'Hahh...that was tough. But I've...I've finally gotten an ability!' Tai inwardly yelled. He was extremely happy to finally have received an ability, and it was a good ability on top of it. Though, he kept a calm appearance outwardly as he began to search for a new opponent in the hopes of consolidating the energy throughout his body as well as gaining a better understanding of his power.
Soon, he exited the [Bloody Plains] and approached a forest: [The Abyssal Woods]. The trees were jagged and decaying, as they emitted a smell of rotting leaves and rotting carcass'. The gaps between the trees contained an abyss like darkness, as if Tai was looking straight into the void. As he focused his eyes, attempting to peer into the darkness and see past it, he began to fall into a trance without realizing.
Tai's eyes became glazed over, and his expression became dull. Tai's posture became hunched, as if he was raring to sleep as a shadow began to approach from the tree line. Leaving the darkness of the forest, the creature finally became visible.
The creature was tall, just short of the trees, though it was skinny and lanky. Its complexion was pasty white and its face was gaunt, its eye sockets were empty, leaving only a void similar to that of the forest in its wake. The creature didn't have a malicious expression and it appeared as if the creature hadn't been graced by light a single time in its life. It was a Ghoul. In one monotonous motion, the Ghoul latched its clammy hand onto Tai's face using its long arms to stay as close to the forest as possible as it began to pull him in.
Even now, with his life in danger, Tai stood unresponsive. Finally within reach, the Ghoul began to open its mouth, and its jaw began to unhinge. This allowed the monsters mouth to reach an enormous length.
And just as it was going to swallow Tai whole, Tai's previously dull eyes flashed a ferocious light. A tidal wave of killing intent erupted from Tai as he jammed his thumbs into the eye sockets of the monster, and using all his strength ripped its head apart in one fell swoop. He wasn't sure how he escaped the trance, but he was glad that he did, and was thankful for his instincts.
Chronicle energy entered Tai's body as knowledge assaulted his mind. Disgust was evident on Tai's face as he realized he had been hypnotized by a telepath. Though before he could think about the near death experience any longer; footsteps began to approach him. Tai spun around to see what seemed to be a demonic beaver from hell. The creature was bi-pedal and ferocious, its buck teeth had been sharpened to the point that one would think it was wielding knifes within its mouth, and its fur was tar black which was also mixed in with hints of blood that had already long dried.
Tai was shocked at the revelation of this creature. Not only due to its looks, but also because the creature was a Rank 1, level 2 beast. Though just as Tai was about to get in a defensive stance, the mutated beaver abruptly opened its mouth and shot out a black ball of energy. The projectile was so fast that Tai couldn't even react in time to dodge it.
Bang!
"Cough, cough, cough."
"Ah-ah..."
Tai violently coughed up blood and wheezed as the impact of hitting the trees winded him. Thankfully his armour protected his head, though it was partially destroyed now, and shards of the armour pierced into his skin; the kinetic impact from the ball also caused a hairline fracture in his arm. He assumed his rib had broken and penetrated his lung. As no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't regain his breath and felt as if he was suffocating.
Tai now knew that the veteran had scammed him. 'If not, how the fuck would the armour have broken from an attack of a Rank 1 Ascender?!' Tai lamented inwardly.
Though even amongst all the pain, one thing still left Tai baffled: 'What the hell is this power?' Tai couldn't help but question, as the armour previously defending his abdomen exposed necrotizing flesh.
Suddenly, as Tai was questioning the unidentified power of the beast, the air in front of him began to ripple as a black mass of energy hit Tai in the chest.
"Ahh!" Tai screamed in rage and pain as he used all the force in his body and jumped up as he dashed towards the Beaver. He ignored the creasing pain and injuries as he focused all his power on his legs, Tai reached the Beaver in an instant though he had missed his target due to the unfamiliar speed.
Boom!
A mini shockwave sounded out as Tai planted face first into the ground. Though he rolled to the side immediately as a black energy beam hit the ground. The ground was destroyed and a small crater was formed as the grass around the crater began to wither and die.
"Wha- what the fuck? Death energy?!" Tai said with bafflement. The last thing he expected his attacker to wield was a death based power. After all, it was an incredibly rare power. Though before he could think about it much, Tai instinctively felt danger and tilted his head as something zipped past it.
Whoosh! The projectile rippled in the air as it passed Tai.
Seeing no other way out, the severely injured Tai focused the strength in his legs as he broke into a sprint towards the mutated beaver. As he did so; the ground beneath him broke due to the force he was applying. In almost an instant the two were face to face. Tai threw out a punch as the beaver slashed out with its extraordinarily sharp claws.
Thoom!
Tai connected with the beavers face as it was sent flying into the trees, eventually getting impaled on one.
"Well that wasn't very smart of you." Tai let out a sinister smirk before groaning and approaching the beaver.
The beaver was still alive and wailing for death, the pain that it must've felt being impaled on that tree was most likely unimaginable. Tai snapped its neck out of mercy as the chronicle energy entered his body. The beaver wielded the dark power of death, Death Energy manipulation!
"Hmm…from what I know, power related to necromancy are is suppose to be an extremely rare power, I guess the beaver had mutated and gotten the ability? But how and why was it here, is this normal in the Tower of Misery?" Tai made his best assumption as he made his way towards the exit of the tower. He needed medical attention immediately.
The beaver clearly wasn't suited for hand to hand combat, yet chose to fight with Tai head on, and lost as a result. Tai quickly fell unconscious as he entered the clearing near the towers entrance.
…
"Uhh..hmm?...hahhh, damn it!" Tai exclaimed frustratedly as he recognized his surroundings.
'Not the hospital again!!!'
"Hello there Mr Curt Richards, unfortunate to see you here again." A soft, yet stern but kind voice sounded out to Tai's left as he saw a familiar face.
"Haha, hi Doctor Siftny. Didn't think I would be here again." Tai let out an awkward chuckle as he saw Doctor Siftny,
"Well this is the most advanced and prepared hospital in Aquatic Strafes outer city to deal with combatant Ascenders injuries." Said Siftny as her stern gaze burrowed into Tai.
"Hahaha, sorry about the extra work Doctor. I ended up going into one of the towers and bit off more then I could chew"
"Hahh, jesus christ, help this fool." Siftny muttered as she began to explain the extent of Tai's injuries to him.
"You know the whole fake identity thing doesn't really work if you have do go to the hospital because you nearly died right? Your lucky I covered for you, else you wouldn't be seeing me right now, but rather the authorities." Doctor Siftny exclaimed with an incredulous gaze as Tai could do nothing but awkwardly chuckle.
Seeing Tai's choice to ignore the subject, Dotor Siftny didn't insist as she began to explain the extent of Tai's injuries to him.
It turned out that even though he was severely injured, his new body strengthening ability, which Doctor Siftny thought was strange, seeing as he was unawakened previously, managed to heal some of the damage passively. This was a surprise to Tai as he thought he knew that the vitality of a body practitioner who was Rank 1, level 1 was limited. Though him being wrong made him leave a mental as to not underestimate the abilities of an Ascender.
"Ok, Tai that's about everything, please be careful next time. Your body as of right now is fragile, and its important to refrain from getting injured, as it can only handle so much."
"Trust me miss Siftny, my body isn't that fragile," Tai said with a smirk, as Doctor Siftny began to blush. "and thanks for the help, there isn't many Doctors who show sincere care for there patients nowadays. So I really appreciate it." Tai said to the now cute looking Doctor Siftny as he left the hospital.
"Hahhh....That man sure is strange..." Amelia sighed with a curious gaze. Her inner Doctor wished to know about all the strange things going on in Tai's body.
'"He's also pretty smooth." A co-worker claimed as she walked by Amelia with a smirk.
(Doctors first name is Amelia mentioned ch2)