It didn't take long for Drake to find a pack of Sun Touched Lions. The monsters grouped up once again in the dense jungle foliage.
However Drake was just far enough away for them to not catch his scent.
"Do you have a plan of attack?" his younger self asked, somewhat more interested than usual.
"Yeah," Drake smiled, holding up the Iron Hide Skill stone, "Attack."
First he moved his free points into several of his stats. Then closed his hand around the skill stone, familiar screens popping up in his purview.
[Temporary Mana Vessel]
[Unnamed Asuran Soldier]
[Race: Asuran] [E-Rank]
[Profession: None]
[Weakened Magic Tempered Asuran Initiate] [Unique] Level 31
[Vitality] 504 (+20%)
[Strength] 1142 (+20%)
[Dexterity] 600 (+20%)
[Intelligence] 1019 (+20%)
[Wisdom] 595 (+20%)
[Endurance] 500 (+20%)
[Free Points] 0
[You wish to consume Skill Stone: Iron Hide]
[Confirm?]
[Yes/No]
[You have learned skill: Your Blood, My Bone. [F-Rank]
[Your skill: Your Blood, My Bone. Has been forcibly increased to [E-Rank] 0/5]
Your Blood, My Bone P1(0%) [E-Rank]
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The ferocity of the strong will consume the weak.Effect: You will now replenish 15% of all damage dealt. (Increases with proficiency)
Drake gave a small snicker of delight when he read the description, the familiar feeling of the skill stone's power settling within him, pushing his elation.
"I'm a mage that has lifesteal. I think some people would call that broken."
His excitement and motivation to begin again was evident. But just like at the start of his tutorial so many months ago. It was also leaving more room for mistakes.
He once again didn't read his magic spells. Rushing to begin, he jumped in head first.
Against a pack of Sun Touched Lions. The same monster that gave him such trouble with just one of them only a few hours earlier.
Drake sprinted forward, his younger self confused at the decision while Mir'phyra smiled.
"Oh look, he has gone mad. Perhaps I will leave this place even faster than I anticipated," she giggled.
Drake barely heard her as he continued forward.
The pack of monsters suddenly turned, hearing Drake approach. All seven of them bared long serrated fangs before several of them shot off to the sides into the jungle brush.
[Asuran's Battle Pride in effect. +175% to all stats]
"Doesn't matter what you do! I'm back in business!!" Drake howled, rearing back his arm.
He aimed for one of the Lions still remaining. Standing its ground against Drake, he trained his fist for the side of its head.
The speed at which Drake moved surprised even himself. Without his endowment spells he assumed he would be much slower. But his speed was still nothing short of impressive thanks to his status increase skills from one his main classes.
He roared, his fist connecting with the beast as he curved it, slamming it into the ground with a crunch, a smile beginning to form on his face.
[You have subjugated Sun Touched Lion Level 32 [E-Rank] [Temporary Experience earned.]
[Experience has been stored.]
[Asuran's Battle Pride effect diminished. Reduced to +150% to all stats]
"One down!"
The two monsters on either side of him looked at the display showing what emotion of terror a Lion's face could as they were stuck in place like statues.
Drake did not let up, spinning around he used the momentum to wind up another hook with his left. Slamming his fist into the side of the Lion and hearing several bones crunch as it flew off to collide with a tree, a line of crimson blood trailing behind it.
[You have subjugated Sun Touched Lion Level 34 [E-Rank] [Temporary Experience earned.]
[Experience has been stored.]
[Asuran's Battle Pride effect diminished. Reduced to +125% to all stats]
Drake gave a deep laugh, rearing his head back, "Ah! I haven't felt this good in days!"
But he suddenly lurched forward in pain, feeling claws and teeth on his back.
He tried his best to grab behind him, hearing and feeling the breath of one of the Sun Touched Lions as it tore at him.
Drake growled back in anger, seeing his health drop slowly in his peripheral.
But he couldn't reach the monster. Not having the aura he was normally used to had left another opening he wasn't expecting. He wasn't prepared to cover for his blind spots, his Tyrannical Aura he realized had become a crutch.
Even more infuriated by the realization, he charged the Lion he could see, hoping to capitalize on his 'Your Blood, My Bone' skill while he worked on a plan to remove his new vicious backpack.
Shooting forward, Drake used both hands slamming down like a hammer into the back of the stationary Lion. The monster gave a short pained grunt as the air left it's lungs.
[You have subjugated Sun Touched Lion Level 34 [E-Rank] [Temporary Experience earned.]
[Experience has been stored.]
[Asuran's Battle Pride effect diminished. Reduced to +100% to all stats]
He killed another Sun Touched Lion in one blow. However he felt more strength leave him with the removal of his status bonus than he gained from killing it.
Thankfully the speed he used to close the gap had also unsteadied the Lion on his back. Drake suddenly saw golden fur come into his view and he immediately grabbed for it.
Pulling the monster off with an excruciating shout of agony, he threw it down with all his might. The monster was propelled into the jungle floor forming a small crater on impact.
It hadn't died right away, but Drake mended the problem quickly. Leaping onto the monster he gave it a cold look, lifting his fist into the air and slamming it down onto it's skull.
[You have subjugated Sun Touched Lion Level 32 [E-Rank] [Temporary Experience earned.]
[Experience has been stored.]
[Asuran's Battle Pride effect diminished. Reduced to +75% to all stats]
Instantly he felt and saw his status recover slightly. And also became acutely more aware of his surroundings and blind spots. He was learning once more how to fight.
But it felt different this time. It wasn't as if he was learning on the fly anymore, or acquiring new knowledge. No.
He was remembering. A distinct feeling of recollection instead of acquisition.
And it felt.
Good.
Drake's hand moved almost without thinking, striking for the throat of a Lion attacking from his right side. His pointed fingers passed through it, tearing out a chunk of flesh as it passed him, landing, then slumped to the floor.
[You have subjugated Sun Touched Lion Level 31 [E-Rank] [Temporary Experience earned.]
[Experience has been stored.]
[Asuran's Battle Pride effect diminished. Reduced to +50% to all stats]
He took in a breath, two remaining Lion's growling with their teeth bared poised to respond to whatever Drake was about to do.
He smiled but felt his body slacken, a wave of nausea coming over him.
[You have reclaimed a small portion of your Asuran heritage. +100 points to all stats for your temporary vessel.]
But this time wasn't the same as the last. His vision split and stuttered, a sudden replaying of events were passing across his mind.
Each passage of moving images, drudged up emotions inside him. Feeling as if someone else entirely.
He saw Altoria, the woman supposedly his mother holding a small child in her arms. Han Kol smiling behind her.
"It is your sister, Celine. It is your responsibility to protect her from now on."
The voice was Han Kol's and felt like every word punched him in the gut, his eyes welling up.
Another scene, Celine's first steps. Her first attempt at throwing a punch. Her first loose tooth.
Then it moved, suddenly he was in front of his older brother, Darri.
"You are stepping in too deep! It must be quick! In an instant you must transfer your weight!"
Drake was hit with a wave of frustration, seeing the disappointment in his brother's eyes.
It moved again, small arms thrusting themselves forward, splitting a tree in half. Then he saw Darri once more, an elated smile on his face.
"That's it Drake! I knew you could do it! Just wait until Father sees this!"
He felt his chest well with pride. Determination to continue improving to hear his brother say those words again.
Finally the scene broke, moving to something else. Darri sparing with men he didn't know. It was twenty on one. But his brother wasn't the least bit concerned, standing their with a smile.
The men charged him.
Darri moved so precicely and so swiftly, with each motion he dodged, parried and countered a strike in return. One man falling into a motionless heap with each move.
Drake's vision returned, his head pounding and his vision shaky.
But the surroundings had changed.
All around him Sun Touched Lion's stared back at him. They must have found him while he was in his daze, or been called by the other monsters. It didn't matter.
[Asuran's Battle Pride effect increased. Increased to +200% to all stats]
And Drake wasn't worried.
These monsters that once gave him trouble even in these numbers. Made no difference. Not to him. Not to someone trained by his brother.
Drake didn't rush forward, instead standing his ground and taking a deep breath.
The tension between the near fifty monsters and himself was so thick it could be cut with a knife. But he was calm.
Because he was confident.
The memories of seeing his brother train and his lessons with him fueled his assurity.
The Lion's finally could not take the stalemate and several of them rushed forward, baring fangs and claws colored in a red glow.
Drake moved with the minimalist of effort, mimicking his brother. A move of the shoulder, a downward elbow to counter. A bend of the knee, then a swift uppercut.
Each attack received a counter-attack. Every action, a reaction, in the most lethal sense.
He was moving as if each strike was something he had done thousands of times every day for centuries. Every motion and strike practiced to perfection. His footwork immaculate, his breathing.
Calm.
It wasn't just like Drake was fighting as someone else. He felt as if he was someone else. His skill allowed him to draw on the experience of his brother. Someone who was thousands of times his veteran.
And he was learning to more than just mimic his brother with every passing blow he dealt.
He was quickly becoming a fighter beyond recognition to his former self.
The fight passed and the monsters thinned quickly. Throwing themselves against the spikes of the insurmountable fortress that Drake had become.
And when all was said and done he was the only one left standing.
That was until he looked further into the jungle. And saw it.
Another lion. This time in pure snow white, five times the size of the others, a clear crystalline horn on its head with a cloud of icy mist forming around it.
"I'm guessing you're the boss monster," Drake said, looking the monster up and down sizing it up.
He turned hearing the sound of trunks snapping. There another lion of the same size, this one more similar to the Sun Touched Lions he had been fighting before. Draped in golden fur but a large orange sunset horn on top of its head, a mirage of heat surrounding it.
Drake craned his neck in a stretch.
"This will barely be a warm-up."
[Archon's Decree is now in effect. Channeling War General Darri Kol Asura, The Phantom Asuran]