Chapter 19: aftermath

"Well," Nicolas began, "After you let of that massive explosion, the other wolves stopped attacking, and I got a notification saying something along the lines of, 'harming your party members subjects can negatively affect the relationship between the two parties', so I stopped attacking"

"Is that it?" Alex asked incredulously.

"Yep" Nicolas responded in a matter a fact tone, "now if you do not mind, I have some business to attend to"

Alex watched as Nicolas moved towards a massive clump of crimson fur, a crimson liquid that Alex assumed was blood, leaking from it.

"Bath time" Nicolas said, prodding the ball of wool and blood.

The ball shuddered in response, and let out a small cry of dissatisfaction, before rolling away at an incredible pace.

"Get back here you" Nicolas called, chasing after the rolling ball.

The pair carved a trail of destruction with their chase, sending any poor wolf that stood in their way flying.

After the first wolf was sent flying like a bowling pin, Nicolas and the fluff ball were given a wide birth.

Alex watched with bemusement as the two ran all around the quarry like a pair of headless chickens.

While he was waiting for them to tire each other out, he decided to open the system log to see what had happened.

[Congratulations user 'Jack Aubrey for defeating a D rank, boss class, true level 50 blood red bark wolf

You have been awarded 100000xp

You have slain an E rank, boss class, true level 50 wood worm

You have been awarded 5000xp

Warning:

Due to use of skill 'divine radiance' you have depleted all mp reserves

You are inflicted with the negative status 'mana deficiency'

Your character will be unconscious for one in game hour

Quest completed

Rewards being distributed...

You have received the title 'One with the honour of the crimson wolves'

The boss 'Blood red bark wolf' has given you an extra reward for giving it a worthy final battle

The boss 'Blood red bark wolf has gifted you a portion of its xp

You have received 30000 xp

The boss 'blood red bark wolf' has given you one of its skill paths

You have gained the skill path 'basic whip control'

Due to the nature of the 'blood red bark wolf's' title 'ruler of the red path' you have inherited the title 'ruler of the red path'

The 'blood red bark wolf' gives you its final quest: glory to the pack

Your teammate 'Nicolas Flamel' has defeated 10 'blood red dire wolves' of levels: 14,15,16,18,13,20,16,13,19,21

You have been awarded 4125 xp

Your teammate 'Nicolas Flamel's' familiar has defeated 3 'blood red dire wolves' of level: 14,16,12,21

You have been awarded 788 xp

'The one who crafted the stars' is pleased with your worthy debut fight

A small gift has been prepared for you]

[Title name: One with the honour of the crimson wolves (Tale grade)

Effect: Str and Dex +3, wolf type creatures find you a more likable character and user dependant stats such as loyalty and trust start naturally higher and are easier to raise, however they are also easier to lower, any species or faction hostile to the 'blood red wolves' will gain a negative relationship with you

You who have battled with honour and resolve have been acknowledged by the blood red dire wolves, as such, you have been marked by them as one that should be shown respect, the insignia of the blood red dire wolves that now curls around you ring finger is proof of your prowess, all those that acknowledge the blood red dire wolves now recognise you]

[Title name: Ruler of the red path (Ruler grade)

Effect: The red path becomes your territory; it can be managed however you want and all creatures that inhabit the red path are your subjects, the location of all secrets inside of the red path are viewable, and extra information may be unlocked.

A title given to a ruler, the red path is the weakest area of the dreaded forest, as such, the struggle for survival is a lot fiercer, only the strong can rule this area, rule with an iron fist and bring all the creatures of the wood to heal, or rule with compassion and make the forest itself your ally]

[Quest name: Glory to the pack

Details: The 'blood red bark wolf' has made peace with its death and is ready to move on, but it can't help but worry for the future of its pack, without their leader, the pack is weak and venerable, and other forces may try and take the red path and drive out the pack, the 'blood red bark wolf' prays that you will help the tribe prosper and protect them from harm till they are ready to make it on their own

Clear conditions: help the tribe prosper and protect them from outside threats until they can defend themselves, the pack must remain inside the red path

Rewards: Xp, undying loyalty of the pack, title 'Honourable spirit farer'

Failure penalty: None]

The last line made Alex raise an eyebrow, a 'small gift', could you be anymore nebulous and undefined.

Ah well, it won't come back and bite me in the ass later, right? right?

He turned his attention back to Nicolas, who had finally caught the fluff ball.

"Jesus" Nicolas muttered, "do you hate baths that much?"

"Can you hold this?" Nicolas asked, shoving the ball of wool into Alex's hands.

"What is this?" Alex asked quizzically.

"Well," Nicolas said with a smile, "lets just say there is a reason she's called peu blanc"

"Oh," Alex said in surprise, realizing that the wriggling ball in his hands was blanc.

Nicolas began to draw a line in the air, an acrid green line of glowing energy following his finger. The line slowly diverged from the path Nicolas's finger drew, slowly trickling through the air like water.

Nicolas finally retracted his finger after a minute of drawing, and let out a sigh, his breath forming a cloud of vapour despite the moderate temperature of the forest. An acrid green energy, the same colour as the line, sparking and leaping inside the cloud. Nicolas opened his eyes slowly, no longer a pupil in sight, his eyes had been taken over by a familiar acrid green.

Nicolas raised his hand in a solemn manner, the line of energy cracking at the edges, letting bolts of acrid green energy fly out that seemed to devour the very air around it, slowly forming a bridge of energy between the line and the palm.

Before the entire spectacle came to a halt as Nicolas open palm slapped line of energy, causing it to erupt in an acrid green firework display.

As the blinding light cleared, an ominous green cloud formed above Alex's head.

Before Alex could make a single sound, a waterfall of light green liquid was dumped upon his head, engulfing him and the ball of wool in his hands.

"All that," Alex gurgled out through the downpour of what he had come to understand was a very weak acid, "all that build up, for what? to drench me in the weakest acid possible, if this was any weaker, it would heal me"

"Firstly," Nicolas responded in turn, "that is very hurtful, secondly your right, the tell-tale sign of a good shower is whether your flesh melts off while in close proximity"

"Then use water magic"

"I only know acid magic"

"Then learn it"

"Ah yes, because I can just pull random magic bull-shit out my ass, why didn't I think of that"

"I mean, have you tried it?"

The downpour of acid finally stopped, revealing a spotless ball of wool, wriggling manically in the clutch of an equally spotless Alex, who was currently showing Nicolas a look of innocent curiosity.

"Well," Nicolas said in a devilish tone, a line of glowing energy already beginning to fill the empty air "since you were complaining about the intensity"

Alex hurled the still struggling woollen ball at Nicolas and made a mad dash for anywhere but where he stood currently.

He didn't get far however, as his legs gave out beneath him, pain coursing from his tender kneecaps.

While he was lying face first in the dirt, he heard the rhythmic thud, thud of approaching footsteps upon the hard ground.

When he looked up, he saw Nicolas crouched next to him, his head resting in his hand, a small ball of wool writhing in anger at his feet.

"So," Alex began, "I'm sorry for my past transgressions and pray that you will find it in your heart to forgive me"

"Hmm" Nicolas responded in a satisfied tone, before getting up and walking away, dragging the angry Blanc with him.

Alex got up on shaky legs, wincing as he applied more pressure on them.

"You good?", the neutral tone telling Alex it was Stephen that was speaking.

"Fine" He responded in a display of faux confidence.

"That was one hell of a fight"

"I guess it was"

Stephen turned his head to what remained of the pack of wolves, a look of disapproval on his face.

"You should go help them" He finally stated after a while of contemplation.

"Well look at you, being all compassionate"

"No," Stephen responded calmly, "it's simply easier to manipulate someone when they believe they owe you something"

Alex was slightly taken aback at Stephen's coldness; however, he should have expected it.

Alex strode over to the pack of wolves, watching as the cubs recoiled from him in fear, and the adults stepped forward, lips pealed back in a snarl.

They had all gathered round a wounded wolf currently lying on the ground, a diseased looking wound on its shoulder.

Alex made to get closer to the wolf, however, the healthy ones stepped in-between them, a low growl emanating from each wolf.

Alex raised his hands to show he meant no harm, but the growls just intensified, and the wolves stepped forward in unison, a menacing glint in each of their eyes.

Alex lowered his hands slowly, and stared the wolves down, lowering his voice to a hushed growl to match the wolves.

"This is an order, step aside"

The wolves previous menacing growls were replaced with frightened whimpers.

Alex moved forward, the wolves splitting up to form a path to the injured wolf.

The wolf raised its head weakly and stared daggers at Alex, and gave a strained growl, before deciding it was two much effort and flopping back onto the floor, the will to live slowly ebbing away from its eyes.

Alex surveyed the wound, and after realising he did not have a medical degree, lifted his eyepatch to see if his fancy 'eye of god' could find the problem.

When Alex raised his eye-patch, a slight pressure appeared on his eye.

Alex immediately covered his eye back up, not wanting to put anymore strain than he needed to on it, but he had seen all he needed to.

The wound was coursing with a translucent, deep purple ooze, bubbling and writhing, but never spilling over, spreading slowly over the wolf's entire body, slowly corroding it away.

Alex had now come to realise what this was, after a bit of experimentation before the journey began, he had found that what the eye saw was mana, and mana changed its properties depending on the element, so this had to be something along the lines of poison mana, which would make sense as the ego weapons all had access to some poison attack.

Alex raised his left hand, moving it over the wound, A small vortex of pale green liquid forming in his palm.

[Anti-venom shot]

the vortex slowly closed in on itself, tighter and tighter, forming a slowly rotating orb, which dropped onto the wound.

Alex removed his eyepatch once more and was pleased to see that the poisonous mana was dissolving before his eyes.

But still, the wolf wouldn't make it if not given some form of treatment.

"Hey Nicolas" Alex called.

"Huh?" Nicolas replied in surprise, a pair of scissors and a comb in his hand, and a neatly trimmed Blanc humming merrily on his lap.

"Got anymore potions"

"A few"

"Then chuck one over here"

"Sure" Nicolas replied, hurling a bottle at Alex.

The crystal glass vial tumbled through the air, the light reflecting beautifully off of its perfectly cut surface.

Alex deftly caught the bottle, and uncorked the bottle quickly, forcing the healing liquid down the poor wolf's throat.

He just prayed it would work out.