The foxhorns came running with two in front and two behind. Adrenaline already started working its magic as I felt my body tensing and my heart pounding. Finally seeing these goddamn things up close, I felt relieved that they were about the same sizes as Earth foxes and weren’t bigger than small dogs except for maybe the horn being about a foot long and sharp as all hell.

The first foxhorn to reach me leaped at me with bloodthirst and I instinctively swung the bat down. The edge of the bat with one of the sharp rocks smashed right through the foxhorns right eye as I sent it to the ground. I didn’t even have time to think before my body started moving again and I did a sweep with the bat towards the second foxhorn.

It dodged my sweep while the three healthy foxhorns surrounded me while my back faced the entrance to the cabin. I felt my blood boil and my body shake as I just started swinging left and right but the foxhorns were too nimble to get caught in my blind barrage.

The first foxhorn was twitching idly as I seem to have damaged its skull and the other three were growling. I didn’t want to wait for the reinforcements to show up so while they were being wary, I spoke to Phoenix to send out a fireball.

As my faithful slime companion understood and started charging up a small fireball the size of a fist with a tentacle on head, one of the foxhorns sensed the danger and leaped at my calf. I noticed it and got lucky enough to manage to send the bat swinging at its rib which punctured a small wound in its side and sent it off to the side. I was sweating and my grip was tightened on the bat as I side stepped while keeping an eye on the two remaining foxhorns that were growling and sent my bat smashing at the fox I just hit. It tried to dodge but it was hurt and I smashed its skull to a bloody pulp.

The remaining two didn’t let go of the opportunity where I was distracted and jumped into action to maul my side but Phoenix came in with a save as it sent the fist size fireball to the foxhorns getting one to burst into flames while that gave me a chance to drop the bat that was stuck in the skull of my recent kill.

Holding up my dagger I faced the last foxhorn and stared at it while it had already stopped from the shock of its buddy turning into fireworks. While the burning foxhorn was trying to put itself out while rolling on the ground, I tried to create a small fireball as well while keeping a vigilant eye at the last foxhorn.

My concentration was at its peak as I felt the rush from the battle and my mind racing. I imagined a small fireball like I did earlier while sending my core energy towards my palm. With my crystal core listening to my command with ease, I managed to get a small black fireball going on my left hand while my dagger was pointed towards the foxhorn with the other.

Sadly, it noticed the ominous flame that appeared on my palm and it seemed to have been spooked as it gave up on fighting and bolted away. Relieved at the fight having ended, I notice in my field of vision that the burning foxhorn was still alive and spreading the flames so I slammed my black ball of flames onto it. I was shocked at the results as the black fire completely overtook the orange flames and the creature dropped dead while the flames continued to burn it which left the cabin clearing smelling like burnt fur.

The rush of battle was exciting, it was the first time I ever had such a fight in my life and one that even included magic. I was elated at how well I handled it to my own surprise but guessed it may have been due to all the benefits that we got recently. I stomped out some of the extra fire that almost spread towards the cabin before getting Phoenix to send a small ball of water towards the burning foxhorn.

‘Sigh, that was close’ I thought to myself before I went to open the door to the cabin.

“Careful.” Phoenix warned as that got me to remember that there’s someone in there now.

“Shit, Phoenix can you translate?” I was concerned about speaking to the thing and if I came off badly, it might attack me as well even though I just saved its life.

“Maybe, just walk in and don’t talk while we see what the person says. I’ll try and translate from what I get”

Taking a deep breath, I calm my nerves a little before slowly opening the door. The little stone brazier was still burning and the light shun on the room enough so that I catch the figures face.

I was surprised at how much it resembled a human, short black hair growing on its head with deep blue eyes on a rough but young looking face seeming to be around 19 or 20 years old. A small scar running through his cheek with no extra “alien” parts on its head, I notice the guy seemed to be just about my height sitting at about 1.75m tall. Leather like vest and pants while holding a small short sword in his hands and a nervous look while pointing it towards me. The only thing I noticed that made this person different from humans on Earth is his oddly blue colored skin and slightly pointed ears. I was surprised at the similarities more than the differences.

I stood there staring at him while he looked at me warily.

‘I mean, come on buddy. You could at least say thanks before you go pointing that sword at me.’ I was a little upset at the reaction I got from my first rescue. I mean, I risked my life for you, you little shit.

He kept staring so I just stood quietly staring back while trying to find more alien parts on him since I found it a little difficult that first sentient looking species I meet is a blue human.

Eventually my silence paid off, as he dropped himself to the ground and passed out as it seems there was a pretty bad bite wound on his leg that was bleeding this whole time. I realize I should probably do something about it before I lose the only local that may know something about this place. With some water from Phoenix, I managed to wipe the wound clean and tore off some rags from my “bed” and tied it around to stop the bleeding. I wasn’t a fucking doctor, I did my best to just make it look like he will be fine.

Phoenix reassured me that as long as I tied it tight he should heal on his own with time since it’s not bleeding anymore. I had an odd feeling god slime could heal it but just didn’t want to waste the energy for it but I wasn’t too sure. I grabbed a small wood bowl from the kitchen counter and tested my own magic on gathering some water which worked just fine though it was only a small ball of it, maybe half a cups worth. Since I didn’t have to worry about foxhorns and creepy avatar alien, I was losing myself in my imagination for a moment about how epic I have become with my super powers especially the supremeness of them.

The speed at which I was able to conjure a fireball or waterball left me very pleased since my little evolution as compared to before the difference was simply like a tricycle versus a jet. I felt so excited to try out new things.

“Jupiter, hey, stop being distracted and go give the guy some water. I don’t want him dying before I can even learn the language!” Phoenix reminded me as I stood there with my grin for a few minutes.

“Right, cough. Sorry. “ I headed back and poured some water into my fainted guest and got up to go check the damage and make sure those extra foxhorns weren’t coming back for round two.

Walking out the entrance, I looked around into the distance and didn’t hear any more growls or see more foxhorns. They probably left after they’re little meal from this guy’s friend. I walked over to the other three littering my entrance and felt a little nauseous looking at them. One had blood and brain juice coming out its eye, the second one had a giant crack in its skull with its head being drenched in its blood and the last one was the worst off looking like a shriveled naked mole rat which was just creepy.

I picked them up, with my spiked bat which was really the mvp of tonights slaughter and decided I’d do some dissecting as I really wanted one of those horns and try its meat. I may have a slightly weak stomach to gory animal abuse but I was a hardcore fan of meat so I felt things balanced themselves out.

Bringing them over to the kitchen, Phoenix started examining the one eyed foxhorn while I began cutting open another one. I noticed its muscles were all very lean and toned which should make for some decent food, there wasn’t anything special about these things and I was a little disappointed as goblizards were freaks of nature while these things were just the opposite. They had black and red fur looked exactly like foxes except maybe a bit more feral and the only special thing was the horn and oh, they had two tails. I finally manage to cut off the horn to get a better look and it was sharp cone with a slightly spiral pattern running along its length and just seems to be made of bone.

I figured they could be useful weapons in case, I dropped my dagger or something or I can use them as skewers for cooking so I took all three from my dead dinner while Phoenix reported that they were just some weak creatures about the same strength as goblizards, which explained why I was able to take them down rather easily. They also don’t look really threatening since it’s not some weird mutant spawn of ugly so even I wasn’t too shocked I managed to handle them without much fear.

I skinned a few patches of fur to leave out to dry and got some decent sized chunks of meat skewered on their own horns before I slowly cooked them over the brazier.