The Two Week Curse

by Michael Chatfield

  The energy continued to gather in Rugrat’s body until there was a dull noise that sounded like an explosion. Rugrat’s aura surged as he broke through the tenth level, becoming an existence that could enter the Second Realm.

  The forest calmed down as Rugrat slowly woke up.

  He opened and closed his hands, feeling the power contained within. A look of glee appeared on his face. “Damn! That’s a fricking rush! Better than playing tag on the Fourth of July with Roman candles!”

  “You have a very different idea of fun compared to normal people.”

  “You’ve never played Roman candle fights?”

  “I did. Remember fricking Egypt’s barracks? You fuckers came in, all Roman candles blazing, while I was asleep in my tent!”

  “Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Rugrat said. “Good memories!”

  “Maybe for some, you overgrown two-year-old!”

  ***

  Erik and Rugrat joked around a bit before they started to make a plan for what they would do next.

  First they’d scout out the next plots. They had been charging in every time and if they’d been taught anything, it was that sometimes having a plan was a good idea, or else they’d get their beauty sleep interrupted.

  If there was an opportunity, they would take it to gather the different ingredients that Tommins desired. If they couldn’t gather them as they moved into the Beast Mountains, they’d gather them on their way out.

  So they set out again.

  Rugrat and Erik searched for any signs of other predators in the area. The farther they went into the Beast Mountain Range, the more powerful the animals became. Thankfully, with Rugrat having upgraded his stats according to a level ten existence and with their weapons, they didn’t have much to fear.

  Still, they didn’t purposely search out confrontations, choosing instead to use their stealth to close in on the different searching areas that were marked on their maps.

  Rugrat threw glances over to Erik as they traveled. He was honestly alarmed at what Erik had said earlier. Taking on the role of tank meant he would be right in the fight, the most likely to be damaged, though Erik didn’t seem worried in the slightest.

  They’d both changed as they’d entered the Ten Realms. There were few opportunities to relax as they had found themselves in one situation or another.

  Rugrat heard the sounds of rushing wind then crackling thunder and an explosion in the distance. He called a halt and used his rifle’s scope to look at the area where the noise was coming from. He couldn’t see anything clearly through the trees, but he could see the grand lights coming from the battle being fought.

  “Looks like there’s some kind of fight going on over there with people fighting it out,” Rugrat said into Erik’s ear.

  Erik checked the map against the direction of the fighting. “It looks to be the location of the White Vein Spirit Grass. Maybe there are some people fighting over it.”

  “The power from the fight—I don’t think that they’re people from the First Realm, or if they are, they could have ascended some time ago.” Rugrat’s senses had increased. Although it was easy for him to tell how powerful people were below his level, he had a better feeling for judging the power level of those stronger than him.

  A new heat rose in Erik’s eyes. “Well, be a good a time as any to see how people in the higher realms and levels fight.” Erik grinned.

  Rugrat couldn’t hide his own excitement. As long as they were just observing, they might increase their own fighting ability.

  They moved through the forest slowly and quietly. As they got close enough to the fight to feel the remaining shock waves, they moved up into the trees. Tying themselves off to the trees, they used their scopes to look in on the fight.

  There was a group of four people fighting against a three-headed snake. While a man and a woman stood back, observing them.

  One of the snake’s heads spat poison, another a flammable cloud, the third a lightning attack.

  The snake’s tail whipped around, leaving deep craters where it landed.

  There were two more people standing on the tops of trees also watching the battle: a middle-aged woman who had a refined air about her and a man knelt on the tree, watching the battle with disinterest.

  Chapter: Three-Headed Snake

  Erik turned his attention to the four who were actually fighting. They looked to be in their teens. They wore uniforms identical to the two people observing from the trees.

  There was an archer, two casters, and a swordsman.

  The archer was raining arrows down on the snake, aiming for its eyes, infuriating it and splitting its attention from the fire mage. It tried to spit out some more flammable gas, only to have a half dozen fire balls no bigger than a baseball fly toward its mouth.

  “Fire Rain!”

  The flammable cloud exploded, making the gas head reel back in pain as the other heads and the scales around the gas head were damaged.

  The snake’s tail shot forward. The swordsman let out a yell, “Stone Skin!” A gray aura rapidly covered his body and weapons as he braced his shield, taking the hit. Two deep trenches were created under his feet; the gray covering dimmed and then broke as the blunted power still sent him back five more feet before he regained his footing.

  “Flame Sword Judgement!” The remaining caster unleashed a powerful flame-based skill. A spell formation appeared in the sky above the snake. All the heat in the surrounding areas was drawn into the spell formation that quickly turned red before a massive sword descended, shooting toward the snake.

  The lightning head opened its mouth. A spell formation appeared as white lightning reached up into the heavens to meet the sword.

  The poison head spat at the archer who was aiming for the lightning head.

  The archer wasn’t paying attention as the stream of poison shot out at him.

  “Move!” the warrior yelled. The archer fired his arrow and looked around. Seeing the poison had reached him, he let out a scream as it landed on his thick armor, starting to eat its way through.

  The archer was out of the fight; the other two had to redouble their efforts to keep the snake contained as the caster of the flame sword was fighting against the lightning head’s power.

  “Fire rain!”

  “Molten armor buff!” The other caster chained spells together, distracting and blinding the two of the snake heads.

  Red glowing buffs settled onto the warrior, his armor showing faint flames around the edges. He rushed forward, dodging the snake’s tail, and he shot forward toward their heads, aiming for the lightning head.

  The lightning head was still fighting with the massive fire sword. The other caster’s face was pale as they poured in all their power to the great fire sword.

  The lightning head could only stop its attack or be cut apart by the warrior.

  “Flame steps!”

  The warrior’s foot glowed as he seemed to step on nothing and changed his direction.

  “Cold Flame slash!”

  Scales were separated from flesh as a bloody line appeared on the snake’s neck. A sizzling noise could be heard as the warrior dropped to the ground, rolling awkwardly as his armor moved up and down with his deep breaths.

  The Flame Sword Judgement had nothing in its path anymore. It shot down like an arrow released from a bow, cutting off the lightning head. The poison and flammable gas head yelled out in pain as they lurched forward at the caster who had launched the sword and dropped to her knee, all of her energy had left her.

  The swordsman yelled out, but he was too far away. The other caster was just starting to pull together a spell. The archer had collected himself and fired an arrow at the snake but it struck the creature’s scales, drawing its blood but not affecting it greatly.

  The man on the trees made a gesture with his hand.

  An arrow formed from flames appeared in front of the doomed caster and shot toward the flammabl
e head.

  As the head jerked backward at this powerful arrow, it pulled the main body with it, stopping the poison head up short.

  The poison head spat at the caster.

  “Fire projection!” the other caster yelled out. Their face rapidly paled as they drank a Mana potion with one hand as their other hand, in the center of a spell formation, unleashed a column of fire that burned the poison away, creating a disgusting stench.

  Only a few drops landed on the immobilized caster on the ground, who yelled out in pain. Unlike melee types, this caster wasn’t used to pain and she could only roll in pain, not looking to use her potions as she was stuck in a state of fear.

  The woman said something to the man. Quickly he disappeared from the tree and he grabbed the two casters by their robes.

  “Pull back!” he yelled at the warrior and archer, turning and running away from the battlefield. His fire arrow still chased the flammable head, pushing the snake back as it held its mouth closed, not wanting that arrow to enter its body.

  The poison head spat at the arrow, weakening but not destroying it.

  The four fighters left the area, the two remaining heads letting out angry hisses.

  The man threw out his hand. “Fire arrow.”

  Another fire arrow shot out at the two heads, redirecting their attention.

  The woman who had been watching walked off the tree. Flames appeared under her feet, slowing her momentum as she looked over right at Erik and Rugrat. Her eyes rested there before she looked away and ran off after the rest of her group.

  “Do you think she saw us?” Erik asked in a hushed voice a few moments later.

  “No, I just think she conveniently looked over as she saw a particularly nice tree,” Rugrat said. “Yes, she damn well saw us, but I don’t know how.”

  “Might be a spell that enhances one’s senses?” Erik asked.

  “Could be. I don’t think that any of the others noticed us though.” Rugrat looked to where the group had left and then toward the two snakes. The remainders of the arrows shot forward, hitting the snakes and making them cry out in pain. Their scales were broken and blood covered their bodies.

  They hissed in the direction that the party had fled, but they didn’t chase.

  Monsters were powerful and strong and although they couldn’t speak human tongues, they were smart. The more powerful the beast, the greater its intelligence.

  “How the hell is there a level fifteen beast here?” Rugrat said.

  “Fifteen?” Erik asked.

  “Yeah, that lot were probably level thirteens or so. The lady and man watching must’ve been in the upper teens,” Rugrat said.

  “Great—a teenager can kick my ass. I’m starting to feel old,” Erik said.

  “Well, you’re practically fucking ancient, so it’s about time.”

  “You’re four years younger!”

  “Four years younger, less ancient. Full of vigor and energy. Don’t worry, gramps. We all get old at some time,” Rugrat commiserated.

  “Come, tell me that when I’m not strapped to a tree.” Erik swung at Rugrat, who was just two feet too far away.

  “Ah, the senile ways. Don’t worry—I’ll find you a nice home.”

  “I’ll find a nice home for my foot up your ass!” Erik said.

  Rugrat shook his head at Erik’s antics, knowing that he wouldn’t hit him even if they were in striking range. “I’ll go and check to make sure that they really left the area.” Rugrat untied himself and dropped to the ground below.

  Erik dropped with him. “If they are, then we might as well harvest this three-headed snake.”

  “I was thinking the same.” Rugrat nodded.

  “All right, we’ll meet here. I’ll watch it.” Erik pulled out his map and pointed to a location.

  ==========

  Map Location shared to you, marked “Step off Point”

  ==========

  Rugrat checked the location and then put his map away.

  “See you in a bit.” Rugrat moved through the forest. His easygoing attitude faded away as he moved, listening for disturbances. He passed through easily, his skills as a scout sniper and the additional strengths that came with him leveling up in the Ten Realms displayed.

  He passed undetected, circling the snake. One head licked its wounds; the other looked for any threats that might try to take advantage of its weakened state.

  He checked the ground, finding the signs of the party’s panicked exit. He followed it for some time but it was clear that the group had run off. The two more powerful users had guided them off deeper into the forest.

  Rugrat stealthy climbed up a tree, checking the area once again. He didn’t want them to sneak up on them when they were fighting the snake.

  After assuring himself that they were gone, he headed back to Erik.

  “We need to finish this thing off quickly. They might still get some Experience from attacking the snake once we kill it, so we have to get the hell out of here as fast as possible,” Rugrat said.

  They both needed to level up and the wounded high-level creature in front of them was their best chance to do it in a short period of time. Sure, it was dirty kill stealing, but this was no video game with a code of honor.

  “Time for some snake killing.” Erik nodded and pulled out his rifle. They looked at the unsuspecting snake still dealing with its wounds.

  Chapter: Cleaning Up Behind

  “Did you find any of the White Vein Spirit Grass?” Rugrat asked.

  Erik could only shake his head. “I think the greedy bastard might have it in its gut.” Erik pointed to a location on the ground. There was a hole there, as if one of the snakes had eaten the ground.

  “Mmm, dirt with a side of plant.”

  “We’ll split up. I’ll hit it from behind first, draw its attention and get it all riled up, then you shoot from cover, get our stealth attacks in. Then we just keep on shooting them till they drop,” Erik said.

  “You really wanted that White Vein Spirit Grass, huh?” Rugrat asked.

  Erik didn’t waste his energy in reply and started stealthing away.

  Rugrat snorted and went his way.

  Erik moved till he was behind the snake. He settled down into a good position, taking his time to aim properly. He waited a bit longer just in case Rugrat needed more time to set up.

  Finally he lowered his eyes and looked through his sights. He pulled the trigger. The round hit the back of the snake’s poison head, making it rock forward, nearly losing its balance as it was startled by the attack.

  The poison head was dazed as the flammable head reared up.

  Erik fired into the snake’s back, making it turn.

  Rugrat fired. His round entered a space under the snake’s jaw and exited its head.

  The snake let out a pained whistling noise as the poison head spat out in Erik’s direction, getting the ground and the trees around him but not him. He was deeper in the forest, making it harder to see him.

  The poison head now fully pointed in his direction; it was too easy.

  Erik continued to pull his trigger again and again. The poison snake’s head backed up as the rounds struck. The head dropped forward as Rugrat’s fourth round landed, killing the flammable head.

  The snake dropped forward. A tombstone appeared above it.

  Erik moved away from the still dying vegetation in front of him. His storage ring on his trigger finger had been collecting the brass cartridges as they were ejected, leaving nothing behind.

  Rugrat didn’t have such a problem; he ran out, tapping on the tombstone marker and then on the air in front of him.

  The snake’s body started to disintegrate, including the lightning head.

  Erik felt a heavy flow of power rush into his body before it built up and broke through a barrier within his body.

  Erik didn’t focus on this breakthrough much as he looked around the ground, looking for the
White Vein Spirit Grass.

  “Yeah, the grass is in its gut but it didn’t digest it so it’s half harvested,” Rugrat said.

  “Let’s get moving.” Erik was a bit relieved. They only needed to find five of Tommins’s ingredients but Erik wanted to see what kind of rewards he would get for gathering them all.

  ***

  “Huh?” The large swordsman looked at a screen in front of him.

  Bai Hui, who was leading the group to temper them in real battles, looked over in question.

  Xuyang Jaim was the one to answer her look. “We just got Experience for aiding in the death of the three-headed forest king snake.”

  She pursed her lips and looked at the rest of the party. Based on their condition, they wouldn’t be good in a fight.

  She had sensed two people watching their fight, but their auras hadn’t been as powerful as the students she was protecting. She wasn’t afraid of fighting them and had looked right at them to warn them off.

  Hearing that they must have killed the three-headed forest king snake, she was in a bit of shock.

  “It looks like their combat power is much greater than their normal strength,” Bai Hui mused.

  “Who?” Xuyang asked.

  “It is no matter. At least we have gained something in this fight. Let us hurry to meet up with the rest of the sect. You should all know your faults.” Her eyes moved over the party in front of her.

  The cocky attitude they’d had upon entering the Beast Mountain Range had dimmed greatly.

  It might only be the First Realm but the Beast Mountains had claimed many young fighters who didn’t truly respect the danger of this monster-filled area.

  They hung their heads, gripping their weapons or looking at the new uniforms they’d needed to put on as their old ones had been torn apart.

  Seeing that look in their eyes, she waved for them to follow and to move deeper into the Beast Mountains. There were be more opportunities for them to fight before they met up with the older generation of their sects.

  ***

  “Elder Oui, it has been a long time!” a large man said in a happy tone, a hint of coldness in his eyes.