The very first thing I do when I see the enemy is dead, is stop the effects of . If every nearby Fomor came charging while we’re in this state, it would be the end for sure.

I would usually end a battle having more Magic Power than I did before, but as the power from the Small Baphomet flows into me, I realize it isn't enough to replace what I used during the fight. Part of that is because there were more people fighting this time, but it's mostly because I used a crazy amount of Magic Power. Between staying alive with all my wounds and keeping up the effects of , I was almost totally drained.

“Momma, would you butcher it, please?”

“Sure, baby,” momma smiled, bringing down her axe ruthlessly.

“Who you people?” One of the War Orcs we joined made a stunned face and asked.

“We’re from Vyra’s Village: Neutral Orcs,” Fiara answered him.

Momma had already finished butchering the Small Baphomet within the time that that was said. My arms haven't grown back yet, so I bent over and grabbed a piece of meat in my jaws, flipping my head back and swallowing it whole. I do this twice more and soon I have fingers again on my left hand.

“What kind of Orc is you?” The War Orc who had questioned before questioned again.

I swallowed another chunk of meat and licked the soft skin that had grown over my lips. “Well, I'm the Orc Lord, I guess. The name’s Vyra. Nice to meet you.” I delivered more fuel to . The meat is pretty tender, since it was bludgeoned so much. “Sorry for hogging the meat. Growing back limbs takes a lot of energy.”

I still remember, in the middle of eating, to cast on everybody.

“We’re going to the next one after this. Wanna come?”

The War Orcs looked at each other. The one who seemed to be leading them spoke again. “This Small Baphomet kill our chief. They is dangerous. But, fighting with Orc Lord, we have confident.”

“Ah, is that so?”

The meat is all but gone, but my body has also recovered. I wish I could use to find the next enemy, but Small Baphomets don't leave footprints.

Spirits, can I learn ? I think if I combine the properties of /, , and the area effect of , a skill like that might pop out.

[[Request is valid. and have derived the skill.]]

Derivation, huh? Because two higher level skills were used to make a lower level skill? Seems like derivation doesn't happen automatically like unification often does. I'll have to investigate this later.

Spirits, what does do?

[[Information is accessible. allows the user to detect whether something is present within a certain area, how much of it there is, and where in the area it’s located. The size of the area is directly related to the user’s total Magic Power. Anything detected by can be directly appraised. It is listed as a level three active skill.]]

My first level three skill! It seems pretty useful. Let’s try using it now.

Small Baphomet.

Hmm… Nope. Nothing. It isn't in range.

My body healed, I stand up straight and try to look confident. “Does anyone know where the next one is?”

Durghan raised his hand. “I can't be sure it’s a Small Baphomet, but my is picking up a powerful enemy presence that way,” he pointed off to the Northeast.”

“Joojorm’s Village,” one of the War Orcs muttered.

“Let’s go there then.” When we get close enough, I'll activate again to verify it.

In a certain sense, Durghan’s is one of the longest range detection skills. That’s because, in the first place, it doesn't give the user a sense of distance, only direction--unless they're very close.

Part of me wants it, but I haven't tried to obtain it yet. I think a naïve person like me would start to depend on a skill like that.

Anyway, it's a seven minute sprint from here to Joojorm’s Village. Irsha keeps looking tense this whole time. I'm sure she’s worried about Varoon. We don't know where he is, but he might be alive, since the one Small Baphomet that was defeated before we got here seems to be the one that was attacking their village.

A few minutes pass, and I feel it's about time to activate .

“I can sense it from here. At this pace, it’s forty seconds that way. Prepare yourselves.”

The starting formation has already been decided. Everyone moves to the sides while I activate the strongest I can. can’t be cast consecutively, so I'm going to draw it from the beginning so we can safely fight.

Just in case, I check on this before the battle...

Will: 98%

Good. That will make things easier.

Swallowing nervously, I activate .

[[ has produced a synergistic effect with unique aspect . All enemy aggression within the has centered on the user.]]

As expected, I spot a white flash through the trees. There isn't even time to blink before it arrives--it's just there. I watch nervously as the photonegative waves splash up against my . I wasn't rushed to make this one, so it's much stronger than the one from before. But I can see hairline cracks starting to spread. I'm really going to lose confidence in my if this keeps up.

Feeling exasperated, I block my body as much as I can with my arms and wings. My shatters and the Demonic energy floods in. Isn't this guy even stronger than the last guy?!

Both of my arms… I just got them back, but they're gone again. My wings are also barely a third of their full size. My feet are shredded and my body is marred by bloody gashes and dark burns.

If I stay completely still, the intense pain makes my body go numb and my mind grow dull. But every time I move, an electric current travels up my spine, and agony follows. In a haze, my thoughts wander. I begin to question what sort of person I am. Why the hell did I willingly charge into a situation this painful? Am I some kind of masochist?

I've started casting on myself instinctively. But a certain someone doesn't seem to want to let me do that.

The Small Baphomet that fired that last round of shot forth from between the trees. It poised its swords to pierce my throat, but Durghan blocked for me, swinging his axe with all his power.

I want to finish this quickly, hang on to some of my magic power, and use it to heal myself. I part my lips and start to use .

[[ has produced a synergistic effect with unique skill . If a creature within the has a lower Will stat than the user, verbal commands will manifest as Law.]]

“Kill yours--urmp!” a bubble of blood rose up in my throat, cutting off the Law that was forming around me. I look down at my chest and see several sharp stones embedded there.

A… .

Name: Ivar

Age: 7 years, 8 days

Gender: Cisgender Male

Race: Small Baphomet; Monster

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Skills (Embedded): 6/6 skill slots.

, , , , ,

Skills (Learned):

None

Blessings:

Fast Healing (Small Baphomet)

Curses:

Torment Curse (x4)

Status:

Body: Enhanced (Magic Armor)

Heart: Unstable (Proximity to Holy Attribute)

Mind: Frenzied (Within Enemy Domain)

Soul: Corrupted (Corrupted Mind)

Hahaha… This one doesn't have . It's .

I can't breathe. Definitely a bad situation. No arms, no wings, trashed feet, and holes in my lungs. Not to mention, there’s no time to heal with this bastard pressuring me. But the situation still stands that the others will likely die if I stop holding his aggro.

But, you know, ’s description never said the command I give has to be understood by the enemy. Last time, I gave orders in New Orcish, and they went through just fine.

I start spam-healing my vital organs, while I raise one of my ragged, bleeding feet.

As long as I can put into it.

I stomp my foot once and keep it down. Lift it up, stomp. Lift, stomp. Lift and hold it. Stomp, stomp, lift and hold, stomp, lift.

Dear Gods I'd rather just chop my damn food off! But, in short, I just stomped “die” in morse code.

Durghan, Irsha, and two other War Orcs were doing their best to keep the Small Baphomet’s attacks from reaching me. They could block somewhat safely since the aggroed Monster couldn't even focus on them to resist or fight back. However, when my foot rose for the last time, the enemy's movements suddenly stopped, and it trembled slightly. The others took a bit of cautious distance, and blood started to drip from the its various orifices. Then, as if all of its strings had been cut, it collapsed.

Something about the Law around me felt strange when I gave that order, but I don't feel at liberty to analyze it. I've only got a few more seconds of usable oxygen in my bloodstream. I continue to pour all of my power into while disabling my . I also have to be careful to keep out of this, because it would be bad if scar tissue formed on my lungs.

Finally, I can breathe. And the first thing I do when I suck in a fresh breath is start violently coughing as I choke on my own blood. I cough and heave until my lungs are clear enough to function, then direct my healing efforts to the rest of my body while I grin wickedly.

Hey, hey, that was dangerous. I should have used the moment he was within the range of . I'll seriously get killed if I keep acting this stupidly.

“Momma.” I don't have to say more. She just smiles and starts butchering.

“I liking your eyes right now, baby,” she cooed. “They isn't the same as your temper tantrum eyes.”

“Yeah. I'm angry,” I answered, the muscle by my lower eyelid is twitching outside of my control. Yet, I have no desire to blow up and break things. My pride isn't aching, and I'm completely lucid, but I'm utterly enraged right now.

Easy mode… seems to have left me. The stuff before this was just my tutorial, wasn't it? It's unbelievable that I believed I would always be able to muddle my way through if I just trained a little bit.

“Just like back then,” I gritted my teeth and got down on my knees, scooping up a chunk of meat with my teeth. I'll have to fucking grow up, or this world is going to eat me.