Marcus took out his scythe and manoeuvred around the half-animals, angling himself so that he could take out a line of enemies in one attack. He was going to carve out an escape route for the captured animals and finish all the challenges in one fell swoop.
One thing that he had noticed was that the system only recorded his actual skills that he would just activate, rather than the ways in which he moved. He'd have to ask the system about that later, along with a few other questions.
Keeping in mind the time limit, Marcus focused on his priorities, squatting down, and getting ready to rush in. He charged his Vis into the scythe, using a function he had built in whilst making it. It xwould take the Vis he provided and use it to create a blade made of pure energy. This allowed him to use the weapon as a staff to get around or for nonlethal combat, whilst using a scythe whenever he was serious. It also served as Vis control practise and made sure the weapon would never lose its edge.
He bent his legs then leapt forwards, swinging the scythe as he moved and beheading the first half beast. Before the half beast's whip could even hit the floor, Marcus beheaded a further four beasts, turning towards the captives and yelling, "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!"
As if a bomb shell had fallen, the captives stampeded towards the only door to the cave opening. The hooded half beasts reacted quickly, and two stockily built beasts stepped forwards, stamping their feet into the ground, and making two massive rocks float up into the air. They put their right arms forwards, showing off their "hands" that were actually the hands of a rhino and an elephant.
The rock shot forwards and breakneck speeds, smashing into the rocks above the entrance, making debris large enough to block the entrance.
Marcus also put forwards his right arm, and four deep purple tentacles shot out, moving faster than the rocks were. This was the first time he was using these tentacles outside of his training with the system, and he was eager to see the results.
Guided by impeccable control, the tentacles expanded, forming a barrier above the entrance, and stopping the debris from falling.
The hooded beasts suddenly did something unexpected. They fell to one knee and simultaneously each said, "I swear my allegiance to you, my liege."
Marcus was confused. Hadn't these guys just tried to start a coup d'état against him ruling the island? Keeping the tentacle barrier up, Marcus turned his weapon towards the kneeling beasts and growled, "explain yourself".
He did his best to sound irritated, but in reality, he was extremely pleased. He had heard a notification in the back of his head again and opened the menu to see the mission he had officially taken over the island.
The system now read this:
[Name – Marcus Vindictio]
[Species – Human / Inanis]
[Rank – Platinum II]
[Level - 14] [EXP – 19 / 100]
[Abilities]
[Call of the Void]
[Mastery - 73 / 100]
[Void Tentacles]
[Void Absorption]
[Void Forgery] (Active after download)
[Mastery – 0 / 100]
[Void Rune Smithing] (Active after download)
[Mastery – 0 / 100]
[Inventory]
[Money]
[Platinum Pieces – 10]
[Diamond III Shadow Steel Scythe (Rare)]
[Effect: Reaper – The closer to death they are, the more they will fear this weapon]
[Diamond III Shadow Steel Dagger (Rare)]
[Effect: Hunter – The weapon guides you through the actions of a hunter. Proficiency in skinning beasts and laying traps]
[Skills]
[Weapon Misdirection – lv 10]
[Advanced Blacksmithing – lv 9]
[Rune Smithing – lv 9]
[Eyes of the Night Owl – lv 10]
[Lava Lion's Mane – lv 10]
[Shadow Wolf's Concealment – lv 10]
[Thunder Crow's Shriek – lv 10]
[Earth Mole's Tunnelling – lv 10]
[Sky Bat's Echolocation – lv 10]
[White Tiger's Agility – lv 10
[Emperor's Aura – lv 10]
[Missions]
[Take Over Delos Island (2/3)]
[Defeat the Faction seeking your position] (COMPLETE)
[Reward – 10 Platinum Coins]
[Bring the Island's Beasts under your control] (COMPLETE)
[Reward – Void Forgery and Void Rune Skill]
[Save the beasts taken by the Half – Animal cult within 24 hours]
[Reward – Find out my real name]
[Time Left – 21:48:46]
[Punishment – Everyone in the Human Realm gets an unflattering naked picture of you engraved in their memory]
Seeing that the [Take Over Delos Island] quest hadn't been completed, Marcus realised that there must have been more captives somewhere else on the island. It also meant that the Faction's army had already been taken down, as he had completed the [Bring the Island's Beasts under your control] sub quest.
The supposed leader of the beasts stepped forwards and said, "My liege, you contain the essence of the Void, our creator, and thus you are our King. Do you have any orders for us?"
Marcus was extremely surprised, but decided he'd ask his questions later. "Release all of the captives you have taken, and bring them to me. Also leave me one of your daggers. I'd like to free the,."
"Yes sir".
The rhino headed hooded half-beast walked over and gave his weapon to Marcus, before leading the rest of the beasts to the cave partition where they had held the beasts they had taken captive.
"System, inspect the dagger in my hands."
A chirpy voice sounded out in his head,
< "The dagger is a common Soul Steel dagger at the rank of Diamond III. The poison is a mixture of manticore poison, ray bee blood and the saliva of a baby acid rhino. It's strong enough to knock out a Diamond III beast within a minute, and will kill anything below diamond before they know what hit them. It is one of the key factors behind the Masked half-animals' rise to power.">
'Someone's in a good mood today," Marcus replied.
< "Well of course I am! I just found a way to make you do what I want! Oh and also now I know my own name. That's good too!">
Marcus chuckled before realising what the system had just said.
'You don't know your own name?'
< "Well I don't actually know anything about myself. All I remember are those tentacles…. And also a clanging sound… but that's about it! No matter though, I have you to annoy instead!">
Marcus felt a small tinge of sadness in his heart, before a notification went off in his head.
'The captives are free now so the mission is finished! Let's hear your name then system.'
< "My name….. my name is... my name is 'Artemis'" >
'That's a beautiful name,' Marcus said in his head, 'Okay, Artemis, let's finish up with the army then head back to base. I can't wait to start learning the Void Forgery!'
< "Well before we do that, you'll have to level me up first. It doesn't take too long and it's not too painful.. I think." >
Marcus shuddered when he heard this. Artemis had said these same words in training sessions, and he normally couldn't even stand after those. Oh the pains of the strong…
Marcus picked up the bodies of the half-beasts he had slaughtered, then headed over to the hole he had made in the cave side and used [Thunder Crow's Shriek] to call his army.
"Freedom Army, assemble before your mighty king, for I have conquered even the Faction who have plagued these lands for years! We were victorious today and we will be victorious for the rest of our days! Take care of your brothers who were taken captive, for they are the same as you… victims of the pain and destruction left by the Faction's horrible ways. These are the bodies of the ringleaders of this horrible oppression of our people."
And with that, he threw the bodies into the masses of his army, where they were trampled and smacked by the angry soldiers and civilian beasts who had family and friends lose their lives in battle. They had been united under the leadership of a single human, who had shown unbelievable strength and valour in battle, guiding them to victory. You could say they trusted him more than they trusted their own families, and would stand proud when recognised as part of his army. There had been many who had tried to court him or marry him, but being a human he had taken no interest in them.
Marcus allocated a portion of him army to sweeping the caves clean, and marched back to the capital with the main part of the army. After saying a few more words as formalities, he dismissed them back to their lives.
He returned to his quarters, and said words that would pain him for hours.
'Artemis….. ugh I'll regret these words... begin the system update.'