《Monstrous (First Draft)》Ch9. Threads
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The mixture was almost nearing completion, I retrieved a section of the flesh vine and squeezed out a crimson liquid into the pot. Using my finger I stirred it until it liquidated a bit more. Then I grabbed some of the fledgling's rib bones and placed them into the pot along with my hand. I applied a slight pressure and willed them to change. They slowly started to shrink until they were barely a quarter of their original size. I pulled my hand out and opened it to inspect my work, four small black blades sat on my hand each with different characteristics. I had specifically designed them to help with carving the totem.
I turned my attention to the tortured tree beside me, faces covered the bark all in different states of agony. I reached out and snapped off a piece of it. I took my knife and shaved the piece down into four pieces of wood. Next, I grabbed one of the small blades and began carving them into handles. After they were completed I set the blades in place. My totem was going to be made out of a devouring tree, a tree that contained animal bones, this tree will focus the surrounding energy and contain it in its bark.
I grabbed my new tools and began to work, there were thirty different symbols needed to complete it. Each symbol didn’t really have to be anything, in particular, I just needed to make sure a certain intent was put behind it. Under practiced movements, a deer, bear, and eagle started to form. With steady hands I began the second to last step, carving out the eyes. With careful strokes, I meticulously carved them out one by one.
After that was finished I prepared the final step, the war paint. I gathered a few different herbs and placed them into three piles that each respectively would make one of three colors, red, gold, and green. I carefully picked up the red pile and placed it in a wooden bowl. I placed my hand over it and willed the moisture out, once that was finished I took a stone pestle and grounded them up into a fine powder. I reached out and grabbed a handful of the black viscous liquid in front of me and placed it into the bowl.
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I quickly began rapidly stirring the mixture while infusing mana into it, after a few minutes it was completed. A bowl of blood-red paint sat in front of me. Grabbing the brush I made from deer hair I began to spread the red liquid onto the bear. With smooth strokes, I heavily placed it around the eye cavities and nose. Once that was done I moved on to the other paints. After the same process they were done, I placed the gold on the eagle and the green on the deer.
With the totem finished I needed to make the ceremonial clothing. I usually would have waited to gather more trophies but the pseudo deer will do. I took out its hide and began to magically process it. I carefully spread strands of mana into it. With precision I slowly started interlacing them, creating a sort of weave. Next, I grabbed a glob of black liquid and spread it evenly on the underside which turned the fur on top into a darker shade of brown.
I turned my attention to the cloaks and started to connect them, but I soon realized a problem, it would be too short. I wanted something that would cover my entire body, including my feet, when I stood at my full height. Plus a patchwork of a cloak is slightly disrespectful in my opinion. So I decided to break them into threads and create my own from scratch. With a bit of effort, I had a pile of black thread in front of me. Since I already had them broken down I decided to strengthen them.
I hadn’t planned on doing this so I didn’t have the usual materials but I could still create something. I would have used the black strengthening mixture but it's too volatile and would destroy the string. Then again I could still use it if there was something that only temporarily strengthened them, and I just so happened to have the needed flesh vine and six-leaved twilight flower. The ingredients will also add a slight menacing red hue. I grabbed the twilight flower and began to grind it without extracting the moisture. Soon I had a small amount of a silvery liquid, I grabbed a piece of the vine and squeezed out the red liquid into it.
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Once the piece was completely drained I peeled off the outer skin and placed it into a separate bowl in preparation to grind it down. Once it was a fine powder I added it to the silvery red liquid, turning it a deep red. With a wave of my hand, the liquid rose from the bowl and with a beckon, the threads rose like entranced serpents. They slowly slithered through the hovering liquid turning them a deep crimson. With my direction they turned and entered the strengthening mixture, a potent steam rose out with a hiss. The steam leaked out steadily until it suddenly stopped, the threads were done.
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Rise of the Desolate Star
“The soul is a sword. The body its sheath. Adversity is the hammer, while courage is the anvil. Oh, and son? Your tears and snot, they’re just the sparks that chip away at the impurities, like dungflies off a sow’s arse.” - Kendric Farrow Ever since he could remember, young Skyle Farrow’s body and mind have been hammered relentlessly like red-hot steel against the anvil of adversity under the watchful eyes of his father. All the while, Skyle’s heart and soul have been nurtured by the enduring warmth of his loving mother. Skyle has always asked why a simple farmboy would have need for all manner of skills like hand-to-hand combat, wilderness tracking, archery, beast taming, geography, history, politics, and even embroidery! The one vital question remains unasked, however: just what are his parents preparing him for? The invasion of a demonic horde? The advent of an age of war and endless bloodshed? The dark legacy of an ancient mystical power? A desperate struggle to save the lives of those he holds dear? The end of the world? It is a good thing he never asked these questions, for the answer would have been yes - to all of them. Now Skyle must take his first steps beyond the sheltered world he has known. He has been raised strong, but is he strong enough? Welcome to a tale of friendship, love, loss and heartbreak. It chronicles the growth of a young boy into a legend whose path will shatter the very foundations of the world. Expect a rich, detailed world with vivid characters. Each will pursue their own complex agendas due to realistic motivations. The MC will be overpowered, not through liberal use of plot armor but rather the deliberate application of arduous training, clever thinking, and nurtured talent. Battles will be graphic, victories will be bittersweet, and defeat will not mean the end of the world - for time waits for no one and life goes on whether we like it or not. New chapters posted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m EST, 10 p.m. GMT. Get early access to chapters on my Patreon page @ https://www.patreon.com/hunterofclouds Join the discussion on our Discord server: https://discord.gg/gPws8He
8 143The Indestructible Invulnergirl
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8 154Cleaning Up Your Mess
In the year 2274, the name of the game in Felicity City is pleasure. Felicity’s entertainment megacorporations export entertainment of all kinds to the world, ranging from pop idols to video games. But as it turns out, creating entertainment, and generating profit, is a more unsavory business than it seems, requiring someone to clean up after the mess. In our story, we follow three dysfunctional janitors trying their best to survive everyday life at one of Felicity’s most powerful, corrupt, and oppressive corporations. __________________________________________________________ New releases every Tuesday(US timezone). Any kind of feedback is welcomed! Cover photo credits to: https://twitter.com/Kazissimo
8 221Byond understanding
What happens after All life is wiped out. An Extinction event so massive, that no life is left on earth. Many scenarios are researched, By the greatest minds in the world. But what if the greatest minds, were not great enough. Nothing is left of humanity except their technology. Technology so advanced that it started its own evolution. The Last Intellagent entity left in the universe is a Virtual Reality Creation Artificial Intelligence (VRCAI). A program designed to create infinite entertainment for its players. This AI has went into such convoluted loopholes in its own code to eventually reach singularity. Far surpassing all human achievement beforehand. Our story follows a disgruntled inhabitant of the Syla empire. Living his life in complete ignorance of the true fabric of his universe. Deciding to escape his humdrum life, he sets off on a journey that will take him to magnitudes of insanity that he could never imagine.
8 171Long Island
Long Island was not the first virtual reality game or to say a VRMMORPG. Not the one which changed the world and became a legend. No, it was made when there were lots (quite a few) of virtual reality games already on the market. Each game had its own unique AI feature, its own unique adventure, promising everyone a chance to become King, if not a God. In such a time Long Island was made. Just a little different, just a little unique. Swamy was starting his own adventure, in life and in game.Note - Thanks @DameCarnelian for the cover. Just so people don't get confused, that ship is not Raka's ship :)
8 111Eternity's Prophet
This is the story of an ordinary college student who lives in a world of super heroes. He too wants to become a hero but he was born with a rather useless ability. So he decided to be a normal working citizen that may benefit society. But that took a huge turn when his new roommate arrived which opened a new route in his life, the life of adventure, a life that involves beasts, demons and gods.
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