POV: Mystical Sakura

‘It has been a few days since I finally found a method to speak and since then I have been swamped with questions from those besides my nymph guardians. Apparently it is a weird experience having long conversation with someone via proxy but I digress. With the communication barrier now gone the other beings present in my territory wanted to discuss what will happen to them. Of course I cleared up any misunderstanding they had, can’t have another person calling my gender into question now can I. My ability to speak has also opened new opportunities I could now talk to my recent servants about future endeavours such as expanding, looking for more of their race and boosting their abilities for them to become my guardians. Haven’t got an answer from them yet but I know they are considering it from the conversation I’ve overheard but are weary of suffering the same fate as their last home, got that from the arguments.’

‘Moving on to my abilities, I have been training both old and new to better understand my combat potential my recent additions have definitely increased that value. Root combat style effectively increases my damage output since it is now considered an attack. Don’t know how it works but apparently it’s this planet natural law, if I were to create an example imagine as if it were a VRMMO. Two people cross paths when one of them suddenly raises there arm and hits the other by accident there was no intent but the hit still had power so minus 10HP. But say if these two meet and one punches the other with intent the game would accept this as a unarmed combat move increasing the damage minus 35HP (don’t think many use unarmed combat in MMO’s if at all). Chompers are pretty much what they say on the tin or in this case ability description, they are flower buds that open and bite at the enemy like savage flytraps. Things I have noticed about them include the obvious speech but also it seems I have a bit of variety when it comes to growing them. Currently I have been able to change their mouth structure from splitting in half to splitting four ways like a mandible or going the opposite direction have the bud open as if a hole was growing on its surface. The teeth also have a variety from small hair like to comical you know the ones you see on predator cartoon animals, I tell you seeing an actual piranha plant eating a meal is gruesome. This variety is also what allowed me to use them to speak in the first place, without realising I subconsciously based the first chomper on the human mouth with vocal cords, not going to try and understand how it happened. Absorb sentient life admittedly haven’t got much use out of it yet since it needs a sentient being, wolves don’t count and I am not testing it on the fairies so experimenting has to wait.’

[Ellie] “MASTER MASTER!”

‘And there goes my inner dialogue well better see what she wants, better be important or she is going to have more than a wounded ego when I’m done.’

“Ellie what’s wrong.”

‘Still getting used to the idea that I can communicate without using that blue box, I wasn’t a mute as a human so being able to speak would seem a weird thing to be uncomfortable about but you would be surprised at how quickly you can adapt to weird circumstances.’

[Ellie] “Master, Aria says she can sense a large number of elves approaching from the west, what should we do?”

‘So those traitors to the one true goddess have returned have they, I guess emasculating their leader did not get my message across. No matter by the end of today they will get the message, if not then they deserve a Darwin award.’

“Ellie, inform Maria and Tia of the intruders but tell them to stick to their posts for now also make sure that the other fairies stay away from the battle when your finished come to Aria’s tree.”

[Ellie] “Yes master.”

‘Thinking about it the elves chose a good time to show up I could use some target practice, of course only if they strike first. I don’t have any guaranteed that they are hostile yet but from past encounters and their numbers my assumption is probably correct.’

POV: Elf General

Nearing the cloaked part of the forest a large number of elves approach equipped with the standard leather light armour and armed with bows and short swords. While the elders agreed that the situation should be handled sending their entire force to subjugate this anomaly was considered a drastic waste of resources for several reasons. The main ones include leaving themselves defenceless to other aggressive neighbours, second while the unknown might have control over nature his projected territory and thus area of control is no less than the average human village. And finally although the unknown was able to injure an esteemed nobleman of the powerful elven race in a brutal manor it is also clear that this happened due to his negligence in remaining on guard in supposed hostile territory. As such the forces dedicated to the attack number 121 exactly, this can be broken down to include 100 standard elven infantry, the general and his two advisors and 18 elven mages.

This world has a ranking system for individuals though each race has their own code for their version of this system the results are the same for each race, this is due to it being dangerous to overestimate yourself or underestimate your opponent. The human race use a letter system to rank individuals the strong being ‘A’ and lower the threat the lower there rank is on the alphabet (civilians don’t have a rank). G rank is for the weakest of threats equivalent to a buck (male deer) or village militia, F rank would go to soldiers or basic predators i.e. wolves. E rank is for those competent with a weapon a trained soldier over the basic recruits it also covers first time mages, top predators and beginner monsters i.e. Lions, mutated wolves. D rank is for those who have shown prowess in battle such as general evolved predators and tougher monsters. C rank is the start of the heavy hitters, warriors that could decimate groups alone, mages who can burn fields, animals so old they have gained a certain degree of intelligence outside of their needs (reading and writing level) and monsters who can topple settlements without a scratch. B ranks can be called army destroyers as their attacks can accomplish just that, dragons also enter the ranking system here. A Ranks can be considered the peak at which a being can reach in this world, while difficult any person, creature or monster that reaches this level can be considered a WMD, the title speaks for itself.

With the ranking system explained the incoming army can now be better explained, the 100 standard elven infantry has members between F and E rank, the mages rank between E and D rank the advisors are solid D rank while the general has reached C rank. Normally this would be a reasonable force, if only they knew that their enemy held the hidden rank X, it would have made the next few years so much more… actually they still would be screwed.

[Elf General] “Halt, men we are nearing the enemies territory settle down but keep alert just because the enemy is in hiding doesn’t mean he won’t strike when he sees an opening.”

At his words the small fighting force got comfortable, many were checking over their gear while some started conversing with their fellow soldier but in all this they never let their senses dull being sure to notice any sign of an attack. The general was off with his advisors discussing plans for their attack, or so said general was hoping.

[Advisor 1] “What are we waiting for, the enemy is right before us and you want us to wait while victory is right in front of us.”

[Advisor 2] “We are wasting time, the enemy could be digging in as we speak we should crush them with our forces before they have time to react.”

[Elf General] whisper “This is what I have to work with.”

[Advisor 1 & 2] “General?”

The general raised a hand to rub his eyes in annoyance before turning his head to look at his two advisors or as he calls them the two nuisances. When he was chosen to lead this force he recognised that he would not be given a large force or even a highly experienced force but he hoped he would at least get to choose his own advisors even if it was out of a small selection pool. But no instead of experienced soldiers or at least decent fighters he gets two young nobles with a disillusioned view of war, the only thing they want is a quick rise in the ranks. Still he was willing to look past this if they could put their focus on a successful campaign instead they want to charge head on, no strategy, no scouting an easy way to get your soldiers killed which they find as acceptable losses.

[Elf General] Shouting “Enough!” “We are not rushing this. If we are to come out victorious we have to do it with a calm and rational mind.”

[Advisor 1] “We are wasting time, the enemy is nothing more than some arrogant mage that was able to tap into nature somehow. We are the rulers of nature we should not have to fear some second rate trick artist.”

[Advisor 2] “While I would not word it like that it is true that this mage could not have too much power as only elfs can wield nature. However this mage has managed it probably requires a lot of resources and even then his powers will undoubtedly be weak. I’m more worried that he will flee while we sit here, we should strike before he can escape.”

[Elf General] “I have heard your opinions but I will not risk my soldiers on what your bias mind believes to be an easy victory. While this victory should be easy we must remember that nothing is more dangerous than an enemy with no options. If he believes himself trapped he will strike out like a wild animal with no fear of death as he is already dead. But you are right in that we cannot hold off for too long.”

The general turns to face his troops preparing to give his orders the soldiers take notice and stop their current task to listen.

[Elf General] “Ok men I need volunteers to create scout groups it will be your job to observe the enemies defences and report what you find back to me.”

At his words several approached ready for the mission while others remained back either from laziness, fear of ambushes or just waiting for the big moment they will charge and outnumber the enemy.

[Elf General] “There will be 3 groups of 5 soldiers pair with the ones standing next to you gather your gear and head out. Remember do not be spotted we only need to know the enemies defences and the mages rough location if there is a chance of you being spotted back off, am I clear?”

[Elf Soldiers] “Yes sir!”

[Elf General] “Good now get moving.”

Finishing his speech the general turned to face the magic fog barrier, although his mind is telling him this will be an easy fight there is a feeling deep inside warning him. While he quickly squashed this feeling it did not leave without providing a piece of advice, ‘should have brought more men’.