After splendidly ignoring weird looks and telling a kid that I am, in fact, not a miner, I reach the forest. At the barrier stopping unauthorized vehicles from entering, there’s now also a signpost with a notice about monsters nearby, and a man in a forest worker uniform.

“After the Upheaval, there have been monsters in the forest. Enter at your own risk, and don’t go too far.”

“You’re not going to try to stop me?”

He shakes his head. “Not my job. It’s safe to go to the café, in case you care about that. Besides, it looks like you already know about the monsters.” He nods to my pickaxe.

“Yeah, helped a group of teenagers after they were attacked yesterday, and befriended a pack of wolves.” He looks over me surprised.

“You’re the rescuer? The white wolves are hanging out around the café, though they seem more like dogs.”

I nod and walk past him “Man’s best friend, huh.”

Just before I arrive at The Old Sawmill, the café, I am intercepted by a misty bundle of excitement.

“Missed me, huh. It’s just been one day, silly.” I mumble, more to myself than anyone else, since I communicate with her wordlessly.

Indeed, the pack is hanging around the café. At first I wonder why, since they aren’t exactly domesticated, but (after) one of them gives paw in return for a small snack I know exactly why. Well, it’s a mutually symbiotic relationship, since the wolves can guard the area.

As for the mist, it’s here, but almost nonexistent on the road and near the café. I give a mental command to find prey, and some of the wolves scatter. A few people are startled by it. Come to think of it, there’s usually much more people here on a summer day, sunny or not.

I walk deeper into the forest with Tåke running around me, but the most threatening thing we find is a rather pink rabbit. It’s not battery powered, though. Inspect tell’s me it’s a [Pink Fluffy Rabbit]. The description says it has a rather high mana-concentration.

Soon I change the order to find groups of and/or larger creatures. While walking I practice my mana manipulation and use of the wand, specifically a couple “spells” I learned earlier. Though the “spells” are more like practical application of the abilities.

{Mana Sphere} which shoots a small sphere of mana that explodes in a cone-shape upon hitting something. {Mana Spike} is the same, but all the force is concentrated in a much smaller area.

{Force Push} which I can use to push things around, from any direction, and it’s upgraded cousin {Force Blast}, in which I charge it up, allowing for significantly stronger force, but not continuously.

As for my current build:

Name: Lars Eikeli Power level: 26(equivalent) Primary class: [Proto-mage] Secondary class: [Pack Leader(non-beast)] Tertiary class: [Artificer] Current Abilities [Inspect] [Aspectian] [Dismantling] [Body Enhancement] [Force Magic] [Meditation]

Now that’s some growth, huh. For the record, the three classes’ levels are five, seven and five, respectively. My stats have also changed:

Stats STR: Very Low INT: Very High VIT: Average DEX: High WIS: Very High END: Average AGI: Very Low CHA: Average RES: Very Low

These are definitely relative, since I don’t think strength or agility have dropped. They should be relative to each other, or in other words: The average of all my skills would be “Average”, and stats higher or lower than that level show as such.

I also train my [Aspectian] while moving, and found that in half-mist form my AGI jumps to average, while CHA and VIT drops to low. In other words, it reflects my current stats even counting status and effects. I bet my DEX would drop if I put my hands in cold water.

I reach the water edge, and there is a couple people swimming. Seems like there is no aquatic monster, then. None that are willing to hunt humans in shallow waters, anyway.

There are three significant Aspects here. The first one, which became stronger as I got here would be [Aspect of Water], which I have now learnt. There’s also the [Aspect of Life], which I have identified, but can’t seem to learn.

The last would be plants or forest or something, since it’s been all over the place since I entered the forest. Of course, there is [Aspect of Mist] here as well, but I have a Strong Affinity with it, so I can easily ignore it, if I want to.

I turn around with a start, one of the wolves found something. I turn into partial mist form and move in that direction, to the surprise of a bicyclist coming down the road. Ahh, mobility skills are great.

I have no idea what actually happens to my legs when I do this, so my phone is in my bag instead of pocket, just in case. Maybe five minutes later I reach the area where the pack had found prey, a few of the insect things from yesterday.

[Inspect] simply tells me they are [Insectile Monster]. The threat levels are Low to Very Low, but I remember the warning that came with the knowledge of them. In fact, even from the distance, this whole situation has a [High] threat level.

After making sure none of them are nearby, I revert to human form and start meditating to regain my mana and rest. Tåke has sentry duty, together with the wolf that discovered the hive. I let the other wolves look around, in case there’s more of these places.

I look at my watch, it’s almost four in the afternoon and I should eat soon. But first, I change into my half-mist form. The wolves turn into their mist forms as well, and I fly over the hive to scout it out.

The bugs don’t seem to notice us, but my stealth levels should be off the charts now that the wolves aid me. They seem much better at this, and with their help I can go higher. Is that a corpse?

I fly over to check. I can’t sense any bugs nearby, so I swiftly change back and grab my phone to get evidence. I take a picture of the body - what remains, anyway - and one of just the head, which is mostly intact, frozen in a horrified scream.

I assume the old lady hasn’t been dead for that long, since the predominant smell is that of blood, but it’s not a pleasant sight, and I find myself almost emptying my stomach. With the evidence I quickly take my leave.

Before I can get far though, I spot a lone bug. That gives me an idea, and I draw my wand. I make sure there are no other bugs nearby, then unleash a {Mana Blast} with as much power as I dare, straight at its head.

It survived! When it starts chittering and standing up, I hold it down with force and unleash multiple {Mana Spike}s into its head. The third hit properly breaks through its' hard carapace and it falls to the ground, twitching.

Shit, did it attract others? There seem to be some movement in the hive. After a moment of hesitation I lift up the mostly intact, now unmoving, oversized bug. It’s surprisingly light, the carapace must be very light for its strength.

After going a roundabout way, I drop to the ground on the edge of the outdoors area of the café. I drop the bug corpse and turn my attention to the wolves, now all assembled near me.

I gesture to the bug, then the direction of the hive, and move my hand in a circle. ‘Surround the bug hive, but stay hidden. Kill any stragglers, but avoid fighting.’ is the command. As soon as the command is given, they take off. Again I find myself wondering about the intelligence of these creatures.

With that taken care of, I bring out my phone.

“What the hell is that?” a nearby man asks, holding some children away from the corpse. Or maybe from me.

I take a picture of the bug. “That, my friend, is one of the monsters that have appeared in this area, you might’ve seen the warning on the way in.”

“You come flying in here and then all the wolves fly off… What are you doing?”

“I am tweeting a picture of this thing to the police.” I can’t do much until the upload finishes, so I turn to him. “They have killed at least one person. Ahh, the upload is done.”

Let’s see, ‘@police Bug monster in forest. Killed at least 1 person. Will call with more info.’ that oughta do it. I make sure it’s uploaded, then call the local number to the police.

“Calling the police now.” I say to the small crowd that has gathered. One brave, unsupervised kid even pokes at it. I bend down and flip it over with my free hand, tapping the carapace in several places. “Damn thing is-”

“This is the police, how can I help you?”

I recall the lesson on how to talk to emergency services I got in school, and relay my current position. I then continue with the meat of the call:

“There’s bug monsters in the forest. I tweeted a picture to your twitter. The things are very hard, but can be killed with blunt force or attacks to the head. A well placed shot from a handgun should work.”

I take a deep breath. “They have killed at least one person. I have pictures, but… I don’t think I should upload those. I have the position of the bugs’ hive.”

I feel through the link to the pack, and more importantly, Tåke. “There’s at least two dozen of them, but I don’t know how many. Would it be possible to send a group to exterminate them?”

The other side of the line is silent for a moment. “Bug monsters? Hold on… you really did tweet- Give me a moment.”

“Okay.” I’ve already taken out my carving knife and while waiting I poke at the sparse gaps in the bug’s armor. After some experimentation I’m rewarded by the feeling of my knife cutting through the bug’s soft flesh.

I repeat the action for the other legs. I get to the third out of six when the operator returns to the phone. “We have sent a group, they should be at your position in half an hour. We also sent a helicopter with a special troop. They should be there in less than ten minutes.”

I swear.

“Some of the bugs are moving, and might be here before the main group gets here. The bugs might also find other groups of people…”

I do some mental calculation before continuing. “I can warn the groups I know of and tell them to evacuate, as well as hold off a few of the bugs.”

I turn my attention to the crowd. “Those of you who have unlocked the [System], raise your hands.” I speak into the phone again:

“It should be possible to at least protect ourselves and those gathered here, but when this is done we might need some ambulances.”