Tah'ler while usually light hearted and care free always took his job seriously, especially when it came to hunting. The worst things One could think of while in the plains more often than not tried to bring itself into existence.
In the past while he was a new blood like those around him, Tah'ler watched as his entire group was killed by a high level monster while out on the plains for this very same trial. unable to help do to bring pinned under a tree early on in the battle. Only thing different then was the amount of time given to train before they embarked out.
While they had been given more time to get used to the plains and improve their skills, they also got used to the dangers...this lead to people letting their guard down, causing more people to die because they were caught unprepared.
Him and one other survived, and this caused a change to them from that day forward. They now saw just how weak the human body was compared to the haze beast. With out the gods they would have been overwhelmed and slaughtered long ago, the end of the human race as we know it; or so some scientist say.
***
The day dream about his past ended as they always do, with the realization that they could all die any second out in the plains of hell.
- "Ormr squad on me! Rank top down."
Tah'lers once light hearted voice now serious and cold, the hint of danger sent shivers down almost everyone in squad Ormr's spine.
As the new recruits lined up from highest rank which was >rank one: Wayne D. Keys< who had the highest rating during the blooding ceremony, to >rank 28: Ayden Black< who despite his combat ability lacked any kind of combat awareness. Aydens ranking shocked his mentor and trainer do to the fact that his combat potential was immeasurable because no one who took the test ever actually defeated the orb.
After the formalities of designating the primary attack/defensive roles support roles and support guards, squad Ormr set off. The pace a slow jog but still faster than a normal person could keep up for to long.
One of the reason the pace was set decently high was because these were warriors at the beginning peak of the normal human, and the mentors were nearing the ending peaks of the blessed. To gain strength on must always train past their limits, and to Tah'ler right now was a good training moment.
The Para-titan was a large distance away but the going wasn't to bad for Terran because the guild had built a road to the Ether caves long ago to make it easier for transporting the ore.
After an hour and 8 miles of running, their was a big difference in appearance when comparing the new recruits. As they reached a Guild recovery zone Tah'ler allowed them to rest for a decent amount of time while he talked with the on duty security force in charge, and double checked in the location of the beast they were hunting.
As Wayne reached the building he found a seat and collapsed into it, sweat running down his face gasping for air.
> "Man is this what it's going... to be like everyday, i could of just flew here... and been done 50 minutes ago"
Ayden having been only a few steps behind Wayne decided to head over and buy a nutrient pack from the vending machine. His relaxed posture as if he had just taken a short walk around the block was evident, especially with his lack of sweat running down his face.
> "Hey 28 what's your ability? you don't even look like you just ran these past 15 miles You must have a great healing ability to be able to do that."
Wayne couldn't help but wonder why this man who was at the bottom of the rankings for their class was able to not only keep up with him, but also seem like he wasn't even exhausted from it.
"8 miles, and it's less than what i run on a daily basis. It was also at a slower pace so i wouldn't have to use an ability to recover my stamina even if i had one."
The shock of his words caused many people to give a double take at Ayden, because they couldn't believe the weakest one in the group was lying about running more than what they just did on a daily basis. If that was the case he should of been placed at least in the top 10 of all the recruits, but he was ranked last.
> "It's ok you don't have to lie to us, we are all Squad Ormr and we shouldn't be hiding things from each other. Like me mine is spatial movement and directional force"
"That sounds like a good ability, i see why you would be at rank 1. But i did not lie, rather you believe me or not is not my problem and none of my concern."
> "Yeah it is thanks to the blessing of my God, Tyr the god of the universe. Your falsely named "god" has no place in this world, and you should know your place at the bottom. Obviously your "god" of healing is nothing but a secondary being who you are to ashamed to speak his name out loud. You should at least bow down to those who gave you life and those who use their power to protect you, or Tyr may not protect you when the time comes that you need it 28"
The smug smile of the devout spread across Wayne's face, as he caught Ayden in his attempt to make his false god come across as stronger than he actually was.
"I can protect my self so that is ok my friend. Also my name is Ayden, and may i ask for yours?"
> "To those so far below me can call me 1, as you will not survive this hell with only the ability to heal 28"
By this point everyone had recovered enough and had begun to do their own things but the 2 support people heard what Wayne had said, and began to instantly dislike this man who is ranked first so they approached Ayden.
"Pay him no mind, us supports aren't worthless as he so thinks. I'm Chris, and this is Tom we are the support you are guarding today. Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you as well I'm Ayden, and i don't mind him the chains of his god run deep. Though i should probably begin actually guarding you since that's my role"
Reaching out his hand Ayden shock Chris's hand, and as he did a screen popped up in front of his eye.
[would you like to use {pack link} on >Chris Forewound< and >Tom Sunwood
'Yes'
With the acceptance of the ability activation, a feeing of being pulled towards Chris and Tom spread through Aydens body. As the link was completed Ayden could feel Both of their presences like he had never before except with Tah'ler.
As {pack link} finished activating all three people took a step back, the two supports looked at him as if something weird had just happened.
"Is that you,... this energy running through me? It's as if you both are apart of me."
Aydens face turned red, and he couldn't stop his hand from scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Oh yeah, sorry it's my first time using my ability so i didn't know you would be able to feel it. It's not dangerous, just gives us a boost to our power and allow our abilities to be shared to a certain point."
" I'm fine with it i can already feel my fatigue disappearing!"
Tom seemed to be the quiet type and just shrugged his shoulders with out a hint of any reason to care, then looked to the side as Tah'ler has come back and was getting ready to speak.
- "Time to move out, the scout team is in a bit of trouble not to far away from here so we are going to provide reinforcements for them. We move out in 5 minutes."
As if a switch was flipped squad Ormr actions became sharper, their attitude became serious, their aura become dangerous. With the discipline of warriors that were raised to battle.
- "Spear formation, defense back, support middle, pace full!"
Tah'ler boomed as he reached the front of the gate, attackers flanking his sides, Ayden set behind the two with the support directly behind him, and defensive people behind them. With a slow deep breath the world around them slowed and quieted, the peace be for the storm had come to squad Ormr finally.