Mageblood Read online

  “I’m going to go scout again, as quietly as I can manage.” I glanced around at the low-hanging tree branches and whatnot surrounding us. “I want you all to look around for a good place to set up a trap and let’s see if we can take it.”

  I crouched and stalked forward as slowly as I could back to where I had seen the beast cleaning itself. It hadn’t moved.

  I scoured the side of the mountain nearest the entrance, the rough shrubbery in the immediate area malnourished to the point of being little more than scrub brush. No point trying to hide behind it.

  The wall behind it and above the mine’s entrance was scrubbed clean as well so that there would be no hope of a cave-in to stop any exit. Smart on their part, but that would leave us little to nothing that could actively help us in crushing or injuring it. The most we could hope for was to try and trick it into a manageable space, then kill it slowly using guerilla tactics.

  That and likely a healthy dose of Sundar’s club, but we would do what we can.

  I slowly made my way back to the others and saw that they hadn’t been idle in my time away.

  Mona currently had a small, growing pile of sharpened sticks several inches long next to her leg beside the bush, and Sundar looked to be carving holes into a larger branch.

  Alvor helped Albarth carve what looked like wooden spears out of some larger branches, and they flinched as I crept into the area.

  “We have a plan, unless you saw something that could be useful out there?” Mona looked at me quizzically, and when I shook my head no, she continued, “Then this is the way we have to go, because I know you don’t plan on turning down free experience. Speaking of, let’s all level up and see if the added stats will help.”

  For this level, I didn’t get an ability, but I got some stat increases and three choices for the path. One was a boost of 5% to my Mageblood ability, and a +1 to my Heart stat. The second was a +2 to Strength, and the last was the same +2 to Strength, but another point to Skill.

  Why would anyone ever just choose a plus two when they could have more?

  I chose the boost to Mageblood and the added Heart point, then spent the one stat point for leveling on strength, putting it up to an even ten. That boosted my overall hit points up to one hundred and sixty. Nice.

  —I chose a path that boosted Presence and Skill by two, then added one point to Heart, you all?— Mona sent the first whisper, I responded with my own choices.

  —I trust Alvor, but we should really wait to actually share our stat sheets until we’re safe, good call Monami.— Albarth seemed to be contemplating something then smiled. —Two Heart, one Skill and free point to Knowledge.—

  —Two Serenity, one Strength, and one point to Heart.— Sundar finished it off.

  I watched as the others finished their preparations, but I wasn’t sure how we would pull it off, or who would be going to get the beastie. Then again, I had a sneaking feeling it would be me.

  “I’m squishy, but I can rain down hellfire.” Al pointed to a spot a good fifteen-feet off the ground. “With any luck, it won’t realize I’m there because the three of you will be distracting it on ground level.”

  “The thing of it is going to be to lure it to this tree here where I can wallop it with our spike branch,” Sundar explained as she motioned to the newly fashioned trap. “The key to that succeeding is going to be for Mona to distract it as soon as it comes into sight. You’re going to need to duck, and fast because we only get one shot at this.”

  Mona put a hand on my shoulder, sending tingles down my arm. “You gonna be okay?”

  “I hate running,” I growled softly to myself, “but if it’s for a good cause, I’ll run my butt off.”

  She nodded, and I looked for something to throw to get the Hell Cat’s attention, not finding anything, I looked to the group. “Anyone got a rock or something I can throw at this thing to piss it off enough to chase me? Not these small ones, something that will really get its attention.”

  Everyone shrugged, Albarth looked at the salamander on his shoulder for a heartbeat too long, and the thing squeaked at him in protest. “I’m teasing, little friend, of course I’d never let you be thrown.”

  “I have a small thing of ore with me, it’s got some sentimental value.” Alvor pulled the object out of his pocket and stared at it for a moment before offering it up. “But if it gets us inside to get the materials and to check on any miners who may have survived—use it.”

  I took the ore, about half the size of a baseball and worn round at the edges from constant manipulation and fondling.

  “It was a gift from my dad when I was a boy, told me that ore was the good stuff, but he wanted to see one of his kids do something with it rather than just collecting it for others.” A lump formed in my throat when he spoke, the realization dropping onto me like a lead weight, the man’s sad eyes, and defeated countenance reaffirming my thoughts.

  “Your family may be in there.” He nodded mechanically, and a wave of purpose settled over me. I punched him in the shoulder, and he looked up, startled. “We’re taking the fight to him, and we can’t have you moping about when there’s still hope. I want you to take one of those spears Al has and protect yourself, okay? Get into a tree if you can, but just stay safe. Let’s do this!”

  A steely look of new resolve washed over him as he nodded and walked over to Albarth. He took the offered spear and hid behind the tree Al had begun to slowly clamber up.

  I looked at the others, their positions taken, and nods of assent sending me on my portion of the trap.

  I stalked forward until the entrance was in sight. The Hell Cat lay in the entry, the shadows growing around it, but somehow still in the sunlight lazily lounging.

  I palmed the ore from Alvor, the love of it, the hopes and dreams his father had for his boy when he had given this metal to him.

  I took a slow, steady breath and let it out as I shifted my left foot forward. The side of my body facing the Hell Cat, my weight flowing back to my right leg and my left leg lifted high. My right hand with the ore in it, hidden in my left hand like a pitcher on the mound. I brought my right arm back, refocusing all my effort on the Hell Cat, and prayed silently for it to hit it, then launched it as hard as I could.

  The lump of ore whistled through the air and smacked the Hell Cat on the rump.

  3 dmg to Hell Cat

  Hell Cat – Enraged

  The beast looked about as it stood from its nap and scowled at the ore. It sniffed at the ground near it, and a red aura permeated its nose, and a trail seemed to flicker into life leading straight to me.

  I stayed where I was and giddily waved a hello at the beast before I turned tail and booked it back to my friends. A yowl of rage followed me and a thunderous clattering of small stones and loose gravel as it gave chase.

  I moved for all I was worth, wishing I had incorporated sprinting into my runs and resolved to do so when I got out of this game, but for now, I would focus on running.

  I heard snuffling and huffing behind me, coming on the trap location, and sent a whisper ahead.

  —Here we come!—

  I plowed through some bushes, the thorns snagging against my legs and arms.

  2 dmg taken

  The trap was set, and I saw Mona there, moving and swaying her body, a little further, and her face filled with panic. “Down!”

  I threw myself forward and low as she flared with pink energy brighter than I had seen before. A whiffing sound rushed passed my head and a CRACK before a bestial screech of anguish sounded over me.

  27 sneak attack dmg to Hell Cat

  I felt a sharp grasp at my midsection, then it flipped me onto my back, heavy paws battered me angrily.

  Bleeding Debuff added to Hell Cat

  5 bleed dmg to Hell Cat

  14 dmg taken

  14 dmg taken

  22 dmg taken

  “Now!” Sundar bellowed, and I heard a cracking shatter, and she cursed. “I had just gotten used to the weight o
f it, too. Break my weapon, will you?!”

  9 dmg to Hell Cat

  3 dmg to Hell Cat

  It snarled, and used my weight to lift and slam me onto the ground, breaking the branch it hung from.

  19 dmg taken

  Stunned – 3. Prone.

  Damn stuns, I grunted mentally.

  A flash of flaming red streaked from the air above and pierced the large cat attempting to beat away my friends.

  8 dmg to Hell Cat

  Fire Resistance – Dmg halved to 4

  “It’s resistant to fire!” Mona called just before I felt hands on my legs.

  Stunned – 2. Prone.

  She grunted, breathing heavily from trying to drag me out of the line of fire. The Hell Cat turned and kicked her away, opening the wounds in its body a little wider.

  Bleeding debuff worsened, dmg increased.

  Stunned – 1. Prone.

  The stunning debuff wore off, and I dug my clawed fingers up into the cat, likely only doing minimal damage.

  2 dmg to Hell Cat

  Flames wreathed the cat’s claws as it tried to gut me some more, the intense heat of the flames burning me.

  22 dmg taken

  Fire magic resisted – 11 dmg taken rounded up

  10 dmg taken

  9 bleed dmg to Hell Cat

  “Get this thing off me!” I howled, and I heard a grunt and great green arms grasped around its neck as it raised a paw to stomp my throat.

  “You owe me a new weapon!” Sundar’s frothing features came over the cat’s shoulder as she threw herself over backward in an agile arc while the cat was distracted and off-balance.

  The Hell Cat flailed wildly as it twisted and landed almost like Sundar had done a suplex on it. Monami limped over and stabbed both of her daggers into the cat’s lower back.

  Sneak Attack x 2 dmg

  CRITICAL STRIKE

  26 dmg to Hell Cat

  Severed Spine Debuff added

  I took my glaive out of my inventory and began to hack down into the injured creature. Its life bar ebbing from half to nothing as Al and Mona joined me in raining down blows as we could. Sundar had let go of it, and the creature slapped Mona as she tried to stab it, a sickening crunch and she fell backward. Sundar was there immediately to start choking the beast again and getting clawed up less and less as the damage notifications piled up.

  Her legs were a mess by the time it died, but it was worth it. “Couldn’t let the little shit get away from me and kill Ky, could I?”

  Lvl 7 Hell Cat died

  75 EXP

  You have taken part in killing a known man-eater! You have earned a new title: Beast Slayer

  You are among the first to receive this title at such a low level. To find out the benefits of titles that you earn, open your title tab in the status screen.

  Soothing energy bumped against me, much like the other day and I looked down to find Sundar’s totem between her feet. She flicked blood onto it, and a shadowy figure stepped into the radius of her spell.

  It was a perfect, spectral copy of the Hell Cat, and it sat over top of the totem before disappearing. The totem itself, a small wooden mask with a plus on the head, having another appear overtop it in the shape of the hell cat’s screaming face.

  The glowing, soothing blue of Sundar’s energy that surrounded the totem expanded to more than twenty-five feet.

  “You got a totem?” I asked her quietly, startling her as our health replenished steadily.

  “Yeah, you saw that too?” She blinked up at me.

  “Yeah, I can see magical energy.” I flicked my status screen up and shared Evil Eyes with them.

  “How long have you had this?” Monami asked with wonder.

  “I’ve had a hidden version of it that allowed me to see wisps of magical aura since the beginning,” I filled them in on the things I had noticed, hesitating then deciding to add, “I’ve even been seeing them IRL.”

  They looked confused until I flicked my gaze to Alvor as he looked over the corpse of the Hell Cat.

  “Well that’s good.” Mona held her right arm close to her body, and her health didn’t seem to be fully recovering. When she caught my gaze, she motioned to it. “Broken bones don’t set with magic.”

  “But they will with help, come here.” Sundar stood up, her wounded and shredded legs healed but still bloodied.

  Monami came over to her timidly, her lion features pinched with pain and fear. Sundar grabbed a spear from Albarth gently and snapped it in two easily. She held the shaft out before her and spoke softly, but firmly.

  “Bite down on this and look away from me.” Mona bit down on it, and I offered my hand to her. She took it with her good one and closed her eyes. “You’re going to feel a sharp pain on ‘go,’ okay? Three, two, go!”

  The clawed hand in my own squeezed tightly, and her whimper of pain made me groan. Poor thing. Sundar had yanked so that the bone that had been jutting out of the skin sank back beneath it. It worked, though, because Monami’s HP bar began filling up from where it had been.

  “Wherever did you learn to do that, Sundar?” Albarth asked quietly with a look of profound respect on his face.

  “I teach a women’s advanced self-defense class.” The orc woman grinned as she eyed the area. “It’s all in there. But yeah, sometimes we get a little too enthusiastic about defending ourselves and break some things. Setting the bone helps, though it should only be done by professionals. I’ve seen more broken bones as an instructor than I ever did while I was serving.”

  I had known she had been in the army before she had started gaming with her friends on the weekends, but I didn’t know she was an instructor. The totem ran out, and I was woefully below half health, and the others seemed to be a little better than me.

  “So, what, you picked up tanking because you liked to get that aggression out?” Mona flexed the fingers of the formerly broken arm as she asked her question.

  “Mainly because I like to protect people.” The haunted look in her eyes made me look askance of the others to leave off it. The sun wasn’t getting any higher in the sky, and we had some investigating to do yet.

  “We have a pelt, four teeth, and two claws from this thing, as well as some sort of monster core?” Albarth held up a small gem that looked like it could have been an agate the size of a large pencil eraser.

  “Inventory it, and we can look into it later,” Sundar ordered as she resummoned her totem.

  “A core?” Alvor looked at the item with wonder in his eyes. “Those aren’t common. We use ‘em to make special weapons and the like. Higher tier weapons require them. They fetch a decent price, too.”

  We waited until we were full up on health, saving the cookies for later, then we packed up to head out.

  We made it to the mine entrance unmolested; the blood was dry, the door about ten feet back hung inward toward the darkness from a single hinge at the bottom. Claw marks inches deep scored the white door while the metallic caging on the sides looking scorched and burnt.

  “Eyes on a swivel,” I whispered to the others as we took our diamond formation once more around Alvor.

  A dim light glowed from the center of us, drawing my attention to Alvor, who had lit a torch, then pressed it to a small groove along the upper right-hand wall, then the left. Small bits of flames lit along the path, fanning out around us and illuminating the area.

  “Dude, what if something is here?!” I whispered at him as I pulled him back into the diamond shape we made, eyeing Albarth reproachfully.

  “There’s nothing to see but blood. We have to check on the miners.”

  We’d entered a small chamber with three paths and one alcove that looked to be covered by a wooden shack with a small window. The majority of the blood was there, but the door was closed.

  “I get that your family might have been involved here, but you are our responsibility. Let us make the unwise decisions.” I eyed the shadows and thankfully saw nothing moving toward us. “Miners in
the West Mine!” I called to see if anyone was still there.

  I listened hard, as hard as I could, with no sound. I looked at the others and motioned from them, to Alvor. Then from me to the door, they nodded, and I moved forward as they converged on Alvor to keep him safe.

  I knocked on the door lightly, then listened intently. “Is it the demon?” One voice whispered quietly.

  “Is the cat back?” Another soft whisper wheezed.

  “Hey!” I shouted and knocked on the door. “I might be Kin, but I’m no demon, and we have Alvor out here with us. We killed the Hell Cat.”

  A set of deeply glowing eyes popped up into the window. “If Alvor is with you, ask him what his brother’s middle name is!”

  I blinked back at Alvor; whose shoulders shook as tears flowed from his eyes. The question had not been relayed softly, and all he did was shake his head and shout, “You don’t have one, you little moron!”

  A cacophony of unlocking metal clinks and a chair’s wooden legs scraping against stone made me suddenly realize that standing in front of that door was foolish, so I backed out of the way.

  Three men bolted out of the door, followed by a limping dog that looked like some kind of collie who whimpered and cowered in the strange company.

  After the men had gathered themselves, all of them bearing a strong resemblance to our guide, they began to discuss what had happened.

  “Well, this man looked like a Kin, but he had a tail about as long as hisself!” The youngest whispered frantically as he explained what happened, “Well, he came in here out of shaft three and dragged ol’ Frem out here and just butchered ‘im like a sheep at the chops!”

  The elder man shook his head and took off the knitted cap and held it in front of his chest. “‘Bout the same time, that Hell Cat came in and started eatin’ what were left of the man, still breathin’ and beggin’. Right nasty.”

  “I can imagine it was a traumatic experience for all of you.” Monami tried her best to smile. “If you’ll get the materials we need, we can be out of here, and you can all come back with us, how does that sound?”

  “Well, we would, but he took off with it,” the other man explained. “Took it and headed further west toward the demon wastes.”