzDiP
Turning me into a flying cannonball right into the monster’s face…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXY7HAl0gu
I felt the impact of the water balls, but they slid harmlessly off my shield, and I probably would have been a devastating attack smashing into the beast if not for the erratic second monster countering my daring move…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCXJXsn2eu
It flared, the wind throwing me off course. My back was now to the water beast as I flew past its side, and I released the mana to allow me to reorient myself.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBjqMb8itb
Doing the best I could to skid sliding to a stop vs. flying face first hitting the ground…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Q183YAQx
Even though it was all happening in seconds, the beast was already firing new water blasts at me.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBebu22JTuT
I was able to adjust and block most of them from hitting me, mostly hitting the shield, but one did smash my leg, breaking it… though I heal as quickly as it broke. It reminded me of all the time I spent with Terra's father, a familiar pain I never forgot…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeCl0Vsk94
It made it clear to me how dangerous this water beast was if I was not a powerful healer or if I was not close to healing others…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX3CnQ6H5i
I was sure the wind beast would rush in for the kill the moment anyone showed weakness when they were in the broken state… a deadly combo…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOOUxuTFIh
I watched as an arrow flew past the water beast, the wind one still covered for its partner…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62AzTQvDv3
Yet as Nina and Terra got close, it was now too much for it to keep us all from turning the tide…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnW8M2fu2j
The wind beast lost focus on who to target when it tried to blow Nina and Terra back, and Arlin, from the shadow of its side, repeatedly stabbed spikes into its side, confusing it into a panic.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMeonYvKbw
The water beast tried to help, but Nina pulled up a rock wall, blocking its line of sight and allowing Terra to get close, smashing it, confusing it as it wasn’t used to being hit versus the wind beast blowing everything away.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlESVyhe4ut
I burst with wind boots flying past Nina and Terra over the rock wall. I needed to make sure Arlin was ok. He drew blood on the beast, but the beast was far from dead and kept lunging at him…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hw4ZAFmrt
He was desperately shifting to mist and avoiding the strikes but was tiring from the shifting …
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXColQwwZT
I landed nearby, trying to focus …
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFrHWL8xPQ
I watched as the beast was learning and timing its next strike to where Arlin was coming out of the mist and was lunging for his body to bite.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVp0bLoiGG
I push wind into the boot to fly forward, slamming into its side, tipping it a bit, combined with its wounds sustained before it went into a blind rage, panicking from the pain, forgetting it attempted to bite Arlin.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTdOsnNqz5
I pulse my shield into its side, shattering its ribs as it rages on, coughing blood. Arling tries to pull the monster's head with shadow vines, but it snaps free easily and knocks him to the ground, about to be trampled…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCocOBec86J
I rushed to his side and reinforced my shield… Seeing the shock and shame in his face, I focused on being a wall for both of us…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgB3jPKqoI
STOMP… BOOM… ROAR… STOMP…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2DfNwCOm4
As the random stomps slam into us, a few strike past before I notice it was disoriented, moving away with a few arrows now in its side and face…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3SUqs9bnD
I took the chance to rush forward, slamming the tip of my blade deep into its head, finishing it with a smooth grace.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuqpEaksMW
Yet there was no victory for us; the water version still lived… Or so I thought. Nina and Terra were both excited, cheering. It seemed they worked well as a team.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm5D9hKgHq
Unlike me and Arlin….
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUOEGevnK1
I saw him still shamed and annoyed; he was mad not to have been able to show off like the others, especially if this was our last fight…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDbTOKvLy4
“This is the crap I’m tired of,” Arlin said, still sour but leaving it at that. I wasn’t sure how to comfort him but still tried…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0TJ34XICO
“You did good wounding its side. We work well as a team.” I smiled and extended my hand. He looked very annoyed.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9nsO47KMp
“Whatever, it’s over.” I wasn’t sure why he was upset. Not being a hero? Even I made a lot of mistakes but did not want to say such things…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTn1vr8AWQ
As the beasts faded, Terra cheered, as it seemed the gods favored us this day, dropping two level two crystals, wind and water.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0R7Q8E6yi
Add in the last mana crystal from before, which was a level one earth beside the level three water Terra wanted to claim.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVydPMEdK1i
“We got a total of four…” I said to the group, Now that we've won,
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYF1Z5jZSV
“I know I said Terra gets them all, but if this is our last battle…” I looked away, not wanting to seem indecisive.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5nCAL5fIC
I was conflicted, not wanting to be leaving everyone with nothing… Terra seemed to share my view and did not want to be greedy.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6toisUQfTf
Terra said if we let her have the level three gem, she would be thankful, as she wanted to try to craft a rare item with it vs. just selling it.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLM3UzEJ6X
Nobody fought her for it, as all agreed as a crafter she would benefit the most.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o5q11pscy
I spoke up and refused anything, saying the shield and sword plus boots and training I got were worth more than any random gold or gems to me…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqijK19MaF
Coby and Nina both wanted to give their gem to Wolf to help his potions. Arlin, still looking sour, was last to respond, lost in his own thoughts, and gave his to Terra, surprising us all.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoyydZUy8b
He said it was his way of thanking her for all she gave me. Terra wanted to show her thanks to Arlin in many other ways, but he politely and loudly refused all of them…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0Ec4VMsec
It was odd after all this time, their first real adventure, and just like that it was already over? She watched them to see how they felt, and it saddened her to know only she seemed to feel a sense of loss…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrDCe9hFR1
Nina looked bored, probably still thinking about our brother. Coby was calm, still scouting, making her smile. Terra only had eyes for Arlin, even now…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeqGXz8Lav
And Arlin, annoyed over it all, was brooding over something…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHoRZ0zDpV
It was amusing how even now that was something he seemed to even now still do well…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZqjIM2oE2
“Thank you all for coming this far with me." I started giving a speech, knowing it was over.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG4uFTUbUZ
"Perhaps a day will come where we must fight once more, but till then we will let others handle the fighting…”
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK97vl9Ku7I
“Thank the gods!” Nina said, surprising me, Guess she hated it more than I gave her credit for…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MdN6sgFh4
“It’s fune we always huve tumoruw !” Terra beamed while stealing a glance at Arlin, who just shrugged and said nothing.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKFO7rnd9R
Coby, too, just smile for him; it's just another day…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkPeghKSml
As each person passes through the door leaving, I sense something watching a change…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmhYuRYS2G
I scouted but saw nothing despite the open plain, yet felt its eyes all the same…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM2k8g89nu
The only thing beside the exit and vast field was the door to go deeper, yet it wasn’t open, or so I thought…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FpUgmjxoM
It was open…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheHsY06MUR
We never opened it? Odd…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODrTRsIPKM
I was tempted to go back and look but did not want to tempt fate, so I left with the other instead.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtshlFhMLRg
I did not know how close to death I was or the events that would follow since that day that would lead to the end…
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecLH8KV5eS
and then Add to home screen.