Part 1

The metallic smell of fresh blood was filling my nostrils. It surprised me that the smell of human blood was the exact same as the monster’s. The fires generated from the tiger steps didn’t mitigate the process, rather they helped spread that smell further. My boots were still clean but that gruesome carpet kept increasing its size. Our camp couldn’t be recognized anymore. Me and Erik-san found a small cave, the size of two tents at best, that the group explored our first day. It was right behind the camp, on the foot of the hill, on a rocky slide. The tiger was too busy looking around the camp for our comrades to notice us slipping out of there.

“Raphael can you slightly cover up the entrance of the cave?”

“Yeah but can’t we escape since it hasn’t noticed us yet?”

“How long do you think it will last? And also, can we outrun that monster with an injured on our back?”

“Fuck!”

“Yeah, you got that right...fuck!”

[Since escape isn’t an option, the only way to get out of here with our lives is to risk them fighting that monster? Are you fucking with me now?! How am I supposed to fight that thing? I don’t even have full mana!]

Because of the consecutive healing on father my already depleted mana pool was now almost empty. The chances of us surviving were very close to zero and that thought kept eating away. It was just the two of us. Me and Erik-san against a monster like that.

As we got back inside the camp a familiar feeling began to rise from deep within me. The scar on my left eye was burning in unison with the flowing of memories from that day. What I was feeling was fear. The feeling of being close to someone who far exceeds you. Fear. I was scared for my life.

To my surprise two people were still alive inside the camp.Two soldiers of the group that I clearly saw escape. The other two soldiers considered on par with Erik-san: Galvan-san and Donner-san. Galvan-san was the oldest of the three. He used the same type of claymore that Erik-san used. He was the shortest of them but surely the fastest. He had long blonde hair that reached his shoulders, big brown eyes and a huge burn mark that covered half of his face. Donner-san, on the other hand, didn’t excel in pure raw strength like the others but rather he was more of a cold and calculative character. He wielded the standard sword but also possessed hidden knives inside his armor. He had deep blue hair, very close to a black color, and sharp green eyes.

The two of them were hidden behind a huge rock, probably hurled by the tiger, looking at the destruction caused by that monster and visibly discussing. As soon as they noticed us approaching, the clear discomfort on their faces turned into a pathetic copy of a smile. Donner-san signaled us with his hands to get closer. The rock wasn’t big enough to hide all four people on a single line so me and Erik-san scoothed behind them and formed somewhat of a circle.

“Thanks the heavens! I thought I was left alone here with Donner!”

Said Galvan-san letting out a little laugh only to receive a punch on each shoulder by both Erik-san and Donner-san.

“Let’s not waste time on your damn bullshit Galvan. Erik, Bluscale kid, tell us what happened”

“The captain got injured by the tiger, Raphael-kun healed him while I carried him to that small cave we found the first day, then we got here”

Replied coldly Erik-san as if to give a report to a superior.

“How is he now?”

“Unable to fight but out of danger”

“That’s reassuring!”

Replied Galvan-san passing the back of his hand on his forehead clearing off the sweat.

“So, how many of us are left?”

“It’s just us four Erik...we were able to lead seven to safety and nine are confirmed dead, as for the rest, they either escaped to a different route than the others or they died without us noticing”

“Basically it’ll be us four against that beast, as Donner said. Kiddo, get your shit together ‘cause this ain't’ gonna be a fight like the other...this one’s old enough to use his magic”

“Yeah, I figured so”

“I like your eyes kiddo! Make sure not to lose that spirit before you drive your sword into that beast’s flesh !”

“Yeah yeah it’s nice to see you in good spirits Galvan but we have more pressing matters at hand. We need a strategy. I know you two won't follow it step to step but let’s at least lay down the basics. Kid, can we count on your magic like this morning?”

The looks on me were heavy. All the three veteran soldiers were waiting for my answer as if it would have decided their lives. I indeed was asked to play a big role in this upcoming fight.

“Unfortunately no. My mana wasn’t completely full when I woke up and even more so after all the healing casted on father”

“How much do you have at best?”

Asked anxiously Donner-san. His expression clearly showed the direness of this situation and the desperate need for a means to overcome the beast.

“At best? Either one big, slow spell, which I’m not sure can kill that beast in one shot, or four, five smaller spells”

“It’s less than I expected but it’s not the worst case scenario. We’ll go with the five smaller spells. The firestep tiger has a high affinity with fire to the point where it’s strongest individuals are able to spit fire. Also it’s fur is probably sturdier since it’s an alpha, I wouldn’t want to risk us failing with the big spell”

“Alpha?”

“Yeah, it’s a term that describes individuals that underwent further modification compared to the others of its species. You can see it by the color of the fur and the double tail... Getting back on our strategy, Bluescale kid your role it’s to hinder it’s movements. You can do whatever you want, block it, trap it, whatever comes to mind, you just have to stop it. While us three will go in hard and kill that beast. Easy enough for your slime brains?”

“Hahaha easy peazy!”

“I’ll get the job done”

Answered in unison both Erik-san and Galvan-san. A faint smile could be seen on Galvan-san's face. I instantly recognized that smile. It was the same I had that morning, the excitement of a fight.

“Get in position. Bluscale kid’s magic will be the signal”

As Donner-san signal to scatter everyone silently but steadily started taking their predestined position about fifty meters from me. Everyone except me. I stayed back, hidden behind the rock, waiting for the right moment to strike. Everyone else was hidden the same as me. Rocks, fallen parts of the palisade, destroyed tents, everything served as a hiding place. Our enemy was exactly in front of me, probably around seventy meters away. The moment to strike was the one when it would come close to my position. It had to be surrounded.

[Shit it’s close to Erik-san. Should I strike now? No no no, calm down. I need to be closer. Come on you angry cat come towards me. I’ll bind the fuck out of you!]

Close to me was a rock about the size of a fist. Waiting was biting on my nerves, and probably my situation was similar to the others. Having a beast such as that sniffing around your position must have been horrible. We did roll around the burned dirt to cover our smells but it still was a hell of a gamble.

I picked up the rock and threw it around ten meters away from me without exposing myself. The goal was to attract that beast’s attention away from Erik-san and towards me while at the same time make it come closer to my position. I heard a growl, followed by heavy steps stomping on broken wood. A shivering feeling started hitting my whole body. My feet were cold as were my hands. My right hand was overly strong grabbing onto the hilt of my sword to the point where I felt the blood flowing through the veins of my fingers and into my fingertips and nails. Every sound felt more vivid, every smell stronger, the dark camp lit up only by the fires created by the tiger’s steps were now brighter. I was ready.

[Come! I’m waiting for you!]

I looked towards Donner-san who was the closest to me. He was making the number three with his fingers. The tiger was approximately thirty meters away from me. The time was right. My left hand was steadily fixed on the ground, almost as if I was trying to grab the land itself. The spell I decided to start the show with was my modified stone pillar. The goal was to hinder it’s movements so I was going to try and disable its front legs, just like I did in the morning. I breathed one last heavy breath. Hot air filled my lungs. I gritted my teeth and pushed the muscles of my legs to their maximum extent. I dashed on my right while still keeping my left hand on the ground. I hoped to go unnoticed for at least one second but got noticed the moment I stepped out of the rock. The tiger roared as it began it’s sprint. The speed was astonishing. In less than a second it had already covered half of the distance, but it was of no use to it. I only needed to know it’s position, my spell was already casted, it only needed the last touch.

“Take it all if you can!”

I didn’t even finish my phrase as two huge greyish spikes rose from the ground right in front of the tiger’s front legs. It had no time to stop it’s rush nor to dodge or jump. The height was perfect, right on the knees. A devastating blow.

Blood started spilling from the now perforated knees. The beast painfully growled as it’s run was forcefully stopped. Loud screams rose from the camp's debris as the three soldiers furiously ran towards the crippled enemy. Their swords were glowing red with the night’s fires but one felt different. It was only a brief moment before it swung and dove into the beast’s leg but Galvan-san’s sword was clearly glowing a blue light, totally different from the others. Nonetheless this blue sword of Galvan-san was the one which penetrated further than the other who barely scratched the beast’s skin. One more roar full of pain and rage arose from the tiger’s throat. As the soldiers tried to land one more swing, the beast, ignoring the floods of blood flowing from its front legs, started backing up and before they could land it, fire started generating from it’s back paws. I remembered when I saw it the first time, when the tiger burned down our camp, it all started when small flames gathered on it’s paws. I didn’t have much time to act.

“Flood”

I shouted with my left hand directed towards the enemy. A sudden wave of dark blue water spouted from my hand and rapidly covered the whole zone around the tiger. It’s blue was reflecting the stars creating a surreal atmosphere to the whole place. Like we were separated from this world. This sensational atmosphere was brought to a whole other level when the tiger stomped it’s foot on the now soaked ground, trying to create the circle-like fire. It’s efforts were rendered useless and no damage was delivered to the soldiers that were able to gain some distance safely. Nonetheless small fires lit in the proximity of the tiger’s paws. Fire, water, blood and stars. Four things that have very few if nothing in common but in this scenario what their fusion created was similar to the lands described in the ancient myths. A truly breathtaking sight.

I was left with very few mana after [Flood]. But that didn’t stop me from keeping up the pace of the battle. [Flood] could be used as a countermeasure of fire spells that take advantage of the ground, just like the tiger’s steps. But it’s use is not limited to that.

“Everyone out of the water! Shock!”

As my voice reached my allies, they either dashed or jumped out of the water. I slammed my left hand into the water and little white sparks of electricity started to propagate through it like snakes. In no time the tiger was hit by it and started trembling. [Shock] was my simplified version of the advanced tier spell [Lightning]. Because it was simplified it lacked power and a means to propagate. That's where [Flood] comes into action. It gives means to [Shock] to propagate on a large area and deal sustained damage over a small amount of time. Still, it wasn’t enough to kill the now furiously raging beast. It’s opal black eyes were locked into mine. The tiger was ignoring the three soldiers rushing to its sides with their unsheathed swords ready to swing, rather it was waiting for something, my move perhaps. I felt a strange cold rushing through my spine and freezing my brain when those dark eyes focused on me. A cold drop of sweat created on my forehead and started sliding down my face.

Three heavy swings fell into the tiger’s flesh, one deeper than the other. Once again the place was painted in crimson. The stars that were shining on the water surface left nothing of them. The reflected sky became dark rapidly. While the swords were still dove deep into its flesh, the tiger stretched its neck and furiously roared so loud that the water trembled and the fires momentarily lost their flames. With a powerful shake of its body, the tiger got rid of the soldiers who were extracting their swords. Two of them fell without being able to grab their swords while Erik-san was the only one able to get a hold of his weapon.

The tiger started running once again, it’s eyes were focused on me and so it’s body followed. The tiger was slower this time, but still the speed which took it to reach me was too much for me to come up with something. Blood was sprinkling like a fountain from both it’s knees and other cuts. The beast didn’t care about those, it’s rage was solely directed towards me. The enormous head with the spread jaws was not even twenty centimeters away from sinking them into my flesh before I was able to react. I dashed sideways, out of the reach of the jaws, but I didn’t take into account that the tiger was smart. It had no intention of biting me. In an instant the tiger clenched it’s jaws and stroked sideways towards my dashing direction with it’s whole head. I was thrown away into a rock by an absurdly heavy hit on my side.

Everything was spinning. My vision was blurry and, to make it worse, a red curtain was acting as the background. I felt great pain mainly coming from two spots: the head and my chest. Upon impacting with the rock I must have hit my head while the pain in my chest was a mixture of both the tiger’s hit on my side and the impact with the rock. Every sound was muffled. I could hear screams but couldn’t understand their meaning. Three indistingued figures were fighting against a giant beast. Swings of swords and clashing of claws were all I could distinguish from the flood of unidentified sounds that rushed to my ears.

[Uh, guess I can let them deal with the rest]

I thought while feeling a small drip of blood flowing out of my mouth. But I didn’t even have time to assert my physical condition that the tiger played it’s ace. With my vision still blurry I saw the tiger’s neck stretch upwards and from its open mouth bright red flames started to generate. I had never seen it before but I had a feeling of what it’s next move was going to be.

[It’s a breath! Fire breath!]

Either my body reacted on its own or my willpower overstepped the pain, but I pushed myself out of the cracked stone and fell on my knees to the ground. Both my bloodied hands were steadily pushing the ground as I began gathering mana into them. It was a race against time. I had to be faster than that tiger’s breath or everything around us would be covered in flames. I did not have enough mana to use a full spell so my only option left was to borrow the natural mana, risky as it was. The familiar tingling sensation in my hands whenever I tapped into the natural mana finally showed itself. All this happened in mere seconds but it all felt as if time itself slowed down.

“Stone pillar barrage!”

I screamed with what voice was left in me. A heavy cough of blood made me taste it’s metallic sweetness. I felt my mana rushing through the ground and stopping at the tiger’s position. There natural mana was gathered and exploded. A barrage of stone pillars instantly rose from the ground to hit the whole tiger’s body. At least twenty stone pillars of different dimensions and shapes launched the tiger upwards by a good two meters, giving me enough time to cast the next spell.

It was really a huch. Something I had yet to practice with. Modifying an already casted spell. Once again I let my mana flow through the ground and reach the position where the pillars were. Just like I imagined it, my mana started to fuse those pillars into one and changed its shape from a come, to a spike. A huge brown spike three meters high was now towering in the center of the battle field, right under the falling beast. Gravity did the rest. It was no use for the tiger to try and change its trajectory. It fell front paws first but because of the damage inflicted to its knees beforehand, its legs gave in and with them the whole heavy body followed. A huge hole was created in the tiger’s body and as it was laying down on its belly, the top of the brow spike was coming out of its back. Crimson blood descended upon the field like a waterfall and covered what little remained of the water, extinguishing the multiple fires in the process.

“Slahdash”

Screamed in unison Erik-san and Donner-san as their swords slashed part of the tiger’s sturdy neck from both sides. Their slashes were the fastest I had ever seen and their swords were glowing of an unnatural white colour. They both suddenly dashed back as soon as their slash stopped. The tiger growled one last time with it’s deep black opal eyes fixed on me. I felt no rage in them, no anger, no sadness. I felt nothing coming from them. I was way too familiar with those kinds of eyes. Blood was profusely flowing out of the tiger’s mouth when Galvan-san jumped for the finishing blow.

“Towerfall slash!”

It’s neck was neatly recided, right where the other two soldiers had previously slashed. The beautiful blue shining of Galvan-san’s sword severed the neck from the broken body and when the sword hit the ground a faint flash of blue light pervaded the battlefield. Between my already blurry vision and my inability to hear clear sounds I felt lost. But something was ticking me off, like a heavy gaze was pointed towards me. I was uneasy.

“Interesting indeed...boy”

A familiar voice. Sweet like that of a woman yet high pitched like that of a child, seducing yet scary at the same time. I had already heard that voice once before but couldn’t recollect when. It was only a brief moment, a phrase, and that heavy gaze disappeared instantly as it appeared.

The flash stopped and my vision was finally able to regain it’s might. Everyone was running towards me, who was still kneeling on the ground keeping my body up with my hands. Behind the running soldiers laid the slain beast. It’s broken body covered in cuts and blood shone in the starlight. The black patterned crimson fur was as beautiful as ever with a light breeze gently moving it. We had triumphed over that majestic creature.

A shy smile began forming on my tired face.

Part 2

The sun shone heavy on our heads as everyone walked silently towards the end of the forest. A ray of sun gently caressed me on my forehead, prompting me to wake up. I raised my body from inside the handmade wagon.

“Ohh good morning Raphael-kun, we have almost arrived to the city”

I sat crossed legs on the hard wood. Close to me was my father still sleeping and further back was the heavy body of the tiger. The wagon was built with the remains of the palisade of the camp and pushed by the remaining horses. Walking close to the wagon were the three soldiers, everyone almost uninjured other than some bruises here and there. I jumped off the wagon and wobbly walked towards Erik-san.

“You sure you can already walk?”

“Yeah the damage was not as heavy as father, I had just hit my head, nothing more. I just *yawn* needed to regain some strength”

“I see. Well that's better. Your parents would kill me if you were to return home hurt hahaha!”

“As if that firestep tiger was not enough uh hahaha!”

“Ohh so you actually have a sense of humor! The captain told me about it but in all honestly I couldn't believe it haha”

“Oi Bluscale kid- no, Raphael-kun can you come here a minute?”

The voice came from the front. It was Donner-san. He took command of the group right after the fight ended and thanks to that we were able to be on our way right the next morning. While I was asleep he and the other collected materials and regrouped the horses in order to build that wagon. It would have been a shame if we left the carcass of the tiger there.

“Yes, what is it Donner-san?”

“You know we have to make a report of what happened last night right?”

“Yeah I thought so, I’m guessing that since you are talking about it to me there must have been something that you want me to do”

“Smart boy. Yes, because of the death rate the higher ups will have many questions for the ones who killed that monster and of course they’ll look for a scapegoat to blame. Unfortunately since you are not a soldier and a kid, you are the perfect scapegoat for them. This whole situation could ruin your life, you understand, right?”

I silently nodded. Because so many died and so many others ran this whole raid could count as failed so it was obvious for the higher ups to blame someone else for their failure in assembling a team. Nothing differed from my past world. It is alway the weak that gets the short end of the stick.

“Since you basically saved our lives we decided to spare you of that fate”

“What?”

“Yeah, you didn't fight last night. You got injured right at the start and were unable to help in any way. It was due to our slow response and lack of discipline that so many people died. Understood?”

“I-uhh. Yeah understood sir...thanks”

“Don’t thank me kid, get stronger. You have now made the first step out into this vast world. You are but an ant. A mere insect that could be smashed anytime if the need arises. Right now you are nothing. Yes you are strong for a seven years old but outside of here none cares about your age. What matters is only your strength. If you are strong enough to withstand the waves than less people will try to fuck with you and who you hold dear. Remember...in those lands strength is absolute! Look, the city can already be seen”

[Yeah...I’m far from done. Master Kyvern….next time we’ll see I’ll have you acknowledge my strength! I will not fail in this life...I will never lose once again!]

Part 3

-CAPED MAN’S POV-

“Oi kid wake the fuck up and hide. We are about to get through the tunnel. There are guards checking the caravans at the entrance. If you make even the slightest sound I’ll have no second thought about ratting you out..got it?”

“Yes”

“Good, now get the fouck out of sight”

[Tch what a lousy child, but well he got the money and I need it so I’m in no condition to refuse his proposal. Let’s just hope that he doesn’t fuck it all up!]

“Stop the caravan sir. What are you carrying?”

“Ohh good day guard-san. I am a humble merchant that carries nothing but raw materials and some spices”

“May I have a check at it?”

“Sure thing guard-san go ahead, I have nothing suspicious to hide!”

The two guards separated and proceeded with their work. One stayed close to me in order to keep me in check while the other rapidly searched inside the wagon. I had barrels or wine, sacks of spices and boxes of raw minerals and furs, other than a runaway child.

“Ok Gorther, it looks clear. Give him the pass”

“Yes boss”

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience sir”

Said the guard referring to me this time and bowing his head a little.

“No no it's your job, it's perfectly understandable. But may I ask the reason for this search?”

“One of the treacherous noble’s kids has escaped and is now on the run. It’s improbable but he might be trying to escape the kingdom so we need to check every caravan that comes through here. Oh, there’s your pass. Show this to the guards on the other side and it’ll all be fine. Have a safe trip”

“Thank you guard-san. I hope you’ll catch that rat!”

I gave a whip to the horses and obediently started walking forward. The tunnel was silent and only when I reached the point where the guards could not be seen anymore I spoke.

“You can get out of there kid”

As I said those words he jumped out of his hiding place and sat right behind me still half hidden by the boxes.

“I don’t know what happened and I don’t care. I despise nobility and all that’s related to them so I really don’t give a fuck about your situation but listen to my advice. Change name, change identity and never come back to those lands, you hear me?”

“Yes I have already tossed away my family’s name”

“Ohh really? I’m curious what are you gonna call yourself now uh? Are you gonna name yourself after the heroes? Or perhaps the name of a king? Hahaha right right why don't you call yourself Nozu? HAHAHA”

“Bluscale”

“What?”

“My name will be Lucas Bluscale”