Alexander lay in the room where the soldiers were housed, the lights off, illuminated by the faint glow of the moon.
He seemed occupied with something, focused on that system window.
[Name: Shura]-[Class: Paladin Warrior] [Level: 15]-[Aura Color: Orange]-[Subclass: Herald of the Holy War] [Vitality: 42]-[Endurance: 42] [Strength: 42]-[Agility: 37] [Intelligence: 31]-[Perception: 37]
-I think this is good for now. Focusing on Vitality, Endurance, and Strength since the subclass scales with these.- He paused, looking at Intelligence. -When will I ever use you?-
He waited a few seconds, then got up. His face was free of wounds, thanks to Nurse Yukiko and the system's recovery. -System, I want to do the Quest you gave me earlier.- He said in a low but determined voice. A message box appeared.
[Does the Player wish to undertake the Quest "Fire and Typhoon"?]
-Yes.-
The message box disappeared, replaced by a small butterfly. This caught Alexander's attention for sure, a butterfly with completely white, glowing wings that seemed to have a small aura exuding from it, a rosy aura. A fragrant smell filled the room, sweet, reminiscent of a bouquet that, while familiar, he couldn't quite place. But at the same time, he could distinguish one scent that stood out slightly: the smell of peaches. The small butterfly began to flutter its wings, flying toward the door of the room.
Alexander followed it, opening the door and walking through the dark castle. In the corners of the wooden corridors and rice straw walls, one could see the faint glow of the patrolling guards' torches. Near the stairs leading to the floor he was on, the center of the tower was visible, his steps light and silent, certainly crouching to avoid casting a shadow against the moonlight. The butterfly flapped its wings silently; even with his heightened Perception status, he couldn't hear its fluttering even though it was so close. It flew to the stairs, descending. Alexander waited a few seconds until the distant torchlight of one of the guards moved away.
-It's now.- He whispered, advancing with subtlety. One step after another on his tiptoes, agile and silent as a cat. But even cats, natural hunters, precise and adept at being completely concealed in their stalking, fall into traps not set for them. A step that would be silent anywhere else wasn't here, as the light waxed wooden plank creaked under the weight.
-Damn it…- He whispered tensely, feeling like screaming. He could see the lights approaching and hear the hurried footsteps coming toward him. He thought frantically in the few milliseconds he had. The sounds of soldiers running on the wood toward him. Come on, think, think, think, think, think, think!
-Halt!- Shouted one of the soldiers, pointing his spear at Alexander. In seconds, he was surrounded, all the soldiers tense and ready to attack at any moment. But after a few seconds of pointing weapons at Alexander, they relaxed, at least a bit. He had a genuinely scared expression, his hands raised, showing no threat, heavy breathing, eyes wide and frightened like a child caught in the act. One of the guards lowered his gaze, a somewhat disappointed expression on his face, seemingly displeased with what he had found. He lowered his gaze to Alexander's leg. It wasn't a step that seemed soft and subtle to go unnoticed on tiptoes, but a step that with the heel sunk into the creaking plank.
-Boy, what are you doing at this hour of the night?- He asked. Alexander swallowed hard, looking at the guard who asked and also at the tip of his spear.
-I just… wanted to use the bathroom, but I got lost in this huge castle.- He said with a trembling voice, really convincing, seems like years of forced theater by his actress mother paid off. The soldiers lowered their spears and finally relaxed. Alexander slowly lowered his arms, assuming a less tense posture.
-Look kid, you can't just wander around the castle like that. We thought you were an enemy intruder.- Said one of the guards. -Show the poor boy where the bathroom is.-
After the tension, one of the soldiers escorted Alexander out of the castle. This made him a bit tense, disguising his innocence in the darkness while searching for the white butterfly and walking through the main courtyard of the castle, accompanied by a guard to a place near the stables. It wasn't a clean or beautiful place at all, but its smell wasn't worse than that of the horses.
-A medieval bathroom, huh…- He muttered. The soldier turned to Alexander and handed him the lantern he was holding.
-When you're done, I'll be waiting at the stable entrance, try to be quick, understood?
-Sure, sir. Sorry for the confusion.- The soldier then left him.
Alexander was alone for a while, finally relaxing after so much tension that almost gave him a heart attack. He took a deep breath, regained his composure, and started worrying about the butterfly again.
-What a wonder, all this confusion made me lose the butterfly.- He complained, trying not to make too much noise. Looking around, trying to find any trace of it, covering his nose because of the horrible smell of horse manure. A smell began to stand out, becoming so strong it overpowered any other there, the smell of peaches. And in the darkness barely illuminated by the lantern's light, the white butterfly appeared, fluttering its wings.
-There you are.- Alexander seemed more relaxed now but also attentive to the butterfly. The bright white butterfly flapped its wings with a strange instability as if it were about to stop flying and fall at any moment. He extended one of his hands under the butterfly, and it landed on his palm. [Does the player wish to be teleported to the Quest arena?] A system box appeared. For a moment, he hesitated, really thinking about the message. -What will I gain from completing this Quest?- He asked, his voice a bit low but curious.
[Upon completing the Quest "Fire and Typhoon" the player will receive the following rewards:] [Temporary XP Multiplier] [XP] [2 Passive Skills] [3 Active Skills] [1 War Skill]
-That's quite a lot, but what are these skills?-
[The skills can only be explained after the Quest is completed]
-So you're going to leave me hanging, huh?- Alexander took a deep breath. -I hope this doesn't get me into trouble.-
[Does the player wish to be teleported to the Quest arena?] He made his decision, crushing the white butterfly.
-Yes.- A powerful light began to emanate from his hand, forcing him to cover his face. When
Alexander opened his eyes, he was no longer behind the stables. The young elf started looking around; he was in an immense stone arena, reminiscent of a coliseum with empty stands extending from the top of the circular arena's wall. He looked down, the symbol of a dragon's head carved into the moss-covered stone.
-Welcome to our night of fights at the divine Coliseum!- A voice announced, echoing powerfully through all the walls of the coliseum, catching Alexander's attention. At the top of the stands stood a figure, wearing a beautiful white kimono with green and violet sashes, a very beautiful woman with long, straight black hair. However, something seemed odd; it looked like there was something on her head, cat ears.
-Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm round of applause to our guest of the night! The aspiring warrior Shuuuuuraaaaaaa!- At that very moment, the sound of thousands of claps began to echo through the coliseum. In the stands that were previously empty, shapes began to appear, humanoid but not human, with many non-human features. Horns, fur, wings, and multiple arms, some were more animalistic than humans, like ghosts, and white and translucent, spirits.
Alexander turned to the top of the stands where the woman was sitting on an immense golden throne, holding a golden fan in her hand. Even from a distance, her eyes shone like emeralds with cat-like pupils. But there were also other beings beside her, beings that looked very much like his master Hakuri, Tengus.
-What place is this?- He asked, looking at the woman.
-You, our dear guest, are in the coliseum of the Tengus. I believe you know very well why you are here.- The woman said with a smile on her face, a face of enchanting, almost supernatural beauty. -We've been expecting you for a while. Our guests are very eager to see you, so we better stop delaying, don't you think?-
The ground started to shake as if something heavy was moving, making Alexander alert. At one end of the arena, opposite the Tengus' stand, there was an immense golden gate, forged with the face of a long-nosed Tengu.
-Let the fun begin!- The mysterious woman announced, making the spirits in the stands go wild. The golden gate began to open, making a deafening noise as it dragged across the arena floor. From within the gates, he started to hear a strangely familiar sound, laughter, deep and dark laughter.
-Oh no, not this again!- Alexander complained, irritated to see not just one or two, but three demon ogres coming out of the gate. His gaze was truly furious but quickly dissolved into a malicious expression. He looked at his hands, clenching his fists tightly, realizing he was no longer just a farmer with an awakened aura; now he had strength, he had technique. Alexander turned to the cat-eared woman at the top of the stands.
-Can I at least have a weapon?- He asked. The woman smiled, covering her smile with her golden fan.
-Look behind you, dear.- She said, her voice echoing throughout the coliseum. Alexander looked back, a sword was stuck in the ground, its silver blade reflecting the glow of the two moons, capable of cutting just by looking at it. The young elf picked up the sword, cracked his neck, and started to stretch as the malicious and horrible laughter got closer with their heavy steps.
-I had a really bad time at the hands of your friend, and now you're going to pay for what he did.- A strangely voracious, sadistic voice. His aura revealed itself with fierce and furious flames in the same bright color as gold. He raised a leg, standing still and maintaining balance with mastery, holding the katana with both hands. His aura made the demons idle, causing them to invoke their auras, all blood-red, but they still advanced, they were outnumbered. Alexander took a deep breath, then began to hop, staying in place, using only the tips of his toes, with a light touch on the ground, he stayed in the air for seconds as if he weighed nothing. Jumps reaching up to two meters high.
-With my aura, my stats amplify. Hakuri said the more you evolve in aura color, the greater the power discrepancy, let's test this theory!- He landed on the ground, gathering strength in his legs and shooting forward with such force that it cracked the soil beneath him. He was like a bullet, his feet touching the ground only to give a light impulse. The demons were startled, halting their slow advance. -So demons feel fear, huh? You better feel it!-
One of the demon ogres roared, charging at Alexander with his club, hitting the ground and destroying the rocky soil with a thunderous noise.
-Missed, idiot.- His voice said, full of disgust and disdain. In one cut, the demon ogre's hand was severed. An infernally painful scream, the only sound the demon made, and with the pain came the fury. With the other hand, he tried to grab
Alexander, only to have his fingers cut off in the blink of an eye. -Too slow, dumbass.- Blood gushed endlessly from the wounds, given the immense size, there was a lot of blood, staining the stone ground with a rotten-smelling red. A spinning cut, with the same precision as a ballerina doing a pirouette but with ruthless force, the ogre's legs were cut off. Another infernal scream of pain, but the sound of the fat body falling to the ground was much louder. Alexander stared into its eyes, that hideous face full of wrinkles and scars, a huge black beard, rotten yellow teeth sharp like an animal's fangs.
The elf stared deeply into its eyes, those black eyes with golden pupils, eyes trembling like a sheep about to be slaughtered by a wolf. And the wolf with red eyes was right in front of it. What was left of that demon ogre was split in half as if it were just a sack of meat. The blood and rotten smell spread through the arena, but that didn't matter. The spirits in the stands went wild, a crowd of voices very excited about what they saw.
-Incredible!- The cat-eared woman announced, her voice echoing throughout the arena as if there were indeed loudspeakers. -In just three masterful strikes, our guest has killed the demon ogre!- It was possible to hear the audience's voices even more excited, starting to chant something in harmony.
-Shura! Shura! Shura!-
-Hm, I feel like I'm back at school games, everyone always shouted my name when I scored a goal. The feeling is almost the same.- He turned his gaze to the ogre's corpse, now black flames enveloped it, and soon it turned to dust. -Although killing one of you is much better than scoring a goal.-
Alexander turned to the two remaining demon ogres, both looking terrified. The frightened looks, the weak body language, the slow steps backward. His red eyes stared at them not as monsters but as mere animals ready for slaughter, as prey.
-You two are next.- It was hard to tell if it was fear or desperation, or maybe the instinct to survive. One of the ogres roared fiercely, charging at Alexander. It was like witnessing a runaway truck speeding toward a person, a person who hardly cared. Striking the ground with his immense club, splitting the soil with an explosive noise.
-Missed, idiot.- Alexander said, a few centimeters from where the ogre's club had struck. The demon was quick, with his other hand he tried to touch the red-eyed elf. With a simple swing of his sword, the beast's fist was severed. An incessant scream of pain seemed to annoy Alexander. -For god's sake, shut up!- He said, punching the ogre demon's monstrous face, the sound was like thunder, and the head exploded instantly. Once again the arena went wild with shouts and excitement.
At the top of the stands, someone seemed annoyed.
-How boring, I thought it would be much more interesting. He is too strong for these filthy ogres.- The cat-eared woman said irritably on her throne, her mouth covered by her golden fan, so her voice didn't echo through the arena. Loud footsteps could be heard behind her, approaching, the sound of wooden sandals.
-Ohoho, my apprentice has mastered the basics of the Tengu style very well!- A voice said proudly. Gradually, the sound of footsteps approached until they reached the side of the cat-eared woman, Tengu Hakuri.
-I didn't think you'd come today, Mr. Hakuri.- The woman said, looking back.
-Ah, I wouldn't miss this for anything! Watching young Shura in his first spiritual quest.- He said in an animated voice, a smile painting his red face.
-You taught him the basics very well. He's massacring those filthy pigs as if they were nothing. Of course, he has a yellow aura now, but even so, he shouldn't be killing them so easily.-
-It must be the fruits of the gods' system. It's making him strong at a much faster rate. I wonder how he'll be when he reaches level one hundred.-
-If you teach him the complete style, I'm sure he'll become much stronger, but I think you need to hurry.-
-Speaking of which, Lady Fufumi, without meaning to be rude, I'd like to know why you're organizing this quest for young Shura. I thought kitsunes always needed to watch the forests and cities to sense the presence of demons.-
-For tonight, my sister is covering my shift, but it was Lady Miao Ti who sent me here.-
-What? Lady Miao Ti?- Hakuri said incredulously. -But why would the great goddess of wisdom and magic send you for such a task?-
-I don't know, but I think I understand something.- A big smile appeared on the face of the girl with cat ears, and beneath her beautiful silk clothes, something rose. One, two, three, nine huge fox tails. -Lady Miao Ti has a strange interest in this young man. I want to be sure why. I think it's time to send in our 'main attraction.'-
Alexander took a deep breath. It was good to breathe air without the putrid smell of demons. Both bodies had already burned to ashes in black flames. However, the air was still not completely clean; one demon remained. Alexander turned to him, walking slowly to the massive demon ogre that was paralyzed in the same spot.
-Now it's just you. The difference in power between auras is much greater than I thought. It makes me realize that for someone with a stronger color than mine, I'm nothing but an insect.- He looked intently at the demonic monster. -But now, the insect about to be crushed is you.-
He assumed a low stance, preparing to advance with incredible speed, holding his katana with both hands very low. He aimed at the demon ogre's knees, planning to cut them with one blow. But before he could do so, the ogre was split in half from behind. A cut, a single cut so fast he barely managed to follow it. Split perfectly in two by a vertical cut, the two halves fell to the ground simultaneously, revealing the author of such a precise and powerful strike.
The silhouette was like that of a human, but it was obvious it was not. Its skin, hair, and clothes were all ocean blue, but the eyes were yellow like those of a nocturnal predator. The clothes, a blue samurai kimono, the same as its skin. But in its hand was a bright silver katana, its gleaming edge standing out from the rest of the blade. Alexander assumed another stance instantly, a more upright, secure stance. His eyes fixed on the other being that had appeared. At that moment, the system window appeared.
[!!!The Quest "Fire and Typhoon" starts now!!!]