Chapter 17 : Things are heating up ?
He ran around gathering branches, left arm remains lit and stretched never taking his eyes off the creatures. The creatures grew impatient once again throwing caution to the wind and resumed attacking. With an armpit full of wooden branch sticks and the left arm retracted, he dodged swiftly. Every time he dodged and made a little distance between himself and the creatures. He would grab a stick by the end that was closest, he would quickly light it up and firmly place it in the ground. Afterward would he would leap elsewhere to repeat the progress. His movement was so nibbled and he wasted no effort.
In mere moments, the entire area was bright and visible, using the sticks and his fire ability. He set up torches in a circular pattern that encased both him and the creatures. It was almost as if it was a ring fit for a death match between enemies engage in mortal combat, a ring of fire that is. Both Ladicus looked panicked at the sight of the darkness they cherish whisked away by the bright ambers of multiple torches. Right then and there, Zyle can see them much clearer-standing six feet tall. Most of their body looked to be the same texture and complex brown coloring as tree bark. That included the limbs and the upper humanoid halves and the mid-lower halves were hairy and dark like a black spider. their heads were spiky looking as if they were wearing tilted crowns oddly on top of their oval-shaped face. Protruding from their upper limbs were bronze-colored blades resembling scythes. Both Ladicus grow desperate to flee from the now overly bright area but first, they eagerly wanted to put an end to the source of their discomfort. Who of which currently appeared to be unarmed and unguarded.
They bolted towards Zyle and slash downward with their bladed hands. Evaded 4 simultaneous blade slashes almost effortlessly by Zyle leaps back and then jumps up high over the left one's head. Then used the back of the head of its head like a trampoline as he propel 20 feet away. At last, the sword he embedded in the ground was within reach just as he intended. The moment Zyle grab his sword he intended to do something but the creatures were too relentless. They attacked fiercely and quickly like the crazed beast they were, with the clear intent to rid of Zyle swiftly. Zyle dodge a few, and using his sword he would fan off some of the attacks.
From occasionally to gradually, he would slash back at them and almost always be met with bladed hands. His sword would clash against one of the two creatures' scyth-like hands and both of them would bounce off each other nearly every time. The strikes were fast and brutal as they continued to clash. This transpired for some time until it seemed like there would be one clear victor if the close-quarter clashing were to continue. Zyle was one who eventually started to get pushed back and put on in the defensive position. After all, it was 4 blades versus one and the swings were showing no signs of letting up. Once again, both Ladicus swing the blade downward as Zyle defensively raised his blade to meet them in an attempt to reduce the force of the blow. With a slight miscalculation, the strikes send Zyle skidding backward almost 10 feet away.
Enough distance was created and Zyle took advantage of the fact. He closed his eyes and sharpen his ears as a precaution. Any slight movement he would hear it before the creatures could strike. He took a deep breath and begin to concentrate. He then grabs the pummel of the sword with both hands and was certain what comes next would work. At the very least, he hoping it does, and then all of a sudden...
/BOOSH!!!/
Fire shot up from the base of the sword all the way to the tip of the blade. Yes! It worked, " Zyle thought ecstatically. Zyle was now wielding a flaming sword. He then swung the sword around as if he was paying homage to a movie he watched back on Earth, about a space warrior who uses weapons and sabers made of light. He rotated the flamed sword around him mimicking those warriors' swordplays. Both Ladicus were already too fed up, they disregard their fear of fire like yesterday's news. They charge and Zyle charges to meet them head-on. Zyle was much faster and with such quickness and accuracy, he manage to slash one of Ladicus' right front legs right off. His flame blade was indeed a powerful weapon to wield. The creature squealed in pain, then it tumbled to the floor on its side, it looked frightened as it screeched with fixed eyes on Zyle.
The second Ladicus did something completely unexpected. It somehow dug itself underground from where it once stood. The first Ladicus that remained on the floor hissing and snarling as it dragged itself backward. It seems that it was having great difficulty balancing itself, which was evident from the several attempts it made trying to stand back up. It swung its left-hand blade down diagonally toward Zyle as he slowly approaches while dragging the sword on his right side. Targeting the arm at the joint, with a quick upward slash he cleaves the arm clean off. The blade arm flew past him and tumble to the ground behind him. The frightful Ladicus unsuccessfully scurried away just a few feet. Zyle continued to advance leisurely as if he was just taking a little stroll.
Meanwhile, the second Ladicus was tunneling its way underground. Once it picked up Zyle's exact position, it would pop up and slash him in half. At least that was the idea but what actually happened was completely different. Sensing a slight vibration under his feet, Zyle jumped as high as he could. He flipped himself upside down extending overhead and let gravity do the rest. the creature popped out of the ground with a furious slash only to realize it slashed nothing but air and the next second, a blade was thrust through its head and stabbed partially through its lower body too by folding the creature in half. Once the Ladicus died and the system confirmed it [HP:0/500], Zyle withdrew his sword from the dead creature's corpse. The first Ladicus already crawling away when it looked back fearfully to see Zyle advancing toward it.
"You picked this fight, you don't get to escape it so no matter what you will die," said Zyle with subtle anger in his tone.
The creature loudly yelled {{{HELP ME!!} facing towards the night sky
Zyled quicken his pace and said:
"And the person, you brutally killed and stole that voice from ...."
Mid-sentence Zyle rushed forward with great speed and chopped the Ladicus' head over with a fierce horizontal slash.
He continued ... " Maybe they rest in peace," while removing the flame from his blade.
He then walked over to each magical beast to remove the core from them along with a curved out piece of meat. Then he made his way back to where he left his other belongings. While walking the system went off some updates.
<<<<<<<<< System messages >>>>>>>>
First Time Kill: +100 exp
Ladicus killed: +150 exp
Ladicus killed: +150 exp
Quest completed : + 50 exp
Quest reward: + 25 AP
400 + /1000 exp to level 8
When Zyle got near the tree he rested against before, he was relieved to see his backpack was untouched and as he left it. the fire he made before had burnt out so he reignited it and begin to cook the parcel of meat from the two Ladicus. Once Zyle finished eating, he gained 2 more strength points added to his strength, and with that - he was ready to get a move on.
By that time the sun was already starting to rise. Just as dawn broke, Zyle continued his travel toward the village as he walk, he resume practicing fire control. Periodically, he would think of all the different ways he could apply his fire ability. Occasionally, he would have other thoughts as his mind wondered. Once such thought was how he wished he would not encounter any more beasts until he reaches his destination. Sadly, Fortune did not favor him, while he was deep in thought - as he approached another open field the air was eerie and thick. Upon taking his first step into the open plain, He had a sudden heavy unsettling feeling in his gut. Before he even had a chance to turn, He heard a loud crunching sound, and a huge object was thrown across the field. He had come face to face with his greatest and most powerful Foe yet.
as the uncertainty and a slight fear settled in like never before, he whispered under his breath.
"dammit ...."