《Ouroboros Ascendant》Chapter 6: Comin' Round the Mountain
Advertisement
Everything was not fine.
The slimes were ambush predators. They’d fall out of trees when the group walked by, or squelch their way from behind a stone or trunk after the four passed and let gravity propel them down the hill. They were slow, and their sensory range only seemed to work out to about fifteen feet, but the damage they did largely ignored armor. Occasionally, the slimes would slam into one of them particularly hard and disgorge a burst of acidic fluid, which continued to burn for up to a minute, or until they washed it with water from the skins in their packs. By now, they were running low on water, but the soft glow of the village at the foot of the mountain seemed near enough.
Jack and Erin knew how to light the waxed, pitch torches with the striker included in their gear, but two of the moons were nearly full, and visibility was excellent. The four walked through the forest, checking the trees and poking their weapons into the shadows behind boulders and outcroppings. Slowly, the amount of damage they were racking up from the slimes fell to nothing. Even Layla’s mood improved as her skills steadily gained experience.
The slimes weren’t the worst thing in the mountainside woods.
Erin had taken up the rear, with Jack out front, when she suddenly slammed into Rory’s back and tumbled down the hill, covered in a writhing mass of dark fur and muscle. Her swearing and the snarling of the mountain cat were the only things audible over the din of her platemail skipping across the rocky ground, until a sturdy tree trunk arrested her fall with sharp metallic crack.
The creature reared up and drove its face into Erin’s armpit, digging and clawing at her arm and faceplate. In the blue and white moonlight, it was thickly built, bigger than a rottweiler, with purplish fur, two-inch razor claws, and a powerfully-built neck that led up to heavy bone-crushing jaws. They had seen a similar creature further up the mountain, but it wasn’t much bigger than a house cat. This was a beast, and it was trying to gut Erin through her armor. The black mail was protecting her so far, but the group could see blood on her arm and chestplate. She released a massive, blood-freezing shout and backhanded the big cat off her stomach.
“FUUUUUUUCK YOU!”
She was already up, screaming again, “CHARGE!” The group’s movement toward her collectively stuttered in shock as she burst forward with inhuman speed, a two-hundred pound dart of muscle and metal that slammed into the big cat with unreal force. The beast was back on its feet in the moment between her backhand and pulling herself upright, but it clearly wasn’t ready for the freight train of rage barrelling down on it. She wedge the cat between herself and the ground, clobbering it senseless. Erin suffered no such disorientation, and immediately began beating the cat with her gauntleted fists. “You fucking fuck, how fucking dare, fucking bullshit, fuck, fucking assbag, stupid fuckin-”
Advertisement
She was cut off as the cat abruptly came to its senses, snarling and turning its claws on her faceplate. Layla shot out a hand and incanted “Stumble”, causing the cat’s forelimbs to twitch and splutter as it momentarily lost control of its muscles. Jack dove forward, driving the longsword down behind the cat’s shoulder blade. Only Erin was close enough to hear him whisper “Withering Blade”. The sword burst into black flame, lodged in the beast’s body, and the flesh around the devastating puncture began to dessicate and rot, rapidly mummifying. With a moment to breathe, Erin pulled herself up and crashed downward into the cat’s head, striking just behind the skull with a deafening crack of metal on bone.
Nightstalker (Level 4) has died.
Brawling Skill Level Up
Your Mark of the Chosen has absorbed additional experience from Nightstalker. Additional experience has been split between Brawling and Block.
Congratulations, you have reached Dreadnought Level 2.
Your Health, Stamina, Mana, and Spirit have increased.
You have pending Options.
>>
You have 1 Attribute bonus.
Choose Strength, Vitality, or Will.
Your Strength has improved by 1.
The maximum rank of your Strength skills has increased by 1.
“Shit. I’m bleeding everywhere,” Erin grunted and sank to the ground.
Jack kneeled next to her, “Where are you hurt? We have linen bandages in the packs, right?”
“Yeah, hold up,” Rory began to dig through his bag. “Here. We haven’t got any disinfectant though.”
“It’s fine, we’ll buy liquor in the town. Just need to bind her cuts and stop the bleeding,” he replied.
As Jack went to work unbuckling Erin’s gauntlets, cuirasse, and plackart, making quick work of the bandages, she fussed and whined at him, “Oww. Ow. Mmph. Ass. Ow. Jack, that hurts.”
“I know, hun, but we’ve gotta stop your bleeding. That hit under your armpit was too close, and the one on your arm is gonna make you stiff tomorrow,” he chided her.
The plate itself was undamaged by the cat’s assault, but a set of tiny scratches on the cuirasse showed how the big cat’s powerful claws had slipped under the pauldron and driven into the pectoral where it connected to the shoulder. Similarly, it had caught her just behind the gauntlet. Her gambeson was punctured, but it could likely be stitched. Jack shivered, considering what the damage would be if the nightstalker had chosen one of the others for its ambush.
“Jack, why do you know so much about armor and first aid?” Layla leaned in to watch him bandage Erin’s arm.
Advertisement
“HEMA,” he stuck his tongue out at her.
“You think I’ll need stitches?” Erin craned her head to look at the wound as Jack wrapped it up.
“Nah, but if this thing had jumped on El or Rory, it would’ve been really bad,” he replied. “All done.”
She wiggled her fingers experimentally, then rotated her shoulder. She let out a small hiss but started pulling her armor back on. “Help me with the buckles?” He nodded and went to work.
The rest of the trip down the mountain was less eventful. They spotted another nightstalker, but it seemed less willing to antagonize them now that they were on guard. Eventually, the lights of the village grew brighter, and the sounds of celebration drew nearer. It seemed there was a festival in progress, and as they broke through the tree line, they saw paper lanterns and torches limned in guttering flame. When they neared the village, a greying man in a hauberk called out and gestured with his blade. “Good eve. Have you come for the festival?”
Rory took the lead, “Indeed we have. We are weary from the road and in need of accommodation.”
The man smiled, but his eyes were narrowed and his brow tight, “From the road? Have you not come down the mountain? A bold choice given your arms and this one’s dress,” he gestured again toward Layla. The group turned as one, and Jack and Erin snapped a double-take at Layla’s lack of horns, wings, and a tail.
Jack: Where’d your… demon stuff… go?
Layla: I have that ability that lets me look human, remember? Figured it was better to be cautious.
Jack: Hey, fair nuff.
Rory: Yes, yes, gee-gee Layla. Now, would you two knock it off? I’m trying to get us into the city without getting stabbed. More.
“A figure of speech, certainly. We’re not from these parts, but a fellow we met to the east mentioned we’d find a challenge in the mountains, thus we took the road less traveled,” Rory flashed the guard a dazzling smile, and he felt Not Worth Your Time spring to life. The guard’s brow unknotted, and he unconsciously returned Rory’s grin.
“Must be fair mighty hunters to have trekked through those mountains at night. Nightstalkers gave you no trouble?” the older man’s smile had grown, pushing up his mustache now.
“One ambushed our rear guard from behind, just a few hours ago,” Rory waved at Erin. “But we made short work of him.”
“Truly? How big?” the guard’s animated eyebrows had climbed up his face.
“About, yay high?” Rory put his hand around mid-thigh.
“Oh,” the guard barked a rough laugh, “just a baby, then! The adults stand here, at the shoulder,” the guard put his hand just under his chin.
The four of them grew pale at the thought of the nightstalker, a solid hundred pounds of muscle, fur, and razored fang and claw, having been a juvenile.
“Sounds like you were lucky tonight,” he chuckled again. “Stick to the roads, yes? Perhaps not so lucky next time. The woods to the South are good for young hunters,” he chuckled again, and waved them off as he turned back to his post.
They walked into the town, shoulder to shoulder, still collectively in shock.
Rory: Are you FUCKING having me on. Fucking six feet at the SHOULDER.
Layla: Rory, I’m a demon with magical puppeteer powers. Did you think slimes and dog-sized-cats were the only monsters in this place?
Erin: All the same. Jack was right earlier. If an adult had jumped us, this would’ve been the shortest anime adventure ever.
Jack: Do you guys hear that? Almost singing. Like… whale song?
Layla: Did you hit your head? Whales? Erin, check his head. Does he have a… no, I do hear it.
Erin: What is that?
They cleared the cobbled street and stepped into a plaza. In the center of the market, a stage had been erected, flying yellow pennants. On the stage stood a man with deep umber skin, midnight black hair cropped close to his skull, appointed in lavish black clothes with golden accents. As the four drew nearer, they noticed his right eye was covered by a patch, a furrowed scar showing above and below the dark leather. His left eye was a singular brilliant gold, and he looked up from the crowd to wink at the newcomers and spare them a warm smile.
“Now, my children, let old Hana regale you wit de story of de Serpent and the Tree, and how de festival of night came to be.”
Advertisement
- In Serial73 Chapters
Realms of Eas
Title if this was a japanese web-/lightnovel: "This world was boring, so we decided to invade another one.""Magic, some see it as an overused element in fictional works, others as a at least currently incomprehensible technology. Yet the very real truth is completely different. Magic is a phenomenon able to disregard the laws of thermodynamic and created by the soul through will and a mostly omnipresent, all-permeating light-like substance i shall call mana."- Sarah Goldschmidt, A Comprehensive Introduction to Magic in the Modern World 1, 1st Edition, opening textYet at the time the book was published, the author was already gone.Striving for a greater understanding of the world and magic, Sarah decided to ditch her old mana depleted world, a world which by itself seemed to oppose Sarah’s research into it's magical mysteries.Hijacking a summoning, her journey together with her twin sister began. A journey through the Realms of Eas, a world of swords and magic.What about her family? Not that they ever had a lot of presence in their life, though the two girls didn't dislike that fact.Social connections? Sarah would prefer not to have those in the first place.Modern technology? As if she couldn't replicate the most important items herself, if they didn’t exist.Morals and modern values? The two discarded those a long time ago to survive, but also to advance.Disclaimer:This is a work of fiction created by the author and not the history of another universe recorded by a higher being.Names, characters, organizations and events are definitely the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to similar entities, living, dead, existing, taken place or whichever other state may apply is purely coincidentally. Opinions and actions of characters in this work don't represent the opinion of the author or not involved higher beings and are purely for entertainment.Release schedule:1 chapter/week, released Monday.Additional chapters may appear whenever the stars align.Cover Art created by YunanoCover Art (c) quazeryon (me)
8 149 - In Serial12 Chapters
Surpassed the Gods
Forever alone in the unknown realm without a single being excluding him, he the ruler of all will descend to the lower realms to find happiness. He will go from the uknown realm to the primeval realm to the god realms to the higher realms and finally to the mortal realms. To find happiness he will do all things even if it means slaying millions of gods and destroying a realm. --------------------- on Hiatus because I have exams coming and I need to study ! ! ------------------------------------------- Expect a rewrite on summer or my weekends because I want this story to improve. First novel by me. I will try uploading 1-2 chapters a day. I GOT THE PICTURE IN PINTEREST. I COULDN'T FIND THE CREATOR AS IT REQUIRES YOU TO CREATE AN ACC
8 181 - In Serial11 Chapters
A Certain Asura Discovers His Origin
Half Asuran Half human. Shoto is the pinnacle of humanities strength and the slave of the Asuran deities. One path will assure him his revenge and the other will save the entirety of the human race. What must he choose to satisfy both his needs? Abandon humanity and embrace godhood Or Disregard his heritage and bring humanity back from the crux of decimation? The War between the basilisk clan and the dragon clan rages on. The fight between them will level the mortal world. Will the heroes of earth be able to prevent the inevitable destruction? Shoto must prevail or the lives of his friends will be snuffed out under the might of the higher beings…
8 197 - In Serial35 Chapters
Vallyk vs dejaune
Who do u think win your heart?
8 234 - In Serial46 Chapters
You asked for it, don't blame me! Volume No. 3 of the zaniest HxH headcanons ON EARTH! Trigger warning: Do not enter if you have zero sense of humor! ♥️♣️♦️♠️
8 83 - In Serial22 Chapters
I'm An Idiot
This is the completed version of @Rainbend 's original story. I HAVE THE PERMISSION OF THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR TO PUBLISH THIS STORY.This story is also available on Quotev on my account : @BangtanBae or @BangtanBae05⚠️SLOW UPDATES⚠️***"Please be my girlfriend!""WHAT?" You spluttered, nearly choking on your lunch."Be my girlfriend?" Jungkook stood there with a sheepish smile, rubbing his neck.You simply stared at him in disbelief.***Jeon Jungkook has asked (Full Name), his best friend at university, to pretend to be his girlfriend for his brother's wedding. (Name) would have been okay with it if it is not for her crush on him. Nonetheless, she still agreed because he is her friend.The question is, will (Name) make it out alive without revealing her true feelings to her best friend or will Jungkook end up falling for her?
8 124