Being silently led through the woods wasn't how I saw this assistant thing going when I decided to use the crystal. It was frustrating to just follow while ignorant of things that he could tell me.
It was even more aggravating given how far we had walked without seeing anything around. I could already sense that others had left me far behind All because I had to activate a goddamn assistant crystal.
I just wanted to start leveling up and playing the game, not take a nature walk through a golden forest. Though I'd admit that there were a lot of things that caught my interest. My inspect skill was already halfway to its level up.
I'm certain that my overthinking was the reason I missed the assistant suddenly taking a step to his left and then turning so his side was facing me.
Of course by the time I even noticed that move something large, hard, and very rough smacked me so hard I felt my body ascend and sail back. The thump of my back hitting the ground was erased by the pain of having my wings with my total weight pressed into the ground.
Fortunately, nothing broke. My eyes frantically shot up and around to find the attacker even as my mind found the notifications to see how much damage I had taken.
[Blunt strike received]
[- 20 HP]
[Blunt trauma received]
[- 5 HP]
My mind instantly went to my HP pool and I winced at noting that only 15/40 of my HP was left.
My eyes found the thing that hit me and my pupils dilated. I was certain normal mob monsters were meant to be horned rabbits, slimes or little wolves, maybe goblins.
"What in the Creator is this?" I muttered.
Stalking around while actively seeking an opportunity to lunge at me was what I could only describe as a beast liberated from the lowest pits of hell.
Its skin, or what should be its skin was more of fine golden fur and bone pikes jutting out the sides of its body. It stood at exactly 5ft with the length of a horse and ferocious teeth. The eyes burned with a golden light that made me think of the assistant. Did everything here have a specific color of light for the eyes?
My intent pushed out as I dragged myself up hoping that this thing was low-leveled enough to fight. My arm was grabbing the copper sword that appeared from my inventory. I missed the golden lights that weaved it into my palm as the info for intent came back.
[Holy Creature] - [Dare Molv]
[Lv 1] - [BASIC]
A purified hell's gate beast. Your chances against it are at 40% if you're smart. 20% if you're lucky and dead if you're neither.
[PERKS] - [Heightened sense] - [Feral] - [Piked defense]
The Dare Molv as it was named howled in outrage at the inspect used on it before dashing forward. The first thing I noted was how even in it's anger it didn't make useless mistakes.
'An intelligent beast at level one already. What the hell?' I mentally cursed even as I got ready, copper sword held in both hands and wings tucked behind me.
The beast made a lunge for my feet, reacting quickly thanks to its agility I swung low aiming for its head. It suddenly pounced upwards pushing off its front feet and barreling into me. Its weight got the job done as I panicked. It's maws opened as a hot breath washed over my feathered shoulder right before it bit down hard on my bicep.
"Ahhhh" I screamed. My mind s3ared from the initial shock and pain. A far-off subconscious thought made me realize my scream was more of a bird's screech. Good to know I sounded like a bird now.
[Bite damage]
[- 2 HP]
My left fist was fast to come attacking with punches that struck the pikes that jutted out the Molvs head like side horns. I beat and beat but the thick pike on its head deflected my onslaught.
With each strike, a new idea rose in my mind. I was panicking and getting desperate as it tugged at my arm but fortunately, I had the sense to not act irrationally. An idea cemented into my head as my fist rose for another strike. Snake poachers back in the day usually grabbed the snake by its head to prevent it from making a bite. While this wasn't a snake its head was proving to be the most lethal of its body. Especially since its claws were nicking me but only caused 1 or 2 damage.
Still, it was damages that I wanted to avoid as it would pile to put me down especially now that I had only 13/40 HP left.
I cursed and moved. Dropping tbe copper sword that had barely made any hit and latching unto the Molv with my free left hand. The now free right hand ignoring the pain of the clinging but kicking to be free Molv rammed back elbow first into it's throat. More damage received appeared in my mind.
But the move was able to free my arm which was dripping gold and mangled. The Molv attempting to burst free from my left received a blow from my right arm.
Fortunately, pain while a bit realistic wasn't set over the top. I knew because I'm sure a bite and mangled arm would feel worse than mine did. Especially with the ache that spread up my arm from the blow I delivered with the wounded arm.
The Molv shook with outrage as it tried to get free. With a growl or was it a screech I wasn't sure. Everything was just mixed up and confused in my brain now. I slammed the Molv face-first to the ground. It whined at the impact as a damage notification appeared in my vision.
[Blunt damage]
[ + 20 Damage]
I found it very annoying that there was nothing to ascertain the enemy's health pool with. Unsatisfied, I picked up my copper sword just as the Molv dashed away to put distance between us.
Like a subconscious thought, my wings spread and I felt the air shake up my feathers as it gathered around me at an astonishing pace. Then I flapped and my wings clapped together. The gathered air was shot out in a single line of white wind.
The leaves on the ground and grasses were blown away as the wind passed and the Molv looked back. Its eyes widened I think, just in time to receive the wind head-on.
[Skill learned - Wing Force]
[Wing Force - You have subconsciously used your wings to learn the skill]
[+5 exp to Wing Force]
[- 4 Intent]
[Zephyr's Might]
[Wing Force] - [ACTIVE]
[Lv0 - 5/50] - [BASIC]
[Use intent to pull at the stable surrounding winds and gather to you before a powerful flap of wings to send as a weapon towards a target. Any with intent, air affinity, and better understanding can negate your strike]
[Cost - 4 Intent] - [Cooldown - None]
[+ 3 damage]
The skill was good but not knowing the amount of HP the creature had and also seeing the low number of damage given I felt it was really bad.
'Well hopefully, I'll get more intent on leveling up and hopefully add more wind to increase the damage, then it won't matter'. I walked to the Molv pushing out of the tree it was smashed into. I studied the information about Wing force as I approached it. Slowly I had a better understanding of the skill. I could use the skill without drawing in the air around me and just using the wind derived from the force of my flap, but the damage would be less or nonexistent. Still, I thought it could serve as a good way to disorient the enemy or stun them.
A smile grew on my face as I got close to the now-standing Molv. It glared fiercely obviously knowing that running wasn't an option. The sting on my arm was less and a side glance showed it slowly healing. Good.
The Molv pounced and I thrust. The sound of metal striking and slicing through flesh was like music to my ears. The Molv howled lowly before it quietened and hung from my copper sword lifeless.
[+ 5 Damage]
[You have Slain Dare Molv]
[+10 Exp]
My eyes went to the dead Molv and narrowed. All that stress it gave me. The wound to my arm and the bash to my face and wings. Yet it only had the nerve to be worth 10 experience points.
I noted something else though, within its chest was a glowing light. Visible simply because that was where my sword was sticking in.
I went on my knees and placed the Molv corpse down before using my palm and copper sword to try pushing apart the chest.
Within the Molv were just hardened golden bones and sparse flesh. Definitely not enough for a meal. It gave me the thought to get a blunt weapon especially since most of the damage I had wished to it had been blunt. My groping hand finally grasped something and I felt a tickle in me right before pulling it out.
There was an obsession with whatever this was even before I looked at it.
It was a crystal trapping a golden glow within. A bit of green thread was slightly visible and an utmost overlooked pinprick of white at the very center.
[Would you like to absorb Shard of the Absolute]
[Y/N]
I was just about to confirm when a hand landed on my left shoulder. Looking up away from the shard I felt the white gaze of the assistant bearing on me. As his eyes locked on me his right hand snatched up the shard.
"Hey, that's mine." I yelled getting angry. Now he'd just stand about doing nothing while j battled a Molv and then come to steal my precious.
'Wait, my precious' I stumbled at the sudden thought.
The being seemed to nod as he kept looking at me. Then the skeletal part or whatever is parted.
"I see you've realized something. " his eyes went to the shard then back to me.
"The shard is yours, I don't need it. If I did it is not exactly hard to get. Stones like this are not quite abundant in Torheim but are also not hard to find if you know where to look. " he bounced the shard in his grasp before tossing it back.
"Put it away into your storage and don't try touching it until I'm done and you're very sure of what you want". something about his voice made me obey and I watched the shard dissipate.
A sadness washed over me at not having it in my grasp again. 'What was going on and why was I feeling like this?'
The being must have noted my confusion because he just gestured for me to walk with him. This time he was slow marching his large strides with mine and giving me space for my folded wings.
"The shards are what give life and power to most creatures here in Torheim and other places" he began.
"Uhm, sorry to interrupt at the very start. But where is Torheim, and who are you?" I asked while hoping I didn't just piss off someone who hared getting interrupted.
He paused then nodded.
"This..." he lifted an arm gesturing to everything. " ...is Torheim. Birthplace of the Divines and territory of the Skywalker. And you are the first of many divine gods born here".
'Okay, that sounded cool. I feel a lore coming up' I smiled as I kept quiet waiting and listening.
"The shards were made by the absolute and like you just felt, each has a charming or even worse an obsessive desire for it. The grant power, power to rise beyond the others but at a prize." he stopped to look at me a pressure emanating from within him.
"Do not be fooled young god, your decisions are your own. And whatever you deem proper your choice. I am here not to teach you to walk but to warn you off the dangerous path. The shards can either be absorbed to earn a quick power-up or traded to gain coins that will aid your future. Choose wisely Daedalus, all decisions come with a cost. " he stopped and looked back in the direction he had been leading to. Following his gaze when as my head alerted through the NPC's advice I noted what lay ahead. I could see that he had been heading for a road outside the huge forest.
"Follow the path due west till you find the grasslands. There you will see the star. Get to it. Your adventures are only just beginning young Daedalus. I hope to see you in the Great Halls soon, the rifts need more fresh blood". A portal just like the first one appeared, white smoke with green tendrils getting sucked back.
The Being moved away heading to it.
" You didn't tell me who you are" he halted just a step from the portal looking back with an angle of his face visible. The stance gave off a pressure that my bones couldn't endure.
"Mother calls me Ten" he vanished into the portal which followed suit, imploding on itself.
[You have been recognized by Ten of the Unborn]
[Feat - Catching great eyes - You have more favor or reputation with higher beings. Names have power. Mentioning the name of Ten will grant you leniency against a higher being]
'So much for being a god when there are beings rated above gods'. I shook my head and thought about pulling out the shard.
"Nope. I doubt he's lying. He could have just taken it from me and I'd have done nothing. Plus if he wanted it then I doubt killing the Molv would have been hard for him. Best to just believe and investigate ahead." Taking a glance around I shrugged.
"Let's find this star."