{Jay}
Whoosh!
Thunk!
Thud!
Eric's arrow impaled a bird, it fell onto the deck of the boat, I picked it up, and ate it.
"That's still gross."
I looked over at Flora leaning on the railing reading a scroll.
"Well, excuse me for having to replace all of the blood you sold. I'm still light headed!"
Luckily for me, real beefy looking birds keep dive-bombing the boat.
We asked Kaja about it, if maybe this was a normal occurrence, but she said this is the only time this has ever happened.
I guess God hates Anaviotis just as much as I, and is looking out for me.
Free lunch!
Why would they hate us? We've done nothing to any birds.
The drop bird had it coming.
How would these birds know about that?
Just shut up Patty.
Kaw!
Kaw!
A big crow flew down at us.
Without looking, Eric shot an arrow into it.
The crow crashed onto the boat.
I ate that one too.
Kruop!
I looked over at the big beast taking a nap that made that sound.
It looks almost like a crocodile, but has longer legs that's more under its body instead of on the sides, its snout is narrower and has an upturned nose, and its back and sides have sturdy spikes sticking out of them.
Kaja told us that it's a local beast of burden here, an aetosaur.
She uses her to pull her ship back up river after she ferries people down.
Kaw!
Kaw!
Koo!
Koo!
Qwua!
Qwua!
A big flock of differing types of bird were gathering above our heads.
Shit, this is starting to look more and more like the birds.
Eric readied her bow, but Flora jumped in front of her, stopping her from shooting.
"Wait, I want to try something."
Her staff glowed without her saying something, and a pulse of light shot out towards the birds.
What the hell was that Patty?!
Ask if she's okay? I'm gonna fucking rag on her for this.
Oh, shut up Patty.
I turned and grinned at Flora.
"Hey, how does it feel to fuck up this..."
Pop!
With fire and lightning a bird exploded.
"What the fuck did you..."
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
All above us the birds are dying en masse, panicking, some flew to the trees for cover.
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
Fwoooosh!
The forest went up in flames.
Thousands of shrill bird screams reached our ears as I saw more than a few bird nests fall to the burning ground.
Thank God PETA doesn't exist in this world.
"You burned down another forest!"
Jurea yelled at Flora.
"Another?! How many forests did you burn down?!"
Kaja screamed.
"None that can be proven."
Flora shot back, while giving each of us a dirty glare.
"Setting a forest fire is a crime punishable by hanging!"
Kaja is really freaking out.
"Only if a witness can place you there."
Kaja froze as she thought over what Flora just said, but she only froze for a second.
"The oars, get the gods damn oars! I'll steer!"
She ran back to the rudder, while Jurea and I grabbed the big ass oars, shoved them into the water, and started rowing for lives.
In the middle of this mad rush, Flora decided to sit down, and start to read her scroll again.
Fucking Flora!
_______________
After rowing for I don't know how long we finally couldn't see the smoke from the forest fire.
And Flora is still reading that scroll!
Kaja is staring at her like everyone else does, with simmering rage.
"Aha! That's what I did wrong! Now, I just need some more test subjects."
Flora said excitedly.
"You're still planning on doing that spell?!"
Flora turned to look at Kaja.
"Yeah, why not?"
"You caused a forest fire!"
"Nope."
"Yes, you did!"
"Prove it."
"You're the most morally bankrupt person I've ever had the distinct displeasure of meeting, and I'm including my mother who is a witch and threw me away once she found out I wasn't a witch."
"That is outrageous!"
Wow, I can't believe Flora actually finds that repugnant too.
"I know, I too was up..."
"How stupid could she be?! If she wanted to get rid of you, she could have at least sold you into slavery. That way she could've at least made some coin off of you."
Yeah, that's more like her.
Kaja, too stunned to say anything else to her, walked past her to go to her cabin.
She stopped in front of Jurea.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but she is a horrible human being."
Jurea nodded.
"Yeah, most would say that."
"Hey, I'm sitting right here, I can hear you two!"
"Good, try growing a conscious."
"Why does everyone say that to me? I have a conscious!"
"Tell that to the creatures that died in that fire."
Kaja went below deck.
Flora huffed, and went back to her reading.
But what Kaja said reminded me of something.
For us to not have levelled up from that fire must mean one thing only.
Patty, show me everyone's stats.
------------------
Name : Flora Dreyas
Level : 100 points available : N/A
Species : human
Strength : 50. Intelligence : 8,500
Durability : 134. Mana : 17,680
Health : 320. Stamina : 200
Luck : 130. Speed : 100
Agility : 50
Special ability : Obiteration. MC= all mana.
Obliteration : all left over energy will be converted into unrefined mana and used to obliterate anything. Anyone or thing within ten levels will be instantly killed, no magic or defence will help.
Skill list.
Spell list.
------------------
------------------
Name : Eric
Level : 82 points available : N/A
Species : Wolf Wildier
Strength : 521 -1021
Increases the ease to lift and damage objects and opponents
Intelligence : 220
Makes resisting mind control, solving complex problems, reading people, learning magic and skills easier
Durability : 400
Resistance of disease, sleep deprivation, injury of body and soul, temperature, starvation
Energy : 50
Increases pool of energy and energy rate
Health : 600
Increases pool of health and healing rate
Stamina : 734
Increases pool of stamina and stamina rate
Luck : 36
Odds play out in your favor
Speed : 130
Increases reaction time, sensory perception, rate of travel, time perception
Agility : 600
Allows for complex movement's
Special ability : N/A
------------------
------------------
Name : Emira Smith
Level : 78 points available : N/A
Species : Dalian
Strength : 200
Increases the ease to lift and damage objects and opponents
Intelligence : 910
Makes resisting mind control, solving complex problems, reading people, learning magic and skills easier
Durability : 100
Resistance of disease, sleep deprivation, injury of body and soul, temperature, starvation
Energy : 100
Increases pool of energy and energy rate
Health : 100
Increases pool of health and healing rate
Stamina : 350
Increases pool of stamina and stamina rate
Luck : 150
Odds play out in your favor
Speed : 100
Increases reaction time, sensory perception, rate of travel, time perception
Agility : 150
Allows for complex movement's
Crafting : 8,500
Allows one to craft objects well.
Special ability : Dalian Smithing Technique
Dalian Smithing Technique: can forge items with consciousness. Males must use used consciences, females must create their own.
------------------
------------------
Name : Jamal Hendricks / no name monster
Level : 82 points available : 1,140
Pets : 1
Species : Akkedis/ human soul
Strength : 1,000
Intelligence : 300
Durability : 1,000
Energy : 1,090
Health : 1,200
Stamina : 706
Extra energy : 3,453
Luck : 134
Speed : 700
Agility : 1,000
Crafting: 1,000
Special ability : adaptation
: forced conscription
: perfect mimic
: empath aura
: peerless regeneration
: excess energy
: acid shot
: webs
: spatial awareness
: dash
: polymorph
: thermal absorption
: mana clone
: transcendental traversal
: malignity locator
: combat camouflage
Lesser abilities : perfect recall
: gastron mucus
: ample strength
------------------
------------------
Name : Jurea
Level : 111 points available : N/A
Species : human
Strength : 3000
Increases the ease to lift and damage objects and opponents
Intelligence : 67
Makes resisting mind control, solving complex problems, reading people, learning magic and skills easier
Durability : 2450
Resistance of disease, sleep deprivation, injury of body and soul, temperature, starvation
Energy : 200
Increases pool of energy and energy rate
Health : 5567
Increases pool of health and healing rate
Stamina : 4000
Increases pool of stamina and stamina rate
Luck : 100
Odds play out in your favor
Speed : 85
Increases reaction time, sensory perception, rate of travel, time perception
Agility : 150
Allows for complex movement's
Special ability : Titan's Fury
Titan's Fury: the longer you stay in battle, the stronger you become. After reaching a full fight meter health will start to drain.
Meter increases with level.
Fight meter : 0/ 111.9
------------------
That explains it, Flora has already reached Mid-rank.
She could kill a thousand of those little forest guys, and probably wouldn't level up.
Well, guess it's time to add my points.
I thought back to the giant.
I can't afford for that to happen again.
------------------
Name : Jamal Hendricks / no name monster
Level : 82 points available : 0
Pets : 1
Species : Akkedis/ human soul
Strength : 1,400
Intelligence : 330
Durability : 1,000
Energy : 1,300
Health : 1,600
Stamina : 1,006
Extra energy : 3,453
Luck : 134
Speed : 700
Agility : 1,000
Crafting: 1,000
Special ability : adaptation
: forced conscription
: perfect mimic
: empath aura
: peerless regeneration
: excess energy
: acid shot
: webs
: spatial awareness
: dash
: polymorph
: thermal absorption
: mana clone
: transcendental traversal
: malignity locator
: combat camouflage
Lesser abilities : perfect recall
: gastron mucus
: ample strength
------------------
Patty, also, that new spell I got, what does that warning mean?
Well, excuse me for being distracted these last few days!
Just shut up, and tell me what does!
Cool, but why does it have a warning?
Oh, fuck you! I don't need anything dumbed down.
Ugh... shut up Patty! That... just isn't my field of expertise.
I said shut the fuck up Patty.
I went over to Flora.
"What spell was that? A new fire spell."
"No, a mind control one."
She answered without even stopping her reading.
"I thought you were against mind control?!"
She rolled her eyes at me.
"No, I'm against someone else perfecting mind control that can be used on humans. This is a calm spell I stole from that witch we stopped."
"You mean Coby?"
"Yeah, that chick. It was among the shit I stole."
"I thought you were just lying to Basha, and that you really burned everything!"
"If that helps you sleep at night, then I sure did, friend."
She gave me a sarcastic thumbs up.
"You shouldn't be using anything to do with those witches!"
She cocked an eyebrow.
"That's rich, coming from a guy who can turn into a witch."
My silence spoke volumes to her, and she palmed her face.
"Ugh! Don't tell me this is another bluecap incident!"
"Bluecap incident?"
Lyra curiously questioned.
"You want to know why this asshole can't make illusions, even though they'd be super helpful?"
Flora said, shoving an accusatory finger at me.
"I guess..."
"It's because this fucking idiot doesn't want to be a bunny, so he didn't absorb the heart!"
Hell, yeah, and no matter how much she hit me I didn't cave.
"That's because I have my pride!"
"Fuck pride! You shit yourself before!"
Lyra was giving me the 'really?' Look.
I glared at Flora.
Boomph!
I was about to rip her a new one, when something huge bumped into the boat.
Looking over the side, a huge sail on a water beast sailed by.
The sail alone was taller than the boat, I hesitate to think about the size of the actual monster.
"We need our weapons!"
I yelled.
"No, you don't."
Kaja came out from below deck.
"That is just a wasserjäger, we call her Alice. As long as there isn't too many people on board she leaves you alone."
"Those things are common here?!"
She shook her head at me.
"No, they're from down south, and have a different name. Some believe that a couple of idiots brought a few eggs up north and accidentally released them, or the crazies think that the kingdom released them on purpose. Whatever the truth in the matter, they're here to stay."
So, they're an invasive species.
"How many of those things are there?!"
She shrugged.
"Don't know, I've only ever seen Alice. They don't like each other very much.
Anyway, in about twelve hours the current will be picking up soon, then it will be a strait shot to Meerburg."
"Okay."
"The rapids won't be a easy ride, I'd get some shut-eye right about now if I were y'all."
She turned to go back under.
"Understood, thanks."
I turned back to Flora, but she was already back to reading her scroll.
I have a feeling that is going to bite me in the ass later.
But that's a problem for future me.
I laid down, and went to sleep.
________
Booosh!
Thud!
If you've never kayaked over rapids, I'd suggest you never do so!
Ever since they started, I've spent half of the time holding on for dear life, and the other half voiding the contents of my stomach.
At least the fish get something to eat.
Shut up Patty, I don't feel like your sass.
I threw up yet again over the side.
Oh, dear God, how am I still puking?! There's no way I ate this much!
"Try laying down!"
Kaja screamed over the roar of the water.
She was masterfully maneuvering the boat while not looking phased at all by the rocking.
"HEEEEELP! HEEEE. .. BLUG... GAH... US!"
Before I could try laying down, we heard the screams of people up ahead of us.
A decent ways down the river Alice had pulled a boat triple the size of Kaja's to the bank, and was ripping it apart to eat the people on board.
She looks like one of those depictions of a spinosaurus.
She had webbed claws, an oar-like tail, skin that looks like riveted steel, and fins made of scales running the length of her body.
But it's not the people she's feasting on that we are hearing, they're already dead. No, it's a small family in the river hopelessly hanging onto floating debris that got caught on some rocks.
"Fucking assholes! They over packed their boat!"
Kaja yelled in anger.
Fucking hell! I don't know what to do!
If I jump over to help them, the boat will sail past before I can get on board with them!
I need time to think, but we'll pass them in seconds!
Patty!
"{Water ball}{freeze}!"
Flora caught the ice ball she made, wrapped a length of my webbing - that was braided into a sturdy looking rope - she must have saved in her capacity gem, waited till we were right upon them, and threw it out.
"Catch it!"
The older woman missed, as well as the younger girl, but the man caught it.
The other two grabbed onto him, and they were pulled behind the boat.
Hand over hand, they pulled themselves to the boat.
Then, as they started climbing up, they broke out in joyous laughter.
We all looked at Flora with shock, and appreciation.
She had reacted faster than anyone else, and to waste my webbing she could sell is totally beyond her.
"See honey, I told you the gods hadn't abandoned us! We might have lost everything else, but we still have our lives!"
The man said, breaking out into a smile.
His family returned that smile tenfold.
"Wait, what did you just say?"
I was in motion before she even finished talking.
The instant she said that, she let go of the rope, and walked away.
The father's face morphed from joy, to shock, to sheer terror.
And also in that instant I grabbed the web, and finished hauling them up.
"What the living fuck is wrong with you?!"
Jurea yelled at Flora.
"They're filthy liars!"
We all looked at her like she was crazy, including the completely drenched people we just rescued.
"Look at their clothes! That's expensive magical silk! Used it goes for a couple hundred thousand gold! But all of the magic in it was used keeping them alive!"
The daughter and mother looked shocked, then gazed at their ruined clothes.
"How'd you know that?! I didn't even tell them what these were!"
The father said.
"It's easy enough to figure out! Still I figured if you could afford those, it would be worth the loss of my supplies, but you lost everything, and didn't have the damn courtesy to scream that out too before I wasted coin on you!"
I made my way over to her, and...
Waaap!
"Ooow!'
I swatted her ass so hard, she jumped three feet.
"What the fuck?! You should be on my side! They can't compensate me... I mean... us for their rescue!"
Everyone she looked at just glared at her.
After seeing no one was on her side, she stomped over to the other side of the boat.
"We are not paying for their passage!"
She said to Kaja.
"Here."
Eric took out our blankets, and was holding them out to them.
"Thanks."
The daughter said.
"Don't worry, the rest of us are nicer than her. We have morals."
The father bowed deeply, with tears in his eyes.
"I am in your debt, especially yours, ma'am!"
He turned, and got on his knees in front of Flora!
"Even if it takes me a thousand years, I'll repay that debt!"
She seemed a little happier when she heard that.
"You better not take that damn long to pay me back! Also, I charge interest."