Birthed [Name]: Caelum
[Class]: Cursed One
[Rank]: Fledgling
[Thread]:
{Cursed One, you can only receive a Thread after obtaining your first Essence. In other words, after taming your First Fate.}
[Essence]: None.
"So, right now, you and I are practically useless. Great!" Caelum smiled.
He always hated classifying himself as weak, so he preferred to add two or more things; only then would he accept his status.
[Gifts]:
•Practical Gifts: None.
{Cursed One, you can receive Gifts after slaying an enemy. However, this system will only be active after the First Fate. You may also unlock different types of Gifts.}
[Current Pathways]: None.
{You're unable to choose a Pathway. However, this will be available to you after the...}
"First Fate," Caelum completed, already knowing the term that followed since it had been repeated so many times.
Shortly after that, Caelum began to hear a distant crash, as if a rhino were bringing down trees and surely angry, charging in his direction.
The ground shook with each stomp; likely, this was a very large creature.
Maybe a Corrupted Beast.
Caelum could only avoid the supposed creature for the moment, as he had no certain defence or means to kill it if it was as large as it sounded.
He could only decide on his next move after seeing and studying this creature.
But right now, where could he hide?
The sound was approaching faster, precisely about 400 metres away from his current position. He pushed himself off the ground, realising that his right arm was no longer in pain.
Luckily, Caelum had once survived three nights in the woods while being chased by the five Corrupted beasts and falling down a cliff.
After surviving, he was unable to leave, as those beasts were still lurking around, so he had to hide and run in the forest for three straight days before finally escaping.
At least, that had been a valuable experience in surviving the wilderness. Not that it would be the same setting in this forest; it was merely an experience.
Caelum wanted to run to climb a tall tree but quickly changed his mind, realising that this creature was capable of bringing down trees with ease.
The thought of being perched precariously in a tree while a massive beast charged beneath him was far too risky.
If it reached him, it would stomp down all the trees and potentially crush him underfoot.
The creature was now about 200 metres away, releasing a loud roar.
Caelum suddenly began to run towards the sound, moving at a quick pace, gritting his teeth. He had nowhere else to run to; perhaps he was out of his senses, which was why he was doing this.
'Let's go. If you can't run from the monster, then run towards it.'
...
As Caelum approached, the monstrous creature suddenly burst forth from an intersection on his right, crashing down about four trees in its path.
One of the massive trunks flew towards him like a missile. His instincts sharpened, and he instantly jumped into the air, using the nearest tree that had been felled as leverage.
He soared a few metres above the ground, giving him a clear view of the beast.
"Hell! I have never seen this species of Corrupted Beast."
The creature was immense, easily the size of an elephant, with thick, gnarled skin that seemed almost impervious to harm. Its eyes glowed with a feral intensity, and its massive jaws were lined with jagged teeth, dripping with a viscous substance. Two large curved horns protruded from its head.
It was surely an Acer-ranked Corrupted Beast; such creatures had yet to develop any abilities beyond sheer physical destruction.
Caelum, on the other hand, was surprised by his increased agility but didn't dwell on this thought.
After noting the Corrupted Beast's features carefully, he threw himself at the creature from the air, landing squarely on its back.
He quickly grasped one of the protruding horns, using it as a pole to maintain his balance.
With a sudden surge of adrenaline, he drew upon all the strength within him and yanked the beast down to the ground.
As it fell with a thunderous thud, the earth beneath it cracked slightly, sending vibrations through Caelum's body.
He rolled away just in time, narrowly avoiding being crushed. The size of the creature made it difficult for it to rise back up, giving Caelum a crucial advantage.
Seizing the moment, he ran towards one of the fallen trees, quickly locating a sharp branch. He then rushed back to the incapacitated beast, brandishing the makeshift weapon.
With a loud grunt, he plunged the branch into the creature's head, striking it again and again. One strike failed to pierce its tough hide, so he continued, pouring all his strength into each stab.
On the fifth thrust, blue blood erupted from the tiny gash, splattering across his face and chest. The sight only fuelled his desperation.
"Ha!" he shouted, driving the branch deeper into the opening he had created, tearing ruthlessly at the skin.
The blue liquid soaked him, and he continued the assault until he finally felt the beast shudder beneath him, its life force ebbing away.
After a final, desperate stab, he confirmed it was dead. The creature lay still, its massive form now lifeless.
Caelum was panting heavily as he staggered back, surveying the scene.
"Okay, this is unbelievable. I actually killed such a type of Corrupted Beast with a... branch..." Caelum muttered, staring at the bloodied branch. It had splintered a bit but was still sturdy.
It was somehow, or rather impossibly, possible to use a branch to stab deep into such a creature with a tough hide. But somehow, it happened.
[Cursed One] You have slain an Ebonhide Titan!
[You have destroyed the history of your second biggest mistake!]
[Explanation:] The repercussions of your second biggest mistake are the Ebonhide Titan, an Acer-ranked Corrupted Beast.
It seemed that one of Caelum's biggest mistakes had led to the creation of this beast in his First Fate; it came as the repercussions.
"So, I am not done here yet until I take down all the repercussions of my mistakes."
Caelum turned his gaze back to the Corrupted Beast.
"If this is my second biggest mistake, the repercussions, then which of my mistakes are those black things?"
[Your Third Biggest Mistake, the repercussion.]
"That means I only have one more being to hunt down, and then I will be out of here... Successfully, I will be able to tame my First Fate." Caelum grinned.
"Surely, this last one is going to be tough. I will need to find a new weapon that I can actually rely on. Not some branch that killed something that huge out of pure luck. I can't say that luck will work once again."