Chapter 18: The Journey Continues
Two sunsets had passed since Herris bid farewell to the Warrior Elves village. Their voyage had been tranquil, a serenity brought about by the companions Herris had chosen for this journey.
Herris found himself sprawled on the ground, his gaze lost in the obsidian canvas of the night sky. His eyes danced from one constellation to another, as if seeking comfort in their celestial glow. Wilson served as his pillow, providing a soft cushion for his weary head. Nearby, a campfire flickered, its warmth seeping into his chilled skin.
Across the dancing flames of the campfire, a trio of Warrior Elves huddled. To Herris's right, a stone cart with four sturdy wheels stood, each wheel fastened to the flatbed with metallic axles.
Herris cast a glance at the sky, a sense of tranquility washing over him, a feeling he attributed to the presence of the elves.
Among them was the warrior elf who had subjected Herris to a week of torment. The other two, slender in stature, held staffs crafted from tree branches. They placed them on the ground and began their chant,
"Spirits, shield us from the Fiends. I offer my elemental essence."
"Spirits, guard us from the Fiends. I sacrifice my lifespan."
As their voices melded into a harmonious incantation, the sand beneath them started to radiate a soft, orange glow. The ground pulsed in rhythm with their chant, coming alive momentarily before fading, only to be revived with each repetition of their spiritual plea.
Throughout the night, the two warriors sustained their chant, their voices unwavering. The pulsating ground formed a protective shield, deterring any predators that might have been drawn to their encampment.
With a sigh of contentment, Herris felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he gradually succumbed to sleep, Wilson snoring softly beside him.
The gentle kiss of sunlight roused Herris from his slumber, the first peaceful sleep he had experienced since his arrival in this alien world. His eyelids felt like lead, mirroring the heaviness of his body.
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and took in the sight before him:
The sun had already begun its ascent, painting the eastern horizon with soft hues of dawn. The once dark sky was now a canvas of pastel colors, the clouds retreating from the sun's growing warmth. The golden sand, kissed by sunlight, shimmered like a sea of tiny gems, carried by the whispering breeze that rustled through the dunes.
In that moment, the world seemed serene to Herris, tempting him to abandon his quest for revenge and simply bask in the tranquility of the sky.
But Herris knew he couldn't surrender; he wasn't ready to accept defeat. Clenching his fist, he closed his eyes, the memories of his past hardships flooding back, from his childhood to his recent burial in the sand.
Slowly, Herris's veins bulged in anger, his fist clenched tight. With an expression of calm determination, he opened his eyes. Despite the red hue of fury, his resolve remained steadfast. His tranquil demeanor concealed a simmering rage, a potent fuel driving him to confront the challenges that lay ahead.
Turning on his heel, Herris strode towards the elf who was securing Wilson to the cart, readying for departure.
As the group vacated their resting spot, they left behind a large, complex pattern imprinted in the sand—an encircled symbol, a testament to their brief respite and the protective enchantment they had cast.
Under the relentless sun, they journeyed across the vast desert expanse. When the sun reached its peak, casting its most intense rays directly overhead, they decided to halt their wagon.
Dismounting from Wilson, Herris instructed the muscular elf,
"Remove the reins and wait here. I will hunt the food for today."
"Affirmative, Sir!" The muscular elf acknowledged in his gentle tone.
While the muscular elf unhitched Wilson's reins, the other two elves were catching up on sleep in the cart, their faces etched with exhaustion.
They had spent the entire previous night chanting and crafting a spirit circle around them to ward off any monsters lurking beneath the sands.
Once Wilson was unhitched, Herris mounted him and set off to complete today's quest.
Herris knew that the Daily Quest was optional. It was a means to earn Exp and Quest Points, but today, his aim was different.
After distancing himself a few meters from the Warrior Elves, Herris dismounted and ascended a mound of sand, its sides sloping down.
Herris accessed his System window and selected Daily Quest:
***
[Daily Quest:]
[Hunt down 10 Wolves: 0/10]
[Reward: 150 Quest Points
Exp: 10]
---
[Initiate Quest]
[Yes] [No]
***
With the quest unchanged, Herris selected [Yes], Wilson eager to take down every wolf.
As Herris selected "Yes," the atmosphere underwent a dramatic shift. A dense, ominous smoke began to shroud both sides of the sloping landscape, obscuring the view. From within the swirling fog, thirty wolves materialized, their eyes ablaze with a fierce, furious rage aimed directly at Herris.
They cautiously approached Herris from both sides, wary of Wilson. But Herris, with a wide grin, raised his hands high and flicked his finger.
"AWOOO!" Wilson's howl echoed, marking the commencement of the hunt. With a powerful leap, he lunged to his right, targeting the alpha wolf of the pack. In a swift and ruthless motion, he seized the wolf by its throat, bringing it down with a violent force.
As Wilson distanced himself from Herris, the wolf pack, sensing an opportunity, lunged at Herris.
Despite the imminent danger, Herris remained composed and unfazed. With a subtle, confident smirk, he lifted his right hand and gave a casual wave, as if acknowledging old acquaintances. The wolves, now airborne, their muscular limbs outstretched and jaws agape, were rapidly closing in on their target.
As the wolves lunged towards Herris, he intoned,
"Summon, Roots of Will."
In an instant, a lattice of roots materialized around his left wrist. With a gesture towards Wilson, the roots shot out, ensnaring Wilson's back and pulling Herris toward him.
The abrupt movement caused the leading wolf to miss its intended target, leaving Herris momentarily safe as he was drawn towards his companion. The roots retracted, pulling Herris closer to Wilson and out of the wolves' immediate reach.
[Wolves Hunted: 5/10]
Herris landed securely on Wilson, but the remaining wolves quickly regrouped and closed in on him. Wilson, showcasing remarkable agility, leaped on his hind legs, evading the wolves' attempts to bring him down. He took a few nimble steps, maneuvering out of the tight spot, and resumed his relentless assault on the wolves.
Wilson's strategy was to target the wolves at the back of the pack, effectively reducing their numbers and disrupting their formation. Despite witnessing their comrades being ruthlessly dispatched, the remaining wolves pressed on with their assault, attempting to encircle and overpower Wilson. Their determination to overcome Wilson's fierce attacks only heightened their aggression, creating a chaotic and brutal skirmish around Herris.
[Wolves Hunted: 7/10]
[Wolves Hunted: 8/10]
"Good boy, think about all the meat you can feast on after the battle."
Even amidst the chaos, Herris remained composed and even found the time to encourage Wilson.
Herris kept a keen eye on all the wolves that Wilson had slain. The sand around them was stained with blood, and the bodies of the fallen white wolves began to pile up. The intensity of the battle did not waver, with more wolves joining the fray as their fallen comrades were added to the grim tally.
Once the wolf death count reached nine, Herris thought,
'Everything is going as planned. Time to execute Plan Dinner.'
He accessed his [Inventory], navigated to the [Item] tab, and long-pressed the [Nil] Slot for a few seconds.
A new blue screen materialized before his face. Herris quickly scanned the positions of the fallen wolves and chanted,
"Summon, Roots of Will."
This time, a network of roots began to form around his body. Eight thick, chain-like roots sprouted from behind him, their texture reminiscent of sturdy metal. Simultaneously, large roots extended from both of his hands, their formidable presence adding to his growing aura of power.
The roots moved with precision and speed, swiftly encasing the bodies of the fallen wolves. The root on Herris's right hand coiled and tightened like a vise, gripping his hand.
Meanwhile, other roots spread across the entire field, ensnaring Wilson and rendering him immobile.
This gave the remaining wolves an upper hand, and they quickly seized the opportunity to attack.
"JUMP!" Herris barked, his voice reverberating in the silent desert. Wilson, responding to his master's command, vaulted into the sky with all his strength.
As Wilson's hooves left the ground, Herris's right hand aimed downward, the roots recoiled with a force that rattled the ground. The moment they struck the ground, a massive explosion of sand erupted from beneath them.
"BOOM!" The violent blast sent sand and debris flying in all directions. Both Herris and Wilson were launched upwards like a spring, their ascent aided by the powerful recoil of the roots. The roots also lifted the bodies of the dead wolves, hoisting them from the sand as the chaotic scene unfolded.
The explosion created a cloud of dust and sand, momentarily obscuring the battlefield.
Once they were airborne, Herris quickly commanded,
"Retract, Roots of Will."
The roots began to retract at a rapid pace, pulling the lifeless wolves toward Herris. He skillfully redirected them to the blue screen in his inventory interface. The wolves, tightly bound by the roots, moved toward the screen, guided by Herris's control.
One by one, the wolves touched the blue screen and were instantly absorbed into Herris's inventory. The blue screen flashed briefly with each addition, confirming the successful transfer of each wolf into his collection.
Despite the success of his plan, Herris didn't pause to celebrate. There were still wolves to contend with, and he was rapidly descending.
"Crush its skull, Wilson!"
Herris commanded, his voice firm.
As his right-hand root shot downwards, anchoring itself into the ground, it provided Wilson with the stability needed to maneuver. With a powerful thrust, Wilson leaped through the air, propelled by the roots.
Wilson's target was a large wolf on the edge of the pack. He pounced with lethal precision, his jaws closing around the wolf's head. The force of the bite, combined with his sharp teeth, instantly crushed the wolf's skull, killing it on impact.
With that, a notification appeared,
[Daily Quest Completed:]
[Hunt Down 10 Wolves: 10/10]
[Reward: 150 Quest Points]
[Exp: 10]
Once the quest concluded, the remaining wolves began to dissolve into mist. Their bodies disintegrated, blending seamlessly with the surrounding air and vanishing without a trace. The once tumultuous battlefield fell silent, with only the gentle breeze marking the aftermath of the intense encounter.
[End of Chapter]