Chapter 5: Contact!
Emerald Forest, 150 miles north of Astral lake
Walking through the forest were 4 people, 2 men and 2 women. The shorter of the women who appeared to be 17 ,about 5'5 ,and quite lean spoke up. She had a head full of red hair tied in a ponytail that reached her shoulders ,a fair complexion and blue eyes. On hear back a bow and quiver made out of a dark wood.
"Andrew, are you sure there's a Crystal Antler Deer here?" ,she said
"Veronica, this is the 7th time you've asked. Yes, I'm sure", Andrew responded as he did before. He had paid his friend 10 silver for this information. How could it be wrong?
Andrew was 19 about 5'10 with a lean build. He had short bushy brown hair, brown eyes ,and light tan. He was wearing what appeared to be a leather armor chest plate and carrying a sword on his back.
"We've been searching for a month and still nothing. We're already over 150 miles away from Viridian City! It was supposed to be less than a 100 miles!", Veronica responded.
When they got the information from Adam, Andrews friend, he had told them that hunter had spotted a Crystal antler deer with blue antlers. This was a sign that it had reached the early Core formation realm. If they could catch it they could use its antlers and have new weapons crafted for them. If they had to purchase these weapons it could cost up to 5 gold each! If they brought the materials themselves, they could drastically reduce the price.
"Relax Veronica, they spotted it a week before we came to search, it's only natural for it to move. We can't except it to just wait for us can we?" this time it was the other women that spoke. She also appeared to be 17 and was standing at 5'6 with a light brown complexion. She had long wavy black hair that feel to her shoulders. Her eyes had a tinge of green to them when hit by the sunlight, a beauty without a doubt. She wore green traditional combat robes, a silver chest plate ,and on her belt a wooden sword with green markings on its body.
"But Jasmine, we're getting too close to Black Mountain. I'd rather not run into those bastards, I'm to young to be killed!" Veronica shot back at Jasmine.
"It should be fine, I'm not seeing anything", responded that other man. His name was Josh, he was about 18 and 6'0 ft tall. Josh had a shaved head and wore fitted black combat robes and on his hip was a sickle and chain. One thing that stood out about Josh were his eyes, they looked like a eagles.
"We'll be fine Veronica, I wouldn't put us in danger. If we can't find it by today we'll start heading back.", Andrew said. He was also wary of Black Mountain. In fact had it not been for Josh's Bloodline, that allowed him a eagle eye view of the surrounding 300ft They wouldn't dare come this close.
They continued walking Southwest for about another half hour before Josh noticed something.
"It's here!" he shouted.
"Have you found it?" asked Veronica
"Yea, about 90 ft ahead of us" he responded
"Good, everyone get into position.", Andrew ordered. He was one of the strongest member of group, A early stage Core Formation Cultivator. He and Jasmine who was also at the early stage of Core Formation would responsible for attacking head on while Veronica and Josh would provide support.
Veronica and Josh had already climbed onto the lower branches of the trees, about 30 ft above ground. With that they slowly advanced. Andrew and Jasmine headed straight for the beast while Josh and Veronica followed closely overhead.
As they approached, their target finally came into sight. A massive deer that stood 10ft at the shoulders, it had slick brown fur with green vine patterns wrapping around its body. On its head 2 massive antlers that appeared to be made of crystal, they gave off a blue light. They had found it! Crystal Antler Deer!
Seeing the target 40 ft from them, they all moved! Andrew unsheathed his sword and activated his movement skill.
"Gale Steps!"
He launched himself forward, around his body one could see a pale green Qi rotating. He crossed the 40 ft in the blink of an eye. If Aaron was here he'd be shocked, Andrew was almost as fast as him using Soru after he had first arrived! When he was close enough Andrew swung his sword at its right leg.
Clang!
Just as the sword was about to land the Deer noticed that it was being attacked. It lowered its head and used its antlers to blocks the sword. Catching the blade between its antlers it lifted its head launching Andrew into the air.
"Shit, how can a deer be so quick?!" Andrew cursed as he flipped in the air landing 10 ft away. Just as he about to attack again, he noticed the deer charging him!
"Jasmine!"
"Don't worry", a cool voice responded. Jasmine had split up with Andrew after he charged she was now standing on one side of the deer. She had already prepared her attack when she saw Andrew get launched into the air. As the deer charged him she struck the ground with her foot and the green glow in her eyes brightened.
Just before the Deer struck Andrew the vines and weeds around its feet came to life! They quickly launched themselves at the deer restraining it!
"Reeeeee!" The deer screamed trying to break free of the vines but no matter how many it ripped apart there would be more coming to replace them! It was about to use all its strength to leap away when right at that moment 2 arrows flew at it!
'Ambush! It was being ambushed! Despicable Humans!' It struggled but the vines were relentless.
Puchi!Puchi!
Two arrows hit there mark, one struck its neck another on its back.
"Nice shots Veronica!" Andrew hollered while charging the Deer again. It was immobilized and injured they could end this quick!
"Gale Sword!" Andrew shouted. His sword started to glow with pale green light! This was the sign on a Core Formation Cultivator, imbuing Qi into their attacks!
Seeing this human charging at it while it was immobilized by the vines the Deer screamed and lifted its head!
"Reeeeeeeee!!!" Suddenly its antlers started glowing with a bright blue light!
"No good! Andrew dodge! Its using its ability", Jasmine yelled.
Andrew had also noticed but he carried to much momentum and couldn't stop in time. He saw the Deer's Antler Jut out from its head in all directions. They moved so fast they appeared to blur.
He tried to dodge but there wasn't enough time. He saw one of the antlers heading towards his heart!
'Damn, this is it!" he thought.
He saw an arrow flying towards the deer's head but he knew it was too late. However, just at that moment a chain wrapped around his waist and pulled him back. The antler had just touched his chest plate before he was yanked out of range!
"Josh!" He yelled noticing who had come to his rescue.
"Phew, that was close. Just because we outnumber it doesn't mean we can be reckless. You should have waited until we injured it more!" Josh yelled at Andrew. Andrew always had a habit of charging in head first, who knows how many times this habit almost got him killed.
"Ah, my bad I figured that since it was docile by nature it wouldn't put up too much of a fight.", Andrew said while scratch his head. He knew of his bad habit but he couldn't stop himself after he started.
"Its fine, at least no ones heart, you're lucky its range was only 20 ft" A voice came from above, it was Veronica.
"Can you guys stop chatting and help me!" yelled Jasmine. Currently she was restraining the deer by herself. In her hand was a wooden sword that glowed with a deep green glow, it appeared to be breathing. She could increase or shorten its length at will, just now she had managed to cut off one of its legs when it had attacked earlier.
"Ah!" all three responded in unison. This time Josh used his sickle and chain to bind the Deer's back legs. It had exhausted itself with that last attack and was also heavily injured. He and Veronica were only at the peak stage of Body tempering realm and where used to acting as support. However seeing how the Deer was injured they all decided to attack together.
Pssh! Pssh! Veronica launched two arrows from the tree while Andrew circled round and attacked from behind!
Puchi! Puchi! The arrows struck the Deer's neck. It kicked violently but was still being bound by the vines and chain, it simply couldn't escape! At that moment it felt a sword pierce its back, with that its last bit of energy faded and its head dropped. Dead.
"Hahaha! We did it!" Andrew and Veronica yelled at the same time. Now they would be able to use its antlers to make weapons for their group. They could sell the rest and earn enough to get their weapons enhanced!
They all waked over to the Deer and began to field dressing it. They removed the antlers which had shrunk back to normal size. Even then they were still massive. Andrew carried one while Josh carried the other. Veronica and Jasmine each took some of the pelt, hooves, and other valuable parts. All in all it took them about 30 mins to strip the Deer.
"We should hurry up and leave, the blood will draw much more violent Qi beast. Its best not to linger" said Josh. He was currently using his eyes to view the surroundings and noticed some movement.
"That's a good idea, lets go." They all agreed and began to leave.
"Jasmine, without your Bloodline ability this would have been much harder", Veronica spoke as they walked. She had been observing the fight from a higher vantage point. It Jasmine hadn't bound the Deer as it was charging Andrew it could have ended much worse.
"Thanks but at the end of the day my Bloodline is quite diluted. Compared to those with Pure blood it doesn't even come close." Jasmine responded disparagingly. She always hated how weak her bloodline was.
"Don't say that, you saved my life. Without you or Josh there's no way we would be able to go this deep into the forest", Andrew said trying to cheer her up.
"Yea Veronica, how many times have you saved this idiots life?" Veronica asked while pointing and Andrew.
"...haha", Andrew had no response because he knew she spoke the truth. Jasmine had probably saved his like 10 or more times.
Just at that moment Josh froze. Before the others could ask what happened he looked up and shouted,
"Shit! Run!"without warning, but the warning came too late. In front of them shadow emerged from the trees. When they saw what it was, they lost all the color and didn't move.
Mirage Boa! A Late stage Core Formation Qi Beast!
"Dammit! Josh what happened!?" Andrew yelled.
"It was camouflaged, I couldn't see it until it was 20 ft away! Dammit!" he blamed himself. He had let his guard down after there fight. Even though it was concealed he should have been able to notice it affecting its surroundings!
"It's not your fault Josh, It concealed itself even your eyes only allow you to see whats visible.", Jasmine tried to console him but she was just as afraid. Had it been a mid stage Core Formation Qi Beast they might be able to escape but 2 stages higher was impossible.
'Dammit if only my bloodline was pure, I could practice the Royal Family's Platinum Skill' Veronica Cursed. Had she been allowed to practice it, she wouldn't have anything to fear however things don't always go the way we want. It was too late for regrets.
The Boa was about 50 ft long and 10 ft thick. Beautiful iridescent green scales plated its body like armor. 2 massive yellow eyes stared at them as if they were nothing more than prey. It's eyes landed on Jasmine and for a reason it didn't quite understand it felt danger, quickly decided it would attack this human first!
The others seeing the Boa preparing to attack jasmine cried out.
"Protect Jasmine!"
However they just weren't fast enough. The Boa circled round them so fast it turned into a shadow and attack Jasmine from behind.
Jasmine tried to use her Bloodline ability but there wasn't enough time and she wasn't sure if she could even bind a Qi beast 2 stages higher. She could only watch in despair as the Boa Opened its mouth and approached her, intending to swallow her whole.
"Jasmine!!!" The other 3 cried, Veronica had tears in her eyes while Andrew and Josh tried to reach her before it was to late. They didn't care if they were injured and charged madly.
Jasmine was touched, closing her eyes she accepted her fate, mumbling a few words.
"I had fun with you all" she said as a tear fell from her eye.
"Nooo!!!" the trio screamed as the Boas was less than 3 ft away from Jasmine,
Jasmine had here eyes closed waiting for the strike but the pain she expected never came. Slowly she opened her eyes in front of her was the Boa with its mouth still open. However id didn't move nor did it fall to the ground, it looked as if was locked in space.
'...Whats going on?'
She looked around and saw that her friends were staring at the space above the Boas head with expressions she had never seen before. Shock? Fear? No, something else. She turned her head and what she saw made her hang open and her eyes to bulge.
Just above the Boa, standing on a branch was a young man. He appeared to be 14-15 years old, he was wearing the finest white silk robes she had ever seen and draped over the robes on his shoulders was what she could only describe as a robe made of feathers that reached down to feet. Each of the feathers shined as if they were made of gold.
'How much must that have cost!?' she couldn't understand who this young man was. For him to wear such luxurious clothes he was obviously a noble but what would a noble being doing out in the forest by himself?
However the moment she took a better look at as his face she felt as if the world had gotten brighter. Everything she knew was shattered at this moment. She simply couldn't comprehend what she was seeing.
He had light brown skin that seemed to glow, Soft loose black hair that fell over his eyes and it was those very eyes that appeared to contain the sun itself that had her mesmerized.
'Gold! Golden Eyes! My god! How can any man be this handsome!' She yelled in her mind. She was from a side branch or the Royal Family and had seen some of the most perfect people on the planet. However, in front of this young man they all paled. They couldn't compare. Candles in the Sun!
She hadn't noticed that her mouth was hanging open until the young man began to speak.
"Whew, made it in time"