Mantra
3476 Words
"How are you doing, Red?" The creature's hand flashed like lightning, shattering the iron chain around its neck. "Remember what I promised you."
Force Aura, Sprint, Force Body, Mortal Telekinesis, and Hatchling's Flames combined into a devastating blow. The creature's body swelled like a water balloon. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of the hyenoid ladies lift her wand and saw seven jagged bolts of lightning leap from her glowing focus and strike both of us.
I reached out, caught the energy with my fingertips, and felt it travel through me. Lightning sure was popular magic in the desert. Well, it was fast, destructive, and could turn glass into sand, I understood. But it really was painful as hellfire. So I stabbed my wanking hand into King's clone like a knife redirecting the hyenoid woman's lightning spell through it.
The clone shook as a seam opened up in its swollen back. Blood rained down thick as gravy and brighter than I'd ever seen. King's clone let out a scream of agony, giving me all the time I needed.
I threw punch after punch at the creature and pushed the advantage of my increased agility. This creature had to die; if I couldn't kill it, then this whole town was f****d. In a few heartbeats, I'd unleashed a hundred blows on the clone. Every one of my blows unleashed a devastating wave to telekinesis and burned the clone with dragon fire. A small blizzard crashed into me just as iron chains shot out from the ceiling and the floor. They gripped us both, connecting to a massive metal ball.
"Hey Red, this is going to hurt like a b***h. But I'm just a clone; it doesn't matter if I'm hurt. You'll die, and that's it all because you wanted to play the hero." The King Clone said.
The lightning hit, and the clone screamed as my vision tinted yellow.
King Clone
HP 85,950/150,000
Though the shock was painful, it was divided between us. I'm sure a lot of it was a lot on the ground as well. Sadly, it wasn't enough to level either of my resistance skills. The pain itself just wasn't enough to even distract me. I took a step, and my chains strained.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you warping your flesh through the chains?" I asked as the creature screamed. "Is this amount of pain really enough to take your ability to speak away? You were always quite the talker; once we got you going, you would chat for hours. I envied that about you." I said.
The chains glowed red hot as I pulled, struggling to get close enough to deal the killing blow. I needed it to prove to myself I could win at least against a clone.
All at once, the clone stopped screaming. "I just redirected my nerves and turned off my pain receptors. Shock damage really was a problem I didn't know how to solve. Thank you for forcing me to learn, and now you'll never be able to use it against me again." King's Clone said.
The other mage blasted King's clone with a whirling blizzard spell to little effect. I watched the clone's body flow like liquid as it slipped its chains.
King's Clone stepped towards me with a sadistic smile on its face. "It's time to pay, man. You could have left, and I would have let you go. Too late now, I guess. I think I'll start with the arm I gave back to you." King's Clone said.
"That is unacceptable," I yelled.
King's Clone
HP 50,000/150,000
I grit my teeth sucked in a breath, and unleashed all the heat I could muster. The air around me practically vibrated as my chains turned white-hot and began to run like melting wax. I could feel the metal burning my skin, but I shut the pain down. There was something I had to do.
My fist shot forward in a haymaker. And I remembered boxing with my friend from school. It was just play fighting, but he showed me something important. The lesson was so simple but something I didn't understand at the time. When your opponent gets used to your momentum, change your rhythm.
I squatted down before my fist would have connected and shot up. King's Clone never saw my uppercut coming.
"Yes, this is how a protagonist fights with easy-to-understand skills like fire and punching. It isn't something crazy like slurping people out of their skin or making shifting your very flesh. There is a reason why humans love and revere fire." I yelled.
"Neither of us are human anymore. Let me show you." King's Clone said.
His fingers turned into bony claws, and I watched layer after layer of skin bulge out over the clone's body. Two more arms grew from the creature's shoulder, transforming into fleshy scythes. His feet grew wider with more toes lifted and while his ankle was elongated.
A faint red aura surrounded the clawed before it raked over my chest. My Force Aura buckled, and my vision tinted blue. The pain became even more intense. Spells of all kinds, from lightning to fire to ice, and even something dark and painful, blanketed us while we fought fists against claws and scythes.
King's Clone
HP 15,000/150,000
"That little transformation cost you quite a bit of energy. It's too bad those little claws of yours can barely break my skin." I said.
"You always liked to act tough, but I knew the truth. Even back then, you were friendless, and even Fister felt sorry for you. You were never our friend, not really. So we regret ever inviting you to eat together." King yelled.
It's true I had no one, and sometimes it was better that way. People just took up my time when I could be pursuing my hobbies. What was I doing even staying here? I didn't want to know either Silent or Kale originally? The system just dumped them in my path. Wouldn't it have been better to rip my collar off and leave? I could learn magic and explore the world alone.
Survival isn't a solo sport. True, Kale and Silent weren't the allies I expected but getting to know them has been fun, and I want to continue learning about them.
I continued to fight as I had until I drew the clone into my rhythm. The clone enjoyed cutting me up and causing pain. That was clear in the bastard's sadistic eyes. Whatever humanity King still possessed obviously didn't translate to his clones.
King's Clone
HP 14,900/150,000
"Am I wearing you down, Red? When your mana drops, I'm going to turn you inside out and leave you to live out the rest of eternity on the side of a wall." The clone screamed.
It's clear by the slow loss in HP that the creature's new additions significantly raised its defense at the cost of aesthetics.
I changed my pattern, leaped on the creature, and unleashed all the dragon fire I had left. When my fiery thumbs entered the creature's eye sockets like my favorite talk show host always talked about, it felt almost gratifying.
Gripping both sides of the clone's head, I pulled with a devastating crack, the skull split. Then I pulled, dragging the creature's doubled spinal cords free from the flesh.
The ribs stood on end and shot out of the body like f*****g bullets. While the guts tied themselves around my ankles like snakes. I might have panicked then until something slipped into me.
"Fireball," it sounded like Silent's voice. And all of a sudden, I knew what to do.
My hand pointed down, and dragon fire gathered at my palm into a tightly compacted ball. I condensed it, drawing it into a sphere dangerously unstable.
The screaming face of King squelched out of the clone's chest, and I fired down.
Amid the burning remains of my former friend's clone, I stood up and dusted myself off.
He had the Intelligence parameter and would learn from this loss. The tactics I used wouldn't work again. Winning again might be impossible.
Ding!
New Skill
Fire Manipulation lvl1
Rank: C
Type: MAG/QI
Description – Supernatural control over fire through raw manipulation, mediums, or summons. Through Mantra, fire can gain properties it usually doesn't possess. The repeated belief either from the user or others will influence this element if triggered.
ATL – Manipulating fire in its many forms to create various effects.
Abilities
1. Amateur Condensing – The practice of creating artificial gravity well to wield dese projectiles or pulp anyone who annoys you.
2. Fireball – Once triggered, this mantra gathers flames into an artificial gravity well perfect for firing. Its range is based on the user's Fire Manipulation and Perception.
Ding!
Mantra lvl14
Force lvl4
Type STR/MAG
Rank: B
Description – Magic becomes the acceleration, and strength becomes mass to create a skill that blends the physical with the mystical to create a powerful combination.
ATL – Wield the abilities given by the Force skill to attack or defend.
Abilities
Force Aura – Mana is spent passively to protect the body from damage. When active, the mana drain increases and exponentially increases defense.
Force Body – Strength is passively increased by the user's mana. When active, the mana drain increases and exponentially increases damage.
Mortal Telekinesis – Strength is fed by magic for a burst of concussive energy. Whether it is throwing a rock further than ever or increasing the reach of a melee attack, it's all the same. Strength is the mass, while magic is the acceleration.
Force Asura – Phantom attacks strike at 50% of the users striking power through mystical hands of force energy. Manipulate and control phantom arms from your shoulders as if you had four extra arms.
Ding!
Force has reached lvl4
STR and MAG +2
I stood up, took two steps, and stumbled. Blood gushed from my wounds, dying my skin crimson. Who would have thought I had so much blood inside of me?
"Wisdom, please heal the male; he's earned our hospitality," Milf said. A smile cracked my dried lips. I sure did cause a lot of destruction. King might have felt that last attack.
The woman with a v****a staff giggled when she looked at me. I was starting to remember that Hyenas only did that when they were nervous, fighting over food, or feeling territorial. But I wasn't entirely sure how that carried over.
Soon a gentle golden flow enveloped me, and the bleeding slowly stopped. "I can do nothing for your blood loss. You'll need bed rest and some blood regenerating potions. Blessing do we have any for this brave male." Wisdom asked.
"For a male never. Some bed rest and a little pain will teach him not to interfere with our affairs." Blessing said.
Silent approached, giggling now, and I needed to recontextualize anytime I made her laugh.
I took a tentative step forward and knew I'd be alright. Dizzy as I was, I'd recover, and then what? One clone dead doesn't do a damn thing against King's army. The ant only proved it could bite the bear.
What about the event? Could I go on another killing spree to find a way to save this world? Strangely I didn't feel the same urge to go there as I had before. Instead, when I pictured myself blowing up buildings with fireballs, it felt passingly amusing, like grabbing one more stuffed mushroom on my third buffet plate.
Now, what was I going to do with four extra spectral appendages that could strike at 50% of my striking power? More damage wasn't a bad thing. I could definitely use the support, but it wouldn't do the job. I needed a bigger stick than I currently had. Fireball felt like a step in the right direction, but at the same time, it would just lead to burning the city down. I needed precision.
That led me to a question. Did Dexterity only affect my physical dexterity, or did it alter the fine controls of my mystical abilities as well? Unfortunately, it wasn't something I could quickly answer.
King liked to brag about how all of his parameters empowered the other. Couldn't mine do the same even if that wasn't their design?
I felt Silent tug on me; when had she gotten so close? A shake of my head cleared my thoughts for a while. Then, from my inventory, I pulled my phone out and quickly opened the shop app. Medicine was easy enough to find. I had 1100G to work with.
"What is that?" Silent asked.
"My phone," I blinked and realized that explained nothing. "A communication device that transfers information through frequencies." I paused and realized while that explained some of it, I didn't really know how a smartphone worked. Still, I clicked on blood replenishing pills and watched 50G vanish. Then, a bottle of badly labeled pills appeared in one of my inventory slots.
The room stared at me while I returned my cellphone and began carefully reading the instructions for the pills. Apparently, 6 a day were safe, but any more would turn my liver into a valuable red crystal prized by blood mages. I'd also die from liver failure. So, I popped two pills and waited patiently for them to kick in.
"So, you can buy things with it and instantly receive your purchase." The milf said. "Don't you agree that my daughter has been very kind to you? She even allows you to own property. Most slaves would feel indebted to such a kind master."
I pulled a beer from my inventory, and it was still just as cold as the day I pulled it out of my fridge. One sip and nearly puked. Enhanced senses plus cheap beer didn't go together at all. It tasted like a soggy skunk. Maybe my second sip would be better.
Nope! It was even worse still; I drank it down. Then, instead of tossing the can on the ruined, burnt corpse-ridden ground like a savage, I left the can in my inventory.
"Well, that was the worst beer I've ever had." I stumbled in Silent's grip and chuckled. "How long do you think we have before King doesn't have to hide anymore? You saw his little army. The Blue Blood clan also work for him; hell, they fed the kin they didn't like to them and ruined our date." I opened my inventory and searched for my grandfather's wine. For some reason, I couldn't find it for the rows of cheap beer. It had to be in here. I packed the whole fridge.
"I think he's had enough, mother. Talk of his phone and what it could mean for trade can wait. But, he's right, how long before the flesh mage no longer needs to hide? Should we evacuate and seek aid from one of our sister packs?" Silent asked.
"This is our city, and no male will take it from us not while I still live. We have already called for aide, and the flesh mage isn't so bold yet."
After countless rows of half-rotten crap, including a yogurt so covered in mold, I couldn't read the label any longer; I found the wine. I yanked the cork off with my teeth and tasted the sweet peach and muscadine flavored goodness. I usually like a dry red, but this hits the spot. For a moment, I feel sloshy until, like magic, my head clears up, and I know the reason. The system had played some 4d chess on me.
While my blood supply had been low, the cheap beer had made me a little tipsy. But the blood replenishing pills had kicked in, and I felt my head clear rapidly. But, unfortunately, my moment of glorious drunkenness was gone before I could even enjoy it.
"Damn the system and damn 2021," I grumbled before standing on my own. "And just like that, my moment of weakness is over. Let's go greet this sorceress and hope to Kaiba and his blue eyes white dragons that she can help." I said.
"Is Kaiba one of the angels?" Silent asked.
"It depends on the orthodoxy." I turned my gaze to the hyenoids in the council room. Their plan to deal with King's clones had been chains and electricity. Maybe it would have worked against a typical flesh mage. But, clearly, we weren't dealing with the average flesh mage with King.
Not only had our battle destroyed the room, but the air in here had also become thin due to my fireball. Still, it had been the only way. I doubted their ability to finish even one of King's clones. That left me with so many questions about the ability of people in this world. Was it just a curb stomp for any serious system user, or was King that powerful?
We left the council room and started up the stairs. I was still splattered with blood, so Silent let me clean up in her shower. Fighting King's clone reminded me of the thing. Was that what the milf meant when she said they're all after immortality? Are they trying to become flesh monsters of some kind? Did King want to become a supercell that could invade hosts and corrupt their flesh? Ok, if he did, how would he even go about it.
I groaned and cleaned the blood off of me. The problem with trying to emphasize with people with more advanced educations than myself was the information gap. I didn't know his skills or what he thought was viable or not. Going beyond motivation to means seemed a step too far. The only thing I could control was my own actions. If he went full thing, I'd burn the city down.
Ok, I at least knew my line quest or not.
"I want to see Kale and warn her about what's going on. But I also know King will be watching me and who I interact with. Anyone you send will also be monitored. I think there is a good chance he's already taken up a position close to Kale. So I need a reliable way to kill his clones." I said.
"If it were easy, then we wouldn't need to call in a foreign sorceress. But, you saw how it shrugged off those spells." Silent stared at him. "You did too. Do you have dragon's blood?" Silent asked.
I nodded slowly.
Ding!
+1RP With Silent
Silent 53/100 She feels strongly about risking bleeding to death from her c**t hemorrhaging during childbirth for you.
I sucked in a breath and took some dice out. Two together would greatly increase my chances of getting a better skill. So, without a second thought, I tossed them.
Ding!
Rolling 2 Bronze Skill Dice…
Type DEX/QI
Rolls 45 + 66 out of a 100
Skill Acquired
White/Black Hawk Assassination lvl1
Rank: B+
Type: DEX/QI
Description – A terrifying strike used by cultivators of the white hawk clan. They strike with deadly speed and precision to deliver a single death blow, steal the core of their prey, and escape. It's a striking skill all about precision and timing combined with an indomitable qi flow.
ATL – Assassinate and steal the treasures of your targets as viciously as a true hawk.
Abilities
1. Flow Of The Hawk – The user's qi had gained a pattern to copy and empower the body. Though it is young with the training, you will become much faster. AGL increases by 5% of QI for every ability in WHA.
2. Timing And Target – The user's qi has adapted to the views of a hawk on the wing. PER increases by 10% of QI when monitoring a target.
3. Cursed Blow – A corruptive qi gathers around your fist for a single devastating blow. Once struck, the target suffers the status cursed. Once cursed, the target suffers irreparable damage to their lifeforce. If the corruptive qi isn't expelled quickly, the curse will build until the target expires.
I stared at the ability and wondered how long it would take King to think to simply eject the corrupted flesh. Yes, this technique would definitely help me out. But was it a permanent solution? No, it wouldn't work against someone much more powerful than me. Still, it was a step in the right direction.
"Hey, after we get back from escorting the sorceress, let's have s*x for the rest of the night. This might be our last night together. I'd had for it to be boring." Silent said.
Nickname: Red
Title: Traveler
Parameters
STR 6 (7.8) (15.6) (18.6)
CON 22 (23.8) (47.6)
DEX 7
AGL 17 (19.7) (39.4)
QI 18
PER 31
MAG 9
World Waifu Relationships
Kale 19/100
Silent 53/100
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