The class walked through the city towards the forest. This city located right next to a lost land known as the land of Leto, the area this class was headed for. Bustling city vendors and markets all lit up as this class walked by. This was due to classes spending a lot of money before trips to the lost lands.
"Try some skewered Freyja meat!" (1 - an insect type monster) A vendor yelled out to attract the students. Some students flocked over as this was a limited delicacy in this region. "Let's go students!" Hodge yelled, annoyed by the amount of time they were waiting. He thought they should be more scared heading to the Lost lands for the first time. Yet this group was more laid back than the previous contenders.
"Hey, can I stay close by you this trip Kota?" Shina asked timidly. Kota turned towards her with an unfortunate expression. "I'm sorry but the teacher asked that I be scout for this trip.." The conversation faded as they both followed the class side by side.
Edge of the Lost land of Leto. "Okay class, this is officially the starting point of the Lost Land. Stay close and don't split up." Hodge yelled, Ms Yun keeping a close eye on the students.
Ding! Kota felled a vibration come from his backpack. (The communication stone!) "Hey, it's hodge. Can you hear me fine?" Kota's face expressed a shocked look. Shina peered over his shoulder as she could also hear it, yet very faintly. "Yes sir, I hear you fine." He replied back. "Good, this is where your test begins. Stay 2 kilometers ahead of us and don't lose track of us. I've already sent over the information regarding the route, just double click the stone and it will pull up a map and I've highlighted the path we will take." Hodge explained in detail so there will be no confusion.
"So this is where we split up.." Shina had a depressed expression speaking those words slowly. She had assumed she could rely on Kota to protect her through this journey. "Yea I'm sorry Shina. I gotta get going, I'll see you soon!" Kota tried to lighten her mood a little before heading to the front.
"Alright hodge I'm ready." Kota spoke as he walked towards hodge. "Go ahead and head into the forest, we will wait thirty minutes before heading in. Keep in touch." Hodge spoke sending him off. Kota nodded as he vanished into the forest.
He crept down the path labeled on his communication stone, step after step his heart raced. He learned a trick from hodge before heading in. To pool your mana together and release it, but keep a a string attached to his mana. Therefore he could feel any reaction of movement in a wide area around him.
Towards the right of him, he could hardly make out footsteps in the distance. (It's a bit far away, but I should go check it out.) He dashed towards the noise. After a good 2 minutes of sprinting, he heard swords clashing. The hair on his neck stood up as he climbed a tree nearby. An orc with a great sword fighting something unknown.. Kota couldn't make out what the orc was fighting. It was small, fast ,and nimble. Evertime it moved a slight glimmer of a sword could be seen. The orc slammed his sword downwards towards the blurry figure, dust and debris flew outwards in all directions. A small body also got slung out, headed in Kota direction. Although he was high in the tree and couldn't be spotted, he was curious and stayed watching.
Bam! It crashed into the tree he was in. The tree swayed recklessly as he hung on for dear life. The orcs footsteps could be heard walking closer, the little creature doesn't stand a chance if it doesn't move. It stayed motionless against the tree. (Is it unconscious?) He felt bad for watching it die like this.
The orc raised its sword high, standing in front of the little creature. Kota stared in anticipation, his anxiety through the roof. (This is the end little friend) The orc slung his sword downwards, yet landing on nothing. The orc confused, his vision blurry as red marks ran down his face. His head rolled off to the side. The orcs body fell to the side. Making a huge crashing noise, scaring off any other creature nearby.
"Now, what creature are you?" Kota said smugly under his breath as he walked towards the little creature. His ego rising from a cheeky sneak attack on an almost dead ogre. As he got closer, he didn't recognize this creature. It's head was slumped over, fur covering its arms, yet it was wearing clothes. It was more humanoid than he expected. As he got right up to it, a slight glimmer rang In his eye. (A sword?) Kota pulled his blades close to him and deflected the incoming attack. "Wait! I don't want to fight!" Kota yelled out. They both froze in place.
"Who are you?" The little creature spoke up in a girlish voice. "Just a student passing by. Who… or what are you?" Kota replied. "Hmpf. And why should I tell you?." Kota snarled, as he had just saved her life. "No worries, I'll leave you be." He walked towards the orcs body ready to carve out the stone. "Wait!" It called out frantically. "Yes?" Kota continued to carve the stone out. "Well.. my name is Aisha." She spoke up, a bit timid and embarrassed.
"Nice to meet you Aisha" Kota gave a warm smile and stuck out his hand for a shake. Aisha confused looking down at his hand. He retracted his hand keeping his smile. "No worries, so what are you doing out here? And what race are you?" Kota spurted out question after question. "Well I'm not linked to a single race. My mother was half Oni and half human. While my father was a Pictis… a cat race." She looked down, embarrassed. "Oh that's really neat, so what are out here doing?" He responded, not paying attention to her reaction. "I got forced out of the place I was living… due to my.. well my race." She said tearing up slightly. Kota walked over to her and patted her head. Aisha's eyes brightened, and then her face submerged with a red tint of embarrassment. She clawed at his hand but not quickly. "Haha, it's okay. I'm glad your safe now. Be careful out here, but I have to get back to my mission." Kota spoke as he dashed off into the trees. Her eyes followed his traces.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Kota dashed from tree branch to branch. Not missing a single step, his body felt nimble and light. Darkness engulfed the underside of the trees, as it was much too blurry to make out much of anything at this speed. Knowing his strength has grown after classes, and other events, his ego has risen to new heights.
"Nothing to report sir" Kota spoke over the communication stone. "Understood, move on another kilometer, we are making our way in." Hodge spoke over the stone, his voice raspy, assuming it was from yelling at the rest of the students. Kota dashed off into the trees.
Roughly an hour has passed since, and no monsters have been spotted. "Nothing here sir.." he spoke, but as he was finishing his sentence and huge beast about twice the size of a grizzly emerged. "Sir I got a large creature, about two sizes larger than a bear. This one has white fur, it has 6 legs. Its face hideous, with fangs protruding from its jaw. Scars covered its body. "Leave now! That's a mosplie! This creatures ranked at a rank 8 monster!" Hodge yelled over the stone.
Just as Kota looked up, a large claw came crashing towards him. (A side swipe, so fast. I can't dodge) Putting his hands up and embracing for impact, the large bear-like claw crashed into him. Hurling through trees and vegetation, he had came to a halt. Blood poured from his mouth and ears. His vision starting to blur. A voice from behind could be heard.
"Get up!" Ms Yun cried out. Kota looked around as his memory came back to him. The dust settling, another claw came crashing down from above. They both dodge, Kota rolling out the way while Ms. Yun leapt. Standing to his feet a glowing feeling came from his stomach. His vision turning a dark shade of purple as if he was getting swallowed by the galaxy.
A strong pain came from his left side. Another claw had hit him, sending him tumbling through the trees again. His life is fading. Blood poured from all parts of his body. His skin was bleeding from the impact left on him. He could only lay there and await his death. (What a shitty way to die). "Revak Gein Heal Rok" A voice spoke out, loud for all to hear. Particles of green light emitted around Kota's body. A strange phenomenon not known to many was occurring. His wound closed up, his life was saved. Kota stood up slowly, his vision still slightly blurry. "Woah, you still lost a lot of blood, you need to leave now!" Aisha spoke up. "Aisha?" He replied, not able to see her with his vision almost gone again. Just as he replied to her another claw came crashing down, as Ms. Huns body got sent flying.
"Can you buy me some time little one?" Kota asked hurriedly. "Are you trying to kill me? I am meow-out going out there!" She scurried behind a tree, afraid of his response. "Just 30 seconds please!" Kota pleaded. Aisha ran out of the tree leading rank 8 creature away. (Focus. Focus.) Slumping over as if he was about to pass out, his vision got swallowed by the galaxy. His aura changed into darkness, as it was slightly visible from the naked eye.
(One breath, one strike.) "Galaxy steps" A galaxy like portal emitted in front of him, yet it was flat. Many other appeared in front of him as well, leading towards the creature. Kota took one step onto the portal and vanished, he relocated at the closest one and instantly vanished again. Not before long, Kota appeared right in front of the monster and disappeared again. A blade rained down from the sky, striking the creature in its left eye. A deafening roar was heard all through the forest. It's head shaking wild while Kota held on for dear life.
His mind was long gone, overtaken by the enemy's galaxy. In his head, all he saw were portals? Maybe they were tunnels. (What do these connect?) this freedom he felt while standing in this presence, he felt like his eyes opened. Breathing was easy, seeing was easy, even moving. It all felt free to him, as on the outside he was in a mad skirmish with a rank 8 creature. A monster that should've killed any noobie like himself in an instance.
On the outside, the monster cried horribly, slinging Kota off his sword lodged in the monsters eye. No emotion was seen in his eyes, he floated carelessly to the ground. Bam! A small crater formed where he landed, yet the purple light emitting from him did not seize. Just as the creature looked over in his direction a bright beaming light shot right through the monster skull. The light faded.
"Kota!!" Aisha cried out. She ran over to the crater he was in, as his lifeless body lay there. His clothes torn and tattered to bits. "Huh?" Aisha gasped in shock. "No wounds on his body anywhere?" She spoke under her breath, not paying attention to the fact that he was almost naked.
A glint of steel could be seen behind Aisha as she dodged to the side. "Wait wait wait!" Aisha yelled. "I'm friendly!!" She pleaded. Just as Ms. Yun was about to speak a group of students slowly entered the aftermath of the battle field. "Stay put creature" Ms. Yun spoke harshly towards Aisha.
A night breeze could be felt against Kota's face. His eyes twitched and his body ached all over. As he opened his eyes, a furball was in front of his face. "Who are you?" He spoke softly with no strength left. "It's me Aisha". He heard as he fell back asleep.
Ding! A clang could be heard, as he jolted awake. "Sorry!" A voice could be heard. "Oh he's awake finally!" Another one. "Glad he's awake now" another voice. Kota looked around at the campsite in front of him, students preparing breakfast. "Where's Aisha?" He spoke with little strength. "She's catching some fish for us" Shina said. Her warm hands on his head checking his temperature. "How are you feeling?" Amelia asked. "I'm okay." Kota lied through his teeth. A searing pain spread through his body anytime he moved. A screen appeared in front of him. [Backlash of using forbidden power]. He pushed the screen away with much difficulty. (Well fuck) "I'll get you some food and clothes." Shina spoke up, slightly blushing. "Clothes?" He looked under the blankets provided for him, as he was completely nude.