《Land of Nowhere》Second Wave [II]
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Lucian quickly stabbed down at the rat that had just hit his shack, taking out one of its eyes but not successfully killing it. His next jab only glanced off the moving creature's side, causing a minor scrape and scaring the beast back. He cursed under his breath and ran to the Southeastern side of the shack, picking up the ten remaining spears and placing them nearby.
Lucian began throwing the spears like javelins in a desperate bid to slow the beasts down. His aim was terrible, but he needed to keep the monsters from slamming against the wall all at once. The first throw arched over the beasts, meters overhead. The second landed slightly to the left, causing two of the rats to falter.
It was his third throw that managed to slow their pace, as the spear stuck in the ground just in front of the largest of the four creatures. The beast stopped completely, leaving the monstrous rats staggered and only one running at full speed. Lucian tossed three more javelins and finally managed to land a lucky hit on the one furthest back. The creature fell to the ground and didn't try to get back up.
"Four left..." He grabbed two of the last four spears and waited for the frontrunner to get closer. The moment it came within a few meters, Lucian threw out one of the spears, impaling the beast's thigh and bringing its sprint to a crawl. In its anger, the rat hobbled toward him, and if it weren't for the gigantic rat that was closing in, he would have tried to finish it. The largest of the group was at least a meter tall and close to three meters in length!
Lucian watched as the final, somewhat smaller rat passed the large one. The big one didn't seem to be in a hurry as it closed in on Lucian, and he watched its movements warily, hoping that it wouldn't try to jump onto the shack. He didn't think the few weak pillars would hold with the creature's weight and his own.
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"Not much choice, it seems," He picked up the last two spears with a malicious smile. The final small rat tackled his small fortress, and he leaped off the edge, using his full weight to drive two spears through the back of the rat. The beast let out a pained cry as it was pinned to the ground, and Lucian left it squirming to get free as he dashed to the side with the last of his spears.
He shoved the spear into the side of the wounded rat and made a break for his shelter. The rat squealed behind him, and he could hear the snorts and noises of the largest beast not far behind. Lucian dashed into the propped open door of the shack and leaped over the threshold. Once he reached the center of the room, he turned and watched the entrance expectantly.
Just as he'd planned, the oversized rat followed behind him, and the moment it crossed the threshold, its body started to jerk. Lucian smiled, knowing that the beast stepped on the smaller of the saber-cat tails that he'd left hidden in the doorframe. It wasn't as potent as the adult's, but it was enough to stop the beast's movements for a second, and that was all that Lucian needed.
He reached behind his back, swiftly pulling out the hatchet-like dagger and sprinting toward the giant rat. The blade crackled noisily, and the hairs on his body stood tall as he wielded the weapon. Before the rat could get over the shock of the tail, Lucian drove the dagger into its neck, cutting into the beast and sending a surge of electricity through its body.
The massive rat spasmed in the doorframe, and Lucian grinned as he swung the dagger repeatedly until he'd finally hacked off the beast's head. He pushed the corpse out of the doorway with his foot and began tracking down the injured survivors as he hummed his tune.
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His first target was the rat he'd stabbed just before running into the shack. It was weakened and bleeding out, only needing a single strike to finish it off. He sheathed his primary weapon and pulled out the two spears causing a wet, squelching sound as he pulled the weapons from the body.
"Hm. Hmmmm. Hmm," Lucian was practically skipping as he tracked down the one rat that was still running around the western side of the Tile. It didn't take him long to find the creature and use it as target practice for his makeshift javelins. He had to chase down his projectiles a couple of times but still managed to skewer the beast on his fourth throw and finish it off with his dagger.
"That should be it..." Lucian muttered, waiting for Ed to sing his praise. "The first two are definitely dead. Then there were the three fro-"
He turned quickly as soon as he realized that he'd missed one of the rats, only to find it creeping up behind him. Lucian pulled his dagger, cursing at himself for wasting its charge when he used it to slit the last beast's throat. This rat wasn't injured at all and looked fully recovered from the adult sabercat's tail.
The rat leaned back on its haunches, ready to leap toward him. Before it had the chance to act, a small, yellow streak flashed from behind the beast and slammed into it. Lucian jumped back, almost as stunned as the rat by the sudden interruption. The rat fell to the ground, twitching as if Lucian had struck it with the Imbued Paralysis.
"What the fuck?" He looked around and saw a familiar face lying nearby. The little green rabbit casually scratched its torn ear with one of its back legs and watched Lucian as if waiting for the man to do something. His mouth opened wide when he noticed that the usually bright streak of yellow in its fur had become dull. "Well then, you're welcome to sleep in the shack any time, little fella!"
Lucian shook his head, unsure of what to think of the strange rabbit that seemed to be obsessed with following him around. He walked over to the spasming rat and ended its life with a few quick stabs to its throat.
[Wave 2: Success]
[Mission complete: Grading commencing]
[Time to next Wave, calculated]
[13:23:59:59]
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Tempero King
Kade, a young man with a troubled past and abandonment issues, returns home after four years of service in the military with reservations about his future. However, Everything is upended when foreign races descend on earth, introducing humans to cultivation. Suddenly, the mythical abilities written about in stories are no longer works of fiction, but instead are the new reality. The foreign races-- Congregated into factions -- didn't come to Earth out of benevolence, however. They had a goal, which becomes apparent when Portals begin appearing across the globe. On the other side of these portals, sits a vast new world with resources galore. The faction's couldn't visit this new world themselves, so they requested that humans enter these portals to explore and conquer this new world in their sted as their champions, and in return, they offered these humans knowledge and resources for their cultivation. Just like that, a life changing opportunity presented itself to Kade and the rest of humanity. Is it truly as simple as it seems, or is there something dangerous under the surface? What makes this new world different from the countless others in the universe? If it sounds too good to be true, then it likely is. But those are questions for another day. For now, our protagonist will grasp this opportunity with both hands and claw his way to the top while facing the obstacles in his path as he goes! -Cover Art- The cover art is composed of two parts. 1: The hand was drawn by Robert Marzullo, a professional artist who has illustrated a few comic books and had some 3D animation on television. He is currently illustrating his own comic book 'Blackstone Eternal'. He has graciously allowed me the opportunity to use his artwork for the cover of my original webnovel. -Link to the art used: https://www.deviantart.com/robertmarzullo/art/Hand-Studies-By-RAM-605188489 -Robert Marzullo's Deviant Art page where you can find his other social media: https://www.deviantart.com/robertmarzullo/about 2: The magic circle used was created by ChocasaJulie on Deviant Art. She follows her passion for art despite those that would consider it a waste of time. She has even made some of her art Free Use in support of other artists. Her only ask is that she is credited, and that is more than fair!
8 185Triplicity
Anne and Tom are scared, alone, and abandoned by even their memories. Their survival is driven by the unusual bond they share and the determination to find out who they are, in a world littered by the ruins of a once-thriving society. But the more they uncover their past, the deeper they find themselves in a deadly power struggle between forces both seen and unseen. Trust is easily misplaced and friends are scarce. Lost, hunted, bleeding, and broken they take the stage in setting the course of history.
8 367After the Long Burn
After the longest exodus in human history, a terrible accident threatens to turn the salvation of humanity into its most desperate struggle for survival. From the ashes of calamity rises a new human story. A frustrated scientist dedicates her life to recreating the Earth in alien soil, while another is gunned down for his sin and sets off a chain of events culminating in a desperate escape across the void for an opportunity at redemption. Around a distant moon a deep space miner stumbles onto a secret, the key to which lies buried inside his own tortured mind. After the Long Burn is an anthology of short science fiction stories set in the distant Ionad System. Author's Note: I thought I might try something a little different with this story. Rather than one story, it is six stories of varying length, each taking a slightly different perspective to tell a larger story. Some are more actioney, others more cerebral but I hope there will be something for everyone. Stories over 7000 words, with the exception of the titular After the Long Burn, will be published in two parts. I anticipate an upload schedule of one part every other day.
8 199The Hero Transfered Me In Another World
"Behold, for I am your new Emperor" "Hm? The hero Brought me a gift and why are you attacking me?"I, S'lva the newly appointed Demon Emperor for some reason, woke up in a different world. A world where the concept of Magic is a common thing and weapons are greatly disgraced. I discovered magic could be the answer to the mysteries of my existence. In a place where demons such as myself are an unknown existence, I aim to become the first Demon Mage to ever live.
8 94Bleach: The Shadow Shinigami
One day in the Kurosaki family instead of giving birth to one child the family had two sons at a very young age and that child went down a rode which he follows to become strong.I don't own bleach.
8 215Poems And Some Deep Thoughts
"Writing feels better than speaking"The pictures I used in this book are not mine. Credits to the respective owners...#4 in poetry - 20/05/2022#1 in freeverse - 21/05/2022#1 in poetrycollection - 26/05/2022#1 in poembook - 22/05/2022#1 in deeppoetry - 21/05/2022#1 in deepshit - 21/05/2022#1 in deeppoems - 10/07/2022#3 in poet - 26/05/2022#3 in deepthoughts - 27/05/2022#1 in cinquain - 27/05/2022#1 in haiku - 22/06/2022#3 in thoughtsandfeelings - 30/05/2022#1 in thought-provoking - 31/05/2022
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