Much like the Rueben tribe, Joseph's home was raided when he was a boy. He and what was left of his people came to live with us here in Plow village. Since then, he's been an adventurer. Following the trail of blood left behind, I came into the room. Whatever happened to him left him paralyzed from the waist down.
He was too weak to lift his head, so I came over and gently held him up. Time before he rested, we spoke. He, too, gave notice of the presence of the Wam creature. He informed me that the creature was not one to be trifled with. In addition, the Wam was the one who brutally injured him.
He then went on to say, "If you were to come across that monster, even so much as look at it, you'd better run like hell." I left the Guild feeling a bit weary. Joseph's party was walking in the distance. I managed to catch up to them and told them that I wished to know more about the Wam. The info I gathered was most helpful.
I at least have an idea of what this thing can do. When in combat, the Wam will defend itself using some kind of adaptation ability. I was in shock from what I heard. Utilizing a technique to morph its elastic limbs into any weapon it interacts with gives the Wam a huge advantage in the act of combat. No wonder Joseph was defeated.
He never stood a chance to begin with. To be honest, I wasn't too surprised. Many creatures pop up with odd abilities on actuation. It's kinda a common thing. It wasn't long until the Wam became the sensation of the village.
Even now and then, an adventurer from some far-out land sought the treasures of Crystal Forest. Anyone who approaches it has always met eye to eye with the Wam. It is the guardian of the forest. When reaching the top priority on the news board at the Guild, our Guild master made an announcement.
"A huge reward awaits for who so rids the Wam from this world. Whomever that may be, they will bathe in the riches of the forest!!"
Not long after, many have come and gone over. Some didn't make it back at all. By then, I'd already racked up seventeen quests. The quest for the head of the Wam is finally in my grasp. All I can do is smile.
Pumped for battle, I excitedly began to swing my sword around. I didn't set out alone, of course. I put together my party. Sir Issac, father, mother, and Asher. Asher is Joseph's bounded beast companion. He's a massive silver wolf. Pretty cool.
We gathered our materials, items, and weapons. Away from Plow village as we go and to the Crystal Forest.
Two days have already flown by, and we've yet to reach the forest. The night came over us as we made camp. I, alongside Father and Sir Issac, stood guard as Mother and Asher slept. The night was quiet, but not for long.
*
Bushes can be heard rattling from a distance. David pulls his daggers from his side as Caleb quickly faces his back towards him while unsheathing his Hydra Sword. Issac, too, guards himself and readies his bow. A brief moment of silence filled the air until a massive whip-like projectile lounged itself directly at them from the shadows.
Without the slightest hesitation, David furiously hurls himself at it, gearing his blades in front of himself with an accelerated burst of speed, generating masses of electricity and slashing the supposed whip Issac also took action. Upon setting his arrows ablaze with the campfire, he unleashed a barrage of flaming arrows in the direction from which the whip had come.
Seconds after, a loud screech pierced their ears. Causing them to momentarily stagger.
David postures himself and glares at the darkness. Caleb covered his ears in pain as the screeching faded. The luminous array from the arrows stood in place in the dark. Then, they began to move about as if they'd stricken a beast of some kind. More screeching came from that direction as the fiery arrows began to slowly hover above the tall trees.
David then looked to the side and saw what he had cut. His eyes widened in horror of what was wiggling before his very sight. It was the end of a serpent's tail. A massive one. Issac loudly yells at Caleb, ushering him to get his mother to safety. Not far from their camp was a small town. Both He and his mother climb onto Asher's back and road him there.
An enormous burst of electricity instantly sprouted from David's daggers as he clanged them together and loudly cried out, "Friction, Burster!!". Afterward, a bright photonic shere erupted from his wrist guards covering his very surroundings. He stands guard, ready for the beast to emerge from the darkness. And so it did.
*
In all my years, I've never thought to one day encounter a monster such as this. Count Ophidian, serpent of the Everglade region.
Not even the Guild's library has info on him. It was said that centuries ago, monsters were created with a type of magic known as alchemy. An evil power once used to manipulate the boundaries of the flesh.
Down to every bone.