《Skill Customize Creator System》


 1 Awakening

    "Ugh my head hurts"


    He could feel the earth touching his uncovered body with a wet touch which was wholly uncomfortable, with a lurching pull he fell forward into his legs which refused to budge.


    " my back,i feel like a old man"


    Feeling confused he rubbed his head which gonged like bell without stopping, He felt a distinct numbness which pervade his body , he looked around ,it was a lush grove filled with great domineering trees withnature surrounding him with great variety of flora of many sizes and colorations, if he thought to himself that if he saw the Amazon this is what it would look like.,it was truly beautiful.


    "Where the fuck am i ?"


    He was sleeping in his compy bed not in some fucking forest


    He thought to himself,who the hell had it out for me to kidnap him and leave himin some forest ,His mother too nice ,his father well that ones is not out the question, always wanted to get rid of him ,My brother didn''t even feel threatened by me ,fuck what do i do now ,i should of watched those shows on survival ,i have no idea how to improvise, or adapt and no fucking way i can overcome this


    With a crack of his neck he stretched his now hurting body and got up with a wobble of a drunk man falling back down due to his legs seemed to not want to follow his own orders


    Covered with the dirt & indignation in his heart at his clumsiness he got himself up and brushed himself off with the one positive thing, no one saw that.


    "Ok i need to get my bearings "


    He knew he was in some deep shit here so decided to just take it in and calm the hell down, Breathing he could taste in the crisp and clean air, he could smell that indescribable smell of nature.


    That was the end of the nice things, he could feel pain, He felt bloody wet and cold and that was uncomfortable. Yeah he needed to get out of this place pronto he mused.


    "At least i know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west"


    Looking up there were 2 distinct sunshafts penertraing the canopy like holy spears ,one of theselights has some red tint and one more like the one he knew ,his home star.


    He just raised his hands to his chin and thought about this, and said promptley with no sort care


    "The fuck why is there two suns"


    He just scratched his still thumping head and put it up to some sort of hallucinogenic effect of a fucking concussion some bastard gave him.


    As he came to his senses goosebumps ran down his back and a faint rasping was heard behind him and he turned to meet this noise which confused him.


    "Ok the jokes over" He quickly crooked his head at a janky angle looking back.


    A large jet black bull stood there horns ready to gore him


    "Oh......shit."

 2 Discomfor

    He bolted like a coward with the tail behind his legs


    "Fuck ,why the fuck is a massive bull here"


    He ran to the nearest tree and stood behind it breathing heavily.


    "Oh fuck, oh fuck who and why the fuck "


    Shouting with all of his might as if someone will hear him and stop this insanity


    "THIS IS NOT FUCKING FUNNY "


    Crooking his body and leaning past hoping to lady luck that the bull would just go elsewhere he got a better look, a massive muscular giant of a bull probably able to go toe to toe with a bloody monster truck.


    "Mother fucking mia "


    The bull started to display its horns and arched itself ready to charge.


    "That thing looks like he is not stopping does it "


    As any self-respecting coward he bolted, thank god running away from responsibilities helped with running away from danger just the same,As his legs stumbled through the wet foliage his legs started to be eviscerated with the serrated leaves which seemed to litter the ground and as he ran he prolifically sweard which would make any mother want to wash out her sons mouth.


    He looked back and that thing was looked ready and at his momentary lapse of concentration due to fear he fell over


    "Oh bloody hell why does this need to happen "


    He tried to move his legs but they did not move at all as if mother earth was doing a civic duty to his mother to punish him for swearing


    "Not fucking now, i don''t want to die due to some fucking clumsiness"


    The bull charged with the might of a freight train ready to turn you into a fine paste


    As it charged tearing of bark was heard echoing through the forest with the following sounds of fluttering by the bords leaving its perch startled by the noise.


    He was done for that thing was FUCKING TEARING THROUGH TREES


    this stress was disrupted by a large ding like an old retro level up and the headache dissipated and full-on terror took over.


    "Oh please tell me this is some dream or some fucking sick joke"


    [Host this is no dream,I am the Skills Customise Creator System, I have no time to explain but you may survive if you accept me]


    "Do i have a choice & who in the hell are you the condescending voice in my head"


    [Chances of survival without me 0 %, with me 10%]


    "What fucking choice do I have! "


    With a heavy sigh, he verbalized the 3 letters the system needed


    "YES"

 3 Emergency

    [Permission Granted ]


    [Current Skills ,Minor Pain resistance ]


    [Pychological Category unlocked, Suffix resistance unlocked ]


    [Emergency System control, Permission to use all current system power to help ]


    "What do you think the answer is ,YES" Shaking with fear as the bull was tearing his way through to its helpless meal


    [Minor Stress Resistance Created]


    He felt a cold wave flow through his head down to his very toes and legs, this made his hairs and goddam the headache hurt like hell, but his shaking was steadying but he knew full well he couldnt function or even get away.


    [Minor Fear Resistance Created]


    Another wave came from his head down which further steadied his shaking body, he felt like the storm was calmed but not that much but the pain was like a buck to the head . Now he could move.


    A loud bang echoed as a tree was felled and the very present and painfully obvious cause of that faced him down.


    "System giving me a fucking chill pill will not help me here !"


    [System recognizes this and is putting parts in place, Skill Unlocked, Cowards sprint, due to previous practicein earlier life against what in your memories as bullies and "farther"]


    "Wait you can read my memories, Also the fuck, allow a man to die with some dignity in his heart, i don''t want to die and be joked about by some condescending voice in my head "


    [Apologes but you better start running ]


    With a crack his leg which he was trying to pry broke the wood which held it


    He mused how now his skill at running away has now come in handy.


    After felling one tree and making its presence pretty fucking clear dangerous a clear opening for the next charge the bull arched to charge again.


    He stood up and bolted away like no fucking tomorrow

 4 Cowards Sprin

    As he ran nothing else was special and now he had a fucking bull bearing down on him like a bowling bowl going to wreck his day.


    "System the fuck, why isnt anything different "


    [You must activate the skill,activation can be done by thinking of the name of the skill,this has been streamlined due to your, questionable talent]


    "Ok then fuck it [Cowards Sprint ]"


    [Congratulation you have just used your first skill]


    "Oh fuck off, "


    He started to feel a heat flow through his body without recourse and he was speeding up ,a bit too much.


    "oh shit oh shit "


    He started to speed up to an immense speed, with each step he accelerated to an immense degree with no sign of stopping but luckily his path was clear


    As the bull charged early not wanting to fail to capture this weak prey or the indignation would stain its bestial pride ,as it charged it caught out tailing him with just a few meters apart, a game of cat and mouse but the punishment for getting caught is a horn the size of your body goring you .


    "Why am i going so fast, how do i fucking stop "


    [Cowards Sprint increases speed proportionate to the power of the thing you are running away from and your own, Do not rely on this as in perspective you in power are an ant to this "bull" ]


    "Oh fuck you i didn''t ask for a snarky system "


    As he started to run without a single stop he was speeding up exponentially and gaining distance and the bull and the bull would not let up and would not suffer this as it caught up the distance constricted but widened and this continued through the clearing in the forest


    As the pair continued to run he saw a massive tree in front of them, he knew one thing, get that stupid lug of muscle and testosterone to ram into that fucking hulking tree its dead or at least get a concussion,


    "I don''t know how much of a thick skull such a stupid muscle brain of a beast this is "


    Gaining as much speed as he could he gambled, he skidded to a stop burning his shoes out and in front of that massive domineering tree stood with his face touching it at the end of his skidding


    Wiping the sweat of his brow he mused to himself.


    "that could be embarrassing to ram into a tree and die"


    Yelling with all his might the 4 words which could end him


    "Come here you bastard "

 5 Relife

    Filled with rage the Bull charged with all its might


    "Its do or die "


    As the bull closed he knew if he didn''t have those 2 resistances he would be absolutely frozen up , now it just felt like he was muddled and could at least think clearly,


    As the bull blind by rage anticipated the goring it raised its immense horns and the end of this cat of mouse game was just about to end.


    He skidded to the side with all his might getting a mouth full of dirt and closing his eyes, as he jumped a massive thunk of the bull hitting the tree echoed like an unearthly shriek throught the forest as he looked up all the birds scattered scared out of there nooks.


    he mused, just like Tom and jerry,Tom all ready


    "Thank you system "


    [Your Welcome ]


    Sighing a sigh of relief which felt absurdly satisfying he raised his body up , covered with dirt but this time he felt different than the last time its not indignation but pride and hot and warm feeling of satisfaction pervaded his body


    "Now is this fucking lug dead " he thought with great interest as he needed to hold back that pride until he confirmed this bastards death


    He picked up a stick, a very long one and started to prod the body of the bull like some sort of kid at the zoo trying to get a reaction but he didn''t want a reaction, he wanted it dead.


    "No reaction good enough for me "


    He fell backwards without a single hesitation breathing heavily and plopped his ass down on the floor and a very long sigh come out of his lungs


    [Congrats on killing [K*n* o* *h* *o**es*] ,due to disproportionate levels of power skill creation token is awarded, due to you did not kill it no other awards are awardable]


    "Fucking stingy aren''t you system, thought I was starting to like you, what is these skill tokens and why cannot read the hole name"


    [Skill tokens allow for the purchase of , suffixes, categories such as the one allowing for the creation of stress & fear resistance or active skills such as cowards sprint, Certain information you have not yet discovered for yourself so I cannot answer that even if i have the information]


    "Ok then, Why was i able to get cowards sprint "


    [That skill was developed through your own life and action of being a "coward"but you could not unlock it so the system took the liberty and unlocked it using the remaining energy after creating fear and stress resistance, Fear & Stress resistance was created due to you unlocked the psychological category & suffix of resistance ]


    "I don''t fully understand but.Ok, I guess? , Can i get a new skill then "


    [Yes, I recommend climbing so that you could scale these trees to be able to get both saftey and the ability to find your way out ]


    "System, Does fear resistance help with vertigo if not i have no chance of scaling any of these trees and two, did you bring me here system?


    [As phobias cause fear the fear resistance will cause a reduced effect to a manageable degree, for your second question i do not have the information to answer that and if i did you have not discovered it have you ]


    "Well then go ahead ad purchase the skill"


    [Climbing Skill Purchased, Host i hope you do not need the explanation what this does ]


    "Are you going to be snarky constantly anyway, out of the frying pan into the fire ."

 6 The Climb

    "Ok then lets do this "


    he picked himself up from his contemplative state when up to the massive tree .


    "Isnt this more like a skyscraper "


    The very tree raised up to the very skies themselves piercing the clouds like the tower of Babalon with an ancient majesty which he could not describe,


    "[Climb]"


    .


    .


    "Nothing is happening"


    [Climb is a passive skill which allows the body to automatically climb ]


    "Oh "


    As he put his hands on the wood a faint azure light coated certain points on the tree


    "What are these"


    [Azure light is indicative of system assistance, In the scenario of the skill climb it represents spots which are most structurally sound to reach, Also Climb increases effectiveness of movement while scaling so if your pyschial aptitude is not up to par for the task it will compensate"


    "Thanks....do not know if that was snarky but ill take that one "


    He started to climb with conviction adamant on getting to the top of the canopy in hopes to look for some civilization to go to.


    As he reached for each blue spot as if by instinct his body moved, it was like his body knew what he was doing but he did not, as this became more automatic as if a professional climber has taken the reins of his body he just moved. He mused wondering on these mysterious things called skills.


    "What are skills "


    [Not fully determinable,they can be calledthe accumulation of experience which imprint permanently into the body, they mayinnate at birth, inherited from the parents or created due to extreme circumstances or develop throught a lifetime and stay dormant ]


    "So how the hell do you create them if they are experiences "


    [As Host , you must experience something similar to create a skill, for example, you must resist a certain type of effect to be able to create skills such as your pain resistance skill i was capable or creating 2 minor psychological resistant skills]


    "Then how can i learn climbing"


    [Skills which are not mystical in nature and which can be achieved through mere practice can be shortcutted to , but need proper training to be truly effective depending on how much training would of been needed to make them stronger ]


    "So bassicly your a convience tool "


    [Yes.....in certain respects]


    "Hhahahahaahahhaha"


    with that burst of laughter he lost his grip and swayed ,a cold sweat covered him and he quickly recovered he looked down and froze, he didnt relise how far he was climbing ,he was near the bloody top and it was a long way down and a shudder went throgh him but he endured the fear that coursed through him .


    [Minor Fear Resitence has upgraded to Fear Resistence]


    A wave of cold like when the skills was created pervaded his body filling it with its touch,he would never get used to this feeling.


    "I can upgrade skill?"


    [Skills develop as the same way through creation, through experince,such as with Fear Resistence in the current scenario you find yourself in with a phobia you are bound to feel a level of fear]


    "Yes and?"


    [Due to the experience of fear previously which you endured against the "Bull"& the overcoming of the fear caused by your phobia consciously & subconsciously it developed the skill further into its normal state if you gained it normally ]


    "So in the case of resistance you need to persevere through something to become resistant for a prolonged time or an extreme amount of it to become resistant or enhance the resistance? "


    [Yes, The system recommends not enduring things which will hurt the host as the fragility of the human body will break before resistance is created ]


    "Oh that makes sense,So the minor skill which are created are inferior to that created through the normal accumulation of the experience & I can through experiencing the same gain the same level "


    [Unexpected Intelligent Comment, Error ,Yes skills provided are inferior but can be developed to the same level easier than anyone by virtue of the system,though you can create a normall skill but as such with the scenario you found youself in you can choose to create 2 minor skills for a normall skill]


    "So you are useful after all,So about these levels? "


    [System allows the customization and creation of skills and allows the maximum potential of skills to be reached.As skills unquantifiable in most cases the frequency can represent there power.


    Minor -Weakest form and can only be created by the system with the greatest growth potential


    "Normal"-Skills able to be held by the average population but those who are average cannot develop past normal and even so it is rare ,1/100 will have a normal skill.


    Great -Skills held by some exceptional individuals in a population and marks the geniuses of that society


    Greater-Marks those people 1 within 100 years if they can develop to this point and are destined for greatness among society reaching feats people could only dream of


    Major-Marks those 1 within the whole 1000 years and are destined to be a legend


    Skills have potential per person able to reach a certain level with the system development speed is exponentially increased,normally when someone has a skill they may develop it 1 level higher with great effort which may span their entire life and in the area of great they can never reach the next level due to diminishing returns and only increase in small increments but with the system all skills are of Major Potential and the starting point of skills will


    vary ]


    "So you like a cheat but, a massive but ,i need both to develop these myself and live long enough,you know with all the may span the entire life to get a better level "


    [Yes]


    As this conversation was happening he continued to scale the great tree and was reaching the top of the canopy of the rest of the trees as the final stretch was reached he pierced it with a hand and the glaring brightness of the suns now shone with there majestic glory not just relegated to sunshafts at the bottom of the forest .


    As he looked around, it was beautiful but intimidating, massive stretches of the forest with a beauty untouched by anything but nature.


    Lush bright green leaves covered the great forest roof with trees piercing above there fellow brothers spreading their ire above those below, these trees were thick with twigs which were more reminiscent of capillaries in there 100s holding up leaves ,There was a smattering of birds which flew above covered with bright feathers and patterns not common or he even knew on earth .


    one thing now cemented itself as true.


    This is not earth and with a pinch of his arm this is not a dream either.

 7 Learning

    While looking around a thought came to mind, he knew his forgetful nature and he guessed he will be accumulated skills if this system is truthful to its name.


    "So system, how am i going to keep track of these skills ?"


    [The system can represent your skills in a visual representation.pictures Help kids remember]


    "Yes ....."


    with a blue azure flash which startled him, he lurched back in surprise pressing himself against the coarse bark of the tree.


    A floating box appeared.


    He tried to wave his hand through it and it just dissipated and reformed after his hand passed, as if playing he continued to swipe through it confused on how it stayed there.


    [The representation is not a cats toy, Also the screen is only visible by you, Also this will show what condition is your health in ]


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Name:


    Gender:Male


    Age:17


    Body Status: Chubby , Damaged Ankle , Estimated recovery 2 days


    Status Effects:Hungry ,Tired ,Cold


    Actives:


    Cowards Sprint 10/60 Mins


    Passive:


    Pain Resistance, Stress Resistance, Fear Resistance, Climb


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


    " Why am i nameless and what with the numbers next to the active"


    [Those numbers represent how long it will take to reuse an active skill, active skills have a cooldown on use,You are nameless due to you have not given me your name]


    "Why the hell am i considered chubby "


    [Body fat exceeds 25%]


    "Ohh come on can i not lose weight"


    [The system can provide a weight loss shortcut within the next week ]


    "Oh fuck you, wait, what about next week?"


    [Due to the system has not been developed it will take a week to create produce 1 minor skill,due to the use of the system energy to increase the chance of survival,at optimum at the current system abilities you would be able to create 2 minor skills and 3 minor if experience is build up previously in one ]


    "How do i restore this energy "


    [Killing living things, sentient & Not ]


    "Ok that''s a bit ominous, Also all I have been seeing is the creation of skills where is the customization "


    [The system allows for modification of preexisting skills wording changing their effect but must bear similarity in some way to the original spell for example Cowards Sprint can be turned into Courageous Sprint ,Certain limitation exists that certain word changes entirely may require the enhancement or maybe entirely impossible for the system while changing it to an opposite or similar word will reduce modification cost also changing or removing one word can reduce the cost of modification ,Also meeting certain requirement may make it cheaper like acting courageously ,You may either create customize skills when the option is available ]


    Still feeling pretty hurt by the innate skill Cowards Sprint he wanted to know how to change it he spoke in a quiet tone and dis-confident tone.


    "So how can i change Cowards Sprint "


    [Caculating, Reduced cost due to the opposite of the word applied. full word change increase applied, the cowardice of the owner applied, With current resources and Host own cowardice this impossible even if the system is enhanced]


    He wondered why he puts up with this.


    "So i don''t forget, my name isCaleb Sol "

 8 Partners

    "i now understand how the hell you work and that you, without my consent read my memories and know about me down t , so we have done our introductions so i guess we are partners by circumstance and you bloody stuck with me now until the foreseeable future, you have a name"


    [I do not have a need for a Monicer]


    "Ok then you condescending dick, i will call you Seesa"


    [I prefer system]


    "Seesa what do you prefer? "


    [Seesa Prefers to be referred to be system]


    Sarcasm rife and annoyance at a high a sentence came out


    "OK then sir i will refer to you as a system when you stop being snarky! "


    Sighing he thought to himself how he wanted the warmth of a fire, a good bed and some normal interaction with a less snarky individual.


    [Host due to your goal to re-enter civilization to not look insane just think but address me as system or the monicer seesa and i will be able to converse there]


    "So you''re always reading my surface thoughts"


    [Yes]


    A massive sigh exited Caleb cusping his head with his hand and looking down and promptly looking straight back up due to that bloody drop is scary.


    "So i have a condescending snarky system which literally just reads my mind, a world which is out to get me, I am hungry, hurting all over, fuck .....what shit have I got myself into"

 9 Goal

    "So for me to survive against stuff around here i need to get you restored "


    [Yes ,Chance to reach civilization without the assistance of the system is 32%]


    "Better than expected but i won''t take it "


    "Any current skills that are currently able to be turned into minor skills "


    [Sleep-derivation Resistance, Hunger Resistance, Hiding, Silent Step, Erase Presence, Blend In


    Camouflage, Knife Mastery]


    Caleb mused how he is currently in a forest without knowledge of our surroundings and one trip could end him and he didn''t want to leave the safety of this big fuck off tree. He asked jokingly


    "Seesa any chance of getting photosynthesis so i can just stay up here in safety?"


    [Plant Skills cannot be obtained at the moment ]


    "The fuck, i can photosynthesize with a skill, i don''t want to know what i have to do to get a plant as a category"


    "So seesa we point of no return any comments "


    [To increase the chance of survival it is recommended to kill creatures easily caught and killed to restore full functionality then we can slowly thrive in this environment until we deem our chances high then exit.]


    "Well with my climbing skill i can get away from most dangers, I have a lot of potential skills to do with being stealthy "


    "Seesa why do i have all those skills available "


    [Skills are able to be flexible and experiences can transfer into different scenarios ,All have been gained through previous action within life in your society and those skills where merely transferable to skills which could be created, blending in for trying to blend in to society where you don''t belong, erase presence ,you neither wanted to be bothered and practiced,silent step, you neither wanted people to be alerted to your presence ,Hiding is a natural reaction after running away.


    Does this provide a natural explanation of the presence of those skills]


    "The knife skill"


    [Cooking]


    "Oh ok ,a bit depressing but what can i do, so as I need to kill to restore you to full functionality, can you create a numerical show of how close i am to restoration "


    [Yes, Please say "progress" to be shown the progress till fixing also i have taken the liberty to create progress to skills which could be turned into minor skills ]


    "Ok then [progress]"


    Fixing the system 0%


    Reckless Confidence -14%


    Irritate -incalucable


    "Really now Seesa"


    Fixing system 0%


    "System ,Better, Now let us get down this tree and get to hunting"

 10 Unfotunate Misinterpretation

    "Oh fuck of fuck of fuck "


    A loud sound of cracking bark could be heard flinching off the tree and exposing white tree flesh rung out within the forest & A human could be seen descending at a fast rate causing a shrill screech as his hands desperately pressed against the bark,This human was Caleb, he was accelerating and headed straight to the horn of the bull.


    [Host ,if you continue at this velocity you will be sodomized by the horn of the dead beast


    "I CAN FUCKING SEE THAT "


    Pushing his hands hard against the bark he felt pain, a lot of pain as his fingers eviscerated against the wood


    "SYSTEM WHY DOESNT CLIMBING HELP GETTING DOWN"


    [Climb is going up and ascending something not going down ]


    "Could of told me that earlier!"


    Caleb knew full well if the system could laugh it was right now


    As he could feel himself slowing he paid a price with his blood as the soft flesh of his hands was being flayed of skin and a wet streak now stained the white flesh of the wood below the bark.


    After looking down in horror the horn is approaching fast


    Caleb laughed maybe the bull will get the last laugh


    "This is not how i want to die ,this is not how i want to diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie"


    As Caleb vocalized the last word which could of been his last he stopped, he grounded to a halt with his bottox an inch away from the spike of the horn .


    "Looks like you didn''t get your revenge after allbut fuck me that was close"


    With a strong kick of anger, Caleb shattered the top of the horn and his next words illustrated the consequences of the reckless kick.


    "FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU"


    Biting down his tongue he silenced himself and a sanguine droplet fell down his lip .


    [System recommends not kicking hard objects]


    He looked at his now flayed fingers


    "System, fuck you"


    [Congratulation you gained the minor skill downclimb & Minor Pain Resistance has increased to Pain Resistence]


    Caleb had a face staring off into the darkness with absolute disapproval, He hated that this voice didn''t have a psychical body as he would love to slap it.

 11 Finding a wepon

    After enduring the indignation suffered which currently now hurt more than anything by virtue of his Pain resistance he breathed a heavy sigh resigning himself to dealing with this system for the foreseeable future.


    After kicking the grass a bit to vent his frustration Caleb hit something hard and it went flying and a large thunk rung out .


    Caleb looked at it ,it was the horn which he kicked off the dead bull,its seemed to found itself lodged into a tree .


    Caleb cringed at the prospect of that hitting his pink plumb flesh.


    Caleb approached it with a jog of excitement at something he could actually defend himself as you can only get so far with cheap tricks, with a heavy pull the horn detached from the tree with a clunk followed by Caleb falling on his ass now used to the indignation promptly stood up.


    he stared at the browned horn ,it was sharp at the tip able to penertrate bark easily with enought force .


    "I wonder will this work "


    Caleb tossed the horn in the air upwards and catching it on its fall as he contiued walking he juggled the sharp horn like a ball ,at his 3rd toss in the air he twisted and threw it with an unexpected force.


    the horn flew straight as a arrow and embedded itself in a tree with a great thunk which made the tree shake ever so slightly which was followed by the fluttering of birds .


    "Good weight, Makeshift weapon is decent enough for now, Not like that bull will need it now"


    Approaching he dislodged it from its newfound nook with a tug but now more careful not to fall on his again and successfully pulled it without his clumsiness manifesting


    [Congratulations]


    "For what"


    [Not falling on your ass, positive reinforcement, partner]


    "Good to know your still here"


    "Seesa, any idea where some easy stuff to kill, preferably not too cute "


    [At the current host power, rabbits is the most suitable target ]


    "Nether killed an animal but i guess its the rule of the jungle here and that sort of modern morality needs to be discarded"


    [Good approach, Cannot have you crying over your next meal can we?]


    With a worried tone, Caleb spoke as if under his breath.


    "Didn''t mean i would mercilessly kill it "


    [Hesitation is not suitable, especially in the situation we find ourselves]


    with a tone of mockery, Celeb said


    "nO sHiT sHeRlOcK ,didn''t notice that i find myself in a hostile environment with a condescending voice in my head"


    .


    .


    "Well, then shall we go hunting? "


    [Yes ,dont trip over on some forest roots this time will you?]


    "Touche"


    eyes narrowed and bearing the horn in his right hand he prepared to venture out into the forest.

 12 Butting heads

    Caleb filled now with gusto and confidence went out to hunt ,he stalked in the foliage and became one with it ,he became the hunter .


    Caleb with steps of a well-trained hunter approached a rabbit like the emissary of death his Scythe to harvest the feeble foe .


    As he struck down to reap his foe of its life ,he missed the stationary rabbit which looked at him quickly and scurried away.


    +14% Delusional Skill


    [Acting like you are a skilled hunter does not constitute actually being good]


    with a sigh escaping his mouth, A dissatisfactory face lay painted across Calebs face


    "This is the 3rd one system, it took me 30 minutes to just get to find it, patronizing me isn''t really helping me is it?"


    [f the host is dissatisfied maybe ask for some help]


    "I will ask it if i need it and i am a man i can at least do this"


    [System Disabled]


    "Wait ,what where the hell do you think your going"


    Caleb looked legitimately distressed like he just lost a toy


    " Fine then have it your way " Caleb puffed up his chest and continued with the hunt


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    2 Hrs later


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Growling his stomach showed its might and intimidated another rabbit which now ran away,


    With a swift punch he struck the beast who ruined his hunt who dared to make his grand plan fail , He winded himself.


    "Ugh"


    falling to the floor feeling all the air being let loose from his body , Caleb now with a face full of dirt and now annoyed beyond belief just sat up and sighed a heavy sigh like someone who has had enough.


    Caleb gently laid down and gave up.


    "uhhhhhhhhhhhh system whyyyyyyyy"


    Caleb surprisingly was bored out of his mind


    "Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy"


    Caleb jumped up and started to kick tuffs of dirt up like a kid


    "WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY"


    Caleb was shouting so the very world could hear


    Caleb would not be eating today


    After Caleb tantrum was getting over with he steadied himself and sighed at his own disgraceful display


    [*Facepalm* you are more child than man when faced with adversity ]


    "Did you just say the noise to represent a facepalm "


    [nO sHiT sHeRlOcK ,Your investigation skill is great how many rabbits have tracked down with such a sharp and investigative mind ]


    .


    .


    .


    "Fucking hell that was harsh, but glad you have my back "


    [Do you wish for the systems asisstance]


    "yes"


    [What did you say]


    "You can read my thoughts Yes"


    [What did you say?]


    "Please help"


    [Better , now lets start hunting properly this time]

 13 Sound ,Smell ,Sigh

    [Host ,how do animals detect threats and prey]


    "Sound, smell ,sight?"


    [So you do have a little intelligence, you should show it some times]


    "Why does this matter"


    [Smell yourself]


    Caleb crooked his head and placed his nose on his armpit, his nose twitched and his face puckered up at his own musk which was unbearable for even an insensitive human nose.


    "Fuck that reeks, I see what you mean "


    [Animals have a keener sense of smell ]


    "Ahh i get you"


    Caleb picked went towards a rather large pile of mud and picked up a handful and sniffed it


    [I dont think that is the best option]


    "What other options are there to mask my scent ,is there any deodorants in this world "


    and continued to cover himself, he cringed at the slimy feeling of it across his bare skin but he knew that he couldn''t complain an continued to cover every inch with mud masking his scent


    [You do realize finding a clean stream would of served the same purpose and provided a drink but i guess it works, what should of i expected at least you blend in now with the browns of the forest ]


    "So do deal with sound i need to tread carefully and slowly "


    [Close]


    [Assistance Protocol Activated]


    As those words resounded through Calebs head a blue figure in the foliage appeared,it looked etheric as if it didnt existst but yet it did ,it was faceless and blank ,like a ghostlike blue mannequin, still and stoic


    "The fuck is that system, its creeping me out"


    [Cannot spoon feed you ,Your challenge is to sneak up to that and if you fail it will flash out of existence and back in and you will have to repeat this ,up to it ]


    "Whats the worse that could happen "


    With a slight crouch Caleb got intohunched position and ready to sneak, with a careful step


    he, he snapped a twig and the target flashed out of existence


    [Fail]


    A sharp pain shot through his head like a flick


    [Try again]


    "Come one "


    On the next try he took great care with each step making sure nothing would make a sound ,while focused on the feet approching the figure turned


    [Host must consider all senses , creatures have sight, consider your plan of approach in all situations]


    [Fail]


    Another painful shot of electric coursed through Calebs head with renewed intensity


    [Try again]


    Crunch


    [Host must not focus on 1 aspect but be capable of multitasking]


    [Fail]


    "Fuck"


    [Try again]


    [You were heard on approach,try to adjust your approch and speed when reaching near the target]


    [Fail]


    [Try again ]


    Caleb kicked dirt in the air in anger


    [Fail]


    "Fuck you i didn''t do anything this time"


    [Fail]


    [Try again]


    Caleb sucked it in and tried, and tried and tried over grueling hours


    But every try he got better, closer and closer until with each step now measured and controlled, with each breath made still as his heart ,with each movement considering all all the methods of detection, sound ,sight ,smell , with a great effort Caleb finally touched the blue man with a stretch to make the fruits of his labors manifest


    "Fucking finally"


    Caleb fell to the ground exhausted from the exertion


    [Congratulations ]


    "Thanks"


    [You have completed easy mode, do you wish to continue to normall]


    "FUCK YOU"

 14 Skulk

    Breathing on the forest floor in exhaustion Caleb stoop up with melancholic pace knowing now there was no avoiding taking the life and now relegating his hesitation to the wind.


    [Now focus and block out all other distractions


    Before stepping into the lush forest anew Caleb used his newfound training and calmed his nerves and mind till he numbed himself to the chirping and the clutter of noises he heard and focused so he had no wayward thoughts, Silencing the beast of his stomach so it would not show its teeth.


    [Now close your eyes and focus on your breathing ,focus on each beat of your heart and let them lay in tandem together]


    Closing his eyes he focusing on his breathing, the noise, how it felt to breathe.it diminished to the point where it was inaudible to the human ear, His heart slowed in tandem and followed a methodical beat, Its tune was powerful and percussive throughout his body as each thump of its drum he heard.


    [Good now , reduce your presence]


    His posture slacked to a crouch, with one last heavy breath he opened his eyes and they shone renewed resolve.


    Caleb with new found vigor skulked in the undergrowth, in the shadows of these hulking trees, each step methodical to not disrupt the foliage or make noise. He slowly skulked listing to every sound in the forest, the whistling winds which swept through, the birds which chirped.He smelled the air,it was refreshing.


    A Snap reverberating through the forest stopping its previous calm


    The noise focused him as if it sent a jolt to his brain, the noise came from his left, The area was dark as the undergrowth was shadowed by those hulking trees canopy''s.


    As he approached the noise he slowly moved through tree to tree, bush to bush. Not revealing a single trace of his existence.


    As he reached the point of the noise a clear opening showed itself where it was untouched by the shadow cast by the trees. Through the trees, he peered.


    He saw a rabbit, A white-furred rabbit, red eyes gleaming.


    He focused his mind muting all other stimuli, All other thoughts than this.


    He stilled himself and as if turned to stone; his breathing dimmed and heart reduced to a faint tune.He prepared the final approach, The pay off was to come.


    He aimed his now narrowed eyes.


    He had a stationary target,just like the blue figure.


    He would capture this lone rabbit.

 15 Play

    [Sound , Smell , Sight , consider them all host]


    Caleb ran through plans within his mind weighing up each approach and the likely hood of detection, he could not afford to fail this one for his own efforts and pride.


    Consoling himself with a mantra that rung out through nature & throughout the history of lifes existence.


    Survival of the fittest.


    Moving his body with a resolve founded on shaky ground he decided on the approach, as he observed the opening a few issues arose ,there was no clear cover on approach and the rabbit is sensitive to hearing so climbing was out of the questing for the added problems that poses ,the mud which slicked his flesh masked the smell and he needed to consider sight .


    He needed to act quickly as if the rabbit scurried into the undergrowth there was no chance of capture it .


    With one final breathe he positioned himself behind the rabbit and as he prepared it was as if the forest itself stilled, the ambient noises which percussed thought the forest stilled, the winds came to a holt, it was just Caleb and this lone rabbit, the play which has been happening throughout the start of time itself, hunter and the hunted .


    Caleb waited until an opportune time getting impatient.


    .


    .


    .


    the rabbit started to groom itself while basking in a sunshaft which split the canopy


    Caleb with a careful thought decided to move, with a methodical pace he picked up a small stone and approached with renewed intent and purpose, his face became stoic ,but with a slight hint of dismay.


    Each step considered and with purpose, with the training he received used to the full extent, carefully judging the very angles he placed his feet, he considered the sight of this little animal and its cone of vision, he had a stone for a last-ditch diversion.


    The horn was held slack in his right arm and a stone in his left .


    Mason approached now only a few meters separated the two souls, his heart raised an everpercussive forcefull tune throughout his body as if in anticipation to the finale, with a careful raise of the horn which glinted in the sunlight the rabbit raised it head as if having a premonition, it looked back at Caleb


    A moment which was only a second but it felt like an age for these two souls, this one second was where the play of the hunter and the hunted will reach climax, a time where a lapse in resolve could cost either side, for the rabbit, its life.


    Caleb struck down as the rabbit, with a glint in its crimson eyes recognized the danger but far too late and couldnt react.


    The horn struck down with splitting force and found itself slicked with the sanguine droplets.


    "May you rest in peace little friend " Caleb said in a sad tone with a face of sadness, he knew the neccesity of this,he came to terms with it now ,he ever dreading this eventually but new the plays end ,with a heavy breath his face turned blank but with a slight grin of satisfaction.


    [Congratulations on your first kill]

 16 Setting Suns

    [8.66% system functionality restored]


    [First Kill Bonus, Minor Skill Token ]


    "Thank you again for your sacrifice little friend again, where would i find a stream " Caleb pondered to himself


    [System has not detected a flowing stream, the system would recommend drai...]


    Cutting the system off with a tone of annoyance


    "I was speaking to my self system , please be silent for now,i need to focus"


    [Understood]


    With a heavy ladened inhalation he Caleb cleared his mind of the storm of conflicts which stood within his mind, that of modern sensibility and adversity to killing and the opposing side that he held the knowledge this was necessary or at least some point it would be.


    He needed to change his mind,


    he walked up to the rabbit''s corpse and held it on his side lower than his sight allowing the gouging wound on the head to lay low and slack, allowing each drop of blood which remained to fall he didn''t want to look at the grisly sight too much but he was not handling it disrespectfully.


    Caleb approached one of the armies of trees of the forest, with an automatic click in his mind blue points played like a kids dot to dot game on the tree , florescent azure light scaled the giant and he needed to join the dots in hope to climb its massive bulk.


    His body even without a hand to used climbed with an awkward pace, he used his the horn to dig deep into the tree giving him more leverage.


    Caleb focused on every breath allowing himself to fall into a trance, allowing the skill to guide his body almost like another entity guided took the reins, it felt like he was detached now from both body and mind and it gave,a clarity he never experienced, there was no storm which wracked his mind there was no future no past but only what is happening now ,his body moving on instinct with no input where he layed slack his body moved without his need. This clarity gave a clinical view to him and focused his mind.


    ''Even if i dont like it, blood in this world is its own currency, i pay in my own or i take my due ''


    with those last words almost like a burst of consciousness his body shook and eyes shot back to life strafing around, that last sentence reverberated through his mind but not in his own tone now ,it was more ominous, more sinister.


    As he looked at his predicament,he was just was a few inches away from piercing the tree canopy, with a lurching pull he pierced the tree canopy and raised himself up ,the sun was setting ,his first day in this world was ending and he was not in a good position but he knew full well he would be dead meat in the night especially if nocturnal hunters exist in this world just the same.


    he just sat at the top looking at the sun setting, watching it fall from over his view, it was a beautiful combination, the orange and red of the new suns which hung over his new home gave of a vibrant spectrum of colors, purples. oranges, reds .


    As he watched them his heart rate fell and the clouded mind calmed to a calm sea ,still he layed now.


    Struggling to keep his eyes open, he succumbed to exhaustion and now slept still on the tree canopy.

 17 Running

    Bark,Bark , Bark,


    "fuck sake, Miss Mcnagert shut your fucking dogs up"


    sliding to the side of his bed he suddenly felt himself reaching out for the alarm, he was falling and with a quick hand he held the tree with desperate reach he stabbed into the tree,he was holding a horn?,As he came back to consciousness he hanged there like a dangling keychain falling through a hole in a bag, he still clutched the rabbit''s carcass tightly.


    3 grey beasts stood there staring at his dangling person like a succulent morsel, wolves stared at him with eyes with intent.


    Caleb''s heart raced like a war drum affecting his whole body,


    boom


    boom


    boom


    With a heavy inhalation and slow exhalation the war drums stilled in their pace but now we''re relegated to a steady but still strong beat, Pulling himself on the branch he rolled onto the canopy with newfound energy and the canopy once more now covered him from sight.


    "The blood attracted wolves, just like my luck"


    Caleb looked at each tree around him, they were closely packed in places with great gaps in some,he could jump between some.


    He knew those wolfs will follow the sound of the trees if he jumps and if he reveals himself below the canopy he would be dead meat.


    "System Purchase Silent Step"


    A ping of acknowledgment wordless but still there reverberated through his mind, after that a rushing burning affected his feet, like pins and needles but those pins and needles are barbed knifes


    Biting hard with slight twitches of pain in his eyes, blood a crimson stream formed from his pink lips dropping down on the emerald green leaves.


    Thankfully burning sensation is only slight


    "Well let''s do some leaps of faith "


    Without hesitation he ran towards the nearest tree and jumped, his legs closed towards his chest and his arms flailed, as he approached the canopy it collapsed inwards but sprung back up like a trampoline laying now straight, as he ran it was noticeably silent but not majorly significant but would do enough to confuse the wolves .


    After getting up from his sunken position in the canopy 3 words came to mind"This is fun"


    with a reckless sprint, he approached the next tree ,he enjoying each and every second, the adrenaline pumped in every jump, everything in his world was now , nothing else to mattered but running.


    He continued to jump to each tree continuously increasing each and every jump his falaling arms closed close and legs were tightening causing him to roll decreasing the time before jumps and slowly each jump now he rolled better and quickly recovered to continue with each jump anew.


    Within his mind this was exhilarating and, he felt alive in the moment, he did not know how many times he jumped but he knew a lot .


    he was now approaching a jump which could be the end of his journey, with reckless abandon instinct took over and verbalized 2 words


    "[Cowards Sprint]"


    With a burst of momentum and no turning back now and a jump no human could make made plausible and with a lofty jump lurching over the great gap he reached the next tree, As he turned to roll the canopy collapsed suddenly and he grasped with desperation clawing at the tree but as if guided by fate , he reached the edge of the barkand now with a fast fall his hand clutching the horn-spiked into the bark slowing his pace to a still .


    The adrenaline cleared clarity of reasoning returned like a rushing stream


    "I need to thank the system for getting me the downclimb ability or i would be dead


    Caleb could hear the rushing of water, it was music to his ears.


    "The gap was caused by a stream "


    Caleb with a jovial pace went down the rest of the tree and landed on the soft tree floor still holding the rabbit in his hand.


    Caleb approached the stream, it was no stream but a river cutting the forest in two, deep blue water with bubbling throth at the top flowed rapidly down constantly, the noise now was obnoxious and


    all-encompassing.


    As he reached the edge of the river in delight 3 stark grey figures faced him down from the edge with the instincts of a coward he started to climb, then he looked back at a safe distance up.


    the stream was too strong for the wolfsto pass through, he was safe

 18 Path Chartered

    He kneeled down next to the stream like a man who found a higher calling and cupped water and drunk heavy gulps without care, as the water slicked his through it was refreshing and crisp.


    Looking into the water at his own reflection, Caleb''s hair was disheveled and eyes drooping .he cupped the water and threw it into his face.


    "Now let''s get this little buddy clean" with a grimace he knew he needed to now do a grim task of gutting it and he would not allow the sacrifice of the creature to be in vain.


    Placing the carcass in the stream the water washed away debris blood and dirt all the same ,the fur now had a luster like sheen which Caleb admired , Caleb placed his horn in the stream to clean and admired how the horn did not dull as it was as sharp as when it first came out, he was thankful.


    Placing his hands tightly on the horn with a wavering hand he pushed in and a gut-churning squelch resounded as it pierced and it smelled horrid, without daring to look he pulled and a disgusting tearing churned Caleb''s insides, Caleb stirred his confidence and looked at the newly cut open carcass.


    He ran with a qweesy pace and puked into the rushing waters, as he his stomach upheaval of its contents a distinct burning through his mouth and throat was feltand with a few heavy breathes he steadied himself ,he approached the now opened carcass and brought it to the stream ,as he placed it in the stream he slowly removed the delicate insides by hand not wanting to pierce anything and spoil the meat ,the soft pink fleshy organs were slimy and hard to remove, as Caleb touched them he cringed but he soldiered on he pulls hard they came loose and not long after from the with a ghastly precision each and every organ was removed and the cringing face now caused his face to feel sore.


    After the removal of the insides, he removed the last bits of skin which lay on it but allowed the now-gutted flesh lay on it so it did not be tainted by the dirty floor


    Looking at his work he looked at the stream ,he stared upwards to the streaks of crimson water flowing down the stream and stood up ,he needed a distraction and getting a fire started was the best choice ,he gathered sticks and stones, with the horn a long stick was carved to have a point like spear to it and 2 Ys of wood formed just outside a stone circle with some wood inside with dried leaves .


    Caleb grabbed a log and split it with the horn and made a divit in the middle and took a stick which fit snug into the divit


    "Hope this works"


    Clasping the long stick in 2 flattened hands he spun the stick.


    He continued fruitlessly and looked at the blackened wood which smoked and nothing came of his effort and he was annoyed, he raised the stick from where it lay , an ember with a faint glow lay there in the blackened wood like a diamond in the rough.


    With a ping of realisation and internal swearing at his mistake with a scoop he picked the ember with his bare hands carless to the pain and ran towards the hearth he created, with a clumsy fall the ember gently flew down, swaying in the winds which wissiled within the forest onto the dry leaves, with a fast ignition the fire started .


    Caleb still laying down flat on his chest looked at the fire , listened to the cracking of the wood and watching as the leaves blacken ,it was soothing seeing its orange glow ,with a quick pace he picked up the spear and quickly washed it and pierced the rabbit end to end and placed it on the Y''s on each side of the fire .


    He was spit roasting the rabbit,


    After that he continuously fed the fire listing to the craking and watching stray embers which were blown up by the winds ,He turned over the rabbit every so often, his mouth watered with impatience at the meat,the meat went from a pearlescent pink flesh and the whitness of the meat enhanced until a burnt crust formed .


    Sitting there impatiently after 30 minutes the meal was done ,hastily he moved the rabbit hide as a makeshift plate and took out the spear from the Ys but as he tore the rabbit off it was now just charcoal,he tore into it and with a bite he savored the taste ,it tasted like chicken but more gamey,it was funny though and his mood which was still heavy by the killing lightened up a little like the shell which covered his joyous attitude broke ,he smiled and just sat there crosslegged watching as the fire cracked .


    [Good to see the host has come to terms with what has transipired]


    "Yeah i have happy to have me back? "


    [Debatable]


    ''i need to get to civilization,or i am going to go insane with just the system as my lone companion, i dont think im cut from the right cloth to thrive in this environment or maybe ill have to adapt to this new home ''


    A terrible realization struck Caleb, how should he be sure that there is human or a civilization of humans, how would he communicate,would he be treated as a vagrant and ostracisedor what if outside the forest is more hostile than the forest itself with a heavy sigh he pushed his racing mindworries to the side as he would address those problems then ,he needed to deal with the current ,not the past ,not the future but the present


    "System, civilisation is normally near water, by following this stream will i find a town?"


    [Most definite outcome is the one which the host has stipulated]


    Caleb stared down into the distance of the stream ,he could not see the end of the forest or the stream, even with these uncertainties one thing now was set out in his mind .


    His path through the forest now has been set .

 19 March

    Blue azure footprints lit up the undergrowth like a spectral path laid before Caleb and with a rush as with the wind bracing the horn in his hand he struck out with vicious intensity


    "gahaaa" with a sanguine laced whine another rabbit fell to the horn of who the fuck knows


    "Progress"


    [19.32% System Repiar]


    "System , why does this rabbit give more energy? "


    [System has used energy gained to divert it to restore the <Repair Function> to full functionality if the host wishes to change it to potentially allow for skills to be created sooner just request. Due to the full internalization of previous energy and allocation of energy from the recent kill system repaired 2 % due to aggravated energy intake ]


    "Keep it diverted to repair function, ill have to agree with your judgment,Also cant i just go up a tree and wait it out ?"


    [Error , Host cannot use the Sloth Skill, Sloth is present but there is no skill, Error Why does the host not have the Sloth Skill ]


    [Passive System Repair increases when energy is absorbed due to the restoration of the repair function and it will only repair every 1% every day, Once the host reaches full repair functionality this will be increased to 2.5%]


    with a blank face and letting the system have its fun he said


    "When do we get to that point?,fast?"


    [Once System repair has reached 25% full, Repair Functionality will be resotred]


    "One more rabbit then "


    Caleb crouched down to the decreased rabbit and looked up , 2 suns domineering in there elegant repose in the sky , it looked like he had a decent amount of light. High noon maybe.


    Caleb drained the rabbit of fluids and then put it over his shoulders and continued his march along the stream,he was surprised that the massive stream had little to no visitors so far ,it was bizarre as there should be a lot of animals drinking ,he didn''t care to be honest as long as he was not being hunted ,had food and a nice andsafe place to sleep the rest can be worried about by his future self .


    An itching feeling covered Caleb''s mind and knowing the nature of the system withholding and knowing it may lead to another downclimb incident


    "So system Skills can have a passive and active ability"


    [Yes,Abilities can be varied and some may have both features, for example, silent step passive is reducing the sound of general movement down a few decibels but the activite is activated when you concentrate and have something within your visual cone you wish to approach, following activation the passive effect will increase and azure footholds will appear and show where to stepon which will produce the least sound sound]


    Like an ad the terms of services the voice raced like an auctioneer which Caleb was only able to gather, efficacy, increase and use, Caleb, not caring raised another query


    "Sorta like how climb works, i intend to climb, i climb "


    "then why does climb work like turning on autopilot while I need to put effort into this "


    [Sloth Skills +5%]


    "i didn''t even ask for progress and i hope to your text-based, condescending ass god that''s sarcasm for the both of us"


    [Skills are not made equal, silent step requires honing, like a blunt stick which needs to be sharpened to be of use to anyone]


    "i like the newfound subtilty"


    With a large inhalation and planting his free hand on his face and the consideration what to do with the new renewed snarky system he sighed heavily and looked into the distance, with the questions which raced through his mind by the questionably helpful system now laid to rest, he looked up at the glaring suns while covering his eyes.


    "8 Rabbits to kill, 10 Days to survive, that doesn''t sound to bad"


    [Correction,8 rabbits & 4 Days 13.44 hours if successful at killing a rabbit by the days end]


    A large crash of flesh on bark resounded in the forest disturbing local wildlife

 20 Trance

    [Smashing your head against a tree will not produce Blunt Force trauma resistance before you lose the brain cells what remain]


    with a gruff grunt and glaring eyes, he continued his march with a rabbit over one shoulder and a horn brandished glistening with the remnants of the rabbit in his right hand


    As he walked along the stream he toned out from everything but the noise of the river,the rapids cascading downwards crashing into the stone it was strong and direct, it was life-giving but able to take what it gives if an unfortunate souls fell into its rapids.


    Caleb now marched with the percussive band in the background of the rapids .


    It was like time was not as present to him and he kept walking and walking leaving no trace of exhaustion in his body, he just walked as if in a trance.The suns without his notice started to move at a visual pace, rapidly they moved out his sight but he took no notice and continued his march.


    His eyes started to nod off eyes shutting and he stumbled to the ground, the ground was cold and wet. Caleb''s body stiffened up as if the muscles did not want to move and he just lay there.


    Moving his cramped body which burned with acidic pains he looked to the sky and it was dark, the sun has set and a dark premonition run down his spine, how did he lose track of time, why did he lose track of time.


    these racing thoughts which jumbled his mind was distributed a noise he hoped he would not hear soon.


    "aWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"


    The noise made Caleb''s muscles tense up and freeze,rationality flew to the wind and he pushed himself to the trees letting fear take over the skill overwhelmed by the surprise he dropped the rabbit carcass without a moment''s hesitation and climbed up the tree with a ghastly pace overexerting his already aching body to the limits and as he did his breathes became more raspy and it began to smoke up in the cold winter air ,he needed to continue, with a desperate motions stabbing into the wood and pushing himself up he reached a large outcrop not at the canopy but he was to exhausted, he needed to rest .


    Rolling over to the large outcrop, he was shivering and was in fear, crawling to the side he peeked out of the outcrop, 3 Grey beasts did not give up on there quary


    ''Fuck,FUCK FUCK!''


    Calming himself down and trying his best to just shut up he refocused on the sound of the water and his rapturous heartbeat and breath started to still.


    3 Grey beasts noises taking great breathes and surveying the area trying to find their prey, they skulked with beastiale power, hulking in size the man would reach their gnashing maws which were layered by a toothy eviscerating maw, drool dropped from the mouths slaking there throats wet in preparation for there intended meal, Human.


    Caleb looked on with intent watching as the 3 wolfs skulked, he was staring at them but as his eyes met one of the wolves he saw dark blue gem set in obsidian narrow like a hunter finding its quary.

 21 Decision

    @@


    Unadultered fear ran through Caleb like electric affecting his being, has he been seen , what have they seen, Does he even have a chance if he is spotted...


    ''indecision isn''t the way to solve this system whats the chance of survival if spotted


    [Calculating ..... low]


    ''What''s my chances of, Killing them?''


    [Singular Dire Wolves potentially could be killed one on one but chances are low but due to it being a direwolf pack if you pull the attention of the pack you die ]


    ''Would guerilla tactics work ''


    [Scanning Memeroy]


    ''The fuck you could at least ask''


    .


    .


    .


    [Finished, Guerilla / Hit and run tactics could be potent with the use of stealth and the horn mixed with climbing ]


    ''What chances am i looking at


    [Variables, Stealth, Damage Output, Chance of detection, Difference in skill ..... Outcome -Survive-Possible]


    ''Potential to .....not survive, high''


    [Higher than other current options with the immediate circumstances]


    ''Chances of detection''


    [Direwolves have higher sense of smell then any of there other senses and will detect you if the primitive scent masking wears off ,soon.]


    So i stay up here until and wait it out and high potential to be sniffed out and i get 3 issues OR


    i go Vietnam War on their asses and its them or me who die .....


    .


    .


    Now even in this situation of dire straights he sighed internally and now needed to choose,coward out and inevitably get caught Or Die fighting


    Well looks like my Cowards Sprint will be turned into Courageous Sprint if i act like this


    [Or Into-the-grave sprint]@@

 22 Decision Part-2

    Now with the positive reinforcement, he needed form the system he decided to fight


    Observing around the cold glow of the moon shone piercing into the tree canopy making an eerie chill fall all over the forest mixed with the moonlight glow and the noises of waking hunters and fluttering birds.


    Caleb focused as he did with hunting the rabbit but now with hesitation within him as this he knew it was unsurmountable to an extent but if he didn''t he would be the next dine and dash for these Direwolves.


    He saw the 3 Wolves who skulked past the tree line prowling, ready for prey to rear its head, he observed them and made sure to keep an eye out, they skulked further down the stream within his vision , their eyes were ominous as if they shone in the light and there shadows like dark beasts of hell imprinted onto the rushing waters which shimmered .


    Caleb focused now clearing that clinging hesitation and wiping his wet brow where cold sweat gathered, he closed his eyes,his heart slowed to the methodical pace now and his breathing followed now trained and quick in his repose, an eerie tranquility overcame him as he saw the world almost slow as a new play of Hunter and hunted now sprung ,but the audience do not know the outcome like a nor does the actors ,they do not know if they are hunted or the hunter,Caleb wanted to make sure in these potential last frames he was the hunter and he comes ontop,with one heavy inhalation he breathed out with an almost instinctive reaction his eyes opened and now were narrowed for the hunt ,it was just 3 Wolves and him .


    Caleb kept his position watching them , watching the 3 beasts breath fog with heavy inhalations, how their heads swiveled like a well-oiled turret looking around for there targets, how each step was quite which contrasted them to the great mass what they were .... their size was domineering, how they were now the challenge he needed to overcome and how that weighed heavy on him.


    He waited and watched the 3 great beasts, 1 larger beast with darker grey fur stayed in the middle where 2 smaller grey ones flanked the large one , like a well-trained unit every movent was synchronized and each angle watched, they were watching there frontal cone, he needed to come from behind


    Or


    Above


    with a quick thought that''s passed through his mind, the system chimed


    [Jumping from this distance and using the momentum to plunge the horn as a weapon will cause significant damage even to Direwolves, Highest possible chance to kill ]


    ''Direwolves? ,fuck it who cares now''


    He spotted one fatal flaw with these wolves he could use,one fatal flaw which could allow him to live, they may check what''s in front and probably what''s behind but not whats above them and that made him exhilarated and as those thoughts rushed through his mind now he knew his plan set it was a gamble but so was everything and he didn''t care for the odds .


    After this revelation he watched the wolves advance at a startling pace , fast they approached the abandoned carcass with grim intent and with the keen nose they smelt it ,As Caleb saw this a cold sweat gathered on his brow, their head become crooked and sniff the carcass there ears raised high they simultaneously looked at each other.


    The large wolf roared a shrill cry which shook Caleb but he knew it was coming but it didn''t even help he shook but with him throwing the indecision to the wind and the help from the skill he overcame it .


    One wolf with a lightning speed shot down the side of the stream after one glance from the alpha, as the alpha glanced to the one on the left nearest to the forest with an almost sign of intelligence the wolf nodded and reared up and stalked into Calebs direction


    ''Fuck ,fuck ,they cant of finding me already''


    The Alpha which he expected to dart like lightning his way just extended his bend legs and raised itself with beastial pride and looked around not bothering with the search, as if they didn''t need its help.


    ''Lady luck smiles upon me today''


    The smaller diminutive wolf now skulked towards the direction of Caleb, in a few moments it was do or die

 23 War Drums

    @@


    Caleb now just observed the Direwolf conserving his thoughts only to this, constricting his senses to only sense THIS .this one insignificant moment in time but significant to him and thats all that mattered.


    Slowly the Direwolf approached Caleb spot but not with speed but with well-trained steps,like a true hunter of the night ,it was in its element now shaded by the undergrowth and its eyes now more emphasized by the dark glared out of the gloom like a demon ,the moments of its approach stretched out, every second now felt like minutes,every minute felt like and hour and without within this what felt like as if time froze Caleb''s heart slowed and each beat was like a concussive blast . Caleb breathed one heavy breath and held it in and listened to his heart.


    BOOM


    BOOM


    BOOM


    The Direwolf now approached near him but crooked its head not knowing which forked path to take, Caleb did no know what to do but he needed to make a noise, picking up a loose stick he threw it below his tree knowing he could have just sent out his death warrant


    ''Come here boy and get your stick''


    Boom


    Caleb held tight the horn with every fiber of his being straining in anticipation


    BOOM


    BOOM


    BOOM


    BOOM


    The Direwolfes at the last straight and One of the 3 players of Hunter & Hunted will now come to its climax


    BOOM


    BOOM


    BOOM


    The Direwolf now reaching the last few steps reached the tree it looked around as if dazed and confused, sniffed the air searching for its qaury.


    haaaaaaaaaaaaa....


    The Direwolf heard rustling now confused and distressed it looked up with worry, its eyes glistened now with beastial fear as it contained the reflection of a falling human with a horn aimed.@@

 24 Felling

    With a great slam Caleb rammed the horn through the eye of the wolf and a disgusting squelch of tearing flesh was followed by a disgusting CRACK of bone lurched out the wolfs wound, As he struck true ,it felt as if time stretched,the crescendo of the play was ending, he felt alive, With a determination in this still moment, he pushed forward.


    Crimson vitae sprayed out the wound like a fountain which slicked Caleb''s face, he could taste iron, with the strike landing true the Direwolve had its final sanguine breath all it was able to let out was a shrill yelp which was silenced by the gurgling of blood that welled within its gnashing maw,the beast body shook in its death throws as Caleb flayaled around by its great body hanging from the horn but as only a second passed the great beasts body stopped in its death throws as its final moments reverberated through its body ,Now slack the body fell towards the ground and with a great bang the body was felled and the noise rung out the forest like a funeral bell .


    Without hesitation Caleb stomped on the horn and the cracking of sinew and bone rung out fromgiving the animal a deathblow without anymore pain, Mercy administered brutally, twisting the horn with each increment of rotation the sound of bone cracking sounded out, Caleb cringed at each crack but he stomached it , After a full rotation a disgusting cracking Caleb quickly taking the now dislodged horn he rubbed it against the grey fur marring it with crimson, he looked back at his work and sighed even for him this brutality still made pangs of regret and guilt even knowing the necessity , now he darted to another tree only a small ways away he started to climb now instinctively climbing he now needed to act decisively.


    ''System Progress''


    [76% Repari]


    ''divert the energy and create a skill if possible ''


    [Diversion can occur to create a lesser skill out of potential ones, Erase Scent formed from Erase Presence Recommended ]


    ''Do it ''


    [Diverting Energy]


    The progress now like a slot machine the numbers shot down


    [67%


    54


    42


    25


    14


    10


    7


    5


    4.64%]


    [Erase Scent Skill Created]


    Throughout his skin it burnt as if it was on hot coals and through biting lips he worded ,


    "[Erase scent]"


    As he verbalised these words it felt like moisture was just lifted from his skin and just was erased, his racing cacophonous heart now stilled with this new found sanctuary created with the skill.


    ''FUCK I DID IT ,I DID IT SYSTEM ,I KILLED ONE ''


    [You killed 1/3,2 to go ]


    Looking back at the carcass with heavy ladened breathes now feeling the pain coursed through his being, the carcass lay strewn on the damp forest floor, Crimson Vitae pooled out of the head of the beast,


    Caleb heard heavy rustling and his head darted towards the treeline disrupting his celebratory mood.


    2 Last Plays of Hunter and hunted yet to be played


    2 shadows almost like lightning shot towards his location.


    2 Giant Direwolves arrived like harbingers of bad news to Caleb.


    ''The fuck, why are they so fast here ''


    Caleb shook in anger and protest at this sight not wanting to believe, he watched on as seeds of doubt formed in his mind.


    The giant Direwolves approached and sniffed the carcass of there fallen brother and now their teeth were bared in rage, Caleb just pissed the 2 remaining Direwolves and they don''t seem to be taking the death of a packmate lightly.


    Now growling with saliva falling from now slicked fangs, Eyes now narrowed and as if Caleb was hallucinating the Direwolves eyes glowed red with there rage made manifest and they prowled with hair raised up not caring about stealth but now set on killing who slew there brother.


    3 words appeared in his head


    ''I . AM . FUCKED''


    .


    .


    .


    [Yes,Yes you are]

 25 Crescendo

    Caleb now shaking saw the 2 beasts prowling forgoing any sense of rationality snarling loudly, Almost like there killing intent made manifest it weighed heavy on Caleb, he could not shake this and it lingered like a cold chill on his being.


    This feeling of facing something unsurmountable was terrifying and mused to his quaking heart.


    ''Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained, Fuck me''


    The 2 Direwolves flanked each other, he could take one just like the first but after that its almost certain death, he couldn''t escape after that, Cowards sprint was a double-edged sword as itmade him fast but it didn''t increase his actual reaction speed or maneuverability, in the area he found himself it is covered with trees where no clear path lay .


    Caleb continued to observe like a owl ,watching them he noticed something, their eyes glowed with intent and primal savagery which yearned to unleashed, Sweat now flowed down Caleb''s brow


    ''Most dangerous thing is a living being with nothing to lose and im staring them down''


    ''System show skills available to be created ''


    [Yes]


    [Narrowing..., Assassinate, Burst, Makeshift Weapon Mastery, ]


    ''Give me a quick summary ''


    [Burst provides a tempoary increase in speed by 25% effecting all aspects within the human bodyMWM Provides an increase in effectiveness with makeshift weapons by allowing the user to make better use of it , Assassinate allows for increased damage to vital areas when striking unaware targets]


    ''Can Burst be purchased if , and i stress the ifi was able to kill on would it be created ''


    [97% Chanceof sufficient energy intake to create skill expected with current progress]


    [Busrst Progress 36%]


    ''Purchase when enough energy is gathered ''


    [Purchase Qued]


    [Forcing the System to create skills before the 1 week period will cause damage which will require repair with ever increasing energy ]


    With a heavy ladened breath and with the new shaky ground he found himself on with the need for the skill to be good enough to carry himself through this.


    Closing his eyes and eliminating all other sensory distraction he inhaled quietly with a long pause he savored the air, as each breath could be his last.His heart which was in rapture now beat slower but more percussive reverberating through his mind and body alike, each life-giving beat now drummed a slow methodical tune.


    With a still mind he watched, now he had time not like before, he could not be smelled eliminating the greatest threat of detection allowed him to muster confidence in this direst of times.


    The 2 Direwolves each heavy step the gap between the Wolves and Caleb slowly closed, they did not skulk but showed the great and powerful forms for all to see, he needed to eliminate the Alpha if he wanted any chance of getting out of here.


    Watching like a well-trained hunter hair raised on end in anticipation. He listened now, Each step the Hulking beasts took cracked wood underfoot, the beasts reckless would be advantages,Now listing closer he could hear each drop of liquid which dropped down there toothy maw as it hit the ground floor .He took it in and waited, still and statuesque.


    The 2 Dire wolves now approached just close enough and he needed to act for this opportunity may not come again.


    He held the horn with the muscles in his arm now strained and showing, his body ached and his mind shot warnings.


    With swift recognition of there closeness, he mused to the thrumming of his heart


    ''FUCK IT, LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOY JENKINNNNNNNS'' Not stupid enough to say it those words reverberated through his mind overcoming the hesitation through sheer reckleness and abandoningreason.


    he darted towards the edge and jumped, the darker Alpha next to its lighter grey kin ,Itwas in his sight, as he jumped he raised the horn up aiming true to the skull rendering no question of resistance.


    As the world around blurred around him he noticed something in the corner of his eye rushing but he did not care ,now curling up and holding both arms on the horn and putting every inch of his effort into this strike he landed .


    A stomach-churning ripping of both flesh and sinew followed by a crack of bone like some sort of organic disconnection followed the thunk into the Direwolves body, With a delayed reactionthe body slacked and started to fall like a felled tree,there was less resistance than he expected, with a distressed realization his eyes narrowed and clarity of vision made his darkest fears true , the Darker fur he expected was grey ,a clear stark difference as this realization overcame his being he shuddered ,looking to the right the darker wolf was sprawled to the ground as he neck looked back he realised what has happened ,the wolf just sacrificed itself for the Alpha,Cold sweat ran down his brow and his fear was paralyzing,he crooked his head to the right and his eyes met the Alpha''s eyes .


    Now those eyes were filled with true unadulterated rage and now that same beast has now nothing to lose.


    Facing this beast down eye to eye, The eyes of the beast glowed crimson and almost like the Alpha emitted its vicious intent outwards it manifested behind it like a living cloak made from of crimson and black, these colors conflicted like raging torrents , as they raged on it boiled and popped and from this cauldron it increased in size to form a face, Not human or beast but demonic .


    The face domineering over Caleb personified the Direwolf Alpha intent, it was distant but he paled in form of this apparition, its mouth was open with a fanged maw.


    Its mouth was open for one reason.


    To Kill.

 26 Levity

    [Energy diverting ]


    ''HURRY THE FUCK UP ''


    The familiar ticking of energy flew by


    [54]


    The process was slow and Caleb shook in its wake as the Direwolf now postured its great body and ready to charge.


    [36]


    Paralyzed in body but the fearsome display his body clamped down and refused to move an inch and now the snarling maw open and ready, Caleb with all his might was only able to stumble back and fall on his ass


    [21]


    ''SPEED THE FUCK UP SYSTEM''


    Caleb shaking still, legs not finding a hold in the wet ground shook and his body quaked at each movement vibrating and seizing up like a cold snap overtaken him grasped desperately at the fallen Direwolf for stability, panting he looked back with worried eyes.


    .The beast now stared at Caleb with savage intent radiating


    [11]


    It charged with a pounce


    [5.7]


    ''FUCKING HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL''


    The beast pounced frontal legs outstretched covered with lacerating claws at the bottom readying itself to eviscerate its foe, mouth slicked with saliva and teeth like swords ready to rip and tear.


    As the beast pounced the moments after seemed to stretch and slow, a cold chill went down Caleb''s shoulder.In these moments the world took on a glazed azure tint but even though he perceived this crawling speed his body still was grogilly slow in it and in his lasting moments he desperately crawled back to dodge with unstable footing risking falling over as he faced the beast.


    [4.4]


    The pouncing beast now inched in the air closer but as it did the moments stretched even more.


    [2.23]


    [1.32]


    The dire woldCloser now inching Caleb began to fall once more


    [0.09]


    .


    .


    [0.07%]


    [Burst Completed]


    With a swift recognition in his mind burst activated,it was as if time slightly slowed now but there was no loss of speed in his body, decisiveness seized his body and the quakes which tremored halted. The cold light faded and now Caleb''s eyes narrowed.


    With a quick rewrite of his footing in mere moments he faced the beast,with a rush towards the beast he met it in-kind , It goes over and he goes under, Using the wet gore-slick ground he slid under its hulking form and holding the horn to his side he lodged it in , as he moved forward the opposing force of the beast strained his arm but what he left was a ghastly gash on the underbelly and crimson gushed forth of the underside of the beast .


    The beast not caring for the pain landed with a grace opposite to its savagery but without its prey reckless savagery reignited in its eyes, it looked back with a snarling maw showing a prideful repose shrugging such pain it was, confused.


    Caleb was scalingway up the tree frantically as the wolf looked back postrating itself for a fight.


    ''FUCK ,FUCK,FUCK,FUCK'' those words continuously flowed through his mind as his cowardness overtook him and he ran up the tree with the newfound speed.


    The beast confusion caused the narrowed eyes to dilate into a glazed perplection but snapped back with grim intent it charged .


    Caleb heard the rushing beast now and a new cursive found itself repeated


    "Ahhhh shit,shit,shit"


    The beast skidded along the wet ground and halted its movement with crimson still gushing out the open wound .


    In desperation both parties climbed, The beasts claws gouged into the wood of the hulking frame of the tree as it slowly clawed its way up with mouth ajar to catch Caleb.


    Caleb on the otherhand was making apt use of his skill [paniking] and started ripped twigs and branches off the tree as his body almost automaticaly climbed.


    Ripping a branch off with a tug and looked down at the climbing beast.


    "Hey you shit ,CATCH THIS"


    Throwing the large Branch it struck the great beast which now clawed its way up ,this game of cat and mouth followed and what followed was sounds of breaking of bark , cursing and a slight wimper.


    .


    "Had enough ya mongrel ,Yeah ,have some more"


    Now throwing his 10th branch the Direwolf worsened state was now showing, slick in its own vicera it panted with rasping breath now feeling the pain which coursed through its being battered and brused but it countinued to recklessly climb without care for its futility or its own condition.


    Anotherbranch hit the climbing beast a whimper came out it fell down and shakingly got up and looked at Caleb with glazed eyes.


    "Oh ,think im going to stop now?,have some ...


    The beasts eyes rolled back to whites and it fell over as its last sanguine breathe exited its lungs and a thunk rung through the forest


    more?...."


    Caleb now confused held a large twig in one hand and a confused expression on his face not sure what to do.


    "Fucko...."


    Caleb threw it at the proned beast for good measure.

 27 Repair

    "Well that ended,,,,, surprisingly well"


    Caleb stared at the still carcass and as he staredsudden jolt went through Caleb''s worn body causing him to convulse clutching the tree and breaking its bark as he felt something alien permeated his body


    [100% System Repairs]


    [Rebooting System]


    "Hey, stop "


    [2 Week wait time to create a skill]


    "Silent Mode!"


    [Goal System Inisilised]


    "Mute"


    [Challenge Rating System Inisilised]


    .


    .


    "You done!"


    [Quallity Of Live improvements inisilised]


    with a quick shake of his head he slid down the tree like an oversized fireman''s pole clutching it on his decent desperately, he approached the beast''s body precautiously carefully tiptoeing and with an outstretched hand poked it like how a child would inquisitively poke a still body of an animal they find.


    The eye of the wolf twitch and Caleb fumbling with the horn as it fell through his hands he caught it andfrantically jabbed it into the creatures eye and a spurt of blood shot out into his own


    "Fuck off with that ,your dead, don''t scare me like that"


    Looking up now hands slick with crimson vitae he saw what he wrought, pride and sorrow ,he was proud of his achievements and that permeated his body giving a warmth like glow to his face but with the smile which crept into his jaw glazed eyes looked at the brutal scene ,shaking his head and breathing out .


    "So system what are the new toys"


    [Goal system uses data collection tools, algorithmic extrpo....]


    Interrupting quickly not able or maybe not caring to understandhe said


    "Laments terms, please"


    [You can set a goal which you want to fulfill, System can compilea list of things to do to achieve the intended goal ]


    "Any reward from doing this "


    [No reward, the system may give you Goal or with act more as quests the only benefit is personal development ]


    "That''s....fine I guess, Whats the challenge rating"


    [Allows the system to create an estimate of how challenging something will be ]


    "How challenging will I be to beat"


    [Depeing on scenario lower mid-tier, Upper Low Tier otherwise ]


    "That doesn''t sound like a bad judgment, I guess, what was this dire wolf pack?"


    [individual level are low mid tier but within a pack, they become expositional more powerful,If you faced the group you would be facing an Upper Mid Tier ]


    "Whats a normal human "


    [Dependent on genetic potential humans range from low to lower mid-tier]


    "Fair enough, what does the quality of life do ?"


    Suddenly within Caleb''s peripheral vision, a compass appeared in the left lower vision showing the 4 directions


    With a smirk and a mischievous smile, he quickly said mockingly


    "Being a thing for convenience is only be reinforced by these updates aren''t they, Seesa"


    [Unistal.. ]


    Interrupting abruptly in a cold sweat not knowing what he could lose "Stop, stop, we don''t need that System"


    "Just to say remind me yesterday you said a skill could be produced when fully repaired within 1 week what has happened to that"


    [Due to the allocation of energy used for repair the cost of restoration to the system was greater and longer cooling off period is necessary due to the forced redirection of energy to create Burst]


    "Fair"


    Looking across his handy work on the beasts and inspected each of them with a prodding hand careful on approach, Now confirming the other Direwolves death he sighed with relief


    "I''m exhausted, time to sleep"


    [Sloth Skill +2 % Progress]


    Sighing off the system remarks with eyes rolling back he now used to the climb he grabbed one of the many hulking giants and scaled the great beasts which littered the forest and found himself a good area on the canopy for sleeping, He didn''t realize how much time has passed and the light was near its end.


    Caleb raised up his hand forwards outstretched as if trying to grab the suns looking at both the red colour from theglistening crimson vitae and the beautiful colours of the sun which seemed to meld into a vibrant ensemble, he tilted his hand a flicked away what slicked his hand and the trusty horn he carried, which was being held slack in his left .


    Caleb just stared at the 2 suns which were going down the horizon as the light dimmed and the many colours of the 2 suns sunset settled he looked around with content.


    "Second day in , Its not so bad after all"

 28 Morning After

    Eyes inched slowly awake and with a raised hand wiped his eyes, As they opened he saw a misty morning which covered the forest canopy, Observing with eyes shutting wanting to close he saw the morning due slowly burn off colour returned to the forest and the vibrant glimmered in the two suns light ,As he groggily raised up his body flinging his legs off the sidebirds could be seen fluttering in the sky and Caleb groggily got up rubbing his sore head and as he did he realised his whole body was sore.


    "System why do i hurt so bad "


    [Certain skills have a price , Burst is that you are exhausted after use ]


    Aching all over it felt strained, he knew full well if he didn''t have pain resistance he would be screaming to high heavens probably.


    Quickly spinning with his head to click it in place, it felt like it lagged behind with his vision slowly adjusting


    "So ...How many skills are like this because its gonna be annoying if it is all of them"


    [Certain skills have a price for use, For example, haste which is a separate skill but acts similar to cowards sprintonly increases actual speed but not any other factor while burst increases all aspects of the body]


    Now the strain pulsated gonging in his head like a rapturous choir and eyes turned high in discomfort he looked into the distance and sighed, The forest before him was immense, it still stretched far and wide beyond his sight.


    Exhaling a long breath he jumped upwards and stood tall with a quick movement


    "Fuck ,fuck ,fuck my fucking back owwwwwww"


    Now standing at an angle he quickly snapped himself back to place where it belonged.


    Shaking his head and rolling his eyes back in exasperation he looked again over the distance


    "System, I think ive had enough of this forest shoul.."


    [Goal Established: Leave the forest ]


    "Seems you have had enough too, Can you show me those objectives"


    Like the previous profile sheet an azure light sputtered in front but with an almost clipboard like set up where objectives where X''ed off


    Leave The Forest:


    Main:


    X Find a route to exit


    OExit the forest


    Side:


    X Repair System <Increases success chance>


    X Gain Skills <Increases success chance>


    "System if you don''t mind asking your goal "


    [To facilitate you to become something I''m not embarrassed to be associated with]


    Caleb now with a dissatisfied look and a sarcastic smile not exactly knowing how to react just stared into the distance twitching his head looking around for an answer to his woes, With a heavy ladened sigh.


    "Sometimes i think i should just keep my mouth shut"


    Caleb approached the massive tree and with a crack of bark hestabbed the horn inside the and slid down the tree with his weight and as he did the bark rained down and hit his head as he left the hand holding the horn above ,As he slowly descended the wood plinked of his skull and mockingly the system for each hit


    +1


    +2


    +3


    +4


    .


    .


    These tinks carried on and Calebs face quickly turned into a dissatisfied one with eyes staring daggers and as he jumped off the noise of fireworks ringed in his head looking back at the tree with confusion a assure message as the objectives appeared.


    !!MEGA COMBO 120!!


    After getting over being belittled by the voice in his head and pride took a hit he breathed in a sigh.


    Caleb gaged and coughed up quickly, he forgot what he left rotting down here. With a lurching inhalation he held it in and walked past the bodies which he left, After going towards the River he saw the marking made by the Direwolves, Once they noticed there friend was fallen they barrelled forth and upturned the ground, the upturned ground was churning wet and muddy.


    Following this to exit into the clearing near the river he saw the rabbits carcass, it was shredded


    Looking at the torn apart remenants a distinctive growl rung out form his tummy.


    "Looks like this is going to be a trek, Hope my lunch appears on the way there "


    "Compass please convince unit"


    .


    .


    .The system begrudgingly complied with an azure compass appearing at the bottom left


    The compass pointed north and the stream flowed towards the direction


    Caleb stared off into the unknown extending forest which lay before him and with a sigh and a begrudging step he started to march forward.

 29 Natures Reclamation

    After that day Caleb marched non stop, As he marched forward his days were consumed by constant movement and hunting small game,this rinse repeated into a monotonous cycle for days.


    Time seemed to now flow differently to him the sun and night quickly flowed down and up as almost trance-like automation overcame him and as it did the days past .


    Caleb lost track of time and losing hope but early in the next morning something caught his eye


    Caleb desperate and bored stared into the distance hoping to see something, through the grey he could see something grey


    "System is that stone "


    [Unkown]


    "Fuck it "


    Caleb ran with a reckless sprint towards the opening, as he got closer the sun got brighter blinding him in his sprint and as he approached he slowed to a jog covering his eyes with one hand.


    What he saw was broken, shattered , was ruins of a stone structure,which on closer inspection was reclaimed by nature.


    Caleb inquisitively approached and touched the lichen which plastered the side, as he did it crumbled in his hand, looking up the structure vines continued to scale its size, disheartened by it being a lonesome structure with no sign of habitation, But it was a sign that civilisation is in this world


    Caleb circled the ruinsand found a great crack sundering the building,Carefully squeezing through the gap, as he got a better glimpse inside he saw ruination, shattered tinted class was scattered on the floor like a glinting collage on the inside, burnt tabards plastered the sidesand some sort of bench-like structures shattered and only remnants remained at the sides,


    As he walked deeper inside he noticed that the there was a chandelier almost absorbed by the ground floor, as he brushed off the dirt a slight glint of oh so similar metals came to mind, gold or at least gold plated.


    Walking through a gap between these benches, at the end, there was there was a raised platform with some sort of structure facing the benches.


    Caleb looked around from the vantage and was awed by how nature claimed the area back, cautious now he started to skulk around, the more he looked around the more it reminded him of a place of worship.


    "Are there any religions in this world?"


    [Religion is an important part of the growth of civilisation from early stages, i would conclude yes ]


    As he continued to observe nature reclamation in the building but as he looked around he saw an unusual growth of vines which covered an area densely which divited inwards.


    Caleb approached and tore them away quickly with snaps, it was a doorway which it covered.


    skulking now he moved forward.


    Caleb continued into this hallway peeking around and careful not to crack the roots which penetrated through the floor, he could smell something, a foul smell permeating through the corridor, the smell rotting.


    Caleb repulsed by the smell still moved forward ,as he did nature more and more pervaded the area entering every nook and cranny leaving nothing unreclaimed.


    Ominous premonitions tingled down Caleb''s spine and his alertness raised to high surveying the area constantly.


    As Caleb slowly stepped through this undergrowth he came upon a chamber with a rotten bed and a small tabard where thebottom seemed to have decayed away, He looked closer at the tabard


    A motherly figure covered by nature, animals and plant life was portrayed.


    Caleb felt soothed by the tabard as if it affected him, as he did tendrils of cold crept into his mind surprised by the encroaching feeling he looked down from the tabard and saw a bunch of vines with a gem sunk inside which glow with faint azure light, dropping his horn he moved forward to inspect it .


    He was closing in on the glowing gem.


    Suddenly an ominous cold voice shuddered out reverberating through the chamber


    "LEAVEEEEEEEEEE"

 30 Natures Reclamation Pt2

    As Caleb heard this voice shudder through the room his body convulsed lurching to the ground as if a weight forced him down and shuddering as if it invaded his body and mind, convulsing and forth.


    While convulsing feeling the air flow out his lungs his eyes glazed and froth started to form, Pain, absolute unadulterated pain stopped his body movements, using one of the last few breaths in his lungs.


    "Sy..stem ..help"


    [S&*^$( C@FJ&*8 He*%]


    Eyes still glazed and shaking as he involuntarily convulsed on the floor took hold with great resistance he took control, but only for a short time as he went head to head with whatever this was


    As he tried to stay waves of sound reverberated out of one spot which the stone lay


    Caleb focused on that spot with his glazing eyes, something there was glowing, still convulsing eyes starting to roll back he frantically tried to escape


    "Cowards sprint"


    Nothing happened, silence covered the room except for the frantic convulsion as Caleb now not caring turned away with fearful eyes, this fear was primal, like a beasts roar scaring prey away


    Caleb crawled with all his might glaring at the floor and as he crawledhe moved mere inches but as he did he felt the weight fall off him but not enough as he crawled he left a trail as he flayed his fingers raw ,Frantically his eyes started to now shut involuntary blackening to the reverberations hitting him ,temporarily losing consciousness he felt like he was falling into a sea''s watery depths and suddenly waking from this his glazed eyes started to focus with there own azure glow,within deaths grip he grabbed a branch like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline ,he pulled forward letting out his sanguine breath and as the weight lightened ever so slightly but it was enough , he grabbed the horn and with a quick twist he threw the horn at the gem


    The horn flew like a straight arrow, trajectory set and ready ,wistiling through the air it stuck true ,Eyes still blurred did not confirm the outcome but the crack of something rang out that chamber and the hissing of pressurised air did.


    Relief washed over him and as the adrenaline faded his eyes rolled back and his head fell to the floo

 31 Resolution

    Calebs eyes now opened with focused glint and the glaze subsiding, the moments which slowed like the trickle of oil on the ice, the rapturous cacophony caused by 1 singular word which reverberated through his being.


    He realised he was lying on the ground, he could feel natures wet touch upon his body, he looked around groggily and watched with a sluggish repose, looking around it was as if during his rest reality shifted, the life which permeated the area died with the gems shattering.


    Caleb reached out and touched a vine which turned to dust on his hand and was scattered to the wind.


    He felt rooted from the earthen touch but as he felt this he felt unrooted in reality as if the skein of corporeal shattered and the lingering remnants of unreality have entered reality, he felt cold and shaken, thinking back he remembered how he for a mere moment was plunged into a roiling sea , how it was all-consuming oh how he clawed and struggled to the top in the inescapable depths,the reality he woke in moments but it felt like an eternity


    Huddling himself inside the room faced with something unfathomable and esoteric he looked around like a cowed beast hiding in a corner.


    "W ,W What was that" His voice stuttered in a sanguine chill


    [A Revenant]


    "A a and what the fuck just happend there ,t ,t tell me "


    [Your consciousness was invaded on entry into the corridor when your mind was invaded the astral link we share was cut off]


    "We ....can be cut off"


    [Yes , but never permanently as I am now as much as part of "you" as "you"]


    Caleb breathed in the cold air feeling how his body felt rooted to the earth in its reassuring clutches, not that sea which he plunged into, it was as if his very soul took the same breath and with a knowing, he released the horn of his heart and the air whistled in the cold .


    The world around was still and cold ,dead and silent ,he looked at the scene with a slowness ,he raised his head towards the window which was cleared from vines ,the colour of the suns slowly entered the ruins and as it penetrated through it gave Caleb comfort ,he lived another day


    the early morning light roused the great forest and as it did the voice of nature''s life brought to life the unnatural silence became acalming ambience of live living.


    Caleb breathed in and out watching as each breathdissipated into the cold, he though how each and every breath could have been his last, this was not like the dire wolves ,he could felt danger but never something that threatened his life but this , this was truly fearful, the unknown in this world posed a deathly reality and that unknown nearly cost him his life, for the next minute processing his experience and as he did the light lightened the room giving the decrepit room a new sight.


    Looking around he could smell decay ,the end of life and renewal of the cycle of life had unpleasant smell ,he looked to where the gem lay and a gem azure gem now dulled lay on the floorstumbling up like a drunk man with legs giving way he slowly crept towards the remnants eyes blurring with movement.


    Settling to focus the gem seemed to lay in a corpse as the horn was clearly going through its left eye socket, looking down at the gem and crouching down he looked at the gem in his hand now close to his face ,he could see a faint energy in the remnants like a swirling cosmos , but as he looked deeper into its depth it cracked and shattered into azure dust, as it did the wind scattered it like sand to the wind, Caleb watched as it caught the sunlight and glinted with his hand still flat letting the dust fly out now .


    "I''m going to ask you again what was that"


    .


    .


    [Magic]

 32 History & Magic For Dummys 101

    [Magic]


    That word resounded in Caleb''s mind, it felt odd, the idea of magic existing.


    "What is magic "


    [Try to answer that yourself?]


    Confused at the proposition he had nothing to lose so he complied


    "Ability to willingly create unnatural phenomena "


    [Good enough ]


    [One rule in this world is constant You cannot create or destroy energy that rule still applies to this world so, How is that creation powered]


    Caleb paused not knowing what to say waited in silence for the system


    "By some fucking wishy-washy unseeable energy in the air " Caleb said with a mocking tone with hand gestures that if anyone saw they would think he is an imbecile


    There was an eerie silence which came over the room after the matter of fact but the silence was disturbed


    [Effectivly ....yes, There exists energy which permeates this plain of existence produced by the twin suns ]


    "What are we fucking plants photosynthesising magic now?"


    [Incorrect, what is your definition of stars ]


    "Balls of gas which is on fire ?"


    [That would be correct in your world, have you seen any other planets when you peer into the sky ]


    Caleb pondered thinking, the nights were always clear but there were no planets justthe stars in the night sky]


    "There are no other planets or there to far away to see?"


    [Former one is correct, this planet or should I say plain of existence, those stars are not stars they are tears in reality ,ports penetrating the etheric veil each and every one of those blips of light and even the suns,the twin suns were created by the 2 most powerful entities to exist in this dimensional plane in the age of myth and those small ones are from weaker being penetrating the veil]


    Head racked now at the curve ball thrown at him


    "the....fuck"


    "i fell like my sense of scale just got shattered "


    [You are a spec of sand in a desert ]


    "That doesn''t help!"


    [with a slight glint ,which is me]


    [Anyway on to the topic ]


    Confused he needed to ask a question so interrupted quickly


    "if their tears, in reality, how do you know,"


    "does it get dark !"


    [The planet is still a planet, though unusual they those tears have a rotational effect on the planet, Also another big point, that''s why this planet is not propelled into space if there was space due to two suns gravitational pull ]


    [Those tears emit a certain amount of energies when this magic is internalised it can make entity which can absorb it stronger, for example, the dire wolf is a beast enhanced by these energies who are apart of the lupus strain ]


    "This the energy i have been absorbing to repair you? Also, does that mean I''m going to change"


    [Yes and no, this energy would be better-considered essence, the energy obtained from killed creatures can be internalised by mortals whereas the raw form of these energies cannot be absorbed , The next question you will not change but with a sufficient build up it can empower you, so be happy ,you will not be a chubby incompetent oaf for too long!]


    "How do I stockpile it hmmm, carry around a magic jar or maybe even a piggy bank ?"


    [Normal mortals of this world are born with that vessel if you could call it that while i can act as yours even if im unwilling]


    "Though this is a fun history lesson what does if have to do with magic"


    [The energy when not internalised by creatures is in a raw form and this energy permeates every facet of the world, this can be used to create magic through runic application or incantation ]


    "So as long as you know runes and incantations you can cast "


    with a quick flourish and pose Caleb shouted "avada kedavra" while pointing his finger towards the empty air


    [*face palm*]


    [No, just no , Not anyone can be a mage, Mages are born not made, Mages are unique in that their body is adapted due to evolution to internalise this energy with the "mage organ"]


    a playful smile crept along Caleb''s mouth a mischievous aura was projected from his being


    "would I be able to use magic?"


    [No]


    .


    .


    "Why?"


    [Are you from a world where you are genetically adapted to being able to internalise unnatural energies ? ]


    "No.... but still i have you "


    [Ohhh i have a system i can do anything, Having a system only means you can shortcut things in life people needed to work hard for ?]


    "That hurts, but still...can you make me a mage"


    [No shit i am a system, a fucking cheat code, a universal key...]


    "...But"


    [Well how to put it bluntly, Some fucking how you will have to develop some sort of magical skill first before skills can be created to actuallysoooooo good luck on that one ]


    "So basically im fucked on that front "


    [Yes]


    "....fun"

 33 Stone Grey

    Caleb disheartened and perplexed focused his mind and looked around the stone dead room, it seems like that magic gem fueled the plants somehow or the plant life sprouted from it but that didn''t matter now, it was dead and dry husks of what it once was.


    With a pivot he observed the tapestry again now looking at its smudged ink still decaying at the bottom, He felt the same warmth flow through him which perplexed him.


    "System ,what is that portraying "


    [The Earth Mother]


    "A dietyi assume?"


    [Yes ]


    Caleb nodded abruptly to the response and now got the picture better, this place was a place of worship and the skeleton, it was the protector of this place.


    With a stride heavy with something, each step rung out around the room, each step crushing to dust what was now dead underfoot and as he approaches the skeleton he squatted down face to face with the skull.


    Staring at the fleshless bone a cold tone came out and placed his hand over the horn


    "Rest in peace knowing you did all you could "


    Caleb pulled hard on the horn lodged and with a thunk the horn dislodged from its perch inside the eye socket in the skeleton and as he did the small flick of bone fell of the empty sockets and a small crack appeared , with a sudden alacrity cracks formed like a quickly formed web along the husk and as the cracks spread to the every inch and with chink the body crumbled like pottery and the only trace left was a fine creamy dust and a whole carved by the horns path


    Caleb looked at the horn and pulled his hand across the horns sharp edge and as he glided his hand across a small crimson gemling formed and as it did Caleb chuckled to himself quizikaly.


    "I have to thank the bull for the horn,"


    Tossing it in the air and as it twirled in the air he caught it and felt the weight of it within his hand, it was a reassuring weight, he felt safer with it at his side.


    Caleb walked out the hallway but instead of green it was now dull brown and black ,the foliage which covered the hallway died upon the shattering of the crystal ,Caleb ran his hand across the side of the wall while walking forward and as he did the dehydrated shrubbery was cut clean in two with adelicate glancing blow and as the bottom fell to the ground only dust remained.


    Caleb exited the corridor he saw the church, what was reclaimed by nature was now returned to the grey stone built there as he walked forward he noticed a large door uncovered open with slight welcoming light creeping through the hole in the middle.


    "Lets exit this church properly"


    As Caleb paced himself slowly he slowly went through the great hall, it was almost surreal, not much time passed as the sun still was held high but all the green which plastered the ruins died with the crystal and its work was reclaimed but still shattered and now ....even more empty.


    Caleb looked around its sundered ruins it felt off , nature which reclaimed it was fitting almost holding the scene together like it was meant to be .


    He approached the open door and with a creek and a chink of the hinges, both of the doors fell flat forward


    "Why dont i descrate this ruin even more ,fuck sake "


    Sighing both internally and externally he glanced back ,Almost like the skein of reality wavered he saw the pews , the altar, the stain-glass window as it was meant to be,What was potrayed was the same motherly figure portrayed on the tabardbut as he saw it for a mere moment reality reasserted its hold on Caleb and as it did Caleb was blinded and head thrumming with a thumping heat,Confused and blinking he looked at the ground and as it subsidedhe looked up with one last glance the room returned to its ruination and looking upwards the stained glass was still shattered .


    Caleb head hurting reached for the door hoping for something to hold for stability but as he did he fell and with an inhuman reaction he righted his unsteady position, exiting the now empty doorway and stepped on and over the doorways now taking the role of a metal carpet he landed on the wet earthy ground, brooding for a mere moment he moved started to move


    "Time to aimlessly try to find the exit of the forest"


    Caleb could hear the rushing of water but he decided to clime a tree to see how far he could see


    As Caleb penetrated the Canopy he looked around and saw the colourfull birds which took these great trees canopies as there own home, Caleb looking to the sky saw a large flock of birds of vibrant colours go towards the north , Watching the flock go he noticed something, The flock where headed


    To an open field

 34 Approach Velocity

    Caleb stared into vast beyond staring at the open fields and gawking


    "System is that what i think it is "


    [You are not hallucinating host]


    As like a light flashed in his head and the throttle was hit Caleb shot down with a resounding scrape and then he shot like a stray dog to its home ,As he sprinted adrenaline filled him and burning sensation flowed through him but he ignored it and sprinted weiving in the forest,keeping a stable step with each movement, As he ran all he could hear is the wind , with his speed it was as if everything else was slowed to that of oil on ice slowly creeping


    He saw light,he saw an exit and with that, he barreled forward without caution and as he slowed and as he skids forward he stopped looking forward at the wide open expanse


    Blurry but still visible the colours where like a collage, he saw a massive open field of green with green spikes covering the surface confusing the image in its blurring state and the glare of 2 objects on high watching their kingdom blinded him.


    Caleb panted in exhaustion and relished the moment


    [Exit The Forest: Completed]


    "Thanks, system "


    Eyes now clearing he could see that blades of grass covered the surface over the feild like great pikes jutting out overshadowed by the majesty of the twin suns blazing hight in the sky ,but there was something diffrent ,there was a structure of brown in the distance.


    Caleb confused jogged towards it briskly but as he approached the brown turned to that of oak logs , those oak logs where a wall


    [Burst]


    Caleb now saw the world again blur and he approached at a dangerous velocity and as he gained speed and distance he noticed.


    This was a town ,this was civilisation


    The wind whistling at his speed his own words became a garbled mess


    "Sys***m w* h**e d*ne it "


    [Guess we have]


    Caleb felt the wet blades brush against his legs , the air whistling beside his ears , the sun bask on his body, he felt alive


    As he approached at an inhuman speed he saw the outline of two figures which glinted in the sun ,they were wearing some sort of colours which he could see even in the blur and it was plastered around the wall held high with banners.


    Caleb skidded along the wet ground as he did he carved two long divits as he skidded uncontrollably and as felt he was losing balance and knowing oh how well this ended adisappointed visage covered Caleb''s face.


    As Caleb barreled forward he fell as the ground gave way he landed plunging face first into the dirt and as he did a great gash in the earth and as he lay flat on the ground cramps seized him and he convulsed twitching rampantly, the strain hit him like a charging bull and as it coursed through him, his muscle tensed and loosened without his input he lay there twitching,A burning sensation emptied out of his body and as it slowly crept out he opened his eyes but they blurred


    Slamming the ground with a resounding thud he tried to raise his body but felt pain.


    Confused and vision blurring Caleb looked up and spat out the ground which lodged itself in his mouth forward.


    As he looked up he saw 2 glints


    "Hello"


    Caleb heard something being shouted with ferocity and he didn''t understand and waited until his vision cleared


    Those 2 glints where not a extended hand to help but pikes pointed at his face

 35 Sherades

    Caleb seeing these two pikes quickly shuffled backwards using both hands to crawl backwards still facing the guards he saw one burley muscular man with a hard set dark complexion and another was a lighter skinned and lithe with a softer complexion thank the muscular giant.


    The 2 guards shouted something indecipherable and as they did they pushed the pikes more menacingly at Caleb who was sprawled and scared on the floor, Caleb quickly put both hands up in surrender and slowly raised himself looking for an opportunity to run.


    The faces of the guards contorted with anger but there was a slight hint of fear in their eyes


    The guards still shouted something incomprehensible


    ''System it would be a good time for some fucking help''


    [Language Translation Skill can be created due to multilingual in your previous world ]


    ''Go . a .fucking.ahead''


    [Language Translation Skill Created]


    With a quick burning in the frontal lobe of his head and a shudder, the words Caleb could understand


    "Speech now! , STATE YOUR PURPOSE "


    "Just a passer by "


    The two guards looked at each other with confusion and questioning glances at the ragged man who appeared before them


    The Burley man sighed hard and looked toward the smaller guard


    "What''s the fucking point ,just get rid of him , Anyway what is a fucking foreigner doing here?"


    "We can''t just leave him out here even if he is a foreigner"


    With a glance towards Caleb he was sweating hard with strakes of sweat falling down his brow ,he felt like running away, escaping while he still could


    "Can you understand me boy"


    Caleb nodded


    "Where are you from "


    Caleb point at himself wearing a confused face still shaken by the 2 pikes which still were held near him but now without too much gusto anymore


    "Yes you ya baffoon who the fuck else "


    "Hey ,no need to be rude"


    Caleb still glaring at the 2 guards pointed at the forest


    "You are from the ...forest?"


    Caleb nodded hard


    "He is bullshiting you "


    Caleb stared daggers in protest


    "Leave him alone "


    "Fineeeeee"


    Both of the guards swiftly with a trained movement put the pikes twirled them upwardsand stabbed them into the ground


    The nicer one approached with arms outstretched


    "See i have nothing on me, no need to be scared"


    Relived Caleb nodded in response but as he did the world suddenly what he saw around him changed and his perspective was now on the floor


    "Sorry about this "


    Confused Caleb shook around, the other guard bodied him to the ground and he couldn''t budge from the guard''s grip


    Caleb stared at the guard who said everything was going to be ok , he so wanted to speak his mind but as the thought came up he was picked up and hauled like a sack onto the bigger guards back


    Caleb shook around in protest


    "Should we take him to the barracks "


    "No too much work ,take him to old granny she can handle it"


    Caleb shook around trying to shake out but failed miserably and just stared at the frailer looking guard


    "Welcome to the frontier outpost"

 36 Arrival

    Caleb confused looked frantically around


    ''The fuck is wrong with these people''


    Caleb was hauled up onto the shoulders of the muscular guard and all he could see was the back of the guard and the more feeble in comparison guard trailing behind.


    Embarrassingly Caleb shook around once more trying to set himself free but it was followedby a strong assured grip of the burly man


    "He, The more you struggle the worse it will get "


    Still shaking he heard his back click with pressure and he began to wince in pain


    With an almost childlike crossing of the arms and face contorted in defeat, he looked like a grumpy kid.


    As Caleb continued forward he was flailing around like a pendulum on the back of the guard swaying side to side like a sewsay and as he did his face contorted in distain and when he was paraded through townpeople snickered at him which cuased his brow to forrow,craning his neck on the journey to who knows where he observed the town ,it was modest but large he could see groups of people bringing wild game from the outside into the town ,there seemed to be a decent amount of commerce in the form of blacksmiths, bakeries ,Mills ,Granarys,Taverns and all sorts but one thing stood out of his eye which he caught the glimpse in the puddle ,it was a grey structure which shimmered in the stagnant puddle .


    Caleb noticed the footfalls of the 2 guards to slow down and looked up and saw the guard who noticed the look of Calebs curious eyes.


    "We are here " the lithe guard said looking towards Caleb and then towards the guard which carried celebs and they exchanged a quick glance at each other and the burly man shrugging which Caleb felt by the shoulder making a vice with the arm which grabbed him .


    "Fine ,i will knock " the eyes of the guard rolled back in annoyance but he continued towards the structure


    The guard moved outside of Caleb''s site and as the footfalls of the guard stopped a massive boom gonged audible to Caleb and it reverberated a strong hum until it turned into an echoing simmer.


    As the vibration died down a low pitter-patter of footsteps followed which grew louder until they stopped outside the door and as they did the door cracked open.


    "Oh what do we have here" fraily echoeing out of Calebs sight but reaching his ears


    "Sorry granny we found him on the outskirts, can you help him "


    "Oh ,and what are supposed to do ,let this old granny deal with your woes "


    With a bow from the skinny guard and a curt nod of the burly man they both said in unison


    "Sorry "


    The old women looked at the 2 guards with a stare of disappointment and shaking her head.


    "Let the lad down, I cannot hold the poor lad if he isn''t put down "


    "he may be dangerous, do you want us to follow "


    "See him in with me then ,do let him down "


    Calebs was put down with a careful slowness and as he landed he wiped his legs down as if unclean now and a confused look of offence washed over the burly guard face.


    He turned around to see the building and the women, she was old but there were certain fairness and wisdom to her visage and as he saw here realitys Skeens shuddered for a second and he saw a faint image overlayed of a nun,


    and he could not help but mutter "M...oth...er"as the last words trailed off


    Confusion and disarray shuddered his existence, shaken and breaking reeling from the experience, reality reasserted its hold within mere moments of confusion he tried to fish his memories in the storm for the nun his vision blurred and a scarlet droplet went down his nose, everything was darkening.


    Caleb with a last effort looked at the old lady in desperation and caring eyes stared back but not from her but the stain glass window behind her.


    Everything went black.

 37 Red Flush

    Images flashed wising through his mind shunting into scenes he did not know ,watching things he did not recongise ,a church ,children who played ,a nun as Caleb shook resisting it he suddely woke.


    Cold sweat flowed down his furrowed browand eyes shot open like a shutter pulled hard, he raised himself upward with a zealous speed still shaken ,his eyes opened to the light it burned and the world around looked slightly blue


    "Are you ok lad"


    With a jolting twitch, he looked towards the old lady, calming his breath but confused he looked around seeing the building around him .


    Caleb saw prominent chandlers hung and from on high it illuminating the church with a dim glow, while light penetrated the stain glass windows on either side. It looked like a normal church with pews to sit either side with a prominent alter at the front. his hair stood up and he looked back, those bloody guards were standing on either side of him looking down at him.


    "Looks like the lad is awake"


    "i cant tell can i"


    The burley man just looked at the retorting scrawny one with what best could be described as fuck off.


    Staring daggers at the daggers blunted a little bit as Caleb found the 2 a little funnier when he was not being viced between muscle and bone, he looked towards the comforting gaze of the holy women


    "I am going to say again, are you ok"


    Caleb gave a slow nod


    "Are you sure ...your ey...,,,,,,"


    The women shook her head dismissing whatever clouded her mind


    "nevermind, lets get you washed up, come now you can stand "


    Caleb looked towards the guards and stood ready to take the brunt of a tackle but as he raised up shaking instead of being tackled they made sure the unstable stance did not lay him low


    Looking around, there was little ostentatiousness than he expected. As Caleb raised his head he saw a gaudy depiction of a motherly like figure on a stain glass window behind a alter and as he did it filled him with a comforting warmth and a smile crept along his face not where Caleb was not even party to the movement.


    The 2 guards still held onto the shoulder of Caleb but felt the tense in him fade as his muscles laxed and his body slumped


    "Now then why don''t you boys leave us,i think you have other things to worry about "


    The two guards pulled away from Caleb gave a curt bow and exited with a brisk pace and with the creaking of the double doors closing


    Caleb still was gawking at the image and as he did the old lady chuckled


    "Son that''s the earth mother, do you know of her"


    Caleb shook his head but he felt like he should say yes and he didn''t know why.


    The old lady said with a soft tone "Now then, can you speech now there gone ,you can tell me"


    Caleb shook his head hastily


    "Ok ,lets get you setteled in ,its been rought hasnt it , follow me "


    As she said that Caleb jumped up and followed but with a respectful length to his shadowing,


    as they continued into the church there was a back clearly with a hallway exactly like the ruined one he found, as they continued forward the lady stopped


    "Let''s get you washed up, you look like a vagrant with all that dirt, it''s not good, let me get you some clothes, go other there and wash up.


    Caleb nodded and entered and looked at the room, there was a large cylinder with water in it with a fireplace below it which flickered with embers, Through Calebs sherlock holmes level of intelligence he realised you heat up the water and pour it on yourself,


    Caleb confused a bit how the situation unfolded and now left alone accepted the hospitality and approached the basin


    "maybe they''re not too bad after all ,the first impression was not great"


    As he continued to put wood into the campfire which originally embers now roared, the water started to steam off and as it did he looked aound for a vessel to store it but nothing was around ,Caleb sat there not knowing what to do ,does he cup the water with his hands ,does he have a bucket.


    Not knowing what exactly what to do he striped then got ready to wash himself


    There was a knock on the door and quickly Caleb cracked it open to see


    "Got some clothes for you , better than those tattered ones your wearing "


    Caleb gave a smile and grabbed the clothing , Caleb nodded and closed the door but


    "Wait ,dont be so hasty you need the bucket "


    Caleb quickly reached his hand around and grabbed it and after that closed the door


    Caleb started to clean himself and thinought about what has happened until now ,he arrived in a new world and now he started to have hallucinations which seemed to originate from this world, was it some sort of magic, was it his own memories, what was it,Caleb wanted answers and he had a system to give them "


    "System , these hallucinations, what the fuck are they "


    [Scanning for foreign intrusion]


    Caleb felt tendrils drill into his mind and scoure the pink flesh within his skull ,as the perverse sensation subsided he felt defiled but clean which causing a conflicting sensation.


    [No foreign intrusion detected]


    "There must be .these memories, these hallucinations are not mine,why would i has glimpses of this world im from eath am i not?"


    [Host , there are signs of over exhaustion and trauma, sleep it off]


    Caleb turned silentand brooded on it


    "Well your fucking useful system"


    Caleb washed his body now with the heated water clearing his mind as it splashed over his bearskin and getting a well needed clean.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Caleb after a few minutes finished up and walked out refreshed and happy with the new garments, hair slicked back and a new image more refined as his hair swayed behind his head.


    As he walked out with a smile he saw the Old women waiting outside and his face was flush with red.


    "Look at you now,a young strapping lad "


    The old lady approached caleb and grabbed his cheek and pulled


    Caleb winced as it was a tight tug


    Caleb smiled at the lady and chuckled


    "I can offer you lodging for tonight, take some straw and put it on one of the pews "


    Caleb bowed but gave a curious look at the old lady


    "Oh im forgetful, its in the storage room just next to my room


    Caleb nodded and rushed only a few steps and grabbed what he needed and went to the church main body.


    Caleb quickly found comfort in a straw which was layed on the church floor, the bed was a comforting luxury to his previous lodging of leaves.


    One the bed he looked up , instead of the stars he had a stone grey roof, a welcome change.

 38 Drowned

    The last chapter was a bit of a cluster fuck i admit an idea flung into my head very late time and i with a bit too much zeal ending up making a chapter and releasing it without much thought to the quality nor the actually ability to understand its confusing nature,so i apologize as this is my first proper try at story writing and my ability to turn ideas into a well-implemented element flopped .


    Anyway ,here another chapter ,enjoy


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Caleb dreamed he tossed and turned in his straw bed gathering a cold sweat and face contorted, he opened his eyes but not to a scene of light piercing into the church but a empty void,


    He was sprawled on the floor ,he slowly raised himself up.


    It was a sea ,but it had no tides, no ripples, it was a confusing thing , Caleb looked around, there was no feeling of wind it was just empty, it was a void ,a completely flat sea and he stood on it .


    Apprehensive to the realisation he stepped back slowly and he did not find a stop , from far and wide A ominous eerie light covered the area with its din


    Looking around he was confused


    "System can you hear me "


    [$&*%^*¡ê*&$$¡ê^%*¡ê]


    "I guess not "


    Caleb looked around and walked forward in this endless expanse, each step producing ripples which disturbed the calm.


    Caleb looked up and saw blackness, a void of anything, a black sky without blemish but with slight hovering orbs which pulsated above his reach.


    Caleb looked at the murky waters and watched how each step produced a ripple, how it echoed out into the incomprehensible distance


    looking down deeper into the murky waters, there were small baubles of light inside it glowing with an almost golden light which was consumed by the darkness but covered in a chain as if locked up in the depths, and as he focused baubles he saw fragments of images he wanted to get closer


    Caleb lowered himself down pushing his face to the murky translucent depths, he saw orbs clearer, but there was more than one now, so many like a glittering sea of them in the murky depths some giving there faint light at incomprehensible depths consumed by the waters but each and everyone had a chain covering them.


    He instinctively reached for one unconusoly but the water blocked him like a barrier to his intrusion like a protective film, he pushed further against the barrier, he could not pierce it.


    "OPEN FUCKING SESAME "


    Caleb with a missive thud smashed his head against the watery barrier


    He felt pain ,this was no normal dream but he pushed on ,he needed answers


    Caleb smashed his hands against the barrier and all that came from it was small rippling


    "FUCING OPEN "


    Standing up in frustration he looked up in exasperation, he saw grey orbs of light gently pulsating giving off light, he reached out for one and brung it closer, it had images of his life on earth , but something felt off about these orbs, something missing and eerie


    Caleb thought this whole events where eerie and sinister ,smashing the orb it glittered into the sky


    Caleb renewed with a sense of purpose he pushed against the barrier his hands plinking off the barrier,as they pushed and pushed they became eviscerated, without care for his own body he pushed his face against the barrier and pushed till it beganturning bloody as the pressure tore his skin,


    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"


    Screaming to the very heavens he heaved and pushed with all he had ,pain shot through him but he felt now he was floating but a pressure pushed him against his path ,he was being returned to the surface of the water ,Caleb pulled the watery depths but as much effort he put in the depths pushed back with equal ferocity,warring against the tides and pressure ever increasing he approached the orb, it looked chained,sealed away ,but he pushed forward towards the orb without hesitation or care for how the pressure was slowly breaking him and pressuring his lungs to give up the little air he had left


    With a desperate reach he accepted the depthsand gave in as he reached towards one of the buables , he crushed it underneath his hand and with a quick jolt of a almost electric sensation which went from his arm and went towards his head when the electric caressed hismind it was like a lock being cracked openhe remembered a name


    ''Elizebe...


    BOOOOM


    a shockwave boomed out shaking the very depths, this pulse of kinetic fury pushed Caleb down into the depths as he fruitlessly stretched out to reach the bauble one more but it escaped his grasp , he rushed passed baubles with glancing he saw so many, as he brushed his ravagedhand across many they would not unlock as if sealed in these depths as he tried to crack them a force refused him like an unworthy street urchin .


    he was pushed into the endless depths deeper and deeper with no sign of escaping, he looked at his arm which he broke the bauble with, it was ravaged and tattered the very flesh flayed off and the murky black depths bloomed with a red mist he would scream but no one would hear him , he saw his breath bubble away ,he had no line of escape he endlessly fell down with no escape.


    His eyes started to close slowly, each bubble escaping out of him and as the last reached the top he could only thing of the cold depths


    ''so cold ,so very cold''


    Water started fill his lungs as it gushed in he felt disgusted, he felt feeble and weak ,it felt like he was going to die


    Once everything faded away and mind cleared he felt the weight of the water move off him like his shoulders were freed but as he did Caleb started to cough up water profusely regurgitated water all over .


    "Lad ,wake up or you get another morning bath"


    Caleb stared at the old lady who threateningly held a water bucket with a smile,


    He awoke from that nightmare.

 39 New Arrivals

    Head racked by pulsing pain he looked around, the church was glowing with the cascading light piercing through the windows


    He could not fully understand what the hell just happened to him , he arrived in an almost dreamscape which held memories it seemed like, it was peering into his mind as a third party and its feeling was alien,he could still feel the pain what the explosion inflicted,the water inside his lungs ,it was like a psychic echo effecting him


    He breathed the air slowly savouring and thinking how it flowed in and as he did he exhaled clearing the trepidation in his mind, he quickly shot up from his sleeping position and picked up the straw and ran off to put it in the storeroom, As he did the old granny was carrying something.


    "Lad help me get ready "


    Caleb confused rushed to help and as he approached old granny she was holding up a massive cylinder of gruel, or that is what Caleb thought it was


    Caleb quickly helped her and picked the massive weight off her hands


    "Put it in the main hall for me will you"


    Caleb waddled with the massive weight and put it on the inside


    The old lady quickly met Caleb in the main building holding wooden bowls and spoons


    "You may not understand, but some people cannot feed themselves, the old , the homeless and children "


    Caleb smiled at that even in foreign world humanity still had its charitable soul but he knew this world is much harsher than his own


    As the old lady set out the food a knock came from the door


    "Lad can you get that I''m dealing with this "


    Caleb with a quick acknowledgement opened the door and what he saw was a broad amount of people, Elderly, people wearing taters and almost to the bone, children who looked malnourished


    As they sore the door open the old pushed the shy children forward and gave them words of encouragement and pushed the children to the front, it was an affectionate display and they funnelled in, with each passing person each thanked Caleb and said a thanks to the earth mother ,Caleb saw each of them form a bustling queue ,he watched them ,how they had little worries it seemed as they smiled ,it was like a community brought together and as they collected there gruel they lined up on the pews each and every one of them until there was one bowl left.


    "Lad ,there is enough for one more , come here you need to eat"


    Caleb was warmed again by the old lady''s hospitality and he approached and grabbed his share and put himself at the back of the room leaning on the arch of the doorframe.


    As everyone sat down the old lady walked to the podium at the top below the stainless depicting of the earth-mother she started to speak in a tone a reverence


    "Thank the earth mother for the food she gives, thank her for giving the grounds we sow our crops, thank her for the bountiful harvest ......"


    With a smirk the old lady said


    "Now get to eating it before it gets cold"


    A light chuckle covered the room as Caleb picked at his food but eating some of it to not be rude he looked at how this little community brought together through the necessity of food worked.


    This continued for a while until most of the patrons put the bowl back and spoon and respectfully bowed the old lady with there gratification and as they did they funnelled out .


    Caleb mind still roiling from what happened in the dreams liked this sort of calm but recognised something, being lazy will get him no answers.


    "System set objective, Obtain Knowledge About Memory Manipulation Magic"


    < Objective .Obtain Knowledge About Memory Manipulation Magic>


    [Intresting objective, Do you suspect someone that these hallucinations are tampering ]


    "I don''t know and to be honest blissful ignorance would be better but I feel like I owe myself to know about what the hell has been happening"


    As Caleb''s conversation died down the doors opened with a creek and was followed by the noise of footsteps of 5 distinct footfalls.


    Caleb now faces facing with a door nearly pummeling his face waited to it closed, as it slowly closed he heard someone talk.


    " i was told that someone wholived in the forest was here, We would like to hire him as a guide"


    Caleb interest piqued looked at the area where he heard the voice and as the door closed 5 people stood there in kit reminiscent of fantasy adventuring gear.

 40 The Gang

    This chapter is a bit longer i hope it doesnt get too sleep-inducing, enjoy the chapter.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    5 People stood in front of Caleb not noticing his presence he observed them with a curious glint in his eyes.


    One who stood the most prominent in this group, shining in the light some righteous knight, golden hair went to the nape almost looking effeminate from the side, He or she holding a helm in his left hand which was covered by a kite shield, A sword ornate sword was attached to the back.


    Looking at the second most glaring figures was a tall individual ,it was a woman with pallid skin and long black hair who as if knowing Caleb''s was looking at her met his gaze with disdainful eyes who disregarded Caleb''s existence as if he was some vagrant after the quick glance, she looked cold-hearted and her posture was indifferent ,she was also impatient her foot kept hitting the floor making a methodical tune .


    Tap


    Tap


    Tap


    A More diminutive figure caught Caleb''s eyes who cowered behind the tall women staring at Caleb, She was young, a girl with white robes and with similar golden hair to the leader. She held a staff topped with a crystal of white ,If Caleb saw her without this party of misfits he would think she was a priest.


    The other more diminutive figure much smaller was covered by a green robe standing absolutely still leaving not a single vibration in his or her stature.


    Looking up from them two of them a massive women stood behind standing like a chizled statue with blazing red hair stood , muscles bare and pulsating with strength exuding. Looking towards the face of the giant his eyes met and Caleb stepped back a bit and looked away, Caleb was cowed and felt a bit akward not being able to keep eye contact.


    The leader looked toward the old lady and approached her ignoring Calebs presence


    "Im sorry to intrude but i was told you were giving lodging to someone who came from the forest who might that be "


    The old lady gave a knowing glance to Caleb who retuned a eyeroll and nod


    "The young lad to your left"


    All 5 of them looked towards Caleb, all they saw was a dishevelled hair and a generally homeless appearance.


    As they looked at Caleb he gave a curt nod of acknowledgement.


    The blond one approached Caleb and reached out a hand and Caleb joined in a kind


    "Greetings, i am Marcus, You? "


    Caleb nodded with a slow repone


    "Not much of talker, Anyway we need a guide and were willing to pay ,no one here in the village wants to enter it , the 2 guards at the gate told us about you"


    Caleb sighed heavily and facepalmed


    "Im sorry did offend you "


    Caleb shook his head and giving a smirk.


    ''Those 2 are going to be the death of me''


    "Well anyway onto business, we need to find Direwolves, we will give appropriate payment "


    The man looked Caleb with eyes which communicated more than words, a look of are you sure


    Caleb chuckled knowing he looked like someone who would be more dead weight than help and nodded with a confidence and a smirk.


    "So you accept "


    Caleb really was getting irked by this not being able to communicate and nodded.


    "The payment will be in 10 silver advance and 10 on completion, sound good "


    Caleb had no use for money also have no idea how the currency worked in this world he and put a finger up and pointed after catching the mans attention towards a dagger within its sheath.


    "You want this "


    Caleb nodded again


    "Oh , ok then " the man took the dagger gave it and its sheave to Caleb, Caleb span around the blade in the air


    "Be careful with that "


    This brung a smirk to Caleb''s mouth and he tossed it in the air and deftly caught it with a flourish and kept it slightly hanging out of the sheath within moments giving a surprise to the group, Caleb thought about how this suited him with all the sneaking and on this line of thought, he remembered something, where the fuck has the horn gone too.


    "Well then the payment taken over let me introduce our merry little band "


    "i am Marcus, The tall redhead is Rea, The small tricky one is john


    "Hey fuck you i aint small"


    Sighing he continued "The small blond one is Ellie, The cold one is Lela "


    Lela walked past Marcus with a push


    "Before we do anything we need to make sure he is not dead weight "


    Marcus looked at Caleb and shrugged his shoulders as ife he could do nothing


    Caleb confused on how to respond decided to use what he knew best to communicate


    Caleb comically used his middle and index to show some slow movements as trying to make his 2 fingers tiptoeing


    Rae piped up "You walk"


    Ellie piped up "No silly he sneaks, don''t you"


    Caleb nodded, surprisingly sherades worked in a different world


    ''Well onto the next one "


    Caleb did the same movement and then with his hands, he put his thumb out and went from the left of his neck to the right.


    This time it was the small hooded one removed his hood and brown hair fell down dishealved and approach Caleb


    "You kill things while sneaking like me, nice to meet a fellow rogue "


    John moved forward with a hand outstretched and as Caleb reached towards it


    John pulled Caleb in Supringly lite a hearty reunion as if they were friend meeting after a long time away and put one arm over his shoulder but with some effort due to size differences


    "You should not be so trusting "


    John had his dirk placed on the soft skin and Caleb looked at him with a mischievous glint as John looked back his hair fell from his shoulders


    "Who the fuck did that"


    John looked around to find the defiler of his locks


    Caleb raised his hands empty


    The whole party just ended up laughing as Johns brown hair fell to the ground


    John looked back exacerbated


    "Hey what you laughing at ,STOP ,JUST STOP ,IT IS NOTfunny"


    "Oh yes it i....."


    Marcus felt a cold sensation on his neck which stopped his tongue


    "The ,,.,.fuck"


    The party halted the joint hysteria and stared at Marcus, they saw the Caleb holding the knife to the neck of Marcus as soon as they saw Caleb swiftly sheathed the dagger looking very happy with himself.


    John looked surprised"Fuck i concede, your good, But don''t think you''ll get me next time"


    Rea talking in a dumb tone retorted to John


    "Yeah, your hair to go longer need weeks, too short trip for next time.


    Caleb chuckled at that and so did the rest of the part and John looked even more annoyed.


    After the snickering died down Marcus walked over to John and both of them comically huddled together with the other 3 party members looking seemingly used to it .


    Caleb looked towards the old lady with eyes conveying an apology and was returned with a smile


    " how the fuck did he do that" "How the fuck should i know " "Your the sneaky one "Marcus & John looked blankly at Caleb who returned a smile


    and turned to each other and nodded


    "Your in " Both of them said in harmonious choir


    Lela looked like she wanted to protest but her mouth was covered by Rea and Ellie

 41 Really!

    I apologise but ive had some exams so there was an bit of a break with writing ,Enjoy


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Caleb looked towards Lela and smirked a goading visage and she pushed hard against the massive trunks what you could call Rea''s arms, it was like a child she was hugging a porcelain doll.


    Looking up to Rea''s face she had no visual sign the restaining cost any effort , scary.


    But neither the less she stopped women turning him into her pincushion and he smiled at her with genuine relief, Rea replied the same which felt unsettlingly innocent.


    After a few silent moments and murmuring and Lela''s eyes meeting with Rea and then meeting with Caleb staring daggers lela slumped and she was let go and hmphhh of defeat was let out from her lungs.


    Looking back he saw Marcus, the knight''s armour glistened and Caleb could not help but think how impractical that hulk of metal is in the forest, looks like this group lacks a few mental faculties he thought to himself.


    Hoping the blondhad some facultiesin the head he looked towards where she was, she was there in front of him with a mere meter separation, startled he flinched back


    ''System how the fuck did this little gremlin shit get there ''


    [Gremelins are small and sneaky, like this human, Connect the dots]


    "Hey, your our guide now, do you want to read this books with me "


    Now apprehensive he saw a book which he thought was a book of magic on her waist was actually some sort of story, hopefully, it was not a picture book or it would be that maybe only John and Lela would have any mental ability.


    Caleb grabbed a hold of it and opened it and looked at the first line and looked up from the book and face dragged down into a slump ,


    ''


    "OH im so sorry ,so sorry , please forgive me "


    Lela burst out laughing while Ellie tried to apologize


    ''System did you turn off the language translation ''


    [No but actually yes , maybe you could teach yourself how to talk by using the skill to translate?


    obviously, it will take a lot of effort but you can do it!]


    Caleb did not look amused.


    "When we stop on the travels into the forest would you want me to read it to you, maybe it can help you learnt to read and maybe you could eventually talk"


    [Or have the gremlin teach you]


    "Stop it your just bothering him...


    Caleb realized looking at the group''s reaction this little one was going to bothering him a lot so might as well give in now


    "But...."


    "Please for....


    Clabe shook his headput his hand up palm up facing the knight to silence him


    Caleb closed the book and gave it back and smiled and then nodded to accept his fate.


    "You want me to read it to you, really "


    Caleb Nodded again slowly so it was seen


    Jumping in the air Ellie shouted


    "YES"


    followed by 4 different tones in unison


    "REALLY!"


    "Don''t be so loud in here, get out before i need to get the broom to shoo you away"


    Marcus quickly pivoted andbowed apologetically to 90 degrees and


    "Sor.. "


    Crack


    "FUUUUU"


    Rea quickly covered Marcuse''s mouth and hefted him up on his shoulders and walked towards the exit all the rest looked at this like it was normal, all Caleb could think was, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK just happened.


    After that quickly the whole group filtered out and Caleb stood there in the church and looked back at the granny and bowed


    The grannies eyes had a look in them of good luck, your gonna fucking need it


    Caleb nodded as if getting the message through her eyes.


    "Go on ,you don''t want to lag behind do we , Bring me a rabbit"


    Caleb thought about abandoning the quest for his sanity.


    [A man who breaks his promise words are worthless]


    ''i cant even speech, my words are more than worthless''


    Caleb looked up and said inside his mind "FUCK IT"


    He ran after the rabble of misfits

 42 Announcmen

    As its pretty apparent there are a lack of chapter releases ,don''t worry i will be getting them out soon but as a avid reader and a new author I personally want to ensure the chapters have a consistency and quality to them as i am new to ensure that its a bit challenging at timesso that both you the readers and i can be satisfied with the experience ,Also i don''t want to be going to modify /retconning stuff after the chapter releases if I relise somethings lets just say i write something i am unhappy with or is misplaced within the story as that will sour the experience for the first readers and myself asi would not want to let you lads & lasses down. Thank you for your patience.


    Here is a preview of a part of one of the 10 Chapters I am working on


    Caleb dreamed of a church ,he woke up grogilly and looked around , He was not in the church sundered by timebut in a church pristine as if it was newly built, the marble pearlescent white, the wood finished to a shining oak, the glass creating a cascade of colours ,it was immaculate.


    His head started to pulse with sharp pain , the sensation he has come to know far too well. As his body wavered in these etheric halls he put two fingers to his nose as he felt a trickle, it was stained red ,he glanced around awestruck in its majesty , From the altar to the inner sanctum it was perfect even the dim glow given by the resplendent gold chandelier gave a warm feel to the to the inner sanctum of it and all of it was perfect from the tabards to tined glass which made prism of light ,even the chandelier glistened in its resplendent gold untarnished.


    His head thumping more now like a war drum pushing him forward, He staggered towards the inner sanctum, he found a window,pressing his ear against its coloured surface he could hear the playful cries of children and the voice of a women gargle and Caleb smiled unknowingly to its sound as it cut through the gargle,straining with the pain he pushed the open ,he got a glimpse of blinding light and a silhouette of a nun ,his eyes closed involuntary with the force he was unable to resist and when he opened his eyes the world before him flashed into that of dead land covered in a dreary sky and silence covered the area except for the pitter patter of rain, the very ground turned black like charcoal.


    Looking around frantically staggering back in surprise, cracks formed like spiderwebs as the darkness pressed against the window oppressively snuffing out the light, the window shattered inwards and flecks and jagged pieces shot inwards.


    Stunned he looked on .the darkness corrupted everything in its slow crawl tarnishing all that shined and decaying all that stood , Caleb ran into the main hall and the darkness spread at a pace he didn''t comprehend like dark tendrils corrupting the world around him within mere moments the church pristine was sundered.


    The church around him creaked and started to crumple ,rain fell throught the cracks trickling down


    ,with a massive crunch the church around him broke under the darkness wait and as it did his eyes closed.


    Caleb woke grogily to the sound of rain

 43 Exi

    Just to say i finished of the main chapter of this arc and im currently testing about to see if I can cull the filler to make more enjoyable chapters do read which actually mean something, not just filler.


    i will be removing the announcement post within the week hopefully if everything goes to plan.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Bolting through the door the light washed over Caleb blinding him , flinching and covering his face he looked at the town in front of him, now looking it at the correct angle it looked as it should he took in what his senses provided.


    Listing to the town he heard the noises of the bustling townspeople, the chatter and the clanking of metal chimed in the cacophonous chorus cutting through the voices in far off markets and the bustle of those who walked in the streets drowned sounds of the town out.


    The smell was a mix of far off bakeries, the sooty smell of burning coal in far off forges equipping horses and the guards alike, mixed with the tangy scent of refuse creating a disgusting deluge.


    Looking at the buildings which lay across his vision like a field of brown and yellow, the street was narrow with bustling with individuals and the buildings propped up on a wooden frame and thatch sheltering the top of the buildings.


    Walking down the street slowly he saw stalls selling foods which smell wafted into the crowd creating an alluring smell if not disgustingly accented by the general smell of the township ,the noises reached a deafening chorus as Caleb passed the relatively small streets and entered into a market where town criers where shouting the news and stall owners shouted out there wares in differing accents .


    Cutting though the crowds and the town he caught a few curious glances and some snickering which gave Caleb the reminder of his bruised pride which was not a day old .


    Embarrassed by the attention and nervousness skyrocketing he shot through the crowd leaving the claustrophobic environment, as he did he saw the wooden gates and 3 glints in the sunlight and he darted forward


    Weaving through the streets of the town which were cobwebs of cobble and through those who walked within it , seeing no sign of the misfits he decided to speed up and put a strong step in his stride and shot forward looking for his quary .


    As the world around blurred the smell ,the noises turned to a gargle until it was a mere tremor of noise and only he heard the thumb of his heart cut through the silence, he focused and as he ran he saw the 3 glints closer ,one which had a lock of golden hair and 2 others which when he closed he noitced, the duo, oh the mischief he thought he would reak on those two.


    He replaced his sprint to that one of threatening intensity he dashed forward towards the guard closing in the distance towards his quary


    Approaching and staring daggers almost like a premonition the two guards jolted up and glanced in unison towards Caleb who was now rushing forward only mere seconds away surprised and confused at the madman sprinting at them they stumbledback a bit ,Caleb skidded forward and grinded to a halt in front of the more diminutive guards face of the stunned guard


    "Guide , these are the 2 guards who told us about you,"


    Caleb glanced at Marcus with a smile but looking back hisface contorted into a mischievous grin


    "N ...No hard feelings right "


    Caleb mischievous smile was replaced by a face showing no emotion and nodded and he jumped back joining the group of misfits


    The duo looked at each other in quiet surprise and confusion taking quick glances toward the group before them and even more intense glances towards Caleb


    "Ok be on with you lads and lasses, should we expect your return soon"


    Caleb interested to hear the answer looked at the groups looked towards the guard who looked at him with an intense glare and the group of misfits looked curiously at Caleb.


    Caleb scratched his head and shrugged

 42 Exi

    Caleb walked with a gentle pace through the door opening both of them wide, light washed over Caleb blinding him, flinching and covering his face he looked at the town in front of him, now looking it at the correct angle it looked as it should .


    Listing to the town he heard the noises of the bustling townspeople, the chatter and the clanking of metal chimed in the cacophonous chorus cutting through the voices in far off markets and the bustle of those who walked in the streets drowned sounds of the town out.


    The smell was a mix of far off bakeries, the sooty smell of burning coal in far off forges equipping horses and the guards alike, mixed with the tangy scent of refuse creating a disgusting deluge.


    Looking at the buildings which lay across his vision like a field of brown and yellow, the street was narrow bustling with people dressed in browns mirroring the buildings around them .


    Walking down the street with a brisk pace he went past stalls selling foods which smell wafted into the crowd creating an alluring smell if not disgustingly accented by the general smell of the township ,the noises reached a deafening chorus as Caleb passed the relatively small streets and entered into a market where town criers where shouting the news and stall owners shouted out there wares .


    Cutting though the crowds and the town he caught a few curious glances and some snickering which gave Caleb the reminder of his bruised pride which was not a day old .


    ''Those 2 bloody guards had to carry me through ''


    Rolling his eyes and embarrassed by the attention and nervousness skyrocketing he shot through the crowd leaving the claustrophobic environment, as he did he saw the wooden gates and three glints in the sunlight in the far distance , he darted forward.


    Weaving through the streets of the town which were cobwebs of cobble and through those who walked within it , seeing no sign of the misfits he decided to speed up and put a strong step in his stride and shot forward looking for his quary .


    As the world around blurred the smell ,the noises turned to a gargle until it was a mere tremor of noise and only he heard the thumb of his heart cut through the silence, he focused and as he ran he saw the three glints close,one which had a lock of golden hair and two others which when he closed he noticed, it was the duo ,the guards who paraded him to the church.


    He replaced his sprint to that one of threatening intensity he dashed forward towards the guard closing in the distance towards his quary


    Approaching and staring daggers almost like a premonition the two guards jolted up and glanced in unison towards Caleb who was now rushing forward only mere seconds away surprised and confused at the madman sprinting at them they stumbled back a bit ,Caleb skidded forward and grinded to a halt in the middle of both parties.


    "Finnaly you''re here , these fellowstold us about a person from the forest, you should thank them for the employment"


    Caleb glanced at Marcus with a smile but looking back hisface contorted into a mischievous grin


    "N ...No hard feelings right "


    Caleb mischievous smile was replaced by a face showing no emotion and nodded and he jumped back joining creating a bit more distance between them as he was a bit too close for confort.


    The duo looked at each other in quiet surprise and confusion taking quick glances toward the group before them and even more intense glances towards Caleb .


    "So your going to the forest , When should we expect your return to the town"


    "Our guide should be able to tell you that"


    The group of misfits and the duo looked towards Caleb in unison waiting for an answer


    Caleb scratched his head and shrugged

 43 Fields

    The group of five just looked at Caleb with a blank expression which was cut through by Marcus''s frankness


    "No matter our mission is to hunt direwolves , plain and simple, at least it will be an interesting trip into the forest,Any issues with that"


    A few eyes rolling and silent begrudging acknowledgements later the group''s tension subsided to quite understanding.


    "So , guide where are we entering the forest "


    Caleb nodded curtly and got to work, he scanned the floor and quickly found the grove he carved with his face still scared the floor marring the flatness of the plains.Caleb feeling a wince of pain at the back of his head he traced his hand from the impact to the forest finding the point the exit point.Caleb pointed towards into the distance where the forest stood vigil.


    "That''s a bit of distance, John, Lela, first one doesn''t need to hunt when we set up camp "


    The three of them looked at each other with telling eyes as soon as their glances met a spark between the three formed and they bolted forward like a swooping canary and they gained distance ,Caleb stood there dumbfounded at not that the two ones wearing leather armour he expected to be fast , but the one sprinting at full speed in full plate.


    Looking back towards Rea she had Ellie on her shoulder like a child, As celebs eyes met Rea''s eyes he saw a chuckle under the bored demeanour.


    ''System how the fuck did that guy run in full plate''


    [Well first you must underst...


    ''shorten it ''


    [Magic Essence absorbed by those unable to refine it leads to the energy permeating the body and enhancing bodily function]


    Caleb shook his head disregarding any notion of understanding as he couldn''t explain or understand


    his own outrageous shit, Looking towards Rea he nodded and then ran.


    Caleb returned to the comforting sensations, the air whistling in the ear, the wet touch of the earth and blades of grass, the sweat beading down his head and how the sun bore down on him .the singularness of being entrancing.


    focused he heard the repetition within his heart how each pulse sent heat through his aching body, how each cut through the gargle of noise as he ran like a cutting edge, the air freshness tangy on his tongue.


    Running forward he looked towards the forest and each step amplified its immensity until the three figures stood there like ants against a mountain, it gave a new respect seeing another person against the great poles which stood vigil.


    As he skidded to a halt he gave a curt nod to Marcus and run up the tree and became a blur as his speed almost inhumane scaled the tree with blistering pace ,Caleb piercing the canopy gained a glimpse of the familiar sight of the great green canopies stretching out as a never-ending green field which glistened with the suns touch .he saw in the distance the broken church grey penetrating the canopy and looking up he saw the twins suns which stood sentinel in the sky .


    Quickly sliding down from his perch he met with the remaining 2 giving a nod of acknowledgement


    and looking at the res they looked a bit surprised, Marcus quickly shook it off


    "We will follow,you go forward"


    Caleb not giving acknowledgement skulked almost subconsciously inwards into the dark abyss of the forest and the group saw Caleb disappear into the darkness of the forest.


    Standing there confused for a few awkward moments a hand pierced the darkness beckoning them forward, just a hand nothing else, The group sort of confused looked towards Marcus who gave a reassuring nod and they pressed on into the forest

 44 Entry

    The group followed keenly behind Caleb who skulked forward with casual caution.


    Focusing on the world what was the forest each and every aspect, the whistling wind which weaved between the trunks, the beats of the wings of birds and his heart alike, he focused closing his eyes


    Crack


    Eyes shot open and with a quick twitch Calebs head looked back to see a Rea downtrodden


    "Sorry"


    "Rea you have to be more careful


    " I not make mistake again ,"


    Caleb looked at the one who sat at the shoulders of Rea and back to Rea


    ''A teenager and a giant even more childlike than the one who sat on her shoulders, why the hell bring them to this kind of mission ''


    Caleb continued on forwards still skulking about and occasionally looking back to see and he would be met with a blinding light from the knights armour


    Caleb with one hand raised his hand flat upwards .


    The group continued walking forward without a change in pace and he just stood there straight and sighed heavily


    "i think that means stop "


    Pivoting around gleefully he was face to face with John


    "Is it?"


    Caleb nodded with a massive smile


    ''Hahaha this little one is intelligent''


    "Do you have any other we want to know ,im guessing they were clan hunting signals "


    Caleb not sure nodded with a bit of hesitation


    Looking again towards the knight he had enough with that walking flashbang.


    Caleb quickly scooped up mud from the ground walked towards Marcus and he smothered the shining armour to a dull sheen caked with mud


    Marcus just allowed to happen standing there indifferently


    "Not bothered that the guide is making you armour a mess"


    "I overlooked the fact that my armour may be detrimental to our objective, to be honest, i would have to do it at some point."


    After the group just got comfortable and Marcus armour was stained with mud losing its glimmer Calebs touch.


    Raising his hand up and addressing everyone with a glance he raised his handandstarted to move


    Caleb quickly outpaced the group while they were trying to understand the signs John quickly sprinted up to the side of Caleb .


    "Move forward im guessing"


    Caleb face still focused forward nodded


    Walking forward-looking focused was really talking to the voice in his head


    ''System , where would we find direwolves


    [im not a sat nav]


    ''Please''


    [Where did you find the previous wolves]


    "Deep in the woods near the giant tree"


    [What do every creature need to survive]


    "Water"


    ......


    After confiding with the system Caleb continued forward without much hiccups in the jungle except john being scared shitless by a swarm of birds fluttering out there perch,as they continued their march the light started to dim as they skulked through the forest and the cold started to set in giving the forest an errie gloom,Calebs breath started to steam up looking back they all looked like they were doing fine but Rea was almost tranced by her own condesating breath.


    Moving forward Caleb saw the familiar grey which glinted in the night light.


    Shooting forward he approached the church in blistering pace , Looking at it now the reclaimed by nature look was replaced by death and decay ,It was like a mirror to its previous life


    This feeling put a pang through Calebs body


    "Didnt expect to see a ruined church this far in"


    "Probably a church to the earth mother, druids set these up deep in the woods,Apparently it attunes it to nature better and in the hopes it will reach the earth mother"


    ''Whats a d...


    [Imagine a tree hugger who can make trees hug you]


    ''That sounds slightly present''


    [And crush you]


    ''Oh ,how fun''


    The group quickly walked forward and Lela touched one fo the dead vines


    "it is all ,dead and dry"


    "Confusing i heard that even if these temples are abandoned they are reclaimed by nature


    Caleb just stood back looking stoic but really feeling embarrassed in the inside feeling responsible for what had befallen the church .


    "Lets go inside and get the camp sorted "


    The group entered without any qualms and played out bags to sleep in


    "Let me search inside see if i can find anything useful" John quickly rushed into the back of the church


    AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH A FUCKING SKELETON "


    John ran out as quick as the sentence met the group''s ears


    "Ohh no john this place is haunted SpOoKy"


    "Oh come on there is a bloody skeleton aren''t you a little bit phased by that at all"


    Arms outstretched and looking around at each of the party members ,they seemed unphased


    ''I feel for this midgit''


    [Dont let him hear that ,the small ones are the most tempermentative]


    ''How are you guys accepting this so easily Caleb thought internally looking at the almost baffled John and unphased party.


    After some time passed the beds were set up and one extra for the guide


    "Camps finished ,John ,Lela Hunting ,Rea get some dry wood and Ellie what are you going to do


    "Im going to read our guide the book "


    "Oh ...okthen "


    Marcus quickly started searching around the church


    Ellie sat on one of the pews and slapped it with a spare hand looking a Caleb


    Caleb pointing to himself and Ellie nodded and quickly foudn himself sat next to Eliie


    "So lets get straight in ,this is my favourite book ,the story of the silver knight ,it even has pictures ,there was once named a knig..."


    ''FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU''


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Rea came in first and gave the sunken face of Caleb a smile laughing clearly but not letting a peep out ,she had enough wood under one arm to keep the fire on until daybreak


    John returned exacerbated carrying a small boar over his back the same size of his diminutive figure.


    Lela followed with a boar of even greater size over her shoulder which was only marred by the red which welled at the top of its skull.


    John downtrodden looked towards Caleb and started to smile and as Lela glanced over to him he got a smirk.


    Marcus cam out of the inner sanctum and saw the john and lela and smiled


    "Good catch let get this food going" and after that he rubbed hisand looking to Caleb and Ellie he laughed even more as a girl only reaching up to Caleb''s upper chest was reading a story to him


    "Sorry to stop your storytelling, would you mind lighting this "


    Ellie looked up annoyed and picked up the staff and slammed it downwards a spark of fire lighted on the pile of wood the wood turned into a pillar of flame


    Caleb just sat there aww struck by what magic could do


    ''System ,can magic pick things up''


    [It is not advised to use magic to just get you your drink from half a table away ,even if you do learn it ]


    ''That is pretty preemptive''


    After the meat was cooked everyone went to sleep and night watches were assigned to each person,


    Caleb went to sleep and he dreamed

 45 Dream

    Caleb dreamed of a church he woke , not in the church sundered church but in a church pristine as if it was newly built, the marble pearlescent white, the wood finished to a shining oak, the glass creating a cascade of colours ,it was immaculate.


    His head started to pulse with sharp pain , the sensation he has come to know far too well. As his body wavered in these etheric halls he put two fingers to his nose as he felt a trickle, it was stained red ,he glanced around awestruck in its majesty , From the altar to the inner sanctum it was perfect even the dim glow given by the resplendent gold chandelier gave a warm feel to the to the inner sanctum of it and all of it was perfect from the tabards to tined glass which made prism of light ,even the chandelier glistened in its resplendent gold untarnished.


    His head thumping more now like a war drum pushing him forward, He staggered towards the inner sanctum, he found a window,pressing his ear against its coloured surface he could hear the playful cries of children and the voice of a women gargle and Caleb smiled unknowingly to its sound as it cut through the gargle,straining with the pain he pushed the open ,he got a glimpse of blinding light and a silhouette of a nun ,his eyes closed involuntary with the force he was unable to resist and when he opened his eyes the world before him flashed into that of dead land covered in a dreary sky and silence covered the area except for the pitter patter of rain, the very ground turned black like charcoal.


    Looking around frantically staggering back in surprise, cracks formed like spiderwebs as the darkness pressed against the window oppressively snuffing out the light, the window shattered inwards and flecks and jagged pieces shot inwards.


    Stunned he looked on .the darkness corrupted everything in its slow crawl tarnishing all that shined and decaying all that stood , Caleb ran into the main hall and the darkness spread at a pace he didn''t comprehend like dark tendrils corrupting the world around him within mere moments the church pristine was sundered.


    The church around him creaked and started to crumple ,rain fell throught the cracks trickling down


    ,with a massive crunch the church around him broke under the darkness wait and as it did his eyes closed.


    Caleb woketo the sound of rain

 46 Hun

    Caleb groggily lurched up head racking with a rapturous force sweat beading down his head, wincing with an unsteady weight he stood up and looked at himself, he was shaking like a hypothermia addled patient.


    ''Focus Caleb it was just a dream''


    ''Just a dream''


    Caleb''s mind was a storm of thought trieying to piece together the dream , but as he tried pain jolted through him and like a piece of glass the pain cobwebbed through him and he gritted his teeth grinding them wincing as he felt like he was breaking under the rhapsody of pain but he suddenly felt a gushing cold wipe the pain away.


    [We need to talk]


    ''Yes , yes we do,give me a moment''


    Breathing in deeply he returned his thoughts to the dream with the numbing reassurance ofthe systems touch, he reached into his mind but there was nothing as if it was erased he knew he had a dream but what was it no images or recollections passed his mind and what remained was coloured like the voidblacker than pitch and the more he reached into the mire he wayed down by a pressure as if under the depths of the sea and as he continued to scower his mind the pressure bore deeper, unbearable pressure assailed him and he let go of trying to remember and he felt like a light dimmed to a dead grey and he couldn''t tell why .


    ''What was i doing again''


    Caleb felt a drop of blood trickle from his nose and wiped it


    ''system were we speaking''


    [Yes .....]


    ''System, I feel like I am forgetting something, something important ''


    [ please wait a moment]


    <Scanning>


    <Scanning>


    <Scanning>


    [Host please narrow down memory search I do not wish to know about what category you got off too most]


    ''search my memory for dreams i , I cannot say why but do it''


    <Scanning>


    [System hasn''t found any dream except those which would fall under wet ]


    ''System this isn''t the time for joking''


    [i have detected heightened levels of adrenaline in your blood Also embarrassment on another note ]


    ''You know why you detected embarrassment, Should you not of suppressed my fear response why do i have adrenaline in me''


    [that is the concerning thing whatever just happened created a severance which should not be possible, do you remember the last time this happened, it was within a church grounds, similar to now]


    ''i..... I cannot say but I think you''re right''


    Caleb unfocusing from the conversation and felt the cold trickle of water along his shoulders and stared up . cracks in the church roof leaked water which pitter-pattered into the ruin rhythmically, Caleb still staring up paced forward to a bigger opening and he looked up to the sky


    it was a looming dark grey sky, the churning clouds laying down a bombarding torrent.


    Caleb focused on how the rain hit the stone, its pitter-patter drowning his thoughts out but they kept in the front of his mind as if he lost something and he did not know what.


    Caleb needed to focus on something... different, he snuck out of the church with the assistance of blue azure footprints none were the wiser to his exit.


    As Caleb moved out of the church he felt his body get soaked and his clothing cling to him with a biting chill. Looking to the sky as it bombarded him he nodded to himself.


    ''Lets focus on something else''


    [Objecvtive set :Hunt ]


    ''Well then let''s go '' [ Good Hunting]


    Darting forward Caleb weaved in the foliage, quickly returning to the singularness of hunting he indulged his five senses into the surrounding filtering out the gargle of noise.


    Within this focus a noise made his face curl into a smile, With vicious quickness he scaled up the tree top and went to find his quary , he bounded from tree to tree ,branch to branch making the treetop into nothing more than stepping stones,As the world blurred around as he bounded around he saw the stark white in the murky brown and green in his vision.


    Quickly snapping to white he stopped and the rushing gargle of noise fell still and everything went quiet.


    Caleb pulled the knife from its sheath with a quite shinnnnnnnnnnnnk and it glinted ever so slightly glistening with the touch of rain, pantherlike he stalked down towards the small prey, the rabbit was matted with mud the rain cleaning it showing pearlescent white fur ,he closed but something alerted his prey as its head bobbed up ear up scanning .


    [Even with the system you still failed ]


    ''That ,was ,not ,me ''


    Caleb quickly prepared to pounce he focused waiting patiently to find out if another like-minded hunter had the same prey, waiting he saw red eyes glinting through dark foliage and Caleb smirked.


    Without a sign barreling forth, aWolf launched itself from the dark underbrush with toothy maw ajar slathering at the morsel


    Calebs eyes narrowed


    [Burst]


    Caleb tossed the dagger, it whistled cutting the air apart with its speed and without hesitation he barreled forward closing in, the knife speeding ahead but Caleb not too far behind, findingits mark it lodged inside the wolves open mouth and it gave out a distorted whimper lurching back butjust as the rabbit with sluggish movementswas about to run it was smashed to the floor by Caleb''s hand brutally,facing the wolf with full force,he reached into its toothy maw still lurching he clutched the knife lodged into the mouth of the beast ,he dragged the knifewhich let outa discordant ripping and the distorted whimper turned to a dying gargle, taking hold of the gore-slick dagger with a final ripping noise he dislodged the dagger from its flesh sheath it glistened with a crimson lustre, Caleb stared at the rabbit and with an almost unnoticeable swipe the rabbits head was separated from its shoulders.


    for the next few breaths time past like like oil on ice and letting out a deep breath, he felt empty and sluggish


    The entire ordeal did not even last longer than a few breaths


    Caleb breathed out a sigh and he felt his body seize up , he stood there the gore dripping out the dead and being washed away by the downpour soaking into the earth.


    Caleb twitching his head up with great effort looked to the turmoil in the sky


    ''Quite the hunt ''


    [Overkill but never the less, good job]


    ''


    Caleb just tuted and felt his body lax and the seizing sensation alleviated, WIthout pause he raised himself up from the dirty ground and put the wolf carcass over his back with the rabbit.


    Caleb ventured back with haste through the canopies, he arrived at the familiar stone grey building he skulked forward and peered in , Everyone was slowly awakenings or awake, Caleb walked past John who still in his dreams and tabbed him on his shoulder


    "What is it let me sleep"


    John opened his shut eyes with lazy drawn-out movements looked up and opened his eyes to Caleb towering over his small stature


    Startled John fell backwards and hit the ground with a thunk which raised everyone''s alertness the rest of the group like dominos got up .


    Caleb smirked and moved towards the firepit ignoring the zombies and stocked the fire which was just now crackling embers.


    Caleb put some of the wood Rea collecting on and the embers were reborn into vigorous flame, deftly he skinned the rabbit and the wolf he clumsily made a mess of but the hides came of like socks and one grey tattered hide lay next to a pristine white hide.


    After skinning his hunt he looked to the fire and tilted his head and looked into the depths of the crackling torrent.


    the heat bathed him reassuringly in its warmth, he focused on how the embers cracked and the flicking of the flame and allowed it to drown out the biting cold.

 47 Fire

    Marcus stood up groggily like his companions and rubbed his eyes and winced at the light which bathed the surroundings in a soft orange glow, looking towards its source their guide sat there motionless staring into the flames with what looked to be his hunt laid out on his side on the cold stone.


    "I must say you have an interesting morning routine "


    The guide didn''t even notice him


    Marcus closed the distance and went to tap the guide''s shoulder and with an aggressive twitch the guide instantly locked eyes tenseness filled them with a savage glint in their blue depths.


    "No need to be aggressive, we''re friends here "


    Almost coming to his senses it seemed theglint of aggravation emptied out of the guide''s eyes and shoulders slouched releasing tension


    ''must of been a weird ritual after the end of the hunt i disturbed, never mind"


    Glancing away from there guide Marcus stared towards the rable what he called his party and shouted


    "Rea ,Ellie you awake "


    "Yes"


    "Noooooooooooo let me sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep"


    "get up Ellie our friend has got some meat to cook, let''s not let it be wasted "


    "ooooooook then " pouting Ellie woke up wiping the bags under her eyes while Rea happily trudged over with her massive bulk


    "The rain is pretty bad isnt it ''


    Looking towards there guide he was soaked to the bone, he felt sorry for the poor guy, maybe he could get him a set of waterproof clothes after they get rewarded


    "guide stay by the fire or you''ll freeze, thanks again for the hunt"


    The guide still half drowsy recovering nodded and went back to basking in the fire warm glow


    "Looking at the rain well be stuck here for a bit or if we leave it will be like dredging through a swamp and with our gear that is going to just exhaust us, lets hunker down, John mind using those hands of yours to fix up the leeks or at least find something to store the water "


    "Lets get pre....


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Caleb stared into the crackling flames everything else blurred like a multicoloured splodge and colours raced through the collage every so often, breathing in he could feel the biting cold in his chest mixed with the warm lick of the flame, the tangy ash on his tongue as the open flame spat up and the familiar smell,it swayed as if alive with ashen images in the depths Caleb stared in finding clarity within the iridescent form .


    ''System what purpose do you actually serve''


    [Laments terms i believe my purpose is to fulfil the host''s wishes to a capacity and in another a guide]


    ''Well that''s one way to word torturing ''


    [Thanks for the compliment]


    ''So what wish are you fulfilling with me , what do i want?''


    [I cannot say ,its too uncertain]


    ''What''s stumping you oh great system ''


    [ You are undergoing ...changes, for good and for worse you''re adapting to this world and that is affecting you mentally and physically, a few days ago you could not take even a rabbits life now its like second nature , certain events are occurring outside even my purview and understanding the least i can do is make decisions that both benefit us and.... ]


    ''And?''


    [To twist for my own fun]


    ''Figures''


    Caleb sat there silent as the early morning went on just staring and as he focused into the flickering flame he swore he saw a face , confused he closed to the flame and as he looked into the depths it licked at his face tinging the end of his hair in its heat but he saw something he looked at it deeply


    Suddenly he was yanked back


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Marcus remembering the last time he tried to disturbhim quickly tried to diffuse the situation


    "I know you wild people have weird rituals but I can''t have you burn yourself "


    ''Why do we need to be stuck with the wild guide who likes fire too much, need to make sure he doesn''t get any ideas and set the forestalight ''


    The guideseemed agitated but calmed like before it seemed what took him in the flames dissipated when away from its touch


    Marcus looking around ensured everyone was inside and ready to leave and there was a blonde midget missing


    "Ellie,Ellie , bloody hell where have you got up too"


    "Shes outside, she''ll be fine"


    "Thanks Lela oh what could i do without you "


    Marcus turned towards there guide who looked up at him with eyes without the previous aggression but with a determined stare


    "Looks like you finished you''re ritual in good time, Stormclouds have cleared were be ready to move, better get ready guide we don''t want to lose what light we have left,"

 48 Writer here

    As a writer I''m currently running personally into a few issues presented by the challenge of writing as I am new my strengths, in my opinion, is making combat and descriptive scenes while I am very much a novice in creating conversational scenes and "filler" contentso i hope so far its not a mess, on that front I would like to ask for readers to give corrections if it feels too un-natural and if reaches uncanny valley levels .


    If it is not apparent I''m quite new to this writing i have dabbled with it before due to being inspired to write something but hold a certain level of anxiety about it , most of this novel was made was spontaneously jotted and the rambling shoved on here to see what happened ,In light of this I am working on outside of novel world building to create a coherent world and constraints to work around to not have a loosy gousy world and have it in a sense feel able to feel believably plausible and keep some tracks on this railroadin the broadest senseand I don''t believe I as a writer will be satisfied with it nor will you the readers if I end up writing just low quality rambling for the sake of it .


    Also i must say thanks to all the people reading it makes this rambling author happy to see people actually [i hope ] enjoying it and that is why I''m currently working towards making sure I have a quality standard so thati can step back and take pride in that i don''t bloody need to do a re-write because how dump it is and not be anxious about that fact when i post a chapter , and that you guys don''t have to read some low-quality trash.


    In other news I''ll be finished with my exams by the end of June 20th which were holding me back for the whole year a lot of my free time which I spend having fun and writing the novel and it gives me more time to properly read and develop my skills to give you guys a better story.


    Current road map for the novel is finishing off this ark of the story ark end is currently created and im ironing out kinks , the in-betweenI''m currently stumped on I''m not going to lie but I''m working through it hoping I get a good in-between interesting story and making it feel like a journey as i didn''t want to do cop out a time skip where the in between will make the end more satisfying if my hope is relevant. After this, I will be retrospectively developing the world outside so that the story can develop with coherency and to up the quality of previous chapters.

 49 Setting Ou

    "Guide before i forget we made some food out of you''re catch here, your portion is here "


    Marcus taking out of a backpack tossed a few skewers of meat


    CalebGrabbed them without issue and as they got close they wafted of a pungent gamey aroma, hearing his own tummy rumble he took and bite and before he knew it nothing was left


    Caleb felt regretful and satisfied, Caleb looked up to Marcus having puppy dog eyes wanting more


    "You''ll have to get them from Reha , she cooked them "


    Caleb wore a slightly confused face looked over to Reha who looked like she was daydreaming absentmindedly'' Well that''s unexpected ''


    "Yeah from you face i can tell ,it was our first reaction as well , The Clan she comes from takes virtue''s which would be considered delicate arts, cooking as such to take care of a curse they all bear, the rest she can tell you if she wants "


    Caleb wore a face of genuine intrigue slightly considering why he didnt question why a fantasy barbarian amazoness acted like a jolly giant.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    The group set out in the sun and delved into the darkness not much occurred except some birds scaring John as they fluttered away from Lelas disturbance as she traversed the tops of the trees with an elegence which Caleb began to appreciate,as they went deeper guided by Caleb with a line of misfits in toe .


    Lela up in the trees suddenly shouted "6 wolves fast approaching ,Guide good job , seems the one we killed was just a straggler ofpack "


    The group suddenly heard rustling in the bushes as in the dark underbrush they could hear wolves encircling them and there panted breath echoing in the silence harried but the whistling winds of the forest.


    Marcus bellowed "Guide get behind Reha , Reha protect him, Everyone formations,Lela Provide overwatch from up top"


    quickly everyone shifted forming a diamond formation around Caleb


    Iridescent light appeared on Ellies and globules of light encircled the group produced from her hands which lit the dark underbrush,The light glinting offthe sharpened knives, sword and axe wielded by the partyand it glinted off red eyes in the underbrush


    Barreling forward 4 wolves bounded out of the underbrush at each of the party


    Wincing from the suddenness Ellie let out the coalesced energy primitively and white flames quickly engulfed the left side of a wolf, with a quick whimper it rushed forward.


    "Get away " Ellie slammed her staff down causing a great crack in unison with the bashing of Marcuses shield on the charging wolf bashing it back and bringing the blade down a great gash formed on the wolf leaving it on the defensive ,A wolf equally defensive paced around Reha who met the wolf with a savage stare the wolf almost realising it met with another predator , from the underbrush another lunged forward mouth ajar but before it reached Rehaa arrow plunged deep, its kin charging forward with false courage realising its folly at the last minute as its head was bisected letting out a spray of vitae coating Reha blade in crimson hefting the blade out of the mud it sunk in after cleaving the wolf in twain.


    Caleb look around the cocophany of the battle the clash of blade on flesh ,the pant of predator and hunted ,looking around John was dancing around a wolf with ........another john,


    ''the fuck''


    the wolf was covered in cuts and it lunged one of the two john''s and it shimmered like a mirage and with a blood-curdling tear almost in unison john ad Marcus plunged there blades into the wolves who let out there last whimpering breath as there life spark was extinguished.


    Ellie was next to a wolf with an arrow sticking out from it skull sunk deep


    "Thanks Lela for that "


    "Regroup ,Ellie get to healing"


    A white blur rushed forward between the gap made from the heaving group straight towards Caleb


    ''Fuck ,Burst ''


    [On coold..


    Crunch, Caleb''s arm which wielded the dagger was caught in the toothy maw of the white wolf causing a wrenching pain suppressed by the sytem, with his left hand he frantically punched


    Reha rushed in dropping the great axeboth hands on each side of the gaping mouth and she pulled hard ,Caleb could feel the dagger-like fangs release from his flesh and blood gush out ,he looked towards Reha who exuded a savage aura , clamping down even harder she pulled the maw apart making the jaw break under her strength with each moment a crack after crack as the maw was unnatural vised apart until a blood curdling tear as the wolves body was torn asunder jaw torm free from its perch tossed aside ,She looked back towards the group with savage eyes,before she could react she could feel small arms around her bulk and the savagery flickered away like a faulty lightbulb, with uneasey tension Ellie continued to hug Reha, The savage presence she exuded suddenly weakened until it was left nothing more as an afterthought, throughquivering lips Reha let out a few words


    "Did ....i ....do .....bad "


    "No you did good, you did you best protecting "


    Reha slumped to the ground on her knees, Marcus looked over and nodded to himself


    "Lets set up camp here, we need to rest "


    ''No one going to comment on how i just got a fucking bit''


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Later in the night Caleb & Marcus set next to the campfire, the group sleeping


    Caleb looked at his arm the flesh renitted under the magic of Ellie as he basked in the fire''s heat


    ''Magic is continuing to amaze me ''


    "Don''t agitate it too much, it needs to heal properly"


    Caleb glanced from the fire towards Marcus


    "I hope you don''t see Reha any differently shes a good girl with pure intentions but she comes from a clan i mentioned at the church but i never really told you the full story "


    SighingMarcus looked into the fire absentmindedly showing a regret plainly plastered on his face.


    "When they go for war, the people of her clan that is , they are savagely effective as you saw,those virtues we talked about create an anchor for them so that they do not fall too far into the natural call for war their body aches for,the curse all her kin suffer , our Reha does not like being in that state for her its a curse where her kin see it as a blessing from there ancestors giving them strength ,she doesn''t like to feel that rage because she can hurt people close to her if she is not careful, I feel for her, she was cast out due to her forsaking the call of her rage in favour of pursuit of the virtues and now follows our little band and willing goes through that what she hates so that her friends don''t get hurt, That''s the sad curse of the barbarian clans our little band has come to know from our Reha and we will take that burden willingly and i hope you will not treat her differently"