Redcap Hermes

Rushing forward before my combo can time out at only four hits thanks to Geist, I feint a thrust for the redcap's chest to force them into retreating once again before leaping into a 360 Edge. Of course, the trained assassin saw through the feint and was ready for my leaping attack.

Ducking into a short roll under my attack, the redcap comes up right beside me and bolts upright, trying to curl its blade up under my upper armor and into my ribs. I turned into the attack at the last second, trying to trigger Evasive Actions once again only for the sword to simply gouge up into my armor for more than forty damage. However, the redcap's sword was stuck in my armor for a moment and I got to bend down on my back leg before rising up into a savage uppercut.

Ten percent of the redcap's health disappeared in an instant, finally dropping it below sixty percent of its health before it hit the ground for another one percent. My own health had been dropped to about eighty percent but a quick First-Aid while running up to the redcap gave me more of an edge.

When I got to it, the redcap was almost to its feet and in the process of turning around to face me. They had just enough time to raise their sword defensively, blocking the hammering chop of Midnight Hauntings but still being forced down on the ground from my buffed Strength from combos and facing goblins. Sadly, I did not have the time to enjoy my position of power because the other goblins were getting back on their feet again.

Hammering down on the redcap once again so that its arms and sword were forced down on its chest for five percent of its health, I turn and sprint back toward the other goblins. They were already reduced nearly to half of their health so the first goblin went down easily with a simple slash across the back. Then the next was sent spinning with a returning backhand slash that took off one of its arms.

Glancing back to see the redcap already on its feet and on its way over, I cull one more goblin before chopping through a fourth's leg and running away. The redcap was already hot on my heels, literally scything its blade fluidly at my ankles as it ran as if it was simply toying with me. This little bastard was getting cocky just because I was running AWAY from it.

Little bastard had no idea I was just putting distance between us and its help before suddenly jumping forward into a high BACK flip. Caught completely by surprise after having spent its time attacking low to the ground waiting for the moment it got close enough to cripple me, the redcap staggered passed under me before skidding to a stop.

By the time it was turned around back toward me I was already landing with my sword raised high overhead. They once again managed to raise their sword braced against either hand at the hilt and flat side of the point. But I once again was too strong for them. Strength might have been MY lowest stat but it was even worse for THEM.

Forced down into a kneel, the redcap had no way to defend itself from my knee that suddenly slammed up into their chin. Once again thrown up into the air as their health drops just below half, the redcap flails to move themselves in the air as I step forward and ruthlessly punch them in the chest to slam them back down into the ground. Once again, though, I could not take the time to press my advantage because the other goblins were running right over.

Kicking the redcap in the ribs up into the air and almost down to thirty percent of its health, I turn and run back to the few goblins still able to run after me. Even when my sword struck their weapons, the small monsters were easily thrown aside by my overwhelming Strength compared to their halved stats. It was while killing all but the one-legged goblin that it occurred to me I would probably be dead right now if the redcap was not also suffering from those debuffs.

Whirling back around while the one-legged goblin was still crawling twenty-yards away, I find the redcap advancing much more slowly and carefully now that its health was so low and I was steadily creeping closer and closer to full health with my increased passive healing.

Smiling angrily to bare my teeth like a fellow beast at the advanced goblin, I sheathe my sword and take off my gloves before pointing at the redcap in an unspoken challenge. Shrieking its fury, the redcap stabs its crescent ivory sword into the ground before charging across the distance. I simply ran forward to meet it.

Feinting a lunging haymaker, I drop to the ground and roll to the left as the redcap hops up into a spinning back kick that would have really hurt. From my position, though, the leg it was preparing to land on was hanging right in front of me. I reached out, grabbed the recap's skinny ankle, and cast First-Aid while slinging them straight up in the air. With an overall Strength of seventy-seven, the one-thirty-pound redcap and its ten or fifteen pounds of equipment went almost ten feet up.

I had thrown the redcap from a sitting position but before it even reached the peak of its airtime I was on my feet and waiting. Snatching them from the air by their ankle as they fall back down, I spin around twice until I can cast First-Aid on them again to bring their health back up to over half before letting go. They flew all the way back into the passage.

Dragging itself haggardly out of the tunnel with a slight limp from all of the abuse I had been putting it through, the redcap was reduced to about twenty percent of its health and was obviously wary of continuing the fight. Being healed so that it can continually be beaten was probably the perfect recipe for PTSD. I almost felt bad for it, but I had a plan in mind.

"You're strong," I say softly, almost soothingly like a parent talking to an upset child as I slowly walk forward. "Stronger than me, if not for my achievements. But, you're just not strong enough. I can make you stronger, though. Come, accept this Beast Master as your master," I say while partially drawing my sword to slit open my palm with before extending my hand.

The redcap curled its lips in an angry snarl and started running forward but I simply placed my other hand on the hilt of Midnight Hauntings and they slowed to a stop less than ten yards away. I could reach him from here and he knew it, he was just that familiar with my Strength stat and skills. Still, it was hesitant.

Not only did my achievements weaken goblin kind but it also made them hate and despise me to the point of ignoring other players as long as they could find room to swing at me. The redcap, as an advanced species of goblin, had to be highly intelligent to function in its usual line or work and thus understood what my offered bloody hand represented. Looking almost regretfully toward its sword stuck in the ground too far away to get to passed me, the redcap seems to make a choice.

At first it raised its fingertips up to its neck as if they would claw their own jugular or carotid, but then I grasped my sword a little tighter and they hesitated while narrowing their eyes at me. Then, instead of giving in to its pride the redcap chose life by bringing the pad of its thumb to its mouth and biting down. Only a second later, we were shaking hands while baring teeth at each other.

[You have Blood Bound: Redcap Hermes]

[+250XP]

[For reaching a mutually beneficial agreement, the Redcap known as Hermes is now bound to you. Your highest stats are Endurance and Agility at 99 and 98, Redcap Hermes receives +9 to both Endurance and Agility. Redcap Hermes' highest stats are Agility and Intelligence at 112 and 89, you receive +11 to Agility and +8 to Intelligence. Because both of you are speed warriors and Spin Specialists, you both receive a further +5 to Agility and each other's acrobatic attacks]

[Acquired Skill: Flying Guillotine]

[+50XP]

[Flying Guillotine LV1: Using a properly weighted or specially designed weapon, you can now land a particular type of spinning chop attack designed to transfer blunt impact throughout the body while cleaving through softened flesh to easily dismember and decapitate with (150)% normal damage values. Is even more effective when bearing your weight down on the enemy from above. Current Weapon: Approved]

[Your Agility has risen above 100. Received Agility Perk: Maneuverability]

[+100XP]

[Maneuverability: After reaching one hundred points in Agility, your body naturally becomes 10% more flexible and faster while your speed of thought and reflexes increases by the same margin]

[Your Intelligence has risen above 100. Received Intelligence Perk: Parallel Thought]

[+100XP]

[Parallel Thought: After reaching one hundred points in Intelligence, your mind now runs fast enough to process two lines of thought at once, allowing you to cast magics at half of their original times as well as casting multiple magics at once. As an unofficial magic character, you only receive +50 mana for this mage class perk]

Then, just for shits and giggles, I decided to take a look at the redcap's stats.

[Name: Redcap Hermes

Level: 42

Affinity: Fire, Wind, Darkness

HP: 350

MP:230

PATK:74

PDEF:45

MATK: 26

MDEF: 45

Strength: 66

Endurance: 89

Agility: 126

Intelligence: 89

Willpower: 84

Luck: 33

Description: Born and raised for the sole purpose of enacting vengeance on behalf of the upper echelons of goblin society, Redcap Hermes was trained by some of the most dangerous goblin warriors on the Imperial Continent only to end up bested by the bane of goblin kind, the reborn Goburin Sureya, Life Hack. In exchange for the chance to grow truly powerful, Hermes now serves Life Hack as his shadow guardian.

Inventory: Huntsman's Raiment, Ceremonial Goblin Scythe

Skills: Swordsmanship LV10 Flying Guillotine LV6 Staunch LV8 Burning Gale LV3 Wind Cutter LV4 Fireball LV4 Shadow Merge LVMAX Electric Aversion LV5 Spin Specialist Flip Specialist Maneuverability 360 Edge LV1]

"You had magic but never used it?" I ask curiously while casting First-Aid on the heavily wounded redcap, opening the interesting looking skills of Staunch and Electric Aversion. I soon answered my own question in doing this.

Staunch turned out to be the First-Aid skill that stops bleeding wounds and even forces some blood back into the body at higher levels to replenish some bleeding damage. Electric Aversion, however, was an anti-skill developed by being tortured using electricity as a form of discipline. Apparently, Hermes had a rebellious phase because they were one of a few redcaps capable of magic and to punish its misuse they fried him a bunch of times.

Now, being struck with electricity has the debuff of disabling his magic. That was an insanely lucky debuff for the assassin sent after me to have, but now it was a particularly nasty weakness for my companion. However, this was a psychological issue and I was fairly certain I could help him overcome the trauma to remove the 'aversion'.

As well, I was surprised to see how high his Strength was. If not for my title and perk debuffs, I would have been hard pressed to man handle this goblin the way I did. In fact, his spin attacks should have been even faster than mine! There was probably a lot that I could learn from him.

"By the gods, you crazy bastard!" Sir Beryl exclaims as he and Lana come back into the barren ground under the tree and end the event with a short list of notifications. "You actually tamed a bloody redcap! Do you know how scary those things can be? Just one standing in the tunnel is enough to wake me up out of a dead sleep, boy!"

Unappreciative of the yelling, Hermes bares his teeth at the two loud and sudden arrivals until I flick him on the head and then cast First-Aid. He was almost fully recovered but that was the main reason why I had to at least act like he would be disciplined for his behavior. With his stats, if he got mad and took a swing at Lana it would probably take half of her health even in the heavy leather slayer suit.

I would have no choice but to cut off my own familiar's head.

Examining the redcap's armor to find it was a ceremonial raiment made up of all of his assassinations, literally covering himself in the glory and strengths of his enemies, I flippantly say, "A goblin is a goblin is a goblin, is a monster just like any other. With my Beast Mastery skill, taming one is just a matter of testing my abilities and achievements. Scary, though, is a good description for this guy. I almost got messed up a few times in there."

Not only did the Huntsman's Raiment provide some small stat and resistance affects but I had also damaged it with 360 Edge and Geist so that its values were reduced. All it needed was some bone and flesh and keratin pieces as well as 'living fibers', so I called my familiars out of hiding in the meadows.

"That was probably the hardest I have ever seen you fight," Lana remarks while slowly and carefully walking around the four-foot-ten advanced goblin to examine it. "I have heard about them and read about them in Aunt Mara's library but I never thought I would see a monster as high class as this one. They're supposed to be upper C grade."

"This one has magic, so he's pretty much B grade as it is," I inform her calmly as Cweeper walks over and draws her sword. Pulling up the sleeve of my armor, I look away from Cweeper and to the redcap who was watching Cweeper suspiciously despite my smiling at him.

"Um, what is your- OH MY GODS," Lana starts to ask and then shrieks hysterically, marking the time it took for Cweeper to raise her clawed sword and swing it down on my wrist. "What are you doing?! Stop this!" Lana screams, starting to run forward until Sir Beryl stops her with a hand on her shoulder as Cweeper grabbed my stump with her Soothing Hands.

Seeming to understand what we had in mine, Sir Beryl simply watches my hand slowly regenerate as I scream quietly through my nose to express the agony that I had put myself through while saying, "Redcaps are different from other goblins, Ms. Lana. Their weapons and armor are testaments of their skill and power. Every few pieces of its upper dress and leggings comes from something that it killed and it gives them power. However, it is fragile so if it ever lost a fight it becomes useless. Hack is doing this to repair the redcap's equipment as well as to strengthen their bonds. It's okay… I think."

*