Chapter 11 - Lyrcrest Life Flower Tattoo
Chapter 11 - Lyrcrest Life Flower Tattoo
Lyrcrest Life Flower Tattoo
Can only be granted by the royalty of the Redskull tribe, A secret preservation tattoo created by transmuting 6 sacrifices, to serve as petals for the flower tattoo… To serve as an extension of the bearer's life.
Just by reading the skill, Levi could easily tell that this skill wasn't something that a newly integrated world would ever hope to have, not to mention know of. Suddenly flashes of their fight replayed all over again. It forced him to re-evaluate the strength of the Orcs. The Red Skull Tribe, including the unnamed Red Orc he fought.
.
Now that he thought about it, the more stronger orcs that belonged to the Red Skull tribe, as well as the weak orcs he had fought along the way didn't really make sense. He was thinking along the lines that the orcs were simply weak and infantile, yet examining his battles through [EVA], Levi noticed that the orcs moved as if they're suffering an illness, they were far too squishy and far too slow for a species that had culture focused in combat…
Not to mention, the strength they must originally have to even qualify to wield the caliber of their life magic…
The battle was more of a test for Levi rather than an actual fight.
The Red Orc, even when weakened, could've easily killed him in an instant if it wanted to. Levi's mind flashing at the moment he witnessed the last attack of the enemy champion. That bright glow that allowed the strong but weakened red orc to withstand a full blown meteoric strike from him.
What was that? And how many of those orcs are able to do the same?
Levi clicked his tongue.
Other than the mystery of the ability, it had also meant that escaping was never really an option. It didn't matter if he won or lost, or even if he had tried to run away. He would have likely died should he had disappointed the Red Orc in battle. And it's likely that he wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
Levi simply did not have the ability to kill the red orc six whole times… And that was expecting that the Red Orc only had six lives. Judging by the description of the tattoo, this was a tattoo meant to be a gift for those acknowledged by the tribe, and it would only make sense that the actual members have more lives, not to mention the red scion of the red skull tribe…
He chuckled unamused.
What if he had impressed the Red Orc but wasn't able to defeat nor create a draw in the end? Levi shuddered once again recalling the description of the Lyrcrest Flower Tattoo.
He had yet to test the abilities of the flower but he knew that there were very few beings that deserved to be transformed into a 'petal' for the soon to be garden of the young member of the Red Skull Tribe.
The only option was to thoroughly match and entertain the red orc in melee. And thankfully that was what he did. A cutthroat negotiation in the form of combat…
'Petal huh...'
Levi mumbled as he stretched and flexed his newly healed finger, looking back at the direction of where the Red Orc went to, having [EVA] mark the location for when he gets strong enough to comeback to this place.
…
…. ….
.
As he took his time to recover. Levi's thoughts inevitably lurked back to his recent enemies. Comparing [Red Skull Tribe Orcs] to the [Wraiths] he fought. The sheer power of his enemies causing a shiver to run down his spine, but at the same time, excitement filled his eyes. The battle with the red orc had been by far the most fun he have had in years…
And although it was grim, it was in a way the challenge and desperation he had been yearning for. But at this rate, he'd likely die before reaching the capital, not to mention comeback for another showdown with the Red Orc. What he needed was…
.
'Time.'
'I need more time…'
Levi mumbled to himself. He had been lucky this time but nevertheless he had made it through. It was a chance encounter that Levi doubt anyone in the world would be able to replicate. But the discovery of the System… Or Systems… was a start of at least something to hope for.
Sometimes, a spark was the only thing we ever needed.
That and even more time.
Lots of it.
…
… …
.
.
Slightly opening the zipper of the upper part of his jacket, Levi saw the Lyrcrest Life Flower tattooed on his chest for the very first time.
Looking at the tattoo, he watched the intricate lines and details of the fictitious design. He saw patterns and threads seemingly logical, but ultimately didn't make sense making Levi shrug as he knew he'd likely need more time. Instead focusing on the overall design of the tattoo.
Noting the flower like outer shape as well as the skull in place of the anther that was directly centered at where Levi's heart should be. The anther or for this case the skull is surrounded by 6 aesthetically distributed petals, covering a significant part of his chest. The overall image of the tattoo looking 'okay' but not really something that Levi would like to have as the first design… Though that was instantly remedies as he focused on the other tattoo that spanned the opposite side of his chest area. The design of the next tattoo somehow matching the twin chained Sickles tattoo painted on his right arm.
Once again Levi tried to decipher what ever details the tattoos meant, but again lacked the prior knowledge required to decipher the secrets of the [Red Skull Tribe's] ways.
Using EVA to do one one full scan of his bod, he once again nodded. Thoroughly approving of the two new additions. He had always planned to get tattoos at some point, specially when achieving certain milestones, though he always gets stuck during the choosing process, the night always ending with Levi just passing on the idea before recalling the wish from time to time like an afterthought, but this time, the results looked to be final.
Or at least he thought so.
And as life have always done whenever you delay too long, it forces a choice on you. Levi laughed in a slightly better mood as he willed his intent to summon the first 'Petal'.
Casting the skill, Levi felt a tug on his being, as a strange circle formed and lightly glowed at the ground where Levi directed his intent, before he could react, a flash of light happened and then a petal at the shape of a woman materialized as if it bloomed from the ground.
Then he heard a voice call.
"Master…"
A melodic but soulless voice echoed in his thoughts making him tilt his head before sighing in disappointment. Just by a single glance, he could tell that the personality of the woman has been sealed or somehow distorted.
And though it was obvious, he tried one by one just to see that it was the same for all of the petals.
He somehow felt sad looking at the construct. Or atleast the one trapped in it. His instincts letting him know of a faint presence controlling the leaf. His instincts somehow knowing that 'Individuality' the only reason being why the soul still exists as a part of the petal.
Levi felt pity at the idea of the 'Six female slaves…' or women having to extinguish parts of their soul to a bare minimum. What if they're still there watching what was once their body move as their 'Owner' willed them so.
He looked at the petal face to face, before sighing.
'At least those Orcs had the taste to mask their former appearance...'
Levi mumbled as he shook his head.
…
… …
Once again summoning the petals to observe them one by one, Levi noted that different shape and size of each Petal. Their aesthetic design varying depending on their build or class?... Levi was unsure, but the petals carried their own unique weapons, befitting their overall build and idle stance.
All of the petals have different classes, and if he were to guess, one was a swordsman, the largest one was a tank or like a shielder. The archer and assassin likewise obvious. Though the last two looked to be either a healer or a casters seeing the both of them carried their own staff as their weapon.
It looked weird, but Levi ignored the buzzling orcs, testing out his link as he shuffled to each petal. Specifically testing the speed, range and retention of his link to the petals when following his commands. And then later switching to a more specialized process to check the accuracy of how the petals followed his commands.
He was specially pleased with how the petals were able to understand both complex chained commands and vague instructions like
patrol, hide or even spar.
Though that usually resulted in more predictable moves, the petals somehow acting like a pathfinder that always opted to do the nearest route. The nature-ish thematic look of the petals being betrayed by their predictable and robotic movements.
Like puppets controlled by strings.
.
Besides aesthetics, the capabilities and senses of the petals seems to be based on Levi's overall stats. Though a bit more specialized per archetype unlike Levi, who aimed for a uniquely balanced overall physique right from day one, as verified by the attributes page he saw earlier.
Strength | 51
Dexterity | 56
Perception | 52
Constitution | 50
Other than that, the last two petals, the two that were carrying a staff, sadly were unable to cast any magic. The petal notifying him of the impossibility of his commands due to the the absence of innate mana in his current body. This resulted with the two caster petals being useless in the meantime. Due to how sluggish and weak their movements are.
It's likely that these two had allocated the majority of their time casting and memorizing spells… But Levi thought it would surely payoff later on, and if not then maybe he found his first sacrifice of choice should he ever face the day he would need to use the reincarnation function of the tattoo.
…
.
Overall, the skill was useful, as expected of the very rarity of the tattoo. The only caveat being the inability of the petals to communicate back aside from whenever they cannot do a command which greatly limits its use for scouting and reconnaissance. Though I think it's safe to say that Levi's nature will not be allow himself to use the the women as additional combatant, unless really needed…
Not to mention as a scout or cannon fodder.
The behavior stemming from being a veteran at such a young age. Both avoidant and apathetic to the loss of comrades and friends. Especially if he's the one to make the order himself.
Must be the only reason he left command now that he thought about it.
Levi shrugged. Finally ready to continue his journey.
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… …
To be continued.