Cries of fear and despair from a young girl, a mother calling in plea, begging for someone to rescue them, siblings coddled together, thinking they were safe if they held on to each other.
Havoc had taken over the entire caravan.
Merchants continued to vex the guards to help them secure their cargo, while some men took it upon themselves to fight, as they had families to protect.
Those who had nothing to lose were lucky enough to escape on their own, running as their life depended on it.
Of course, this was what the monsters were aiming for: divide and conquer, a basic instinctive tactic of animals who hunt in groups to catch prey.
But through all this state of disorder and confusion, there was one person who remained stagnant, standing steadily like a sentry on the lookout.
As dangerous as it was, this has been Clifford’s normal defense mechanism.
By removing himself out of the picture, he got a good grasp of the situation from a different perspective.
With no emotional attachment to the outside world, he can sort things out in order, piecing it together from a logical point of view.
This unusual method stuck to him, becoming a means of escape from all the nagging and berating of his bosses before. It became so repetitive in his life that he’d develop an involuntary reaction whenever a stressing matter arises.
Yet this only happens when more people are involved, as he needed to consider those affected.
The sounds of horses galloping, whinnying as they run off to escape, jaws and claws tearing up animal flesh. Women and children screaming aloud. All of this got drowned out for a moment, as Clifford took every single detail of the situation.
“Life points is at fifty thousand. Base attack is around three hundred. If we take into consideration its other stats, we can increase the survivability rate of everyone.”
These were a few of the things he’d been murmuring for the past few minutes, as he already had an experience with the beasts before.
Also, he now had a clear view of the enemy’s information, along with his allies, as he pulled out several boxes all at once.
One minute, this was the time wasted throughout his pondering. A flaw and skill he develop through all those years of working under pressure.
Though he looked like he’d become stupefied, in his mind he was already thinking of numerous things to make up for the mistake or produce a good excuse.
On this occasion, there was but one option which kept popping into his mind.
“Oh please god, somebody save us!”
A woman’s cry for help became the signal to act.
As the soldiers continued to scuffle, trying to fend off the other beasts who appeared, few had the sense to take notice of the poor mother and child at the mercy of the alpha.
As the young girl hugged her parent, whimpering at their demise, all the elder could do was cover her child’s eyes, as the dire wolf approach them with a single step.
Saliva dripping, the beast licked its snout, letting out a wide grin while looking down at its next meal.
As it opened its jaws filled with sharp teeth, time slowed down for the individuals who were in the way of its mouth.
With one fell swoop, the monster took a munch, gobbling up everything, including the dirt in which his prey stood.
The shriek of a deep, harrowing agony and shock rippled through the chaos, causing both soldiers and monsters into a halt.
“Sir Clifford!”
Arty scream aloud, gaping at the sight of the man inside the beast’s mouth.
It happened so fast that he barely saw anything up to that point.
Both the mother and her child remained safe, pushed back at the last minute before those large fangs could touch them.
Everyone’s attention shifted at the scene, as the guy struggled to grab hold on to the alpha’s tonsils by use of a blade, hardly avoiding those sharp, enormous teeth wishing to take a chunk at him.
“A little assistance would be good!”
Clifford yelp.
Though he’d done a lot of thinking, the lack of time didn’t help at all, considering he needed to step up in order to save the mother and child.
Also, this was the only thing he can come up with, calculating all the scenarios.
After comparing his life points and the beast, he had three times more. The only issue is he had no means of damage, which left him with no other choice but to rely on the kid and the soldiers there.
“I’ll hit you!”
A terrifying chill crawled into Arty’s backside at the idea of attacking, his insides twisting, brought by the claws of self doubt and guilt of harming someone.
His hands kept shaking uncontrollably, twitching every time he’d raise his staff. His voice seemed to have left him, as not a single sound came out whenever he would open his mouth.
“I’m basically built as a tank!”
A lie Clifford fabricated in the heat of the moment. Though part of it was true, he was already prepared to take in as much damage as possible in order to defeat the monster.
After having measured their difference, he was certain he’d have about a seventy-five percent chance of survival. That was if his hp stayed in half.
Yet that still didn’t seem enough to persuade the lad, as the boy remained stunned, unable to move a muscle, becoming paler with each passing minute.
This did not bode well for him, having every bit of his strength drained from just holding on, since the wolf kept trying to gnaw at him.
The long, slimy tongue lashing and slithering throughout his body prove to be an entirely new experience. As it slid from his legs up to his torso, sending both odd and familiar sensations, creating conflicting thoughts.
“This is becoming awkward.”
He groans, trembling from the jolt of delectable sensitivity creeping within.
Thankfully, the sting from the prickling fangs, twisting of his limbs, and the pungent clawing scent of rot and iron kept him composed and sane.
“Archers and mages, release!”
Malver’s deep, earthly voice boomed through the darkness.
It was a blessing in disguise for Clifford that he can’t help but thank the guy for his quick thinking. Together with the sound of his order, which put him at ease.
In seconds, a rain of different colored lights, followed by arrows, came raining down on them.
Eyes remaining on the beast’s status bar, he groaned in frustration at seeing the attacks barely graze the alpha wolf.
It was enough to make the creature stop from chewing on him, yet it shifted to running amok, thrashing about in every direction in retaliation.
It began rolling and jumping about, destroying more carriages in its wake. The onlookers ended up scattering once more out of fear of being squished.
With the wolf’s size and the multitude of individuals attacking all at once, evading was not much of an option.
This was a common tactic used in the games he played before, overpowering a hero type unit with sheer numbers.
Of course, this didn’t seal a sure victory if the enemy’s level was too high and the troops’ damage was too low. So once again, their survival right now rests at the hands of the flabbergasted youth.
“Arty, snap out of it! We need you!”
Clifford shouts.
He can feel his arms giving in from hanging too long. Also, their allies’ attack amounted to nothing. As his points were nearing the same as that of the alpha.
If this continued on, they’d end up in a pinch, with them becoming the losing side.
All he got was an empty and darkened look from the lad. As if he was staring straight into a lifeless statue with a gaping mouth.
It was not looking good for any of them, with the soldiers struggling to defend and fight. It was only a matter of time before things turn for the worst.
Once more, Clifford’s mind went into another state of absolution, delving deep down into his subconscious.
But the sudden vibration from outside put him to a halt, disrupting his retraction from reality. Senses on alert, he caught the loud noises of cheers and shouts of glee from the men.
“Meteor strike!”
Bloodied and panting from the hit he’d receive a while ago, Jack still landed a solid kick, having directed his attack on the monster’s back side.
He will not let the beast continue with its rampage, seeing the number of casualties and destruction it has done.
His bar remained in the yellow, so he was confident to fight, though his legs were becoming numb.
This was definitely no game, and it did not help that they got put into reserve this entire time, making their levels and experience lower than the others.
They were already behind their companions, and if it wasn’t for this mission, he and Arty would have remained ignorant of the new world around them.
“Just a few more, and we win.”
Though he kept whispering this to himself, his body and spirit weren’t going along with it.
He could barely use one of his legs because his knees seem to have gotten locked, receiving a jolt of pain when he’d try to bend it.
A part of his arm was having difficulty moving because of having the sensation of a twisted vein being pulled whenever he does.
“Arty! Heal Jack, now!”
Clifford made sure his tone remained calm, In order to wake the lad up from the sudden daze. Though he put enough authority in it.
His plan is to induce him with fear, jolting him back to his senses, yet not cause another shock. Also, he needed to avoid leaving a poor impression later on.
From the looks of it, he was the only person who can do that there. None of the soldiers seemed brave enough to give an order, and their leader didn’t have the slightest interest to include the youngsters in the fight.
And he was not expecting anything from the other kid, seeing how he was forcing everything on his shoulder to make up for the lacking of his partner.
This was causing him a headache, since he now had to take so many things into account. As the longer he stayed in that place, the more complications showed up.
With the soldiers giving all they’ve got, Jack pushing himself to his limits, and Clifford being stuck in the monster’s mouth. All seems nearly hopeless, as they ended at a standstill.
Until a green glow started manifesting within the earth, sending a vibrant lifting sensation towards all of them there.
It didn’t take long before all of them became energized, along with the civilians, who had become fatigue to the brink of collapse.
“Now’s our chance! Give it all you’ve got!”
Jack’s battle-cry gave everybody the boost they needed, revitalizing their lost morale. In minutes, everyone was giving it their all, throwing in the last remaining power each of them had.
Dust scattered upon the alpha’s fall, shaking the earth as it writhe in pain. Its legs flinched the minute it fell, clawing at the air several times.
The soldiers were quick to back away, as the beast let out a deafening howl before its head laid flat on the ground. Tongue sliding out of its mouth as its eyes began turning white upon losing the remaining bar on its life points.
Cheers of glee and relief cut through the darkness of the night, sending ripples of joy and hope among the others. As the once proud monster now lay unmoving, having taken its last breath.
“We did it!”
Jack throws a punch into the air, running straight for his friend, who remained kneeling. He immediately gave him a tight hug, lifting him up before jumping around in celebration.
“We actually made it.”
Arty, though sobbing and filled with tears, now had this smile on his face, letting out chuckles. Unable to control the mix of happiness and anxiety still lingering within his heart.
“Come on! We still need to get mister Clifford out of that monster’s mouth.”
Jack gives his friend a good tap, encouraging him to move since he can hear the man letting out muffled shouts inside the beats.
None of them could make out what the guy was trying to say, but they deduced it was because of being stuck in there.
After wiping his tears and taking in a deep breath, Arty throws a quick nod, putting on a heartfelt smile as they made their way to the giant carcass.
Both ended up stopping upon sensing an eery energy emanating from the thing, along with the sudden change in the corpses’ color.
The others remained unaware of this, still drunk in their triumph that they hardly notice the foreboding atmosphere until the last minute.
A gust of wind blasted from the monster, rippling into the surrounding, which cause everyone to become aware.
The floor on which it laid shattered as the alpha wolf began moving once more.
“What’s happening?”
Jack hissed in frustration, seeing the glow in the eyes of the beast return as it stood up once more.
Its body was now consumed by a dark flame, dancing with each motion it made. All of them fell to the ground, stunned by the blast of energy released from its howl.
There was not a single person there who had enough strength to fight, having exhausted themselves during the last confrontation.
Again, they were at the mercy of the enemy. Vulnerable, all they could do was gape in sheer horror, as the dire wolf stood up in its full glory.
The black hell flame consumed the surrounding forest, enclosing them in a cage of pyre.
Eyes glowing red, the alpha released a glare which cause many of them to faint, leaving only Malver and the two youth conscious.
All three were barely awake, struggling to succumb to the immense weight of the suffocating aura the monster was releasing.
As all seemed lost, with nobody having any strength left to fight. But then the dire wolf’s head falls, separating from its body, blood gushing out of the severed neck, rendering them all in a state of shock.
None of them saw what happened, nor can they explain the sudden death of their enemy.
All they know was they were now safe from the danger, which prompted them to laugh out in confusion from being saved for a second time.
Clifford remained looking at the shattered blade, still processing on the mistake he’d made. He was certain he had increased the weapons’ durability before using it, but cannot get around why it broke.He can’t help but ponder, trying to understand the error he did, coming up with speculations and realization in regard to the limits and capabilities of his system.“Are you well, sir Clifford?”Malver had moved closer to their now celebrated hero, curious as to the reason for his long silence.For the past hour after their encounter, the man had remained silent during their entire walk into the dead of the night, although everyone was in high spirits, celebrating their recent victory.Soldiers continued to talk about the feat as they made their way into the darkness of the forest, yet they no longer showed any hints of fear.Influenced by what they’ve seen, all of them had this renewed energy and courage. Each one becoming much vigilant and active than before.So it became a mystery to
Clifford remains staring at the two youths, quietly observing how they bash and smash one skeleton after the other.There was something quite pleasing and relaxing, seeing how they smiled and laugh while fighting.He can sense that they were enjoying themselves against those weaker enemies, as the creature were not posing much danger at all.Of course, he also took this chance to test out some things, as there was nobody else there. With the soldiers busy guarding the village and Malver taking command of them, it left them to handle the monsters on their own.“You saw that! My healing works against them!”Arty’s voice broke through the silence, letting out an adorable shine with his smile, proud and happy for having defeated a skeleton with the use of his skills.The creature’s animated body crumbled after getting blasted with the green light.Both youngsters did a quick high-five, switching places afterwards to not waste any time.“Nice! I told you. If we keep this up, will finally c
Everyone breathe a sigh of relief, relaxing the minute they stepped out of the forest. They got greeted by the chilly breeze and warm sunshine.Wide green fields replaced the lush, tall trees. There was nothing but grass, rocks, and mounds up to the next hill, which was a few kilometers away. There were no shadows or any possible hiding spots for lurking monsters, putting them at ease.As everyone seem to have calmed now slowing down their march, Clifford finally had the chance to move beside the knight, as he seemed more pleasant after getting out of the woods.“Sir Malver, may I ask a question?”He had to increase the speed of his steps just so he could keep up with the steed. All the while looking up to make sure he and the guy were seeing eye to eye.He took the opportunity, as both Arty and Jack were goofing off, running through the pasture without a care. Finally able to fool around, since they no longer needed to stay vigilant of their surrounding.“Of course.”Malver quickly n
Shoulders slouch, all Clifford can do was follow the two lively youths, as they went their merry way into the cathedral.Yet his eyes remained keen on the structures surrounding them.Within the entire town, the place stood out loud, being the only one having walls of stone.It also had an extensive garden, filled with flowering plants, vegetables, and a vineyard.What truly caught his sights were the murals and statues adoring it.It was the image of a woman with a large ring behind her, arms stretched out as if enticing someone to be in her embrace.It wouldn’t have been a cause for concern if he had not seen the sculptures and paintings.As the picture on it reminded him of the sphere, he saw in the void. And from the looks of it, the figure could be the deity of that kingdom.“What class do you think sir Clifford belongs to?”Arty couldn’t help his enthusiasm and excitement. Just imagining about it was making his insides giddy. Also, there was this sense of ease within him, knowin
The bearded man continued to mumble incessantly, praying to the statue for a clairvoyance, in order to understand the mistake during the summoning.While Clifford’s group went their merry way, as they finished what they came there for.Though not what they had expected, they remained jolly as they walked out of the room, leaving the still gawking clergy.“The hero title seems to be available to certain individuals.”This was the excuse he made up, wanting to make sure the youths would feel special. He didn’t want to take such a rank, considering it had both merits and drawbacks.Besides, he was not used to the limelight, let alone get looked up upon by kids with such promise. As he can see, they had a bright future ahead of them.He concluded it was best to stay as a supporting character, having not much interest or drive to stand out
Atop the balcony on the highest part of a castle. King Brell Briskworn looks down upon his domain. The wrinkle in his eyes increasing as a smile formed on his face, seeing the number of additional houses being built.Merchants flocked from different parts of the country, along with travelers and royals. There have also been more commoners walking on the streets, filling almost every corner of the city.Their kingdom was progressing perfectly, and it was all thanks to having all twelve heroes there. It made the mass feel secured, knowing they had powerful and godlike individuals on their side.All of this provided a beneficial effect on their land. As they were gaining more popularity, along with being respected and feared.The sound of creaking double doors open broke through the peace and silence of the room. Before loud clacking foot steps continued in.Yet the royal did not falter or bother to look. Confident with the number of guards stationed inside with him.A young man, Altron
Clifford’s brows furrowed, unable to hide the dread creeping into him upon checking his system. The window has been popping up with the same message repeatedly. Especially after arriving in the third town.It showed, “Warning, entering restricted field. Proceed with caution.”And then his ‘editor’ and ‘controller’ option ends up blinking, making it impossible to be chosen, leaving him only with the choice for character, as it was the only one unaffected.A sense of foreboding took over him, understanding that there was a risk if he moved forward. The only consolation was the fact he was going farther from monster infested areas.He stops upon hearing familiar noises from afar, prompting him to listen in on the exchange that was happening. Curious about what the youths were discussing.Gathered at the gates, the heroes remain in a circle as they faced one another, still not over the incident that happened a few days ago.Bad blood seems to have worked its way into them. After the misun
Clifford was gaping in awe as he stepped into the castle halls. White marble pillars dawned on them upon stepping inside.All laced with intricately designed crimson curtains interwoven with golden linings. A red carpet set on the middle of the floor to greet them.People lined up from each side, some wearing those frilly medieval clothing, others dressed in just the same rags he was in. Yet all of them were murmuring, whispering to one another as they gave them condescending gazes.He had to swallow hard to force the uncontrolled pumping in his chest, needing to remove the lump that had formed because of it.The number of onlookers made him uncomfortable, as he was never good at being the center of attraction. But even with his heart racing, his mind remained collected, driving his legs to move on their own to follow the royal guards.“Welcome to Salemhide, sir otherworlder. I am Brell Briskworn, ruler of this magnificent land. We have been awaiting your arrival.”The king wore his b