《The Path to Pacifism is Long and Paved with Blood》Denouement 1: The Noisy Cricket
Advertisement
Skrrr-pidit hopped down from the apple he was eating with a satisfied plop. He had just eaten his fill, and couldn't be more satisfied with the world at this particular moment.
No predators, no scary clouds, no competition, no worries.
Skrrr decided to go on a quick romp through the grassy forest to clear the full feeling in his tiny belly, hopping from one patch of grass to the next. The wind blew overhead, enthusing Skrrr for his next bound. He jumped so far this time!
Life was good for Mr. Pidit. The only thing that could make it better was... "Chirrip, chirp, Skrrr, Pidit," he called.
Skrrr waited a second to see if he would get lucky...
Hmmm, maybe not today. Oh well.
Skrrr decided to rest a moment on a sunny rock, listening to the birds above argue over who would get to mate with who, or the weather, or some other nonsense Skrrr couldn't understand. He sat there an hour, contemplating nothing, and just rested. With a full belly and no distractions, there was no reason for Skrrr to do anything else.
Then he decided to try again. "Chirrip, chirrip, chriip, chir-irp."
A brief hesitation later, he decided he was unlucky again, so he bounded off into the wild to try again.
"Chirrip, chirp, Skrrr, Pidit," he shouted out with his wings, waiting anxiously for the response. No luck. Relocation necessary again.
At some point he landed on some bare dirt with a good view in either direction. He figured this was as good a place as any to call out, as he could see a potential mate from potentially miles away. "Chirrp, chirirp, chrip-ip, chirp."
"But I just don't see why we have to go to a dungeon with all these living creatures! Who cares if they're monsters, any life is too precious to snuff out!"
Advertisement
"Get over yourself, they respawn in another day or two, they'll be fine."
"That doesn't change the fact that they feel every death! How would you feel if once a month you got brutally murdered?!"
Skrrr hopped away from the frightful noises, less because of any potential danger they may suggest, and more because he felt the one he was trying to woo might not hear him over it. But the more he moved away, the closer the noises got. How annoying!
"So what would you have us do to collect your precious materials then? How do we get the money for next week's rent at the inn? We don't have much choice."
"Are there no dungeons with undead, or bounties on such? There has to be a better way!"
"We've been over this, there are no other options. All the zombie dungeons have been cleared out, and they're not due for another clearing for at least another fornight. We have to take our chances with this one. Now just shut up and keep studying that new spell of yours."
Skrrr happily noted the noises stopping, but a moment too late. He already saw her, standing in the road, looking at him. It was time.
He readied his back legs for the greatest leap of his life, praising his luck at finding both a perfect meal and a perfect mate within a day, and at that same moment, a distracted cleric managed to land his foot right on top of the would-be cassa-cricket. Thus ends the story of Skrrr-pidit
Advertisement
- In Serial10 Chapters
A New Life
Davin Benjamin was posed a question that no one ever hopes to face. To be able to live a life with full mobility, or to be able to see his family, at least for a significant portion of time. Follow his journey, and watch him overcome struggles that many would stumble at. I took the picture used as the cover, though it was edited with Befunky, not that I paid for anything.
8 110 - In Serial16 Chapters
Csick
Nate wakes up with no memories. As he partially regains them he realizes that something is wrong. He’s living in a fantasy world, as the character in a story. He continues struggling with the mysterious writer while winning the contest of his dreams. A chance to go aboard the Csick cruise liner and battle against the best writers that can be found in this strange fantasy world. His roommates include Stan Realman, five raccoons in a trenchcoat masquerading as a human. He is joined by Luke, the gentle giant who writes romance, Alvin the fortune teller, and many more. Between mermaids and fire-spewing flowers, Nate faces intense writing contests and fierce competitions. There’s also a theme song, the occasional over-the-top martial arts move, brainstorms that physically manifest, and a hint of romance.
8 148 - In Serial17 Chapters
To Be Cursed
Scourcers wouldn't be scourcers without chi. The Zagrans wouldn't be Zagrans without scourcers. And Karma, well she wouldn't be Karma without without her father. After King Karmic proposes that he sends his youngest daughter, Karma's kid sister, off to assassinate the Zagran prince, Karma can't keep herself from stepping up. She uses this moment not only to save her sister from certain death, but to gain an understanding of the creatures that everyone keeps calling beasts. She has six weeks to kill the prince, six weeks to explore things unknown, six weeks to figure out why King Karmic really wants the Zagran lands.
8 241 - In Serial9 Chapters
End of My Boring Life
On Earth, a boy named Zed Jiyoui leads a typical teenage life, and of course, he is a Sophomore in High School. Like any other average 16-year-old, Zed wakes up early every day; goes to school, likes playing video games, and hangs out with friends. But he had always thought that he is just leading an average boring life, and that's how it will be for the rest of his life. Until one day when he was sleeping a mysterious light appears out of nowhere. What might that light be? Does this mysterious light represent a turning point in Zed's life for better or worse? or is it something else.
8 92 - In Serial27 Chapters
Tale of the Bloodstained Hero
To succeed is to forge a path of your own, liberated by your own hand to combat fate in a way that you decide. To fail is to walk the corpse-riddled road of the Bloodstained Hero, tethered by a fate you cannot control, and doomed to walk it forever alone. After managing to stumble his way into a fantastical new world, twenty two year old Cyr is almost immediately tricked into an alleyway and jumped by a brutish thug out for his head. Bloodied, beaten and near death, Cyr is saved by a strange power that temporarily allows him to copy his opponent's fighting style. After leaving to join an affluent mercenary group known as the Adventurers Guild, he is soon contacted by a mysterious figure that sheds light on his eventual destiny of warring with an enemy of overwhelming, near godly power. Follow Cyr's adventure in his rise to Herohood for the Seynith Dynasty all while slowly uncovering a plot with roots spread deeper than ever thought possible. It doesn't take long for him to realize just how brutal and unforgiving this new world can truly be. This is an edited version of the original, which is where new chapters will be found. The unedited release can still be found on my page, but it will no longer be updated.
8 166 - In Serial3 Chapters
Kauravyi : The Life Breath Of Phalguna [ Arjuna - Ulupi OS ]
She was the Princess of Bhogavati, He the Prince of Hastinapura. She was a Nāgi, and He was a human. Yet They crossed boundaries to reunite with each other! This is a retelling of their love, through their eyes, of Nāgi and Narottama, Parantapa and Pannagi, Kaunteya and His Kauravyi!Cover credits: @JishnuPranaa
8 195

