I leaned back against a large oak tree trunk. My chest heaved up and down as I felt short of breath. My heart feels heavy. My chest feels tight.
I'm having trouble breathing.
I looked at it... I looked at my hands. At the fists stained in blood and at the skin that peeled off to show both bone and muscle.
My gaze wandered back to the green-scaled lizardman laying down on the grass almost lifeless. The only indication of his life being intact was his constant breaths.
His face was messed up. Dyed in crimson and scales flaked off. The copper helmet that had once adorned his head had already been dented from my fists and headbutts. It now laid to the side.
Broken like it's master.
My psychiatrist... She told me I have to stay away from violence. I should've listened!
But I'm hopeless. If I didn't get violent then Celo would've killed me.
I touched my forehead. It had cracked considerably and the skin was gone too. Revealing a fractured white, bloodstained surface. It was my skull.
My head really hurts. Everything is spinning. And there's that ringing tune.
Mouth felt bitter. The mind so lost. Throat seemingly parched and my lungs out of breath.
-----
MP: 150/200
-----
Minutes had already passed. And my mana had regenerated.
I need to heal... Heal myself.
I already healed the lizard.
I have to take care of myself.
No need to get so violent anymore. They can harm you no longer.
Dominic, you're safe now. For now.
My mana circulated. I touched my forehead and a soothing sensation started spreading out from it. The sensation quickly passed but I cast a heal again.
[Proficiency experience requirements met!]
[ [ lvl 4 Lesser Heal ](Common) has risen to lvl 5! ]
Ah... I only dared to harm myself to win because of the assurance brought by my healing. The mana cost remained the same. A small 10 mana per cast. But the healing effects scaled with the level. It went from being able to heal wounds slightly and stopping bleeding to being able to restore a lot of damage with each cast.
One cast was enough to seal shut a 1-inch deep wound from a sword slash.
But this was my skull we're talking about. I don't want any after-effects brought by negligence.
I spammed the heal on my forehead five times. Soon, The ringing and the spinning world settled back into normality.
I grabbed a stick. Walked up to the unconscious Celo and started poking the lizardman.
Something messed with Celo. And I could still feel the lingering feeling of my gut telling me that something wasn't flowing right around these parts. Trouble is hiding in the corner. Whether I like it or not, I know I'm going to get involved one way or another.
I cast another heal at Celo. Dropping my mana to 90.
The lizardman was still sleeping peacefully. Say... How do you wake up a sleeping guy again?
An idea flashed into my mind. It was a forbidden technique but it would work. Plus. I can get away with it since I can heal damage anyway.
I stepped back. Formed a frame with my fingers and locked onto Celo.
Ah, this is good. There's no obstruction.
I ran forth. Stopping before Celo's legs as I kicked forwards.
Forbidden technique...
Nut Cracker!
Pop!
I cringed hearing that sound... Lizardmen still have nuts... But it seems liked I popped Celo's?
"AHHHHHH!" Waking up in fright. Celo jumped into the air and clutched his groin. I could see that his eyes were now lucid. He hissed angrily and sucked in deep breaths. An attempt at enduring the pain.
Ah great, it worked... Maybe I should start kicking more nuts to really get the nut kicking skill.
But first things first... I need to heal Celo.
I patted Celo's back. My healing magic traveling throughout his body as it fixed irregularities.
Celo sighed in relief. Collapsed onto the ground and I loomed over him.
His head turned to me. Eyes flashing in recollection. "Smoothskin... It's you."
I patted my chest. "Certainly! My name is Dominic in case you forgot."
"I never forget smooth skin." Celo closed his eyes and sighed.
"What happened to you?" I sat beside him and asked a question.
I need to know... If something could hypnotize a strong Lizardman then it could mess with their village as well. And it could also spell potential trouble for Cain village.
I've seen Celo's great speed. If I wasn't lucky and driven enough then I would've died. I'm still way too weak. But at least I was able to keep up a little.
"I... Don't remember... It's a long story smooth skin."
I rolled my eyes." Then just tell me the short version."
Celo looked at me frowning a little before sighing again. Nodding towards me with a glint in his green eyes.
"You're trustable enough. Over the days after the visit to our tribe. You hadn't run off your mouth to the village elders nor had you chit-chatted about it with someone."
I frowned... Hey! My privacy! It's a thing you know?
"So you guys sent stalkers to peep on a child 24/7?" I asked. Scorn lacing my voice as my frown deepened at Celo.
"In a way... Yes. If you had really run off your mouth then we would've already wiped out Cain Village. Even our chief alone is enough to do so." Celo laughed lightly with pride.
Well, that's reassuring. I smirked.
"Sending stalkers to spy on a child like me. You guys are pedophiles."
Baffled. The lizardman stood up and waved his arms at me. Even going as far as to cross them with a mean glare. "What!??!?! No!"
"I'm kidding. Now do tell me the details and let's go on our way to your tribe. I smell trouble."
Celo's eyes widened. Clenching his fists he looked at me with determination.
I was taken aback by that intense stare.
"The tribe! Get on my back smooth skin!"
It was strange but I complied. Like a child, I sat on Celo's nape and my legs hung down on his broad shoulders.
I felt the air overwhelm me as it whipped past. The surrounding greenery turning into blurs of brown bark and green.
Too fast! Celo's moving too fast!
"I need to hurry! And I require your help human! I don't remember what happened prior to waking up with you kicking me but I know that the grim guard tribe is in peril!"
Holy! If you guys are in trouble then count me out of it! I just wanted to know! Not get involved!
I guess?
"Crap. Then put me down! If something can threaten your tribe even with super buff Chief around then what can an ant-like me do against such a force? Put me down Celo! I'm gonna go home!"
Celo shook his head. Firmly grasped my legs and I couldn't stop but just sit down on his shoulders. "I shall not put you down smooth skin! We lizardmen need your healing arts!"
Why do I feel like I'm about to get kidnapped?
My heart roared in anxiety.
"I'm gonna get killed!"
"I'll protect you!"
Celo's words silenced me. Only the billowing wind replaced that utter silence. Our mouths having been sealed shut. I looked at my hands and I wasn't so sure about Celo's statement.
I'm not one who deserve to be protected.
"Smoothskin. You've fallen silent... But do not fret. As you had kept your word before about offering healing services. I shall keep mine as well. I swear on my name." Celo's calm and resolute voice brought me back to reality.
Welp... I can't break free of his hold. Might as well take the offer.
Celo's really strong.
"Then I'll take your word for it. If I get hurt or something I'm going to grill your tail! I heard lizardmen tails are sold in the market these days..." I closed my eyes and said so with a smile.
Then it screamed at me.
My gut... Something feels wrong!
[ lvl 1 [Premonition](Rare) skill acquired! ]
No, it wasn't that which I felt. I feel like we're going to die!
"Celo! DUCK!" I screeched. Like a child going through puberty.
Celo seemed to be utterly confused. He stood rooted to the spot, put a hand over his brows, and looked left and right. "There's no ducks around!"
"I said crouch!" I slammed my palms on the lizardman's head. Stopping him and making us both roll to the ground. The bumpy rocks and rough terrain hurt but I managed to see it before it fully passed over us.
A large shadow blanketed us.
It was a large pine tree. A whole damn pine tree exceeding twelve feet in height. But it was flying through the air. Cleanly uprooted.
Crack! Crack!
Crash!
The pine tree collided with other pine or oak trees in our surroundings. Snapping them into two like twigs.
I felt my heart run cold at that scene of destruction. Trees snapped like twigs.
It was the same destruction as the night a week ago!
We really are in trouble!
I hopped back onto the downed Celo who was stuck gaping at the damage caused by one flying tree. When there's one flying tree. The cause of it was bound to send out more!
"Celo! Run!" I screamed at him.
Celo shook his head before breaking into a mad dash. Faster than his speed before.
Rumble! Rumble!
Tremors ran down the earth again. It was strong! Strong that Celo paused in his steps. Shaken by the earthly movement underneath us.
Even the trees shook and swayed visibly.
I tapped Celo and he continued running.
"We're close to the village! Only a few hundred meters left!" Celo stated with
Boom! Boom!
The rumbling intensified. I looked down at the ground to see that it was cracking. Cracking and spreading outwards like a spider expanding her nest.
Strong winds blew against me and Celo. The lizardman pressed forwards.
I felt it again.
"Celo!"
"Understood!" Celo roared and ducked once more.
This time a boulder came flying past us. It was large enough to bury a house with it.
BOOM!
Bang!
The ground shook again. My mount nearly lost his balance.
Trees toppled again. Loud bestial howls rang throughout the forest.
It was there that I saw the source of this rampant destruction.
Two lizardmen. One yellow and one green.
It was Chief. The leader of the Grim Guard tribe locked in combat with the opposing yellow scaled Lizardman leader. A conclusion I came to upon seeing the wounds on their bodies and fury laced expressions.
ROAR!
Each of their fists spurred great whistling winds. Producing loud booms that pierced the sound barrier.
The two lizardmen were unarmed. But with a wave of their hand. Trees would fall and the earth would fall apart.
They were like moving mountains. Infallible and equally as imposing.
I was even having a hard time making out their figures. There were too many afterimages.
I was witnessing two giants battle... This strength. It's near the limit of what a tier two class could achieve.
"In a way... Yes. If you had really run off your mouth then we would've already wiped out Cain Village. Even our chief alone is enough to do so."
It was there that I understood Celo's earlier statement.
Their chief is a walking bulldozer! But on steroids!
To which I could only ask myself.
If these two monsters were around then how the hell did the bandits make it towards Cain village in the first place?
Wouldn't they have gotten demolished by the lizardmen?
What the hell is happening!?!??!?!?!