Approaching the house I saw shadows through the open door and bloodstains all over the inside of the living room. With a heavy heart I knew what had happened, thus all hesitation flew out of me as I squeezed the trigger firing one solid shot through the wall. I saw a splatter of a grey liquid along with purple and green matter, looked like plant fiber as I steeled myself. I swung the lever then I heard a number of small footsteps from all though the main area of my house. I saw a small flower creature come running through the door, and off impulse I gave the trigger a squeeze. Another burst of plant matter went splattering against the outside of my house.
The purple headed creatures were about two feet tall, as the next two rounded the corner I finished sweeping the lever. Another shot rang out, quickly followed by a second one, I got more acquainted with using my gun in actual combat. I felt force on my back as I was quickly knocked to the gravel, I heard a snarl and quickly saw Remi bite one of these creatures. I watched him for a second then recalled, "These creatures look like B.." I cut myself off screaming, "Release!," I smacked the creature with the butt of my rifle, causing it's head to puff into the air. I put my hand on Remi with concern then felt an energy leave my body.
I saw a small golden energy flow out of my hand into Remi, somehow deep inside I knew that Remi would be fine. These creatures features resembled that of a belladonna, a very lethal nightshade known by it's nickname "Devil's Herb." I walked inside releasing my Winchester causing tension on the shoulder strap. I looked around in the main room, I saw blood all over the center of the room and drag marks. I sighed knowing she was dead by the amount of blood that was splattered across the living room. It seemed hope was still alive as I heard a neigh come from the stable.
I quickly dashed back there Remi keeping a tight follow. "Echo," I sighed as I slid the barn door open and quickly surveyed with my gun at the ready. Echo is a Percheron, a very large and reliable draft horse, that practically devours knowledge for a horse. I walked over and patted Echo on the side of the head, "Echo this is Remi, Remi this as echo." Remi seemed to be feeling a bit unsteady on his feet so I made a little straw pile, "lay. Okay you two be good I have to go enact revenge," I said pushing the first round into the gun.
Remi tried to follow but was unable to move. With a quick reaffirming pat I left them there as I began to follow the blood trail. I popped my phone on for a second to check what I got for the vibrations when killing the nightshades, "Due to slaying 5 Belladonna Sprouts you gave gained 5SP." With more funds I moved forward stifling a cry, I was keeping an eye peeled but at the end of the blood trail I saw nothing. After a small examination, I heard a branch snap I stepped to the side turning around. A massive green and purple spiked item slammed to the ground where I was standing. I fired two shots quickly backing into a tree.
The creature was definitely related to the little ones, it was a slender green and purple humanoid plant that was a bit taller than me. The two shots I fired landed on one of its massive segmented arms that seemed to be made just to kill, that arm seemed to not be moving though. The creature swung its other club like appendage at my face, I ducked firing another shot into it's abdomen. It swung again so I threw my self to the side.
I rounded a tree, it quickly caught up and swung its one good arm horizontally. I slammed my shoulder into it as it fell back, quickly I fired three shots into it's chest and head. It finally stopped moving, as if building a habit I popped open my phone to look at the text, "Due to slaying a Belladonna Brawler(summoned) you have gained 5SP." Rage flew through me as I read the name I tensed up as I started reloading.
I quickly scanned the area, I tore off one of the arms of the creature then headed back to check on Remi and Echo. "Whoever did this, I'm gonna..." I paused the amount of rage that left me when I opened the barn was worrying. "I don't wanna kill again if I can help it, lets hope for whoever summoned that beast doesn't pursue me any more," I said with a small sigh. I collapsed into the straw bed I made Remi, petting him as I rested my eyes a bit.
I felt a heavy weight on my chest as I saw the eyes of a large serpent peering through the shadows. A faint air of intelligence could be understood by looking at the creature's eyes, "will you be the one to free me, my dearest Siren." I looked at the creature as a slew of emotions rushed to me; hatred, fear, sorrow, and this feeling that burned deep in my gut. I couldn't understand any of them but I could feel something resonating in my chest.
I let out a scream as I snapped awake, I startled Remi and Echo. I could feel something different about that scream a type of energy left me, "this can't be good." As the worry set in, Remi began to nuzzle up against my back. I gave him a firm scratch then got up. Stretching, I realized a green mist pouring into the barn.
A hissing could be heard as a heavy mist began to fill the room, from the window on the second floor of the barn. I quickly opened the gate for Echo and dashed towards the door. I lifted the heavy wooden bar as I did Echo and Remi moved for the exit. Remi exited the door with a dash, I noticed a man donned in golden scaled armor with an undercoat of green. He seemed to have a green liquid spilling from the large hooked weapon he had in his left hand, as well as the kama in his right hand. The most distinguishing feature was the large green serpentine eye on the waist of the mans gear.
"Move!" I yelled raising my gun from my shoulder sling I aimed at the man, in that time the man raised his larger blade and slammed it towards Remi. As the blade dropped I felt a tight string pulling in my chest, "please?" I prayed to myself as I squeezed the trigger, I felt the bullet leave the gun. As the bullet collided off his armor he budged back a bit. He regained his balance and followed through, as his blade came inches from connecting to Remi I heard the trotting of hooves. A smile grew across my face as I saw Echo charge right past the man throwing him to the ground.
A smirk spanned my face, "was I too worried, whatever. Let's focus up!" I raised my voice a bit watching the man react with phenomenal physique as he launched up to his feet with both weapons ready. My smirk tensed a bit more as I felt my phone vibrate. I fired two more shots as the man approached. He got within striking range as the two bullets clanged off his armor. I became irked at my bullets being treated like pebbles, I ducked his swing from the larger blade and blocked the smaller one with my Winchester.
The force he generated was inhuman, with his lighter weapon he almost knocked me off my feet. I stumbled back then split second dashed to the left to regain sight. I saw Echo running away, Remi was being attacked by an abnormally large snake. The snake was only about 5ft but was almost 2 feet in bulk, it was coiling around Remi. "Snake or man?" I thought aloud with a horror filling my eyes. I pointed my gun at the man standing still, he charged at me. With heavy downward force he cleaved at me, I clenched the gun fanning the lever back and forth.
I stepped into the swing feinting a dodge, I rolled into the side of the swing causing him to overcorrect and knock himself off balance. I stabilized myself as quickly possible firing a round off at the snake seeing blood splatter, I knew I wasn't safe by the heavy breath down my neck. With a deep breath I fanned the lever of my rifle, with a sidestep I whipped back to fire at him. His tracking however was amazing as even with my swift movement he kept up with me.
I heard a a loud bark as Remi ran up and slammed his body against the blade. I let out a cry as I saw the collision, then I realized his fur had stone protruding from it as the blade slid off the stone like fur I heard a hiss. I whipped around to see the snake coming towards me I quickly emptied a casing into it's open gullet. With a splatter I fanned the lever looking back to see Remi biting down on the mans leg. With the man swinging at Remi's hardened back.
I looked like the armored state of Remi's skill was wearing off so I quickly raised my Winchester fanning 3 shots into his mask. The first two cracked it but the third shattered it sending him stiffly falling over with a splat on the ground. I felt another buzz from my phone. With a haggard look I purged the chamber of the Winchester. I smirked "thanks old friend," I said realizing I used exactly 8 shots. I sat down, letting out a loud whistle, I began to reload my rifle. I retrieved my phone as to check my messages.
I saw a new set of message from the unknown number, "Hello Mr. Lloyd it is my pleasure to announce that you have found a hidden function of the skill (Call of Protection). It seems you've learned to use it on the ones you are Loyal to as well as when you are unconscious. I am very pleased with your progress."
The second message wrote, "Due to slaying Fang Soldier you have gained 7SP. Due to slaying Toxic Serpent you have gained 4SP. Due to your actions you have activated Loyalty with Echo(lessens Aggro to the effected). Due to the way you fought your enemy you have gained a point in Courage(Chivalric Order).
As I finished up there was another message from the number, "Attention all players a selection of wears are ready to be sold by the merchants."
After reading the messages I looked down at the corpse of the Fang Soldier which had a subtle glow to it. I approached it with a slight concern, as I arrived at it an item appeared in the glow it looked like a broken golden demon mask with an emerald eye. The mask didn't have a left eye and was missing the right tusk. I picked it up, as I touched it I got another message.
I checked it, "My my again, dear Kaiser. You have found a monsters (Drop) they are items you don't have to buy that only have a chance of coming to exist. The Fang Soldier mask has (Poison Resist) and (Poison Coating). I advise you to use it or sell it to a merchant."
"Strange you actually give advice," I chuckled softly to myself. I didn't notice any way to attach the mask to my face so I threw it in my sling. Echo came trotting over I gave him a soft pet on the side of his head and with a smile I began to check Echo and Remi for any damage. Then we all finished our nights rest in the barn after the gas cleared out.