DAYS UNTIL WAVE: 65 .
Tyler woke first. He opened his eyes to see Kaori had moved in her sleep and was using his arm like a body pillow. He sighed as he extracted himself from her warmth. Malico was softly breathing as well. Tyler loved the way they both looked asleep like that, and once again wished he had a camera. He exited the tent and dressed before getting the fire going. He was also going over their supplies. The preserved fruit was gone, he was using the last of the Wyvern meat, and bread from breakfast.
"Okay. We need to resupply."
He also did a coin count. As of that morning they had 4 gold coins, 192 silver coins, and 126 copper. A decent sum, but the sheer number of coins was now a very tempting target for pickpockets. He sighed as a splash was heard in the hotspring lake. He pulled his bow as he looked towards the sound, only to come face to face with a fifteen hundred pound brown bear not ten feet from him. He froze as the massive animal moved into the soothing waters. He watched the beast as he checked to see if Protective warning and Tranquil Waters were still active. They were. He chuckled.
"Right. A spirit avatar."
He put up his bow and lifted a slab of Wyvern meat.
"Hey! Teddy!"
The bear looked over at the sound and Tyler tossed the meat towards the massive beast. It accepted the offering and rumbled before laying on the large rock near the fire in a mound of fur. He shook his head as he went about his camp tasks.
"Great. I guess we're wearing out our welcome."
The bear huffed. Tyler smirked.
"We'll be out of your hair as soon as we can."
The bear huffed again, before falling asleep next to the fire. Tyler worked in silence as he readied the last of their supplies before doing a weapon check. Arrows they had three full quivers of 80 shafts per, a decent amount of licenses, but the majority were useless or undesirable so would be sold, Oblivion was still as sharp as ever as was Dawn. His chainmail vest, however, was starting to rust, and he sighed as he knew he couldn't wear it anymore. The bear ignored his activities as it snored by the warm fire. Tyler then opened up his HUD, and saw he had over 200 points to place. Plus he had gotten a new skill. Demonic Wrath. The skill was a sort of rage mode that could only be used once a day. If activated, his stats would increase by one hundred, spells cost nothing and would not require a chant, and the spells would be twice as powerful. The downside was he could only maintain that level of power for ten minutes until he upgraded it, and the strain would leave him exhausted. In order to upgrade it, he needed to use it, and perform activities while using it, like killing enemies, or chopping wood or some other task. More tasks he performed while it was active the more points he'd get. He sighed.
"Yeah, that's gonna be a bitch to level up."
He looked over his stats, and added a full 50 to stamina, 25 to agility, and 25 to speed. Bringing those totals to his stamina to 225, Speed, 160, and Agility to 130.
"I might be able to keep up now with Kaori."
He had a hundred points left over, and smiled as he added an extra fifty to defense. The last fifty he put into his strength. His level was 25, and he was liking how his built was coming along. As he was now, he could fight for 4 hours nonstop, was nearly as fast as kaori, could get beaten with a hammer for an hour before something broke, and could probably lift that bear's head. The bear was watching him with beady eyes curiously to see what he was doing. Tyler smiled at the hulking beast.
"I'm adding my skillpoints to my stats."
The thing blew out a breath as if to say 'ah'. Tyler shook his head at the fact he was having a full conversation with a bear with paws the size of dinner plates. He then closed his HUD and pulled out his map. He set it down and had just entered the spell when the bear huffed, he looked up to see the large animal had shifted to lay on it's other side to look at him. Tyler tilted his head.
"You….wanna see my map?"
The bear nodded. Tyler looked at where'd he have to sit for that to work, right by the things head, in very convenient paw and teeth range. He shrugged.
"I guess that's fair."
He went over and to the required seat, and the bear lowered it's head onto his lap where he could see the map. Tyler just smiled and went with it, and scratched the ears of the bear, getting a snort.
"Yep, I'm insane."
The bear snorted again as Tyler looked over their progress.
"Okay. We need to resupply badly. We'll kill that drake, should net us some food and maybe some extra crap as dragonkin like shiny stuff. By that point, we'll have passed through a few more of juniper's lairs."
He looked to the massive animal in his lap.
"Hey, big guy, that forest spirit wouldn't happen to be named Juniper, would it?"
The bear wheezed before lifting his head to look at him as if to say what's it to ya."
"Her sister's here to find her. We're just seeing if she's okay."
The bear growled.
"Hey, she wants to be here that's all well and good. Just need to be sure."
The bear tilted it's head as if weighing his words before seeming to shrug it's large shoulders and lay it's head back on his lap. Tyler patted it's head.
"I guess she's a friend of yours, eh big guy?"
The bear rumbled as Tyler patted it.
"Well, at least we know she's alive."
Inside the tent, Kaori opened her eyes to find Tyler's spot between her and Malico empty and growing cool. Off on his camp patrol and fire starter duties. She smiled as she knew he could handle himself. Kaori then noticed Malico was still asleep with her breasts vulnerable, and she felt the urge to get another taste. payback! The blonde snuck over and leaned in to take one of Malico's massive melons in her mouth, and she did, loving the feel of her nipple in her mouth as she suckled like a child. If my father could see his 'perfect' daughter loving the breasts of another girl! Malico was moaning in her sleep as kaori's mouth went to work on her nipple, and Kaori loving the feel and taste. Kaori let the catgirl go with a soft pop as she started bucking in her sleep, and slithered back, leaving her all hot and bothered. The blonde smiled as she left the tent, only to freeze at the sight before her green eyes. Tyler sitting with the map open, petting the head of the single largest brown bear she had ever heard of with it's head in his lap! Kaori rubbed her eyes before looking back, and yup, still a bear bigger then their tent with it's head in Tyler's lap.
"Okay, what the hell?"
She just sighed and took an early morning dip in the hotspring.
"Morning kaori. Sleep well?"
She smiled at his voice reflexively as she looked over at him, firmly snuggled in bear fur.
"I did, thank you. I see you made a new friend."
He smiled.
"More we got a shadow. This big guy's the spirit's avatar. He's here to make sure we keep our word."
The bear huffed again, and Kaori chuckled.
"Of course he is."
She smiled as the hot water splashed around her own moderate bust, and she loved how it felt on her small spot. Tyler was looking at the map and would point out some aspect of their planned path to the bear and sometimes would get a response, other times not. Kaori's belly rumbled and she looked to the fire.
"How are we doing on food?"
"Used the last of it this morning. Meats gone period, bread too, we have a few leftover preserved fruits, but that's all."
Kaori groaned and got out of the hotspring to both dress and aid in the strategizing.
"What's the plan?"
He pointed to a spot the bear had indicated.
"The drake lives here. We kill it, get some meat of it's corpse, and see what else we can scrounge up. But we need to be careful on what we take in here, cause ya know, our friend here."
He patted the bear for emphasis. Kaori looked at the surrounding trees.
"Maybe fruits and vegetables would be a good way to go."
"Wow, scary. A blonde with a brain that works. Shall I start calling you Shadow?"
She glared at him.
"I will let that one go, because I both loved that movie and Shadow was my favorite."
He smiled.
"It's why I called you that."
She smiled then,
"Wow, so becoming a Demon made you smooth as well? Scary."
The bear lifted it's head to look at him. He shrugged.
"I got issues."
Kaori laughed.
"By issues he means spilt personalities. He merged then last night, and we're still reeling."
He smirked as the bear just huffed, shrugged and laid back down as if to say, Humans. Tyler and kaori looked at each other.
"Agreed."
"Completely."
Tyler smiled again,
"Okay. Let's think. Kaori, what animals are small enough we can store the carcass and still use it?
She thought for a moment.
"I'd say fish is our best bet. Depending on the species, nearly everything can be eaten by us, what can't can be used for bait."
"So, are fish easy to keep?"
She was loving how he was looking to her outdoor knowledge.
"Main issue is keeping the bugs away. We do that we're set. Do we have any salt?"
He looked to his bag.
"Surprisingly, salt is the thing we have the most of, like three full jars."
She smiled again, this time eagerly.
"If I use salt, we can preserve the meat for longer."
"Hmm, I really would like to add one of those really nice deer we've seen here, but we haven't the means to use a full carcass. A 200 pound buck would add a lot to our supplies."
Kaori sighed as well.
"I for one think we should stick to rabbits. Small, easy to clean, and the pelts are versatile."
"Hmm, what about beaver?"
She thought for a moment.
"Not a good idea. Only thing a beaver is really good for is it's tail and fur. Meat's not worth eating."
Tyler stroked the bear as he ran down a list of animals.
"We have three horses, so we should have the room for a decent sized animal. Plus, if we want to bait the drake into a kill zone or out of it's den then a good sized deer is not a bad idea."
Kaori had to agree there.
"Plus, there's not a whole lot on a buck that CAN'T be used for SOMETHING. Even the hooves make decent handles for weapons."
Tyler sighed.
"Okay. We have a few options to play with here. We can make do with plants, which is both the safest and easiest to use all of, try our luck with small game like rabbits, or go for broke with a buck. What about birds? The feathers we can use for fletching, leftover meat as bait, and the talons and beaks as goods for trade."
Kaori thought about it.
"We'd have to pick out targets carefully. Like turkey, duck, grouse or geese. I can get a lot out of a decent tom, but I'd avoid a hawk or eagle. Those are mostly mainly hunted for their feathers."
Tyler stroked the bear as they thought it over.
"Let's go with plants, small game and if we're lucky a decent turkey. Low-risk moderate reward."
He then looked at the bear.
"That drake, is it an invader of your forest?"
The bear lifted it's head to huff at him.
"So, is it beholden to our agreement?"
The bear tilted it's head as it thought it over, before shaking it's head. Tyler smiled.
"Thanks, that makes it easier. I'm sure we'll get something of it we can use, but if it's the size of that wyvern we killed, we'll have a lot of leftovers we just can't take with us."
Kaori had to ask.
"I know Malico said a drake was dragonkin, but what is a drake, exactly?"
Tyler smiled at his still a normie friend.
"A drake is different in every tale. Almost always they're a form of dragon. Only, far smaller, no wings, and are either a young dragon, a male dragon, or a different species altogether. From Malico's description of this one, it's a different species. It's about the size of for Thunders end to end, and maybe the size of this beast here."
He patted the bear.
"According to Malico, they have REALLY hard scales, and they can spit fire. No where NEAR full dragon flame, but still a spitfire."
Kaori looked at Thunder, as if gauging the size of the animal.
"So, 15 feet long? And about five feet at the shoulder?"
"That's the size of it."
She looked at her katana.
"I thing we're ill-equipped to kill this thing."
Tyler sighed.
"My plan is to bait it out into the open, and take it's eyes with arrows, then try to use my water to drown it with WaterBurst."
Kaori sighed as she saw where he was going.
"Blind it, then keep it off balance as we drown it on land. What about those paralyze darts and poisons we have?"
Tyler thought for a moment.
"That might work. Sadly, since it's a fire drake, your red path's not really going to help us. Worse case it heals it."
Kaori just groaned.
"Great, I'm completely useless in this one."
He patted her.
"You got a few bow skills. Keep your distance, and use your speed and agility to stay mobile. I'll get in it's face."
Kaori just sighed.
"I still don't like the obvious risks. But we'll try it."
They went back to looking at the map, when Malico came out yawning.
"Morning kittycat."
She smiled as she looked over, only for that smile to turn to shock at the sight of their guest. Kaori just sighed.
"I had the same reaction."
Malico just shook her head as she too took a morning dip. After she was clean, the friends all ate together as Tyler brought them all up to speed for the day's plans.
"We'll go pick a fight with a drake, and loot it's cave. Malico, do dragonkin have a fondness for shiny things in this world?"
She smiled as she saw his train of thought.
"They do in fact. A lesser drake prefers coins and gems."
"I sense a hefty payday here. We can eat them right?"
She licked her lips.
"ohhh, yes! Drakes meat is even higher up the list of delicacies then wyvern."
"Well, ladies, break camp! Let's piss off a fire breather!"
They all went about heir tasks, Tyler taking down the tent, Malico getting dressed and dealing with the fire, Kaori readying the horses. Once the camp was down, there was not a sign they had ever set foot in the spot beyond a bit of soot on the rock from their fire. The bear reared on it's hind legs, standing 11 feet tall and roared as they left the spot. Tyler waved.
"Thanks for the info and place to stay! We should be gone by day after tomorrow at the latest!"
They rode on, as Malico pressed him.
"What did the avatar tell you?"
"Juniper's alive. She's the nature spirit like I thought. We'll find her after we kill that drake that invaded her woodland."
The relief Malico felt was extreme,
"Oh thank the gods. Did the bear say she was safe?"
Tyler smiled.
"I'd say she is, Malico. Big guy gave me the death eye when I brought her up. They seem to be good friends. If Juniper can make friends with a teddy of that size, then safe to assume this whole forest loves her. Except for the drake. So, we're going to kill it."
Malico smiled with relief at the news.
"Well, let's hurry up then!"
"Nu-uh. We do this one carefully."
Kaori was in full agreement as they moved along the narrowing trail.
"I'm limited to my bow, and so are you, Malico. We need to play this carefully or we'll not walk away."
Malico grumbled,
"Ohhh, fine!"
Tyler was looking at the map as they went. They were represented by a small triangle moving along through the large forest, and making steady progress as they neared the drake lair. Tyler called a halt as they reached just outside the spot the bear had pointed to.
"Kaori, hitch the horses, then get in that tree there. Malico take the tree opposite her."
The ladies went to their task, as Tyler readied his blade and bow. He laid three shafts on his bow string, and use three different spells: ChainShot, Piercing teardrops, and a shaft coated with a paralyzing agent. Once the ladies were in position did he set out into the open clearing. The area was the size of a baseball stadium, with blackened earth and burned out trees everywhere. He could smell burning meat with scorched wood in the air. Plus a foil odor of rotting meat as well.
"I see why she hates this thing. Gods that is foul."
He could faintly hear a low hissing, like a large cat, and sensed his prey was nearby. He spotted a medium trunk that seemed to be stable enough to use as a temporary perch, and he sprang atop it. The burned out trunk groaned a little but held. He then got a good look at the thing for the first time. It was sleeping in a ball of blood red scales a solid fifteen feet tall, and it was facing him. He was amazed by just how big it truly was, as the head alone was 6 feet long. Tyler got a look at it's feet, and noted it had 2 foot claws on five toes, and the few teeth he saw were both razor sharp and conical. More for piercing then holding prey. He could hear it breath, and it reminded him of the sleeping T-rex from his favorite movies. He groaned internally. That's not a lesser drake, but a damned DRAKOLISK. We are in serious shit here. He looked for wings, and saw they were mere stumps, indicating that they'd been severed at some point. He sighed, well, fuck it, let's do this. He used his stealth skills to crouch, and ready his bow. He was as silent as a mere shadow as he drew the string back, and aim for it's left eye. He fired and it opened it's eye only to get a set of three arrows directly into it's 1 foot sized iris. Tyler already moving as it bellowed in pain as it's eye was popped like a balloon.
"Seriously, Tyler, the hell is taking so long?"
Kaori was getting anxious from the waiting, and so was Malico. Both ladies were ten feet off the ground as they awaited the appearance of the beast. I really hope that idiot doesn't do something stupid. Kaori could smell the burned wood and rotting meat, and was having a hard time not gagging.
"Gods that is just nasty. I hate this thing too and I just got here!"
There was a sudden bellow of pained anger that echoed off the trees, and it made both Kaori and Malico jump. Malico went pale at the sound.
"That's not a lesser drake! That's a lesser DRAGON!"
They looked to see the thing rear up, and Kaori went pale as well, as she saw it's size.
"Yup. We're fucked. Way to go hero."
She then saw a set of three arrows slam into it's under belly, and pierce it's scales, drawing blood and another enraged roar. The blonde and the cat readied their own arrows, as they clung to the trust they had in Tyler's abilities.
"Fuckin hell!"
Tyler was using his agility to it's limit to avoid getting hit with fangs, claws or tail. The drakolisk was faster then it's bulk would indicate, and had a force that would kill him outright if it hit him squarely. Tyler had already taken it's left eye, and was waiting for a clean shot at it's right. The thing was roaring with fury, and it sounded like a dammed Spinosaurus from the same movie. Only it was now blind on one side, and was having a very though time adjusting to its new weakness. Plus it could fly with it's wing stumps, and this enemy was a slippery bastard. It then drew in a breath for it's ace: fire breath.
"Not today."
Tyler had three shafts on his string as he saw it lift it's head. He readied his Piercing teardrop and timed it for when the beast's throat bulged for his shot. He scored a direct hit, and it leaked fire out of it's now compromised throat and flame sack. The drakolisk still tried to breathe it's fire, only for it to blow out of it's now ruined throat.
"Brilliant! A dragon's single weak point is it's throat when it draws in air for a breath attack!"
Malico was all but bouncing in her tree branch, as Kaori was confused as the dragon's throat exploded.
"Wait, did he just kill it?"
She was still smiling as she watched the now crippled beast start to stagger.
"Not even close, it's just REALLY hurt now. Plus the throat is useless now. Dragonkin can only be killed by either staring to death or by a pierced heart. You could slice it's head clean off, but until the heart is pierced it won't die."
They looked to see Tyler now sending arrows as he led it closer to the ladies. Kaori just sighed as she readied her own spells of ChainShot and Iron Piercer. Iron piercer belonging to the grey path and was the equivalent to Piercing Teardrop.
"Of course he'd know a dragon's weak points."
Tyler was still after it's eye, but had to divide his shots between it's chest and it's ruined throat in an attempt to both wear the beast down, and try to reach it's heart. The drakolisk had lost it's sight on the left side and now it's prized flame breath, now all it had to look forward to was a slow death by starvation due to this wily human. Tyler was still dodging it's claws and tail, but he no longer had to worry about it's fangs, as the things jaw had been blown off when it's flame went.
"Tough bastard aren't ya?"
He was now dodging backwards as he baited the beast towards the fresh ladies with their bows. He fired a set of shafts into it's under jaw to try and hit brain, not really thinking it would kill the thing but render it stupid enough to kill. He was nearly in position and was about to give the signal when the beast slammed into the ground with a body slam the shook the ground and caused him to lose his footing. He fell, and the beast pinned him with a heavy clawed foot. He couldn't even move his arms. The drakolisk then leaned in to try and crush the human that had killed it.
Get ready kaori, he's nearly there."
"Right."
Kaori and Malico readied their shafts, and drew back a bit to wait for his whistle. They then saw the beast rear on it's hind legs and slam into the ground with such force they even wobbled a little, while Tyler slipped and fell hard on his back. Like lightning the beast had him pinned with a five clawed foot, as it's fangs and flames were beyond its reach now. Kaori screamed as Malico fired her shafts.
"Damn it , blondie don't just sit there!"
Kaori was galvanized into action as she released her shafts as well, aiming for the eye as she had been instructed.
"Dammit ladies fire already!"
Tyler was using all his strength to keep the beast from crushing his ribcage, well aware it was just toying with him. He was growling with the effort of keeping the beasts foot of his chest, when the beast got bored and leaned more weight onto it's limb. Tyler glared at it as he felt his arms get pushed back. He just felt the thing touch his chest as Malico's shafts slammed into it's chest where he had been hitting it, and it bellowed in pain as it staggered backwards off him.
"Bout friggin time kittycat."
Tyler looked to his own bow, and found it crushed beyond use,
"Typical."
He drew Oblivion, as the beast rattled at the treebound catgirl, only to get a new set of shafts in it's empty eye socket from kaori. It was now confused as it was getting attacked from three angles, and didn't know where to attack first. Malico sighted it's eye and fired as Kaori took aim at it's throat. Tyler was looking for an opportunity to impale the thing with his sword, as Kaori hit it in the torn hole of it's throat, and as it turned to looked that way, Malico popped it's other eye, and it was effectively blind, and deaf. Tyler smiled.
"Well played ladies! Very well played!"
Tyler was looking to launch up it's leg when it slashed unexpectedly with it's claws, and scored a glancing blow on his chest, launching him into a burned out tree trunk with enough force to split it apart. He grunted and spit out blood as he now had three long gashes on his chest that were bleeding profusely like a faucet. He growled, as the ladies screamed at the blood,
"Okay, NOW I'M PISSED."
He activated his ace.
"Demon's wrath."
He felt the power increase, and exploded into motion. The drakolisk was trying to decide on a target to go after as arrows would first come from one side to hit it's throat, and when it turned to look in that direction, it got arrows from the opposite side. It crouched to leap backward, when it's leg was sliced clean off, as now fueled by an extra hundred points of strength, Tyler could cut a stone statue ten feet thick in half with a single slash. The thing trumpeted again with pain as it fell to the ground on it's side, and Tyler was right there on it's flank as he pierced the scales over it's shoulder. It plunged his blade to the hilt, and felt it pierce something that was beating. Tyler drakolisk sputtered, and went limp as it died from a pierced heart. Tyler tore the blade free, pulled a healing salve from his belt, poured it on his chest which closed the wounds, but left him with a very gnarly looking set of three lines, and promptly fell over panting as Demon's Wrath effect ran out. Kaori and Malico came running as he fell over, scared to tears, only to find him flat on his back with the wounds closed and panting hard.
"Nice…..work.....ladies! Lemme...get my…..breath back."
Kaori hugged him as Malico shook her head.
"We just killed a full grown drakolisk. Nearly without a scratch."
Tyler smiled.
"Yeah, we're awesome I know."
He got his breathing under control as Kaori realized something.
"Hey, what the hell did you do back there?"
He looked at her as he sat up.
"Whaddya mean?"
She and Malico looked at each other.
"We saw you take the hit, and bleed like a stuck hog, yet it was like something clicked, and next thing we could barely see you, and then the drakolisk's leg was on the ground as it fell with you plunging the blade into it's heart. It was like ten minutes where we just couldn't see you move."
Tyler smiled.
"It's an ability I got from my merge with the Monster. It's called Demon's Wrath. It adds a hundred to my stats, makes all spells and skills cost nothing, not require a chant and are twice as powerful. Drawbacks are it only works for ten minutes at a time, can only be used once a day, and leaves me exhausted for a bit. I can upgrade it to both last longer and not be as tired when I use it. Problem is it's use based. I need to use it to upgrade it. So it's gonna be a pain in the ass."
Kaori smiled as Malico shook her head again.
"That is a truly scary ability. But I'm glad it's on our side."
Tyler smiled, as Kaori hugged him again.
"Well, we got work to do."
They all nodded. Tyler hopped off the beast as Kaori retrieved the horses as Malico did an arrow count. Tyler went right to Malico.
"Can we eat this one?"
She licked her lips.
"This thing is a step down from dragon flesh. In short, the King himself needs the permission to have a single slab once a year."
"I like where this is going."
Kaori came with the horses, as the voice was heard yet again.
"YOU HAVE FULFILLED YOUR TASK OF SLAYING THE BEAST. WELL DONE."
"Thanks. Woulda been nice to know we were dealing with a drakolisk beforehand, but no biggee. We'll take what we can off this thing. And loot it's lair."
"AS YOU WISH. THAT THING WAS TOO MUCH FOR MY FOREST TO DEAL WITH ALONE, AND SO YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT SERVICE TO THE FOREST. AS SUCH, I GRANT YOU THE TITLE OF FOREST FRIEND. AS TWO OF YOU ARE WARRIORS, OPEN YOUR HUDS."
Tyler and kaori opened their interfaces, and there was a blinking icon in a corner. Opening it showed active bonuses and extras. The title of Forest Friend to The Dark Forest was on display there.
"PRESS THE TITLE."
They did, and it listed a set of stat boosts, like for kaori increased agility and speed while in a forest, while Tyler got increased stealth and Mana in the same environment. Also the 'extra' ability to get twice the resources off plant based items. If they pick a single apple, it would become two. Plus a decrease to becoming targeted prey for forest predators. Tyler smiled.
"I thank you for this boon, Spirit, now, what does our cat friend get for her assistance?"
The voice chuckled.
"SHE GETS THE SAME TITLE AS YOU DO, NEVER YOU FEAR. THE FOREST IS A HARSH PLACE, BUT IT IS NOTHING IF NOT FAIR TO IT'S DENIZENS. YOU ARE WELCOME WITHIN MY FOREST ANYTIME YOU HAVE NEED OF MY SHELTER."
"Again, we thank you for your kindness."
"IT IS I WHO OWE YOU THANKS FOR KILLING THAT FOUL THING."
"Yeeesh, foul does not do it justice. But you're welcome."
Tyler closed his HUD and the group set to collecting all they could off the beasts hide. Tyler collecting several pouches of scales as it was sure they'd fetch a hefty price, Kaori was harvesting meat to Malico's guidelines of the best cuts. Tyler also took the beasts claws, and teeth as they were most likely highly sought after. By the end of it, they had several days of meat, fifteen pouches of scales, eight pouches of teeth, and five bundles of claws. Tyler then headed to where the beast had been sleeping, and found a small cave that was barely big enough for the beasts head. Tyler drew his sword,
"Ladies, wait here, just in case."
They nodded, and took up watch as Tyler climbed inside the small cave. The cave was scorched from flames and had clearly been gouged out by the beast itself, if the marks on the walls were anything to go by. Tyler reached the bottom of the small tunnel and found quite the sight waiting for him. A mount of coin two feet tall with glittering gems all around it. He whistled.
"Ladies, bingo."
They came scrambling down and were amazed by the small fortune they had found. Tyler smiled as he spotted a bow in the corner. He walked over and picked it up, and found it to be made of a strange crystal like material. He held it up to Malico.
"Hey, what's this?"
She looked at it and gasped.
"That's a crystallite bow! Only elven royalty are permitted to even look upon it!"
Tyler slung it over his shoulder.
"Needed a replacement bow. Sweet."
Malico just laughed.
"Spitting in the face of tradition at every step."
Tyler then spotted a large sword sticking out of the pile. He walked over and grasped the hilt, and the visible part of the blade started glowing with his Twin paths of Blue and White. Tyler drew the blade and found it to be twice as long as Oblivion, two inches wider along the length of the blade, and a hand and a half hilt. Both ladies gasped.
"Tyler, that's a beautiful sword!"
"That's a Magicite sword! It gets it's strength and sharpness from it's wielder's path!"
Tyler saw a scabbard that fit the blade and slung it over his other shoulder as he discarded the lesser sword he scavenged off the soldiers. He saw that kaori had also found a weapon, a wakizashi that perfectly complemented her katana, complete with scabbard. Then he saw a set of green bladed daggers resting near the bottom of the small mound,
"Hey, Malico, think you can use those?"
She looked as he held the belt of ten daggers up and she smiled.
"Sure, those are a set of green Lithyite daggers. Lithyite is a stone that boosts green path magics."
He passed her the belt and she slung it across her other shoulder, and now her massive breasts were encased in a dagger embrace. Tyler then looked at the mound.
"So, how the hell we getting all this outta here?"
Kaori and Malico looked at it. There were easily several thousand coins on that pile, far too much for them to haul back alone.
"Hmm, maybe we can see if we can make another deal with the Forest spirit?"
"That could work. Hey, see if there are any oddly placed pouches anywhere."
The duo looked at Malico and her strange request, before shrugging and beginning the search. The small chamber was maybe twenty square feet, and about twelve high, so not a lot of room to search. Tyler found one first.
"Hey, Malico, this what you mean?"
She came over to look at the grey pouch,
"Not exactly what we need. That's a gem pouch, holds a thousand gems of any size and value. Looks to be half full though."
"We can fill it with the rest of the gems here."
"Sure, that's a good idea."
"Hey, Mali, this work?"
Kaori held up a green pouch.
"That holds plants, like fruits and apples. About two hundred and they don't go bad. It looks empty though."
"We'll still take it. More food we have on hand the better."
They agreed and the search was on. Tyler came across a blue pouch.
"That holds water. Several hundred barrels."
"Oh we need this one."
"Mali, got a red."
"Meat. A thousand pounds worth."
"We'll butcher that lisk some more after."
Then Tyler found a gold colored pouch.
"Hey, Malico, think I got what we're looking fer."
She looked at the baseball sized slack cloth that seemed to be made of leopard fur. She smiled.
"That's a coin pouch. Holds ten thousand coins of gold, silver and copper. Banks use them for transporting massive sums quickly without needing an armored wagon. Looks like it's got maybe a hundred coins in there."
"Load up."
The industrious trio spend the next couple hours cleaning the cave of all it's loot. In the end, they scored 5000 gold coins, 5693 silver, 7654 copper, 200 baseball sized diamonds, 400 rubies of the same size, 25 sapphires, 100 emeralds and a basketball sized opal that Tyler loved looking into. They also scored several weapons that they would sell at the next large city, and the pouches. Tyler took the still slack looking coin pouch and slid it under his shirt. As he was strongest, he had the money. They were climbing out when he noticed a glitter in a nook.
"Hol up ladies, got a straggler."
They looked to see him pull a vest of mail rings out of a nook with a ring. The thing weighed less then a feather, and was a odd pure white. Malico's eyes went wide.
"By the gods. A Magicite Mythril chainmail vest."
Tyler looked up at the name.
"Is Mythril special in this world?"
She looked at it reverently, as if the mass of rings was a most precious treasure.
"to even WORK the metal, you need the aid of a high dragon of fire to melt the ore for you, for no other flame can even heat the rock. Next you need the aid of the very best smiths of the race of giants working tirelessly to forge a single ring. Such a vest is nearly impenetrable, will never rust, never wear, and with the addition of Magicite, takes on the colors and strength of a path. What's that ring's insignia?"
Tyler tossed it to her, and she gasped again.
"The crest of the royal house of Vernillion!"
She looked at the vest.
"Centuries ago, a member of the house, the King no less, vanished without a trace. The disappearance allowed the ascension of the current line, and the branch the King had come from ruined. The current king is a just man, but is NOT the true king. The legends say that whoever finds the lost ring of the king is destined to restore the fallen bloodline to it's rightful place as ruler. Please, Tyler, search that spot."
Tyler had the lantern brought out, and it went inside with the ladies. They then found it opened up into a small room 5 square feet in size. Nestled in the back of the stone room sitting back against the wall, was a skeleton with a set of shafts hanging from the spot where it's heart had been. Upon the grinning skull sat a large crown of purest gold with precious gems and the insignia of the Royal Family. This one being a Dragon breathing fire upon a field. Tyler tilted his head as he saw a sealed scroll in a bone hand. Malico knelt before the fallen king.
"His royal highness, King Vernillionia Von Drakinic. Ruler of Vernillion, friend to the Tails, and Lord of Dragons. He has been found at last. Tyler get that scroll. We need to read his words."
"On it kittycat."
Tyler took the scroll and used his dagger to slit the seal and unravel it.
It would seem those bastards finally got me. My son, the crown prince, finally outfoxed his father. I am not long for this world, if that damned lizard out there don't get me, these shafts in my chest will. So, I take up this pen I had for some reason I cannot fathom, and use this last scroll that I had planned to sign a treaty with to write my last will and testament. Let that brave soul that finds this scroll, my ring, and my crown be hailed as King over the land, all my holdings, trappings and otherwise be transferred upon thee. I certainly won't need them anymore. That's for damned sure. My only request is you do right by my people I strived for so long to protect. Oh, and kick the current pope in the balls for me, since the whole plan came from those conniving lizard worshippers. My son. Prince Istal Vernillion. The coward that led his own father into the lair of a drakolisk, and filled his heart with arrows, you are a cursed child. Let my dying wish be you never know a nights peace until the day we are face to face once more. My powers as a mage will keep the scroll fresh until it is needed, so, I guess that's it. Well. Been fun. I guess now's as good a time to use that line.
Asta la Vista, Baby.
Former King of Vernillion.
Vernillionia Von Drakinic
Tyler and Kaori looked at each other.
"Did he seriously quote The terminator as his last words?"
The blonde just rubbed her eyes.
"Well, I guess it works?"
Malico looked at them.
"Does that phrase mean something to you two?"
Tyler smiled.
"Just a pisspoor quote from an actor in our world. I guess the old King was a Warrior. Tropes, we've got them."
"Yup."
Malico looked at the skeleton.
"What'll we do with this?"
Tyler crossed his arms.
"We're taking the crown and ring. As for the whole ruler crap? Yeah, sorry, NOT interested. We'll play this one carefully. I have no intentions or ruling as a king on a throne. Same time, we have leverage now with the court. Push comes to shove, we play this card as a means to an end."
Kaori nodded.
"They already hate us. Throw this into the fire."
"ka-boom."
"Ka-boom."
Malico looked at the skeleton again.
"So, what'll we do?"
Tyler took the crown, before speaking to the skeleton.
"It sucks you got screwed bro. We can't help you there. As for the kingdom? They hate us, and the feeling is very much mutual. That said, if we ever find ourselves in a position to do something, we'll consider it at least. Though, kicking the pope in the balls? That's gon happen. Not a question of if, but when. That much I can promise you. But for Christ sake, Terminator? Really? Well, whatever. Dunno how long you've been here, but, dude got elected California governor like twice. So, yeah. Rest in pieces smitty."
The Skeleton seemed to collapse a little as the trio left.
"SpongeBob? Seriously?"
"Weird references deserve weird back!"
"Seriously, you two are so odd sometimes."
The voices receded, and the skeleton collapsed in a rattle of bones, as a single drop of condensation ran out of it's empty eye socket, as if mourning the fact his dying wish had been entrusted to such a bunch of jackasses.
Tyler and the two ladies exited the cave and went back to fill their meat pouch. The crown and ring added to the coin and gem pouches with the scroll in a miscellaneous pouch Malico had found that could be used for the store of sales goods. Tyler and the girls went and unloaded the horses of the meat to store it in the pouch before Tyler put the scales, claws, fangs and other stuff they were going to sell in the pouch. Then they got back carving the beast up. Tyler had donned the vest under his shirt as a surprise for an attacker, and the large sword on his back hung to his hip. He went back to collecting scales, as Kaori gathered more meats, as Malico assisted as best she could. Tyler had just pried loose his latest scale the size of a plate when there was a commotion near the edge of the clearing edge. The group looked over to see a group of knights riding at a nervous clip towards the group butchering the massive creature.
"Kaori, Malico, you know the drill."
The ladies nodded before going back to their finishing their latest cut as Tyler hailed the plate armored knights.
"Hey! Up here!"
The lead knight, looked to see Tyler waving from his spot by it's neck. The sight of the blood-soaked teenager standing atop the back of such a dangerous foe made the knight gape a bit.
"You here fer something?"
Tyler's question jerked the man out of his stupor.
"We are here by the order of his Royal majesty King Ishtar Von Vernillion to slay a Drakolisk that had been rampaging in the Dark Forest. I am Knight Commander Duke Drake's Bane. Captain of the Royal dragonkin squad. Who, pray, are you, sirrah?"
Tyler smiled as he pried a fresh scale off.
"Mind if I work and talk?"
The Knight commander was a tall man with blonde hair and beard, blue eyes armed with a longbow, a massive quiver of arrows, and his armor was gleaming metal and brightly polished. He saw Tyler prying scales off the carcass and depositing them into an enchanted pouch.
"Sirrah, do you have a permit to harvest this drakolisk?"
"Well, I doubt it. Name's Tyler. The ladies are Kaori and Malico."
The names of the Warrior traitors sent hands to blades as Duke, now knowing understanding the trio, spoke again.
"You killed this drakolisk?"
"Yup. Was fun. Kinda wanna kill another."
"And you're harvesting it without a permit."
"Deal with it or become corpses yourselves. Make a call."
Tyler was smiling as he looked at them now, as he pulled at another scale off the beast's neck. Duke reached for his bow.
"By the authority of the King, you are all hereby placed under arrest for poaching from the king and nobility."
Tyler sighed and lifted his crystallite bow into View. Immediately there was a gasp of shock from the column of men.
"Lady Eilisef's Silver Bow!"
The group looked to the speaker, a lithe man in a green leather-like armor set without shoes and a large bow strapped to his back. Tyler noted his pointed ears.
"Is this thing famous or something?"
The elf moved his saddleless silver roan to better see the weapon. Tyler hopped off the back of the beast to show it to him. The elf also got off his horse and knelt reverently before the bow.
"Sirrah, That bow is a legendary weapon among my people. Lady Eilisef was a Elf Queen that led her people through a time of strife and war to save her clan. It was lost at her last stand when she and her small group of two hundred elven rangers held off an invading army of two million Orc invaders. Her and her rangers were slain to the last elf, but the siege bought her clan the time they needed to rally the elven people as a whole and drive the Orcs out of our land. It had been lost for two hundred years. Pray tell, where did you find it?"
"In this things treasure trove. And, don't bother checking it for yourselves, we stripped it to the stone."
The elf rose and looked at the mythical weapon.
"The mere fact you can even hold her bow at all is proof enough of who you are in the eyes of the elves. Have you shot it yet?"
"I have not. I tend to not shoot unless I have a target. Plus, my friend the Spirit Of The forest an I made a deal that we'd only take what we needed, and this thing is MORE then enough."
The Elf and the whole group looked at them nervously. Then Duke looked at him.
"You're telling me, that The Spirit Of The Dark Forest, one of the most hateful spirits of her kind, is YOUR friend?"
Tyler pulled up his HUD and had his title of Forest Friend was shown, and so was Kaori's and Malico's. The Knight and Elf looked at them. Stunned, before the elf spoke again.
"My name is Wulf Farsight. So, you're friends with Lady Nightshade. A truly impressive feat. She hates humans with a vehemence that is so extreme, we were only allowed access after making an offering to her in the form of half our supplies."
Tyler smiled.
"Well, if your not an ass to the Forest she calls home, or her, be amazed how far you can go. Look, we got a lot of work to do here, so we done?"
Duke sighed deeply.
"Forest Friend or not, you've still broken the law."
"Well, what a coinkidink. A target!"
Tyler leapt back up to his spot on the beasts neck, a good ten feet, and had four shafts nocked to the bow which was drawn as far as it would go. Wulf gaped.
"How's the draw?"
Tyler tilted his head.
"Oddly enough, easier then my other bow that got crushed. Have a look to your left on the ground."
He looked and saw the shattered remains of his simple recurve bow, and just got back on his horse.
"Commander Duke. I am afraid I must return to my homeland to inform the queen that Lady Eilisef's bow has reappeared, and is able to be wielded. By a human no less. This an Elven matter now."
"Hey! Wulf! Hol up a sec."
The elf looked up to Tyler.
"Did you need something?"
"Yeah, just curious where your homeland is, is all."
The elf smiled.
"In the far east, Sirrah. If you have a map, I can add to it."
"really? Score! Hey, pull up near the neck. Shouldn't take long."
The elf did just that, and Duke was beside himself.
"Wulf! This is treason!"
The Elf just sneered.
"remember, Duke, I am an ambassador to my kingdom. As such, I have deemed this a matter of elven importance."
The Duke glared at the man on the back of the drakolisk aiming arrows at him.
"Boy, you've spit in the face of the King! We'll inform His majesty of your crimes at once!"
"Go ahead puppet. Just be sure to tell him I and my party killed this thing FOR you. I mean, after we clear the first wave, well, we'll see him ourselves anyway."
The man huffed, and gave a hand sign.
"Let us return to Term."
"Bye-bye puppets! Enjoy your death by strings!"
The men shot them hate-filled looks as Tyler just laughed. Once they were out of Sight, Tyler leapt to the ground by the elven ranger, getting his first real look at him. The elf was a tall, thin man with the angular face and pointed ears of his people, pale skin, and vibrant red eyes and dark hair. He had a leaf bladed sword on his hip, as well as his bow. Tyler let his full draw slack off, but did not remove the shafts.
"So, you're an Elven ambassador. Nifty."
Tyler pulled his map out and did the spell. Wulf was smiling as he filled in a solid half the map. Tyler's eyes lit up.
"Oh, NOW we're getting somewhere."
Tyler reached into his pouch and pulled a handful of gold coins and passed them to the now shocked Wulf.
"Here, thanks for the info."
The elf accepted the gold and shook his head.
"You do realize this is enough to keep a human household going for two months, right?"
Tyler smiled.
"And do YOU realize that we may or may not wind up in your homeland at some point. So, I'd like to NOT have them hate us before we get there."
The elf saw his ploy then.
"I see now. Well played young Warrior. Very well played. I'll pass word of you-"
And arrow came whizzing out of the spot the soldiers had disappeared into, and pinging off Tyler's chain mail under his shirt. He sighed.
"Typical."
Tyler retook his spot on the neck, and raised his shafts again. He sighed the now charging group of men.
"Wulf, I'd prefer you keep your hands clean on this one, odds are they rigged it."
The elf picked RIGHT up on his meaning.
"Understood. What do we do?"
Tyler smiled, and fired his shafts. The three arrows, enhanced by Piercing Teardrop, killed the two mages in the back of the group as they were chanting spells.
"Allow US the blood. We got new toys to try out."
Tyler had a fresh set of arrows and fired, hitting the front most riders' horses as they galloped towards them. The result was the other riders getting tripped up by the fallen riders and horses. Effectively halting the cavalry charge in it's tracks. Tyler then put his bow up, and drew his new sword. The large blade was then bathed in his twin Paths of Blue and White. Getting another gasp from Wulf. Then Tyler was leaping off the beast's back to charge with Kaori and Malico towards the now rising soldiers. Wulf watched them charge a group of twelve fully armored knights of the kingdom without fear or hesitation, the leader of the trio wielding a Magicite sword.
"Those paths. Blue and white. The Queen needs to meet this man."