by Jackson Bale
________
Traversing---the---forest---is---actually---more---difficult---than---I---would---have---expected.---Trees,---plants,---annoying---insects,---everything---seems---to---be---intent---on---getting---in---my---way.
“Are---you---sure---you---remember---the---direction---correctly?”
“Yes,---it---is---only---a---bit---farther.”
Dammit,---I---wish---I---could---send---out---my---undead---desbats---to---scout,---but---there---are---a---lot---of---those---huge---birds,---which---are---currently---flying---in---circles---around---my---undead---swarm,---waiting---for---even---one---to---break---off.
I---call---up---the---information---I---had---gained---earlier.
Volare---Level---76
One---of---the---deadliest---hunters---on---the---second---dungeon---floor,---the---Volare---prefer---to---hunt---alone,---flying---fast---and---scooping---up---monster---denizens---with---their---clawed---feet---before---dropping---them---from---a---large---height,---allowing---gravity---to---kill---their---prey.
Normally,---they---do---not---attack---groups---of---monsters,---but---if---enough---of---them---are---around,---they---can---be---organized---enough---to---attack---together.
Most---Volare---are---males,---while---the---females---are---much---larger---in---size,---though---less---numerous.
Apparently,---the---Volare---that---attacked---us---yesterday---was---a---female---of---a---level---103.---Unfortunately,---their---size---means---nothing---against---a---swarm---of---organized---Desbats.
As---of---right---now---only---males---are---nearby,---seemingly---waiting---for---their---numbers---to---increase---before---they---attempt---to---attack---my---Desbats.
And---I---would---so---very---much---love---it---if---they---did.---I---think---a---giant---bird---mount---would---be---much---more---comfortable---to---ride,---especially---a---female---Volare.
“ROOAAAAARRRRRR.”
And---of---course,---nothing---is---ever---simple.
I---increase---my---speed,---quickly---moving---towards---the---sound,---finding---a---rather---open---clearing---and---a---laughable---site.
“YOU---WANT---FIGHT!?---GROGNAK---IS---STRONG!”
“ROOAAARRRRRR.”
“GROGNAK---SMACK---YOU---HARD.---THEN---EAT---YOU!”
“GGRRRROOWWWWLLLL.”
It's---my---first---time---seeing---a---minotaur,---and---I---don't---need---my---[Advanced---Analyze]---ability---to---know---that---what---I---am---seeing---is---actually---a---minotaur.
A---giant---head---that---looks---like---a---bull---with---massive---horns---coming---out---of---its---sides.---Hooves---for---feet.---Hair---covering---its---body…---very---dirty---hair.
Oh,---and---a---short---tail.
A---smile---crosses---my---face---as---what---seems---to---be---a---large,---tiger-like---creature---is---growling---back---at---the---minotaur,---wanting---nothing---better---than---to---take---a---sip---from---the---watering---hole---and---just---leave.
But---the---ten-foot---tall---minotaur---is---just---focused---on---talking---smack.
“GROGNAK---EAT---YOU---ALIVE!”
I---activate---my---[Advanced---Analyze]---Skill---on---them---both.
Ungues---level---63
The---Ungues---are---powerful---four---legged---beasts---that---are---able---to---move---through---dense---forest---and---foliage---with---ease,---allowing---them---to---climb---and---attack---from---height---against---targets.
Unfortunately,---being---solitary---hunters,---they---are---forced---to---attack---smaller---of---single---prey,---preferring---to---run---away---from---something---of---equal---or---great---size.
Grognak
Level---21---[Warrior]
Grognak,---a---Minotaur,---was---kicked---out---of---his---tribe---after---attempting---to---fight---his---chieftain,---only---to---find---himself---defeated---and---forced---to---leave.
Strength
83
Dexterity
21
Stamina
80
Perception
12
Endurance
43
Vitality
113
Mana
65
M/regen
.1
Affinity
2
Intelligence
4
Willpower
160
Soul
120
Minotaur’s---might:---Increase---strength---by---class---level.---Increase---Endurance---by---half---class---level.
I---turn---to---Zorren---after---reading---the---box.
“Minotaurs---are---idiots,---aren't---they?”
Zorren---nods---in---confirmation.
Fuck.---Just---my---luck---to---find---that---a---race,---which---would---have---been---a---great---frontline---in---any---army,---are---idiots.
“All---of---them?”
Zorren---shakes---his---head,---”The---women---are---slightly---smarter.”
Only---slightly?---Mmmmm,---it---would---be---a---stretch,---but---maybe---I---can---train---them…---even---if---their---intelligence---is---only---four.
“Ggrrrowwwwllll.”
One---final---voice---from---the---Ungues---and---it---immediately---turns---and---runs---away---from---the---Minotaur---which---dwarfs---its---size.
“YES---RUN!---GROKNAK---IS---STRONG!”
I---shake---my---head---before---walking---out---of---the---foliage---with---my---posse---next---to---me,---the---Desbats---having---landed---on---the---trees,---awaiting---my---orders.
Unfortunately,---I---completely---underestimated---how---a---low---perception---and---Intelligence---score---can---be---so---detrimental.
“YES---RUN.---NEVER---COME---BACK.---GROKNAR---IS---TOO---STRONG.---YOU---NOT---WIN!”
And---that's---because---he---is---staring---at---the---direction---where---the---Ungues---had---run---off---to.
All---the---Minotaur---would---have---to---do---Is---just---turn---his---head---slightly---and---we---would---be---noticed.
Instead---the---idiot---continues---to---gloat---and---yell---at---nothing.
“Are---you---sure---you---want---them---to---join---your---army?”---Janie---asks,---frowning---as---the---wind---slightly---picks---up,---bringing---the---horrid---dirty---smell---of---the---Minotaur---to---our---position.
I---barely---kept---myself---from---gagging,---though---slightly---surprised---that---Janie---didn't.
“Groknak,---can---you---stop---yelling,”---I---say---waving---my---hand---in---the---air.
The---minotaur---stops---and---looks---at---me---and---my---group,---a---confused---expression---on---his---face.
It---takes---probably---a---good---ten---seconds---of---staring---before---he---finally---realizes---that---actual---people---are---in---front---of---him.
And---then---he---notices---that---none---of---us---are---as---large---as---he---is.
“YOU---FIGHT---GROKNAK---TOO!---GROGNAK---SMASH.”
I---lift---an---eyebrow.
“Can---you---stop---yelling?---We---can---hear---you---pretty---fine,”---I---say,---already---getting---annoyed.
The---minotaur---smiles,---”BIG---VOICE---MAKE---GROKNAK---STRONG.---LITTLE---VOICE---WEAK!---YOU---WEAK!---ONLY---GRO-”
“SHUT---UP,”---I---yell,---infusing---my---[Loud---Voice]---skill,---causing---Janie---to---yell---in---surprise,---the---minotaur---to---stumble---while---birds,---which---have---been---sitting---on---branches,---immediately---fly---away.
The---minotaur---looks---to---me,---slightly---afraid.
“What---want?”
I---point---at---the---decent---sized---pond---of---water,---a---resource---that---we---are---slightly---low---on---and---will---need---to---replenish.
The---minotaur---looks---at---the---water,---his---mind---works---slowly---before---he---stands---confident---again,---”you---are---leader---of---tribe?
I---nod.
“Then---Groknak---give---water---
and---you---take---Groknak---in---tribe.”
Give---water?---I---could---fucking---take---it…---whatever.
“Why---do---you---want---to---join---my…---tribe?”
The---minotaur---looks---at---me---like---I’m---some---kind---of---idiot.
“To---fight---you---for---tribe---leader.”
Zorren---snorts,---a---smile---actually---forming---on---his---face---at---the---situation---he---finds---me---in.
My---own---smile---forms---on---my---face.
“Of---course---Groknak,---you---can---join---my---tribe.---But---you---must---first---defeat---Zorren---here---before---you---can---fight---me---for---tribe---leader.”
Groknak---immediately---nods,---a---smile---on---his---bullish---face---as---he---turns---to---Zorren---who---is---no---longer---smiling,---instead---seemingly---annoyed.
“Good.---I---fight---you!”---Groknak---exclaims,---looking---towards---Zorren,---someone---who---is---two---feet---smaller---than---himself.
Janie---immediately---giggles,---also---realizing---that---I---had---trapped---the---[Berserker]---into---a---position---that---he---probably---was---not---expecting.
Zorren---shakes---his---head---before---walking---forward,---not---even---going---to---unsheathe---his---hammer---strapped---onto---his---back.
Figured---as---much.---Their---society---is---based---on---strength.
Unfortunately,---it---seems---the---number---of---Volare---has---risen---to---a---respectable---number.
*CAWWWWWWWWWW*
*CAWWWWWWW*
*CAWWWWWWWWW*
“Janie,---get---into---the---forest---and---hide---under---a---log---or---something,---it---seems---we---have---company.”
Chapter---Twenty---Four:---Just---a---Dance
Taking---a---quick---stretch,---I---order---my---main---desbat,---the---one---holding---my---stuff,---to---fly---down---next---to---me,---allowing---me---to---retrieve---my---staff.---Then---I---start---preparing---my---mana,---moving---it---through---my---body,---allowing---it---to---be---instantly---utilized.
“Zorren,---these---overgrown---birds---are---going---to---be---more---difficult---to---take---down---than---the---desbats.”
Unfortunately,---they---have---a---lot---of---muscle,---feathers,---and---fat---which---makes---it---very---difficult---to---hit---proper---joints.---Combine---that---with---their---higher---speed---and---it---becomes---very---unreliable---for---precision---strikes.
I---look---away---from---the---incoming---birds,---turning---to---Zorren,---”So---um,---I---suggest---you---don't---hold---back.”
Zorren---gives---me---a---silent---nod---before---reaching---back---and---unsheathing---his---crystal---club.
“What---Happen?---Groknak---need---fight?---Groknak---strong.---Groknak---not---scared!”
He---looks---at---the---approaching---flock.---His---eyes---widen,---mouth---agape.
Not---scared?
“Why---are---you---moving---away---Groknak?---They're---just---birds.”
Groknak---looks---to---me---like---I'm---crazy.
“Flying---Death.”---He---says,---”Bad.---Hard---Bash.---Many---many---death.”
What????
“Zorren,---translate.”
The---[Berserker]---gives---me---a---look---that---could---freeze---fire---before---gazing---at---the---quickly---approaching---flock,---completely---ignoring---me.
It---was---worth---a---try.
From---the---corner---of---my---vision,---I---see---the---minotaur---running---on---his---hoofed---feet,---finding---himself---a---position---under---a---pretty---large---tree---branch.
He---opens---his---mouth---and---shouts.
“Death---coming!”
I---snort,---mentally---ordering---my---desbats---to---take---flight---and---to---encircle---my---position.
Like---a---hive---mind,---my---undead---minions---position---themselves---in---the---air,---heeding---my---call.
Once---positioned---optimally,---I---blast---my---mana---onto---the---desbat---which---carries---my---supplies---next---to---me.
A---significant---amount---of---mana---is---spent,---entering---the---leather---holders---around---my---desbat,---causing---several---dozen---circular---bone---scales---to---leave---and---start---floating---around---me.
With---another---mental---order,---the---‘razor---discs’---as---I---call---them,---start---to---spin,---turning---into---literal---razor---blades.
Actually,---now---that---I---think---about---it,---this---might---be---easier---than---I---thought.---The---birds---are---moving---directly---towards---my---desbats---with---incredible---speed---and---show---no---signs---of---slowing---down.
“Hmmm,---I---better---time---this---right---if---I---am---to---make---this---work.”
With---a---mental---command,---I---move---my---razor---discs---in---front---of---my---desbats,---positioning---them---vertically---to---limit---visibility
I'm---probably---going---to---lose---a---few---minions…---but---this---will---be---more---reliable.
Lastly,---right---before---the---birds---reach---our---location,---the---moment---before---they---ram---into---my---minions,---I---turn---towards---the---Groknak---cowering---under---a---tree.
His---eyes---meet---mine.---I---smile---at---him,---showing---my---teeth.---I---activate---my---[Loud---Voice]---skill.
“I---AM---DEATH”
And---then---the---birds---finally---reach---their---destination.
Torsos,---wings,---heads,---body---parts,---blood,---all---of---it---starts---falling---from---the---sky---as---my---spinning---razor---blades---slice---most---of---them---apart.
They---had---aimed---for---my---minions,---completely---ignoring---my---spinning---blades---positioned---in---front---of---them.
The---bodies---are---dropping,---some---into---the---water,---others---falling---and---slamming---into---trees.---There---is---even---one---which---is---still---flying---while---its---innards---pour---out---of---its---abdomen,---creating---a---bloody---trail---on---the---ground.
About---fifteen---of---them---had---found---themselves---too---injured---to---fly.
And---of---those---fifteen,---only---three---had---survived---the---landing.
Of---those---three---that---survive,---one---got---stuck---on---a---tree,---another---is---on---the---ground---crippled,---chirping---in---utter---pain,---while---the---third---is---already---getting---up,---seemingly---uninjured---except---for---a---cut---on---its---wing,---limiting---its---ability---to---fly.
Its---eyes---gaze---into---mine---before---turning---away---and---moving---to---Zorren,---a---seemingly---more---dangerous---prey.
Zorren,---to---his---credit,---looks---annoyed---instead---of---angry---considering---he---had---been---hit---by---bird---entrails---and---blood,---which---are---covering---his---scales.
“Cawwww.”
The---bird---yells---threateningly---at---Zorren---before---immediately---taking---a---charging---stance.---Not---even---a---moment---passes---by---before---the---bird---goes---full---sprint---towards---the---Gejan,---its---feathers---seemingly---on---end---to---make---it---look---bigger.
Zorren---lifts---his---hammer---to---the---side,---waits---for---a---second,---positioning---his---feet,---before---jumping---forwards---ten---feet.
And---for---the---first---time---ever,---I---actually---hear---the---[Berserker]---activate---a---skill.
“[Grand---Impact]”
A---slight---glow---passes---over---Zorren’s---hammer---before---it---swings---with---incredible---speed,---striking---the---bird---head---on.
*Crunch*
A---sickening---sound---of---internal---bones---cracking---is---heard,---followed---by---a---broken---body---whistling---through---the---air,---slamming---and---breaking---through---several---trees,---causing---them---to---fall---down.