I sigh as I turn towards the forest, "I'll get us some food, get the fire started please."
Ping!
I don't even wait for a response as I bolt into the forest, memorizing the spot. As I run through the forest, I take in a deep breath. The sun's rays peering through the ferns which calmly away in the wind, the crunch of sticks and pine needles underneath my feet. I feel at peace, as if I am one with the world.
After running for a few minutes, I finally stop, bringing with me a massive draft of wind. The trees around me bristle with life as they dance with the winds, mingling about. I open the status window and look at the mission that just popped up.
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"New Quest."
"The Hunt."
"You may have proved your strength, but strength is useless if you don't have trust in some people, then what is the point? Help gain it by giving them a meal worthy of royalty."
Goal: Hunt an A class Mana Bear
Reward: Title: Hunter
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A grin slowly crawls onto my face, already having a plan in my mind. I hold out my hand as my shadow bounces with life, "Arise."
Suddenly, a large army of bears appear around me, measuring in about 100. I look for the one I deemed the alpha and tell him, "Search around for an A class Mana Bear, do your best!"
The army of bears roar in unison, causing the ground to seemingly shake in excitement. The bears all run into opposite directions of the woods, searching swiftly, as if their lives depend on it. After about an hour, I suddenly feel a vicious tug at my mind. 'Something is wrong....very wrong!' I bolt towards where the link is taking me, the wind whipping behind me ferociously.
As tree limbs hit my face and birds are sent into the sky, I appear at a large cave entrance, the Shadow Bears standing around it, but not entering. They roar into the tunnel one after another, as if a symphony being born. I land beside the alpha, recognizable for his larger size and scar, and ask him, "What's inside the cavern that required my presence?"
He shrinks back as I ask, looking at the cave with a tinge of fear in his eyes. Shadow bears are usually prideful animals, utilizing pack tactics and power to overwhelm targets. I immediately draw out my scythe as I slowly approach the cave, the darkness fading away in my eyes thanks to 'Dragon Sight.' A Ping sounds in my ears as a window pops up.
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"New Quest."
"Cave of Unknown Dangers."
"Your soldiers of darkness have found a cavern and they seem...afraid of what's inside. Find out what is causing your brave soldiers such fear."
Goal: Investigate the Cavern
Reward: Next mission
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I walk inside as I cautiously look around, seeing pathways going in all sorts of directions. I pause as I try to think of what could cause this...and then an idea pops up. I wave my hand as a book pops into existence, it's leather covering faded and scratched. I open its casing to find a glossary of different types of creatures.
'I have used this thing a ton over the years, it is a massive archive of creatures all over the world. It has come very useful when I couldn't brute force my way through situations.'
I find the page of underground creatures and begin to flit through the papers, each one narrowing my search. After about 2 minutes of searching, I narrow it down to 3 creatures.
The first one is a mole like creature with no eyes and the affinity of fire. The second is a bat like creature with armored skin and wide, talon like claws. The last is a worm with serrated teeth, legs, and an armored head.
I read over them again and begin to see weaknesses in their forms, the bat is practically defenseless if I cut off its claws, the mole creature can only hear and feel, so if I block it off, I'm good. The only issue is the worm, which makes me slightly nervous, worms can usually survive being split in 2 so I might have to cut it up into tiny pieces.
I remember each horrific nightmare of a form as I summon some Orc shadow soldiers, each one carrying a club like weapon in their hands. I tell them each type and what might be their weaknesses. They silently nod before roaring and charging into the tunnels. I suddenly feel a rumble beneath my feet as I feel my link to my shadow soldiers abruptly cut off.
'Where have I felt this before?' I ask myself as I suddenly leap back, exiting the cave swiftly. The bears roar fiercely as the ground beneath them shakes. I immediately hold out my hands as I yell, "Absolute Shadow!"
My shadow jumps with life as it begins to build, slowly creating a thick steel plate. I unleash all my shadow soldiers, sending them into the cave as I seal it off. As soon as the metal plate finishes, I create 30 screws and slam them into the metal panel, locking them into the stone.
I feel my shadow soldiers dying and reappearing as screams and battle cries echo within, the screams inhuman by several intervals. 'I guess it was those centipede worms, damn bugs. What is my luck finding nests?' I ask myself, sighing.
A few seconds later, I hear a *Thud!* against the metal plate, causing the bears around me to roar in fear. The thuds slowly increase as a large dent begins to form and my face turns serious.
'It isn't going to hold. That means it has to be another Continent Class creature....why me?' I hold up my arms as I activate 'Morph'. My skin hardens as a snout grows from my face, the mask splits, covering my bottom and top jaw. A tail erupts from my rear and wings explode from my back, I tighten my grip on my scythe.
The roars from the bears behind me grow as the metal begins to bend, a monstrous screech escaping from behind its figure. Seconds later, the metal plate erupts from the mountain, gathering smoke and dust.
As the debris begin to clear a Ping appears in my ears as I smile in excitement, the large figure in front of me making my adrenaline pump, "It's showtime!"