[Lorraine POV]
Slice, cleave, cut. Continuing to chop up as many stone monsters as possible. Fighting is so much fun!!
The feeling of not being restricted in movement, with all the matters being you, your weapon and the monsters in front of you-
"LORRAINE!!"
SLIIING
Hearing a familiar voice and the slice of a blade behind me, I turn around to see the body of a large stone monster in pieces. Emma was standing right above it with a bit of an angry look on her.
"Lorraine, no matter the fight, you gotta watch your back, watch your surroundings. Else you'll end up a big pile of mush..."
As Emma was talking, she turned around and, sliced and diced a few enemies that tried to sneak up on her.
"Normally, these monsters act on a combination of intelligence and instinct. But these monsters are stronger, smarter and harder. You really got to watch out."
Even when talking, Emma's blade never stopped slicing. Eventually, she had gotten far away in search of more monsters. A bit shellshocked, I just stood there before stabing the debris of the monster a few more times.
Checking my back every few seconds, I feel my heart beat slow just a little before I slowly walk around to find another monster.
CLACK!
Turning my back faster than I ever had, I see a small stone monster slowly moving toward me. Taking quick breaths, I steady the sword in my hands. But, no matter how hard I tried, it would continue to tremble. As the trembling slowly got worst, I decided to just go forward.
CLAannnk!
After giving it an awkward swing, the blade was stuck in the monster.
'What's happening to me? My sword won't stop trembling, my body cold, my forehead sweaty, goosebumps everywhere. What is happening?"
Pulling my sword out of the monster, I quickly bring it back down. Over and over and over again. Until...
clamp...
"Little one, I think you should take a breather."
Realizing that I couldn't move my sword anymore, I look up to see Mr. Doherty clamping it with two fingers. His armour had a few extra cuts on it but he himself looked like he wasn't even in battle.
"W-What do you mean?"
"Fear is a very natural emotion, especially for someone who's just awakened like you. It's-"
"I think its best that you sit this one out, ok little one? Feel free to munch on this for now."
Mr. Doerty hands me a small package before tapping the group and moving ahead. Putting my shaky sword back into its sheath, I turn around and run back to safety. Opening the package in my hand, it reveals are large cookie. Bringing the cookie shackily to my mouth, I sit down to observe the upcoming battle.
'Seems I haven't grown up as fast as I thought. Maybe I should think about that thing.'
..
[Doherty POV]
'A silver-ranked mutated, huh'
You would think that given the precedent, the silver-ranked stone monster would be the size of a mountain. But, just by feeling the mana coming out of this thing, it was concentrated in a body only the size of 3 or 4 humans.
'Alright, let's slam it.'
Since I have the element of surprise, I might as well use it. Getting onto all fours, getting close enough to the ground where it won't see me past the horde of stone monsters in between us. Gripping into the stone, I take in a deep breath
"Alright, GOOO!"
With an explosive force that destroyed the launch area, I torpedoed through all the stone monsters. Appearing in front of the mutated stone monster in only a second, my smile widens as I jam a big hit into the monster, sending it flying.
"HA HA AH AH, so what if you're silver rank, it just makes you a bigger punching bag."
"Hmm, thought you'd be rusty after all these years of retirement."
As I stood up, Krast floats down, landing beside me. Inspecting the damage, he gives me a teasing smile. Cracking my neck, I return a smile back at him.
"Enough to still beat you."
"After all these years, you still can't admit it."
"You say that but you're standing so far from me."
"That-"
Just are Krast was going to respond, he turns around and flicks a fireball through the lingering dust cloud.
Gluck-
The fireball clears a dust revealing the monster comes rushing out toward us.
"Seems its durability is near the gold rank."
Not minding Krast's comments, I quickly run to meet it. Suddenly it jumps into the air and, with both arms raised high, it comes down like a meteorite. Taking a heavy step forward, I implant my foot into the ground before bringing arms up to block.
BOOOM!
Feeling my foot sinking deeper into the ground, I see a leg coming toward my face.
"This sneaky bugger."
Swish...Catch... BOOOM!
Blocking the monster with one arm, I catch its leg and slam it into the group, making a nice monster-shaped hole.
"I'm ready."
Hearing my queue, I quickly let go and jump away. Moments later, the area had turned into a scene only described as hell and fire. Knowing that it was dead, I walk back toward Krast, who just fired off the deadly spell.
"Your childish fire is just as good as I remember."
"What childish fire? It's a Soulful Fire, not at all childish"
Hearing the rebuttal from its creator, the lingering flames on the ground seem to sway and bob in agreement. As we continue to bicker, I look around. No casualties, and almost all the stone monsters have been destroyed. Jobs done.
After one job, there is always more work to do.
'I wonder if Alfred has found Jaque yet.
...
[Arius POV]
How many attempts has it been? Far too many!! Too many attempts, zero success. I've resorted to eating more coffee beans to myself going.
"Alright, one more time. Crush this... slowly, mix, and this, mix, add mana, mix, fire, heat, add, cool. Thennn, uh, add this yellow thing..."
Poof!
"YEEEESSS!!!"
You know you've gone insane when you celebrate not exploding instead of actually completing the potion. Feeling tired would be an understatement, the previous homely simulation room was now grey and black and decorations were destroyed or burnt. I wish I could fall asleep right now. But I got to make this potion for Big Brother.
As many more attempts pass, I finally managed to make the healing potion.
Looking at the small flask in my hand., I feel like I'm ready.
"Alright Dakria, you can send me out now."
Without a word, I feel myself leave and arrive back in the cave with the real materials in front of me. Taking my pickaxe, I quickly carve out a few rough bowls to use.
Then placing them in front of me, I realize a key issue. I don't seem to have any way to boil the water we have.
"Um, Dakria, can you think of any way to get a fire?"
'...'
Waiting a few moments with nothing happening, I started to think that something might happened.
'Is she mad at me again or something?'
'... ... ... Oh sorry Arius! I was a little occupied with some other things. About the fire situation, Exerac is a very flammable substance so it should burst into flames as long as you hit it hard enough....'
"Thanks Dakria!"
'...'
'I guess she must be really busy'
Looking through our mining bags, I quickly started pressing the ores on the top of the pickaxe to figure out which was Exerac. Eventually, one ore finally gave a black light.
Carefully taking the Exerac, I put it into a small pit before taking a rock and smashing it-
BOOM!
Cough*Cough*Cough*
"Again Really!?!"
Waving the smoke away and dust of all the dust on me, I grab the rock again and hit the ore slightly lighter.
BAM!
The loud noise produced made me shiver but looking down at the ore, I see a gentle flame burning. Letting out a breath, I bring everything I need over to the flame, ready to begin the process.
Eating one more coffee bean for good luck, I begin the tedious process. This time, I decided to take it extra slow just to make sure that I don't mess up.
...
...
Poof!
<------------------:+:------------------>
Item
Name: Minor Potion of Healing
Type: Potion
Quality: Iron Rank; 35% efficiency
Quantity: 200mL
Stats:
Instant heal: 10%
(Bonus) Regeneration: +50%
<------------------:+:------------------>
With bloodshot eyes, dishevelled hair and burnt clothes, after over an hour of pain, I was finally done. Lying on the ground with a massive headache, I didn't know how to feel anymore. More like I had no more energy to feel anymore.
"D-dakria, I got the potion."
"Good job, you ready to give to your brother."
"Yeah, haaa, I'm ready."
I crawl back through the hole and slowly walk my way back to Big Brother.
RUMMBLE!!!
Paying no attention to the large amounts of noise and chaos outside, I slowly pull out the small bottle and dumped the contents into Big Brother's mouth.
RUMMBLE BOOM
In the mists of chaos and destruction, I find my strength leave me and myself drifting to the land of peace and quiet.
...
----------------
Dakria Fun Fact: For each type of monster there is a variance in size and strength. More often than not up to gold rank the size indicated the strength. However, after a certain point, which differs between monsters, their size would either plateau or shrink, instead opting for more quality over quantity.
Another Fact: Simulated materials in Duargeinhelm, don't have any effect on those in Duargeinhelm, only interactions and basic characters' like texture and taste are observable from them as the name simulated would imply.