Aurora swallowed and focused on the task ahead. She could do it. She had to do it, but... just what had she gotten herself into?
"Aurora! It'll die of starvation if it stands there any longer."
She glanced up at the young man lazing in a tree beside her before returning her attention to the present threat. A vast shadow surrounded her, and she gulped as she gazed at the cause.
[Name: Feral Black]
[Class: Ursidae]
[Rank: Crazed]
[Level: 2]
[Description: A feral black bear which has been heavily infected by the Plague. These creatures typically hunt alone or in small sleuths, relying on their powerful bodies and claws to tear apart their prey. Their bites are also formidable]
[Skills: ???]
Her fists trembled, and her knuckles turned white from how tight she clenched them. She'd barely managed to stop the Beast with Prismatic Prison before it ripped her apart.
Aurora had known that the Second Floor would be much different from the First, and she'd done all she could to prepare... but this? How could anyone be prepared for this? These Beasts were twice the size of their peers on the First Floor and much more savage. The Black pounded on the side of its translucent prison.
Aurora took a deep breath and studied the creature. If she moved, the prison would collapse, and she would be at its mercy. She quelled her apprehension and forced her mind to recall the pages she'd devoured throughout her time in the Academy.
Ursidae were massive, vicious foes. Each Beast was comparable to the Ursidae species that lived in the mountains and forests of the Origin Floor. Not to say they were the same. These Beasts on the higher Floors were infected by the Plague, which altered them both physically and mentally. The illustrations she'd seen of the Ursidae on the higher Floors were so twisted that she couldn't see the resemblance.
This one wasn't so horrendous as those. Its shaggy fur was mostly black, with some sections of charcoal grey. Curled claws the size of the girl's arms grew from its massive paws, dragging the ground as it stalked about its tiny cage. The Beast glared at her with its dark eyes, where purple and black veins could be seen reaching for its pupils.
Combined with its height of just over 10 feet, this Beast was terrifying. And it wasn't even the worst they'd encountered over the last several hours. A Corrupted Ursidae standing nearly 15 feet tall had burst into their camp that morning, only to be butchered by the strikes of Rowan and Nathaniel.
When her thoughts shifted to fleeing, an itch formed on her upper thigh. She knew that wasn't an option. Precognition was pushing her to act, its warmth spreading over her as she envisioned the Spell that would end the Beast.
Aurora didn't need its guidance to know how to slay the aberration, but it boosted her confidence. Like every Crazed Beast, this creature didn't have the mental capability to do anything other than charge forward. She glanced at the corpse behind it. The Beast had a single, diminutive cavity in the center of its brow. Unfortunately, Radiant Burst had a long Cooldown, and she hadn't been prepared for the second creature that appeared after its death.
"I suppose we can sleep in the dirt again tonight. What do you say, Nathaniel?"
A mocking voice called out to the other man, who she knew was standing patiently somewhere nearby. She clenched her fists tighter when Rowan's laughter reached her ears.
Aurora dropped the prison and cast Flash, blinding the Beast before it could charge forward. Then, she Dashed back and put as much distance between her and her foe as possible. The Beast Roared in its blindness, but she was far enough for its Effects to be minimal.
Her legs continued to move, carrying her nearly thirty yards up a hill and away from the creature, where she planted her back against the tree at its peak. The monstrous bear shook off the Effects of Flash and quickly spotted her.
It charged.
"Come on..." her legs were quaking, but taking Rowan's earlier advice, she focused on the link between herself and Precognition. "Not yet..."
The Beast plowed up the tall grassy hill, and she could feel the ground shudder slightly from its every step. Closer it came, yet she didn't move, only bracing herself more firmly against the trunk. It was only two yards away when she felt it. There was a slight change to the usual irritation.
She raised her hands, and a pearlescent, shimmering wall appeared a foot in front of her. The Beast collided head-first with the translucent Barrier. Her legs buckled under the pressure, and she almost vomited when she heard the sickening crunch.
The wall rippled, and the bear was sent rocketing back the way it came. It crashed into an enormous tree close to the base of the hill and spun in the air before crashing hard into the dirt. Aurora held her breath, only releasing it when the bear hadn't moved for several seconds.
"Passable," she looked up to find Nathaniel and Rowan standing beside her. Rowan stroked his chin while Nathaniel kept his eyes on their surroundings. "Don't worry. The jitters will pass over time. You're already doing better than most."
"You... speak like... you know from... experience..." Aurora huffed, still trying to catch her breath. As usual, Rowan only smiled without giving a response. She sighed in defeat and pulled out her canteen.
"Alright... If you won't react to that... At least tell us about this town we're heading to..."
***
"Hmm..." I tapped my cane gently against my boot. "There's a particular event in that place that has garnered my interest."
I waited patiently for the girl to get to her feet. She'd done well once she overcame her fear, but it wasn't enough. These Beasts were nothing compared to what would come starting from the Fifth Floor onward.
"Now, how about we go over that last encounter, eh?" I gestured toward the corpses with my cane. "I must say you did better than in our run-in with the wolves this morning. Shall we give it another go?"
"Another... go?" she asked incredulously. "I suppose you know right where another of the Beasts is wandering about, do you?"
"How are things going on your end, David?" I focused on a miniature thread extending from the edge of my being. The cord had been moving about for some time, yet it seemed to be closer than before.
"On my way back, boss!" The thread vibrated, and the voice of a young boy entered my mind. "I found two more. One of them is a big one!"
I turned back to Aurora with a chuckle, "It just so happens, lass, that I do."
"What do you-"
Grrrooaaar!
A guttural roar shook the air around us. Aurora jumped, and Nathaniel eyed me with a curious suspicion before summoning his glaive. I placed a hand on his shoulder and shook my head.
"I'll handle the big one," I spoke firmly. "Aurora will take care of the other. And no Radiant Burst. You're too reliant on it and should start saving it for truly disadvantageous situations. Nathaniel, look out for her."
"David. I'll nab the big one. You keep leading the other toward Aurora." I Dashed toward the noise and kept my eyes peeled for signs of the Beasts. The thread connecting me to David gave me a general direction, but I couldn't focus enough while moving to follow it perfectly.
"Yes, Sir!"
Tame Creature just came off its 9-hour and 21-minute Cooldown, and I wanted to get another use in without interference. I still hadn't used the skill in front of the others. Not that I didn't trust them, but I wanted to get a feel for it before explaining the situation. Nathaniel was fine, but I felt that Aurora needed more confidence before learning about the danger traveling with me would eventually bring.
Once my success rate increases...
I shook my head. For now, I was capable of using the skill nearly three times a day. With around 140,000 Essence left, I was still in debate on what to Level next. My combination of Condense, Luck, and Summoner's Blessing significantly augmented my chances of obtaining a Summon. All were Level 3, and I had the Essence to bring any one of them to Level 4.
Concentrate, Rowan. You can sort out your priorities behind closed doors at the inn. For now, just focus on using Tame Creature every time the Cooldown ends. No sense in wasting opportunities. Ahh, there he is.
I spotted David's spectral figure circling above a hill just a short distance ahead. After another Dash, the base of the slope came into view. Atop it were two massive bears swinging their arms into the sky.
One of the Beasts was similar to the one Aurora had just killed, though perhaps a foot shorter. The other was enormous, easily 16 feet tall, and almost entirely black. Unlike the matted coat of its smaller companion, its fur appeared to be made from hardened spikes.
"Thanks for holding back."
"No problem, and good luck!" David swooped down and threw a fist at the jaw of the smaller beast. It swiped in retaliation, but its claws phased through the boy's body. With a roar, it followed him toward my previous location.
I leaped in front of the other before it could move and cast Tame Creature on the Beast without hesitation. A golden hue briefly surrounded the creature, causing it to stop and look at its paws. Though it was no savant, the intelligence between this Beast and its lower Ranked counterpart was vastly different.
While the monster was distracted, I firmly pressed the butt of my cane to the ground and focused on the connection between myself and my Deck. A glowing formation of circuits shone on the dying grass, and two massive stone hands reached through the earth.
The ground shook as the earthen fingers gripped the edge of the formation, and a massive body soon pulled itself from the ground. I looked at the Golem with pride as it turned smartly toward the current threat without so much as a questioning shrug.
Larry, the Earth Golem, had grown in both body and mind after I'd promoted him to the Holy Rank. His head which had once stopped at my shoulders, now towered nearly two feet over my own. Additionally, he'd grown brighter. He wasn't as quick-witted as David or Rosie, but my commands no longer had to be as precise.
The bear didn't take kindly to the arrival of this sudden threat. It howled in defiance and charged toward the hulking figure of stone. Larry rushed up the hill to meet this foe, shoulder down and head tucked. Just before they collided, I felt a ripple of movement come from the thread that tied me to the Golem.
At that exact moment, the Black fell forward, and I glimpsed two mounds of hardened stone grasping at its rear paws. Larry sped up, leaping beneath the falling titan and launching its fist to meet the Beast in the middle. Fist and jaw collided, and a shower of blood rained from the skies as the bear's head was torn from its shoulder.
I looked on in stunned silence. I'd known the Golem would be more powerful, but this...
I need to take the time to Summon Francis soon...
An image of the canine-sized Beetle filled my mind. Larry had only been Promoted once. What would have happened to the Beetle after two Promotions?
"You did good, Larry," I stepped up behind the Golem and patted him on the back. The earthen man looked down at me and gave his best impression of a smile, eliciting a chuckle from me. "Alrighty then. Let's have a look at what came of this."
I lifted my palm over the corpse and visualized the Beast's Essence flying from its chest toward my hand, "Pull."
There was a squelching sound as the crystal pushed through the bear's muscle. Its skin and fur stretched toward me a moment later before a tiny purple stone burst through. I caught the Essence and examined it, my Appraising Eye revealing precisely what I wanted to know.
[Name: Essence]
[Rank: 15]
[Description: The accumulated Plagued energy of a being compressed into physical form]
"Only 15 Essence," my eyes lit up, and I eyed the body greedily. All Beasts on any Floor above the First were the same Level as the number of the Floor. Crazed Rank Beasts dropped their Level in Essence, so a Beast on the Tenth Floor would produce a crystal valued at 10 Essence. Corrupted Beasts, such as this one, would form a crystal valued at their Level times 10. The multiplier increased further with every Rank, with a notable jump between Fallens and Fiends.
The only time this rule deviated was when some of the Beast's blood went into forming a Card rather than solely Essence. Meaning...
"Pull," I pictured a Card as vaguely as possible, doing my utmost to envision it without color or imagery. The cold metal met my palm, and I opened my eyes to find a brown slate in my hand. I sighed in disappointment when I looked over the Card.
A Strength Foundation. 50% chance for this to be a Pure Summon, and it's a Foundation. What rotten luck.
I rubbed my temples and turned to leave, recalling Larry as I did so. Standing atop the massive hill, I could see many others in the distance. We'd left the city at the foot of the mountain the previous morning and ventured straight through the territory of the Wild Boars.
Rather than heading directly west, I was taking us slightly north, where I knew of a small town built on the border between the forest and the hills. The layout of the Second Floor mirrored the First, as would the Third, Fourth, and Fifth. Each Floor would get progressively larger and become harder to cross for reasons other than just stronger Beasts.
"Boss, I found a group of four smaller ones. Do you think that's too much?" David's voice interrupted my study of the scenery.
"That will be fine. Just make sure to lure them toward Nathaniel. Great job, David."
I Cleansed myself and then Dashed down the hill with my prize, rushing toward where I'd left my companions. Nathaniel could handle the group without assistance, but I wanted to see how Aurora would react. She was improving, but until she got used to the anxiety fighting these Beasts brought, I wouldn't be able to train her properly.
It didn't take long to hear the sounds of fighting, and I rushed to the top of the closest hill to get a better view. Nathaniel was casually dodging the strikes of three creatures while Aurora held the fourth in place with her Prismatic Prison.
Hmm...
Nathaniel held his glaive comfortably behind his back, dancing around the blows of his opponents as he led them toward the base of the nearest hill. His movements were graceful and unfit for his bulky figure. He allowed the Beasts to follow him halfway up the slope before making his move.
Once Nathaniel had secured the high ground, his height almost matched that of the Blacks below him. He twirled his glaive over his shoulder and drove it into the neck of the first monster. Blood sprayed from the wound when he yanked the blade back and danced away from another pair of claws.
The second Black struck while he was in mid-air, but the butt of his glaive speared through the Beast's palm. It cried in agony and stumbled back, giving Nathaniel time to land and cleave the head off the uninjured adversary. Before the final Beast could recover, the young man leaped forward and planted both feet in its chest.
The Black was launched back off the hill and crashed into the earth below. Nathaniel hefted his glaive and flung it down the slope, where it shattered Aurora's captive and split its skull with ease. I looked back to the creature he'd kicked and found it unmoving. Its chest was caved in from the impact.
Truly a thing of beauty. With the Level of his Cards and training, he could likely take a dozen of those Beasts in similar circumstances.
That wasn't to say his style was without fault. His swings were wide, and he liked to keep his distance. In the open, he was a monster. Close-quarters could be another matter. That was a potential problem for another day.
***
Nathaniel scrunched his brows as he picked up his glaive. He hadn't done much killing these past days, and he was just now realizing that he hadn't told his companions about his weapon. His glaive would drain half of the Essence of any Beast it killed before a crystal formed... So how would that work as far as the division of Essence?
He didn't mind relinquishing his own cut of the Essence for now. He couldn't get a read on Rowan, but his Foundations out-Levelled Aurora's by nearly double. It would take a lot of time and investment for her to catch up, so he wasn't worried about becoming the weakest leg of the Party anytime soon.
"Nathaniel..."
The young man looked over to see Aurora standing nearby, fiddling with the hem of her jacket. He stood and approached, placing a hand on her shoulder like he'd seen Rowan do.
"You did well, Aurora," Nathaniel praised. "Controlling the crowd is essential. You didn't hesitate this time, which is good."
"That's right," a voice sounded behind him, and Nathaniel glanced back to see Rowan approaching. The morning sun was just behind a nearby hill, and Nathaniel had noticed that, in the shadows, Rowan's footsteps were tough to pick up.
"Crowd control is crucial in many situations," Rowan continued. "At times, it's even more vital than slaying the Beasts in the first place. Simply slowing a group can allow your Party to pick apart the stragglers. I know you've studied these tactics, but it's quite different here in the real world. If you wish, it would be my pleasure to assist you in building for crowd control rather than battle. How's about it?"
Nathaniel glanced at Aurora, who was frowning thoughtfully toward the corpse. Thinking of Rowan's words, he nodded. With the way Aurora had fought thus far, it was a role that would suit her more than a Spellcaster of destruction.
But, they were still unaware of each other's Origin Cards, which could play a significant role in the girl's decision. Rowan had insisted that they only discuss their builds after experiencing a few challenging fights together.
"I'll consider it," Aurora answered finally. Rowan stepped toward the corpse and opened his hand above it.
"Rowan," Nathaniel grunted. "I've not had the chance to tell you, but-"
"It's okay, Nathaniel," Rowan chuckled. "We'll discuss a proper way to handle the split this evening. We'll vote for a Party treasurer and further discuss our individual situations over a warm meal."
Nathaniel blinked. Rowan had known about his Munch this entire time? His weapon's information was only supposed to be visible to himself and its crafter.
"Don't look so serious, eh?" Rowan laughed again as a small crystal landed in his palm. "I've collected the Essence of every Beast we've killed. It wasn't hard to piece the bits together. Oh, by the way..."
Rowan produced a Card and presented it for all to see, "That Corrupted Black I killed dropped this Strength Foundation. I'll tuck it in my pouch for now, and we can decide who will carry our bounty later."
From there, the day proceeded the same as the last. Nathaniel kept his eyes peeled for Corrupted Beasts and large groups while Aurora handled any singles or pairs that came close. He wasn't familiar with the Second Floor, but he was confident they shouldn't have been coming across Beasts like this.
It was too... convenient.
"Is that the town ahead?" Aurora called.
"That's right," Rowan answered. The sun was falling, and Nathaniel eyed Rowan curiously. They happened to reach the place right as the day was ending? That had to be more than a mere coincidence.
Nathaniel reached the crest of the hill and saw a small town seated in the valley below. It was built where the rolling hills flattened, and the forest's edge began. The place was simple, crafted from wood and stone, and just large enough to house a few hundred Wielders. A twenty-five-foot wall surrounded the site, built from the thick trees of the surrounding forest.
"Alright," Rowan rubbed his stomach. "I hope you lot are ready for dinner."
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