While the blades of sand were flying at David, he saw an opportunity.
If he focused on dodging, he would be able to escape from all of the blades. This would ensure his survival.
But David didn't want to just survive, he wanted to win.
'Tell me quick, how effective is this regeneration.'
David called out to the system.
[Do not worry User, if you are in danger of death, I will warn you.]
The system had caught onto David's plan, and showed him an indicator of his health. Only the slightest amount was missing.
Swish
The first blade was at about thigh height, threatening to cut off his legs. David stepped just slightly to the right, a large gash being cut into his thigh.
Swish
A gash opened up on David's left shoulder, blood splashing out into the air.
The Sand Coyote's eyes widened, surely this crazy human wouldn't die to try and injure it.
Even now, the possibility of defeat hadn't entered its mind, the mana gap between the two was far too large.
Now there were multiple blades of sand all flying at David, there was no way he could get past these without fatal injuries.
But the multiple blades of sand and the dust that had been kicked up meant the coyotes vision of David was blurred.
David leapt into the air, in a graceful curve, that took him up out of the coyotes line of sight for a moment.
He spun in the air, the moonlight glimmering off his sword forming a beautiful twisting wheel.
*Slash*
In one strike, David's sword cleanly took off the coyotes head, blood spurting everywhere.
"Phew." David stumbled as he landed next to the decapitated coyote, the sand that had been flying through the air falling to the ground.
He looked at his shoulder and thigh in surprise, the bleeding had already stopped.
Instinctively, David knelt next to the fallen coyote, placing a hand on its chest, from where he could feel the mana most strongly.
Even though he knew what was coming, David flinched when he saw the purple tendrils bursting out of his fingers.
The tendrils dug into the Sand Coyote's chest, burrowing through its thick sandy fur and down deep into its flesh.
Since this was a coreless creature, the mana was only a gathered in a faint cloud near where the core would eventually form.
David's eye's widened as he felt the warm sensation travelling up his arm, towards his abdomen.
It was just like the feeling when he trained the basic Mana Gathering technique. Only multiplied by hundreds of times.
The streams of mana grew warmer and warmer, almost to the point where it felt like fire was flowing through his body.
Gradually, the mana flowing in reduced, before coming to a stop. The tendrils withdrew from the Sand Coyote's body and returned into his body.
He couldn't help but scrunch up his face in disgust. This was what was in his body?
[User, please observe your updated status.]
[
Status
Name: David Marigold
Health: 4/8
Mana: 17/41
Abilities: d*,kNruu's Successor, Consume
]
'Huh?' There was a hint of confusion in David's voice. The mana he had absorbed felt so much more intense than when he trained, how had he only gained two points?
[Unfortunately User, some of the mana was utilized to ensure your body did not explode from mana overload.]
[At this point, Consume is only about 5% effective, but as you grow stronger and your body continues to be remodeled, it will increase.]
'Hmm that makes sense. And besides, I'm a four star now. That would've taken a couple months on my own.'
David stepped away from the Sand Coyote and a small hint of joy appeared in David's heart.
He realised that his greatest barrier, his lack of an advanced mana absorption technique, had been overcome.
'Sure, I'll need to fight for my mana, but it's never been easy for me.' David thought back to the constant training he had been doing over the past years.
Day and night, gathering mana and sparring with the others.
[User, I would highly recommend finding some mana techniques, your usage of mana is very inefficient.]
The system pulled David out of his celebratory mood.
'Aren't you some all powerful artifact? Don't you have some techniques you can share with me? Some all powerful abilities?' David asked, as he turned to walk back to Cherie.
[Unfortunately User, at this moment, the techniques I could grant you would tear your body apart.
]
[f you do find some techniques, I will be able to improve them for you.]
'Alright, alright.' David sighed, he knew that response was coming. Whether or not this thing was lying to him, he knew he had gained a lot, but he still didn't trust it at all.
"Now, how am I gonna explain this to Cherie." David sighed, knowing she would notice how his mana signature had grown stronger.
"Here we go." The rocks were now within sight, and David watched as Cherie's six star signal moved towards him.
"David?" Cherie had removed her helmet, revealing her dark hair, and a worried look on her soft features.
"It's me!" David facepalmed, he hadn't even though about how she might think his signal was someone else.
"You're a four star now?" Cherie's eye's were narrowed, then widened suddenly.
"You're hurt!" She called out, leaping over to look at David's injuries.
"What!" Confused, Cherie touched the unbroken skin, her fingers covered in the blood that was still soaking the clothes and David's skin.
"Yeah, I guess it's a side effect of the transformation." David gave Cherie a half grin and scratched the back of his head.
At that moment, the faint sense of uneasiness that had been building up for Cherie disappeared. That one gesture was so much like David that she might be able to ignore all the sudden changes,
The changed hair, pale skin and strange eyes.
"David!" Cherie pushed him in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards a few steps. She was suddenly flustered, noticing how close they were standing.
"What?" David asked, but he knew what was coming.
"You went out there without me, you knew there was something out there." She shook her head at him, frowning.
"I wanted to test out my new abilities." David replied.
"Even so, you should've had me come along, just in case." Cherie responded. David had always been a little sensitive about how she was stronger than him, but he had never been this reckless.
He would have never gone out into the wilderness, especially without support, to an unknown threat.
"There's something different about you. You were always the most logical out of everyone. You would never have run out in to the wilderness on your own like this." Tears were gathering in Cherie's eyes.
She wasn't only angry about David's actions, but the events of the past day were all crashing in.
"I guess seeing Brogan-" Even while the words came out of David's mouth, he realised what he had said.
David cut himself off, and stepped towards Cherie, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as she started to sob.
Hearing her cry, tears began to collect in David's eyes.
"I'm sorry. This isn't the time or place. You get some more rest." Cherie mumbled out, as she shook herself, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Damn. What is it with me? I shouldn't have said that." David muttered to himself.
'And what was that she was saying, about me being the most logical' David thought to himself, but even as he did, his thoughts became clouded.
'Huh.' David stood there, confused. What had he just been thinking about?
'I guess I better get some rest.' David looked out the half empty health indicator, and returned to the small shelter under the rocks.
-----
"David."
"David."
"Wake up."
Cherie's voice pulled David out of the deep dreamless sleep he had sunk into.
Rubbing his eyes, David looked around. A faint light was covering the plains, with it only being slightly brighter than nighttime.
Cherie stood over him, once again wearing her helmet, her face hidden.
"Sorry about last night. I shouldn't have -" Cherie started to apologise, but David waved an arm at her, cutting her off.
"You did nothing wrong. Let's go." He gathered up his cloak that he had been using for a sleeping pad, wrapping it around himself.
The two of them continued their journey north in silence, their breaths forming little puffs of cloud in the cold air.
The sun had fully risen into the sky before David broke the silence.
"I know the plan was to head away from Coppervein for safety. But where exactly are we aiming to go?"