The group left Bloodrend City the day after the banquet, three days ago. They had a weeks Journey to fully exit Bloodrend Kingdom and enter the Kingdom of Fargas.Another month to reach The Capital city of Fargo.
"I wonder what Fargas has to offer us?" Blackhawk mused.
"Gwen only heard stories. But Gwen knows that Fargas and Lameria are at war over territories between their kingdoms." Gwen told them.
"War..." Aisrin muttered.
"Well I doubt we will be roped into it. Besides, the monsters are known to come in every now and again and over run some small villages. It's the main goal of the Adventurers to alleviate these problems." James reassured the group.
"I was born from one of those scenarios. My mother moved to Bloodrend because of it." Verenia commented.
"That must have sucked knowing your father was a goblin." Blackhawk stated insensitivly.
"I-it certainly caused hardships..." Verenia said quietly.
"Read the atmosphere Blackhawk." Aisrin nudged Blackhawk.
"I say it as it is. Don't get all wrung out over it girlie. You may have to face your father. I expect you to kill him too. Monsters aren't caring creatures." Blackhawk once again said, adding to the insult of the poor girls sores.
"Blodenhiem! You certainly don't have a silver tongue. Gwen doesn't dislike that though." Gwen cursed.
"Blodenhiem?" Aisrin turned to Gwen.
"He's the God of Knowledge and Crafts. Elves and Dwarves worship him as their main god." James answered.
"Ah." Aisrin replied.
"By the way, don't you have a main God? as a demon?" James asked Aisrin in turn.
"God." Aisrin stated matter of factly. Blackhawk looked at Aisrin, his eyes narrowed again.
"Yes, a god. Usually Demons adhere to the teachings of Azazel. The God of War and Mischief." James replied.
'That's just a Demon though, in my old world.'
"Jesus man, when will we get somewhere with good booze?" Blackhawk announced loudly. Aisrin abruptly stopped, a paleness to his face.
'He said it! He certainly said it! Jesus doesn't exist in this world's teachings!'
Blackhawk grinned, he seemed to have finally reached a conclusion on a theory he'd been researching for awhile.
"We can talk later bud." Blackhawk lightly punched Aisrin in the shoulder.
'He knows something.'
"Sure. Okay." Aisrin nodded in reply.
*Later that night*
The group had set up camp and were chatting up a storm, getting to know eachother, while Aisrin and Blackhawk stood out of earshot bit within eyesight of the group.
"Let's just cut to the point, you aren't from this world, are you?" Blackhawk asked immediately.
"Physically, I am. Spiritually, no. I'm from Earth. America to be more precise." Aisrin replied honestly.
"For real? Like what part? I was born and raised in Wisconsin." Blackhawk laughed.
"Montana." Aisrin answered.
"So what happened? How'd you end up here?" Blackhawk continued.
"An HVT extraction went terribly south. I got hit in the throat by a stray bullet while I covered my team's evac." Aisrin told him.
"Military too huh? I was more covert op. I was on the team that was to take down a terrorist shithole. Whole village. They were responsible for many 'special deliveries' that claimed too many American lives, including a senator and an ambassador. But they were waiting for us. Whole squad wiped out in an instant. I survived... for a little while longer at least. The things they did... torture just can't describe it. I bit my own tongue off. Not because I couldnt take it anymore, they just ran out of amusing ideas so I just went out on my own terms." Blackhawk described in minor detail.
"Ah. That must have been rough." Aisrin responded.
"Nah, I'm just playing. Of course that mission succeeded. I died while choking on a chilli mac MRE afterwards. Hahaha!" Blackhawk laughed a little too hard.
"... A chilli mac MRE? The first story sounds more believable..." Aisrin shook his head in disbelief.
"Nope, that was entirely fabricated. I really suffocated while chowing down some chili mac." Blackhawk reconfirmed.
"Thats... rediculous." Aisrin sighed.
"Sorry to disappoint you. I envy your death, so much more glorious." Blackhawk commented.
"It really wasn't. It sucked. I choked on my own blood while bleeding out. Though I'm sure it lasted less than a minute, it felt like several." Aisrin disagreed.
"Don't be such a..... shut up... what was that?" Blackhawk was about to say something, but he suddenly squinted and held his hand to Aisrins mouth while looking around. Aisrin was about to smack his hand away and start yelling, but suddenly a bone chilling amount if bloodlust could be felt. Aisrin removed Blackhawks hand and nodded.
The direction of which that insane bloodlust was coming from, was in the opposite side of the camp. Both Aisrin and Blackhawk retreated further into the woods and began climbing a tree, to gain an aerial view. Aisrin got above the other members of the unawares group, and used his senses to pinpoint the threat.
Whatever it was, was big and quiet.
"Its a Lycan. We need to Evacuate immediately!" Blackhawk unhesitatingly dropped down and kicked the fire out towards the bushes, catching the dryer leaves quickly on fire.
'I see, create a wall of flames to escape quicker. I'll help.' Aisrin began to accumulate mana in his hand and mixed fire and wind attributes. A raging whirlwind of fire was now in his hand as he too dropped down. He used the wind to propel the fire in a steady torrent, engulfing a good portion of the area in flames.
"What in Askarah are you guys doing? That's criminal you know!" James obviously has no battle experience, so he was entirely out off and against what the two were doing. By now, Aisrin could here the complaining growls of the beast meters away from the wall of fire. With his eyesight, he could even make out the hideous face just beyond. It was a beast unlike any other he had seen before.
It was all black with glowing yellow eyes. Its teeth were long and pointed, so visible even from a distance. Its face was pulled back in a permanent snarl, blood and saliva dripping from its mouth.
"Run! Run Now!" Aisrin switched the form of his magic from a spray, to balls. He rapid fired as many as he could in all directions to make a wider area of flames, hoping to cut off a quick way for the beast to get them.
(Skill Aquired through continuous use of fire magic. Skill: Fire Bolt Lv 1.)
The system spoke telepathically and updated Aisrin.
'Oh, this is quite convenient... but not right now!'
Soon an area of around twenty meters deep and covered three quarters of the way around the retreating groups campsite had been entirely engulfed in flames.
"Come on! We need to go!" Blackhawk grabbed Aisrin and bolted with him, the others had already ran far ahead.
'Old habits!'
The flames grew dimmer the further the group ran until the reach a clearing and a road. The group stopped for a moment to catch their breath.
"What had you two all paniced?" James finally demanded. They could see the smoke from the fire, it was around two kilometers away now.
"Lycan." Blackhawk said between huff's.
"Lycan? Here? We're leagues away from their mountains in the southern part of the continent!" James shivered. Something was bothering Aisrin. He began looking around, until he realized the problem. Verenia was missing.
"Where is Verenia!" Aisrin shouted loudly, startling everyone, until they too began to panic. Blackhawk began looking out into the woods. Aisrin began sprinting towards the woods, but the sickening sound of crunching and the smell of blood stopped him in his tracks. The sound came from behind the group, up in a lone tree right by the road, right by where they stopped. Everyone froze, and Aisrin turned and looked up.
The Lycan was sitting on the lower branch, digging into something... humanoid. Blood was trickling down. How did they not notice? They were certain they out ran it... no... it predicted their path and their destination... it was waiting there! Aisrin immediately knew, it waited until they all dropped their guards and turned towards the woods, since Verenia was behind them and closest to the tree, it took its chance on her.
Aisrins eyes widened in horror as he stared into the terror filled, lifeless eyes of Verenia. Half of her face had been eaten, her flesh hanging in stringy messes. Her lifeless body being jerked about as the creature lavishly enjoyed its meal.
"It's too distracted to notice us. Let's get going." Blackhawk whispered to the group. Everyone was in agreement and started to move quietly, except Aisrin. Aisrin had seen his fair share of death, more than most should. So why did this scene stir him so much? Why did her death in particular aggravate him?
Simple. He saw her as, 'His Responsibility.' He chose her, and she happily accepted. She, who was full of life and potential. A life, he failed to protect. Maybe it was due to understanding the feeling of having siblings that awoken this sense of protection? Aisrin couldnt figure it out, but he couldnt contain his rage.
"Y- YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!" Aisrin let out a loud roar.
"You fucking idiot!" Blackhawk yelled. The beast stopped chomping on Verenia and turned his attention to Aisrin. A devilish look on its face, something that resembled a beastly grin of glee.
"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Aisrin continued. A powerful surge of energy began to permeate through his body.
(2 new Skills acquired. Skill: Limit Break Lv 1. Skill: Bloodlust Lv 1.)
The air around Aisrin seemed to waver as if a mirage. His bloodlust released in full fury, causing James and Gwen to shiver, Blackhawk in turn, smiled.
"Now this... is entertaining!" Blackhawk smiled sadistically as he pulled a bottle from his pack and popped the top, chugging the contents.
The Lycan dropped its previous meal and dropped down to face its next prey. What was one more lousy human? They were fun to hunt. It had already ran through a small village before finding these Fools in the woods alone. And they ran in a straight line like idiots. It was so easy to get ahead of them and lie in wait. The aura the human gave off, did bother it a small bit. It seemed... experienced.
Aisrin let out one more yell and in a flash, cut the beasts arm off. The Lycan looked down at its severed arm, wondering where the human went, and why it had no arm. Then its vision tumbled over and over until it was looking at the ground. Shortly after, it saw its body fall just in the frame of its vision.
To those watching, it just looked like Aisrin vanished and reappeared behind it, the Lycan just seemed to fall apart. Aisrin picked the Head up and stared it right in its dumbfounded eyes.
"Suffer in Hell!" Aisrin told it as he tossed the head up and cleanly cleaved it in half. He was shortly covered in blood. Something in him compelled him to pick the severed arm up, and take a large bite.
Demons desire the flesh of all humanoid creatures. They suppress it subconsciously from the moment they're born.But, when they go berserk, that's when that desire breaks out. It's one if the many reasons why its looked down upon. Limit Break, seemed to have the same effect as Berserk, but with sanity intact.
Aisrin consumed the arm with gusto in primal instinct, he had no control, he just had to eat it. He had never experienced this sensation before, so he had no idea what his problem was. His mouth was watering like crazy, and the taste of the Lycan was so smooth and rich. Soon the arm had been devoured, and the sensation disappeared.
Blackhawk approached Aisrin, and handed him the bottle.
"You should drink after a good meal." He patted his shoulder. The group collected Verenias gear and buried her. Soon after began their journey once again. Only now with four.