Chapter 14 – This is fun

I will tell you one thing. Running away from the monsters, true monsters, not just some high leveled animals, is fun. Their blood thirst that’s coiling around your body, feeling of their breath as they run behind you and what’s more, screams of fools that are running beside you. What could be better?

But seriously, he is insane. To survive for the whole night against them. At least it’s really fun. For now, we are all just running away, without any plan. To survive, cooperation is necessary but none of them thought about it. I don’t want to cooperate with them though, but even if I know they won’t die, it’s troubling. We spend 2 years together, so you could say we are acquaintances. Sigh, let’s save them then.

While I was saying that, one guy was being attacked. I quickly used phantom steps to close the distance and punched the monster. It was big black wolf. By big, I mean big. 4 meters. Of course it’s not wolf. Wolfs are animals, this thing is monster. The difference is that animals are normal beings. Monsters are animals mutated through mana that lost their sanity. There are magical beings too. Magical beings are beings born with mana with intelligence. In this category are unicorns, fairies, dragons etc. Animals have access to mana too, but only after they reach certain level and to reach that level isn’t easy for them without magic so there aren’t that many and those who access their mana are still weaker than monsters and magical beings.

Humanoid creatures like humans, elves and such are called intelligent beings. All humanoid or close to that are in this category. Humanoid beings are born intelligent, but to use mana, they must have awakening. There are special cases that do not fit into just one category. Even human can become such a case. Let’s say you were a human and then vampire would bite you and you would turn to half-vampire. Vampire is magical intelligent being. Half vampire is the same. But you get the point. Many categories but hard to categorize creatures.

Anyway, as I punched the wolf monster, my hand started to bleed and it just staggered a little, letting the guy escape. The fur this monster has is like steel. When you hit it it’s like hitting nails with bare hand and its muscles are dense too. Animals of course can have hard fur too, but not something like this.

I kicked that wolf thing into its head and quickly went to others. When I reached them, I started with my plan.

“It’s impossible to outrun them. To survive, we must work together or else we’re doomed.”

Everyone looked at me and some of them weren’t so sure with this. I do not care about them, as long as at least one of them gets it, it’s okay.

“Look, there’s no time to argue. We must create pairs. There are 5 of us so one will stay alone. That one will be me, before you ask. So quickly choose.”

Everyone nodded to me and they chose person next to them. I was in the middle so it was nice.

“Great. Now listen. I will be the bait and I’ll try to buy you some time. You two on my right are group one, you two group two. Now then, group one will find some herbs that could help us hide our smell and some food and water, but to hide our smell is priority. Group two will find some good spot where we will make a camp. I will try to go opposite direction then you and then I’ll try to lose them. After all is done, place some signs for me to know where you are.”

“Will you be okay? Can you really fool them?”

“Yeah, I’m already covered in herbs that hide my smell so they shouldn’t find me when I will try to lose them. Problem will be with making them follow me. I’ll need to stay at visible distance with them. Now go.”

As I said that, we all went a certain direction and I could hear monsters coming. They were plowing trees as they ran. I quickly found some stones to taunt them with them. When I could see them and they could see me, they quickly attacked me and I barely dodged to pass them and get behind them. They stopped and looked at me. I threw one stone at each of them and they became angry. I quickly ran away, buying some time.

That went for quite some time and I must say, running away from 3 monsters isn’t easy at all. My uniform was tattered even before I came here and now, I don’t even know how it’s holding together. I was scratched by their claws several times too but still nothing serious. Level 1 monsters and so strong. It’s impossible to defeat them, hell to hurt them is impossible too. I really need to get some weapon. Master always gave me just training swords and then took them back.

So all 3 wolf monsters started to be enraged and I was clawed at my back, throwing me aside. This is the end, I can’t buy any more time. I quickly got up and used mana balls to create sand screen to hide myself. When I did that I quickly ran away, but I could still hear them running for me. I knew it would happen. They can smell my blood. Thankfully I planned for that and was close to the river so I jump into it and let myself be flown with the stream. They could not find me and I lost them.

When I caught my breath I went outside the river and went to find the clues. There were none. Bastards let me to die. I used my tracking skills to find any signs of their presence and found it. I tracked it and found the base. It was cave in the clearing. Good place, because we can see monsters approaching but not defendable.

I went inside and could see all of them eating a chattering and smiling.

“Ris is such an idiot, he really thought he can fool them? His probably already with teacher. Now, we just to survive a little bit longer.”

Scum. I did not even go to them and just hid at dark corner, listening to their conversation. When monsters come, you will all die, by accident. I just need to tamper with bracelets a little and they won’t work and then when they will jump on you, you will die.

As I had these dark thoutghs, the guy that was talking about me dying fell asleep but others started to speak in lowered voice.

“That bastard, Ris went to be the bait and he forced us to abandon him like that.”

“It’s not like you tried to stop him.”

“But at least I wanted to go find him after that.”

“I know, but we can’t do anything anymore. If he would be alive, he would already be here.”

They talked like that. Damn, now I won’t kill them. Such a shame.

We all went to sleep.

It was just before the sun started to rise when we could hear monsters coming for us. We all went out of the cave, but there was just one. The bastard that let me to die started saying that it’s just one and we can get rid of it and such. They started to attack it, not doing much damage but tiring it at least. That bastard took spear out of his spatial ring and tried to pierce its eye, while others were being a decoy. He almost did it, before other 2 monsters jumped out, biting his whole left hand. He lost his hand. The bracelet didn’t work. I did not do it. He started to scream and cry. In the mouth of one of the beast was his spear stuck, like a tooth pick. I quickly ran to the monster and pulled it out. It whelped with pain and before it could do anything. I struck his eyeball pushing the spear through it inside its brain, killing it.

When you want to survive, you must use all kinds of dirty tactics.

I went to the three and the 2 monsters surrounded us.

“You you’re alive!”

All of them shouted.

“Later!”

As they were circling us with their mad eyes on us I prepared for anything. Before they could lunge at us, sun appeared, blinding all of us and when we could see again, they both were dead. We looked around at teacher was again lying against tree with closed eyes. We were relived with this.

Bastard could see the teacher too.

“You fucker, you said those bracelets will protect us. You liar, my family will kill you for it.”

Teacher just used his pressure to shut him up and he pissed himself and fainted.

“You 4 passed, he failed.”

That’s all he said, went to him, picked him up and disappeared. At where he was, were 4 tokens. We all took one and went on our way, back to school grounds.

“Thanks for saving us, without your help, we would have been done for.”

“Yeah.”

“Really, thanks.”

“Is that so? So then explain to me why there weren’t any signs and why I could find food eaten in the cave?”

I smiled with killing smile, making their blood freeze. I said I won’t kill them, never said anything about not scaring them.

“Bad children need to be punished, right?”

I was still smiling and they started to laugh. What came next, let’s not say that.

When we came outside, I was first with a relaxed smile and the others stammered out of the forest, with swelled cheeks.

Teacher appeared once again and just said.

“You can go now.”

Nice class man. Great stress reliever, I just want to sleep! I could not sleep at all in that cave. They were snoring like a saw. I was just pretending.

So tired and my head is killing me. Next on the list, control. Let’s hope it will be easy.

But before that, let me explain why I did not use spells. First of all, I did not want to kill the bear so I did not want to try them on it. Second, using magic against monsters that were corrupted with magic, would probably not work well. They could feel me invoking it and in that case, I could have died. It’s possibility but why risk it, right?

So let’s finally go to my favorite class.

As I was reaching the place, I could hear someone shouting.

“You maggots, are you fucking pussies or what? If you want to ask something, then ask with a resolve.”

Good old teach.

“Y-yes.”

I really like that guy. I mean teach, not that brat with milk coming from his mouth. God, I’m starting to think like teach. I need to do something about it, but its such fun. Mo ha ha ha. Now I’m like Beliar. Heavens be praised, I’m like two biggest bad assess in school.

While I was thinking like that, I could feel intense bloodlust.

I-I did not forget about you master! You’re the biggest badass ever.

I don’t know how he knew what I was thinking about but at least that killing intent isn’t there anymore. Whew.

So as I was closing to class, teach looked at me and because I was the last one he started.

“Maggots, I hope you are prepared! Don’t come crying to me if you did not prepare well. I’m not your mamma that will pamper you. Are we clear?!”

“YES!”

We all said in unison. I think we are more like chorus. Our unity is at the highest level. Maybe at some holidays we could sing? That would be nice. God, I really need to do something with this headache, such stupid ideas.

“Now then, my test is really simple. I will tell you what to do and you’ll do it. Simple as that.”

Nice explanation, teach. What Riley would need 15 minutes you completed in 15 seconds. Praise you.

“Quick, take a place so that no one will get in your was. We don’t have the whole day.”

We all took a place and then it started. THE…….BEST………FUN……….EVER!

“Form mana ball.”

I won’t be explaining all of that, let’s just say we did all of them until I say otherwise.

“Change shape Triangle, Square, Ball ……”

Just basic shapes and he was saying it faster and faster. We all make it through though.

“So you have some spine, maggots. Stage 1 cleared. Let’s continue then.”

His smile is intoxicated, to me, to others, well he looks like devil himself. You can see it with them taking a step back. I just smiled with him.

“Shape it to arrow, hammer, curved blade, sword…….”

Yeah, using basic shapes to create items, concentration needed is high and it takes great amounts of mana. Three failed, so only 9 left.

“Good good. Now, create two mana balls at one hand each.”

Easy for me, but it’s like splitting your mind, you need perfect balance or else it will explode or dissipate. My headache thankfully did not hamper me. 2 failed in time limit. We all can do these things but the speed he wants them with is challenge here.

“7 left. Let’s continue with stage 4. I will tell you hand and you must change shape in that one and when I say both, you will change it at the same time.”

Ok, that sounds challenging.

“Left ball, right sword. Right hammer, left sword………..Both, left spear, right shield.”

Never said spear and shield before and we never even tried in class so, no wonder 5 did not make it past this.

So only 2 of us left.

“Well well, pretty good I must say. You are lucky, the last stage is the easiest.”

Yeah right.

“Create one mana ball and split in it two, then split those two and continue until it will blow up or dissipate.”

This thing really is easy. Easier than splitting your mind to create two different things at the same time. Problem is, with every split it gets exponentially harder.

Of course I was excited. And so I started.

I created mana ball and split it. Easy. I did that until I had 8 and I could feel some destabilization in them. I thought it might happen. Why did that happen? Let me explain. Let’s say you have one ball created with 100 units of mana. When you split the ball, you’ll get two with 50 units in each. Normally, you would shrink the object or else the ball of the same size and lower amount of mana would be fragile. There is a limit to size and amount of mana. The same goes with a count. The more you have of such ball, the better your concentration must be to feel the necessary size to amount of mana. And mana in balls can’t be held indefinitely. It slowly disappears so you need to refill it constantly and because every ball has different amount of mana, you must be constantly vigilante on all of them.

Still, I continued. I had 16 and then, sharp pain attacked my brain. It was thanks to that headache. I could feel it getting worse. I continued though and created 32 balls. The last guy was still at 8 but I could see he tried to split them but couldn’t so it was my win already. I still wanted to continue though and so I did.

I created 64 and the pain was much greater. Teach had widen his eyes and I could feel something flowing on my face, dripping on the ground. It was my blood. I started to bleed from my nose. I wanted to stop but something did not let me. I concentrated and tried whatever I thought about but nothing worked. I could feel tears in my eyes, well I thought it were tears until I could see it was blood. That’s right, I started to shed bloody tears. When teach saw that he instantly came to me and with mana concentrated in his hand put on my head and I just know how sweet darkness took me in.

I had nightmares. Real nightmares that would make your heart freeze. Sadly, I can’t remember what they are about. I’m still dreaming though, it’s like being in a black space and looking at thousands of images changing through that place. It makes you go insane. I don’t know how long it took but it looked like ages. I started to comprehend those images. Those were my memories. The images tormenting me were my own memories but I never wanted them to stop. Those were my precious memories after all. All the sad moments and all the happy moments. I just smiled with my kind smile until I heard someone behind me.

It was the guy I saw after my awakening ceremony, the same one. He smiled with kind smile too and even though I could not see him very well, I knew he did not wish to harm me. He came closer to me and flipped my forehead. Next think I know, I woke up with Alice sleeping next to me.

I looked around and could see I was in my room. I was glad and my headache disappeared. In place of it though was some strange feeling that was pulsing in intervals. I concentrated on it and then.

Your brain went through changes. From now on, all changes that concern your whole being will be presented with a warning.

My brain changed? And the warning, did it mean that strange feeling? Does that mean whenever I will learn something new like skill or my stats change or whatnot it will let me know? This will be quite usefull but now, I want to rest for a little while longer.

I took Alice in my arms and but her on the med rather than when she was sleeping on the chair. I lay down on the bed too and let sweet darkness take my consciousness away.

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Ok, ending wasn’t planned like this. He was supposed to complete last test and after that it was supposed to happen. Well, not even god like me can do anything against fait it seems.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed and I hope you’re thankful for double release.

Few more things. What do you think about proofreading, cover art and donations?