Spirit of the Gamer
Hey guys! So response to last chapter was again amazing! Had a lot of PMs as well, I love talking to you guys. So lets just dig right in. Conrad is level 7, the last two notifications was for Ururu!
Onwards!
SotG
I sat in my new room. It was a room you could cross from the door to the window in five steps. Three from side to side. The bed took up a good portion of the space. The medium window let soft sunlight drift in through thin curtains. A desk had been pushed with much protest into the corner next to the bed. It was close enough if I turned in my sleep I would smack in to the side of the it.
A small potted plant rested on the desk near the window. A empty journal and pen was ritually place at the centre of the wooden surface.
I sat with my back against the wall with my legs over the edge of the bed. I was turning a small chain of beads in my hand. The chain was large enough to wrap around my neck twice. The beads were both black and gold. The colours were designed in a basic pattern.
Gold, black, gold, black, gold and so forth. It was my quest reward for defeat two more hollows from two nights ago. It appeared in a blue flash when the quest completed and the exp was flowing into me. Scared a life out of Yoruichi as it landed on her. The look was rather wilting when she crawled out from the jangling beads.
I identified them with a casual Observe.
"Binding Prayer Beads-(Item)-(Attack)-(Grade 2)
A chain of prayer beads made with the intent of slowing and binding malevolent spirits. The beads will react and trapped those who would seek to harm the owner.
Damage: 0
Usage: 1
Status inflicted: Paralysis."
It was an interesting item to say the lest. It was a status inflicting item that would only affect the angry spirit form. I had shown it to Urahara who once again stared at me and took the chain in his hands.
"You are interesting. Scary but interesting."
Find there was only one usage he returned it to me an hour later unused. Urahara told me it possessed a simple binding charm that powered by the beads themselves. No recharging however, as the chain would crumble to dust once it was used.
The following morning was to be used to train myself but I was pushed into helping Tessai. Urahara cheerfully shut the door in my face and Tessai ushered me along to a street with a more rustic feel than the city centre. People nodded at Tessai and waved from across the street. I found out that only Urahara was a social recluse. Tessai had flung himself into the surrounding community with a passion people responded to. I was pleasantly surprised that the shopping in question was for me. I was lead to a clothes store. Its sign simply declaring "Mia's threads." My Japanese was enhanced beyond means and it was able to pick out the characters more fluidly than I ever remember. The shop was decent size. Clothes hung from racks, sat on shelves, laid in baskets and was distinctively sorted by colour.
To my left everything was blue. To my right it was red. The rainbow exploded in the middle. Tessai gave me a basket and let me pick out the needed underwear, shirts and jeans. I threw in some black slacks and white shirts. Never know when I might need to go classy.
It was when we were about to do finish the browsing that I spot the leather jacket. I knew it was macho and the dark brown leather might be a bit much for the heat but with everything I bought I cast Observe over it.
"Leather Jacket(Equip-able)-(Amour)-(Class 1)
A simple leather jacket. Makes you feel rebel-ish.
Defence: 2
Durability: 80(100)"
The jacket actually had combat related stats. Tessai was amused at my supposedly impulsive purchase.
It was about 4.30pm when we got back to the store and I hauled my new clothes back to my room to change. I stared at the hoodie and jogging bottoms I had come to know so well. I felt weirdly attached to the filthy clothes. They offered no protection. There was no magical reason to keep them. But I folded them into the box under my bed. I was sadly attached to the rags.
I planted myself behind my desk in a jeans and a red t shirt. A black lion head was printed across the chest, its snarling mouth facing outwards. I pulled the drawer back and pulled out a school child's book and opened the first page. I was still lacking a good understanding of Japanese. With a character dictionary close by I through myself into study.
I kept at until dinner.
I levelled my [Language] skill a whole 10 levels and when it hit the newest level, level 30. A window appeared.
"[Language] has gained a perk!"
"The perk [Man of a thousand words] has been unlocked!
Languages now has the ability to recall learned words after hearing them once."
I read the book. I couldn't remember the story hours later but the words, the words I learned flowed back to me. Simple words but simple is the building blocks of advance I could argue. Finishing the book, a notification slide into view.
"Due to strict learning of a foreign language your INT has increased by 1!"
I wore a big grin through dinner that night. I was dragged back out to the night air by Yoruichi. I didn't complain, I was earning rent after all.
But as we spent a few minutes out, the quest window appeared with exactly the same quest as the night before. Hollow Victory.
It was a daily quest. A quest that is repeatable to farm small time rewards for a much larger reward later. I didn't see a bigger reward here besides the lower hollow population but I could live with that.
Three more hollows fell that night, their hunger unstated. A troll like hollow, a scorpion and a demented sparrow.
I levelled up after killing the third which brought me up to level 8 now. My one INT stat increase had increased my Energy Bolt to do above 100 damage normally now. 126, if I earned critical.
I levelled both Energy Bolt and Power Jump to level 5. The sparrow hollow was both fast and annoying to hit. My life drain had trouble hitting the damn thing when it swooped between the trees of a park hill.
With a ding of victory rang and dropped another chain of beads into my hand. Yoruichi had only flick her tail and said that would be enough for tonight.
Getting home had been filled with chatting of Yoruichi pointing out various hot spots in town for supernatural activity. Junk yard, abandoned parks, of shrines.
But not graveyards usually.
"The dead do not want to be dead. The would avoid all symbols or areas of moving on or being at peace. A graveyard is the last place ghosts chooses to be." She slowed to think.
"Unless they're morbid I guess." I looked at her.
"Being dead isn't morbid enough for them?" I asked, She only chuckled in that deep cat voice.
"Drama queens in life are drama queens in death." Her ears flicked as we entered the shop nice more.
Urahara was laying at the back with hit hat covering his face. Noise from the other three occupants emerged from the house part of the building.
Turning his head, one eye, visible from the rim of the head wear, was poking out. His hand reached from his pocket. He offered me a wad of bills held together by an elastic band.
"I have interested customers that for one reason or other do not get on with priests. These binding beads would sell like hot cakes to them. Interested?" His tone not seemingly caring one way or the other.
It was the next morning I found myself sat on my bed twirling the beads. Standing and stretching I opened the drawer of my desk and pulled out one of the health elixirs. I place it gently on desk and got comfy on the cheap office chair that Jinta and Ururu liberated from the street. Bit torn but good none the less. I looked at the plant and raised my hand.
"Life Drain"
"5 Damage!"
" HP restored by 5!"
The plant glowed red and wilted, its leafs turned brown and dead. I popped the cork of the bottle and let a droplet fall on to a drooping leaf threatening to fall off. Healthy green spread across the leaf towards the stem. The whole plant perked back to life.
"Life Drain"
"5 Damage!"
" HP restored by 5!"
"[Life Drain] has levelled up!"
I grinned as I let another droplet loose on the plant. Life was life and as long as the skill was used in some form or other it would level. I couldn't see it be amazingly powerful but with the sheer amount of fights and opponents, it might be wise to have a pick me up skill.
I went through a quarter of the bottle before my MP went under 50. I had been at the exercise for a solid 45 minutes. The total number of times I used the skill made me very familiar at the feel of the life essence flowing towards me. Warm and filling. I even sat as far away as I could from the plant. Using the distance to make the training more effective.
Life drain now sat at an impressive level 14. I didn't let it go to my head that I vampired a defenceless plant. Real opponents life essence would fight my pull. I looked at the plant.
It's leaves that were barely brushing the lid of its clay pot before where now flowing down the side of my desk. Four pale pink buds emerged from the stem. The health potion seemed to have a rather dramatic effect on its growth. The plant which was dark green before was now pale golden.
"Observe" I said crossing my arms.
"Rose Grape(Plant)(Enhanced)(Grade 1.5)
A tastefully house plant gifted to you as a house warming present. Due to prolonged exposure to magical solutions the plant has begun to display signs of mutation. The effects at this time are unknown. Good or bad, the only way to find out what will happen is to feed it more potion."
I looked at the window and then at the plant. I thought about it. I could create a sentient plant that could try to kill me. Or I could make a potentially magical plant that I could harvest for magical items. Who knows what else might happen. I went to the storage at the back of the house and found a large plastic box,. About an arms length in size I hauled it back to my room and place it on the desk.
"What chaos are we birthing today Conrad?" I nearly jumped out my skin. Urahara followed me in and stood with his cane holding his weight as he leaned on it to look over my shoulder.
"Wear a bell please Urahara. Bloody hell. But I was just about to get you actually." I said moving closer to the plant. I waved my over the foliage. He eyed it with eye brow cocked.
"We got you that yesterday. How can you mutate a innocent plant in a day." His words said dismay but his tone suggested undisguised amusement. I made a face at him. Of course he be amused at this. I could rip a hole in the space time dimension and let loose a dark creature of madness and he get a kick out of it.
"First of all, Tessai got me the plant. You just added your name to the card. Second it only took me an hour to do this and I kinda want to see what happens if keep going." I finished shaking the red bottle. Urahara tilted his hat as he look skyward as pondering my words with great care.
"I can't disagree with you there. On either point. But as I am the better-than-you scientist I get to watch from distance and take credit if you make something interesting or blame you for ruining the house to Tessai." He sat on my bed and prodded one of the leaves, nothing happened.
I blew out air and went to the back garden where Tessai had left the bag of rich dirt. Hauling the bag in, I filled the plastic box to halfway full. Urahara made a noise of understanding as I pulled the small clay pot off the plant and buried the roots in a small hollow in the soil.
"It happened because I was practising the life drain skill on it. I used the health elixir to rejuvenate it." Urahara leaned forward.
"You completely removed its essence and replaced it with the potions energy? Its infused with healing properties and you want to add more? You make a risky but interesting scientist Conrad."
I smirked at then I paused.
I could ruin my new room if this went wrong.
"Outside." I grunted as I lifted the box to the back garden. The box now weighted heavily with the earth made my arms ache by the time we reach a safe distance from the shop.
I walked back to the back door where Urahara waited with the health potion. I took a breath walked to the plant and hesitating just one more second I poured the red liquid over and around the plant.
The bottle was empty when I stood back.
The plant did nothing for a second, its leaves coated red. Then as I was starting to feeling stupid, the plant shook. Like trembled. Then the whole plant started swaying back and forward. It swayed faster and faster. Then it started to grow. It went up at first then there was crack noise as the plastic box shattered as rooted buried themselves into the dry earth.
I took a few more steps back as the plants stem thickened and rose more. It stopped as it reached my shoulders. The wide pink blossoms opened wide and emitting a sweet smell. I was about to turn and ask Urahara what he thought when a glass bottle flew past me and smashed beneath the mutated plant. Urahara's half empty bottle that I gave him two nights previously. The red liquid was drawn in by the earth greedily.
The plant shook violently then grew taller than me then Urahara and then even past what I guessed Tessai. All the while the stem grew thicker. Then it started to darken, the stems of leaves raising high above, the pink buds becoming more numerous. The stem grew a hard carapace of wood and the tree slowed in its growth as roots stretched like snakes under the dirt. It reached the height of just below the roof of the house and stopped growing altogether.
A tree reached out with its new branches to the sunlight. The pale green leaves glittering. Then a single branch drooped lower than the rest. As if it was weighted. The tree glowed softly then resume its disguise of a ordinary tree. The branch grew a soft green ball which rapidity expanded into a red apple.
I stood there gob smacked. My voice failing to find a word I could use to convey what I was feeling right now.
"Well now, that was fun." Urahara said stepping into line next to me. I stared at him.
"Fun?" I asked with a hitch to my voice.
"We just grew a tree from my plant." The last word a sounding a tad bit higher than I intended. Urahara nodded looking quite concerned.
"That amount of scientific rules you just broke would have you hung in a lab. On top of that the plant was called 'rose grape' not rose apple. I mean, I did not have an apple tree this morning. How will I explain this to Tessai? He had plans for his own garden..." He sounded more worried about that than the tree that just popped into resistances.
I fell my face twitch. Ignoring him I walked closer and cast Observe
"Sweet Apple Tree(Plant)(Enhanced)(Grade 5)(Evolution stage:2)
A tree created from mixing plant matter and magical life essence. The magic transformed the plant into a more suitable vessel. The plant DNA absorbed the properties of the potion and now produces healing consumables. Perhaps rarer concoctions will enable the tree to reach new levels of power?
PS. It is a plant, a magical plant who just happens to look a tree. Respect its life choices."
"[Observe] has levelled up!"
Evolution stage 2? This things could mutate further? Stage 1 being my little potted plant? I looked at the apple that was hanging by its core stem. This had to be the "healing consumables".
"Observe"
"Sweet Apple(Consumable)(Grade 2)
An apple of the Sweet Apple Tree. The apples are born seedless as the tree cannot spread its magic. The apple are of course sweet. Also one of your five a day.
Restores 50 HP."
I plucked the apple and the branch retreat back in to the green sea of branches. I walked back to Urahara and offered him it.
"Its a magic apple." I said bluntly. He took its and turned it.
"If I remember right the princess falls into a deep sleep after eating the enchanted apple. Does that make you the old hag?" He smiled at me. I hoped I looked as unamused as I felt. He shrugged.
"You need to smile more Conrad. We just created life. That's something to celebrate.!" He said brightly as he took a bite of the apple. His face widened in surprise.
"This is sweet. But not to much so. Nice." He offered me half of it. I took it and bit in.
The juice covered my tongue and it was party of taste and texture. There was no core but a solid mass of apple.
"Wow..." I said finishing the last bite.
HP restored by 25!
Half apple, half healing? Logical I guess. I looked back at the tree and there was something...
Odd about it.
It moved like a tree in the wind, looked a tree, suppose it felt like a tree.
But it seem to make the very area more inviting to be in, The pink blossoms stilled bloomed in the bright sun. Insects already reaching the tree, buzzed around them and vanished off to pollinate them. But it can't grow via seeds then pollen ain't got to work either, right?
I would have no idea what the tree would do to the area until it hit me out of no where.
"Kisuke? Conrad? Where did that tree come from?" Urahara turned on one foot and reached out with both arms.
"It was horrible Tessai, Conrad was most set on doing this experiment and my protest fell on deaf ears. I only hope he listens to my wisdom in the future."
I felt my face turn incredulous as I stared at a grown man dramatically slide down the wall in a wail.
Tessai stared at the tree.
"Its... nice."
SotG
I gently lowered the box on to the floor of the storage space. This back room was connected to the store front and hosted a variety of products and items. Tessai had returned with a cart of boxes that were both mundane and supernatural. Like boxes of Soul Candy. I eyed three different boxes with words on them. I asked Tessai to read me the name of each product in effort to increase my vocabulary.
In one of these three boxes was Kon. The mod soul that would cover Ichigo's many problems of being a soul reaper. Kon was mod soul, an attempt of creating war like souls that could inhabit corpses, inanimate objects and people.
I remember the soul society scrapping the project and destroying all mod souls they could as they decided it was unethical to use human corpses as weapons. Artificial souls were later created. Simple souls that could inhabit the bodies but for more for expelling the Shinigami from their physical body or even expelling evil spirits from objects or people.
Rukia would come and ask for the rabbit candy and Kon would be revealed but I was worried I might of changed things too much for that to be a certainty. As far as I knew none of the boxes was labelled bad merchandise. If Rukia and Ichigo ended up with a regular soul candy I would get Kon myself. Observe being my friend to help me.
I went back out to the wooden cart parked at the front door. Another box was waiting for me.
"Soul detectors , place them next to the soul candy Conrad." Tessai said, lifting four boxes on his own. I nodded.
"No problem Tessai." I said lifting the box. It was heavier than I was expecting but I hustled on towards the shop.
My upper arm ached when I placed it down.
"By working those arms your STR has increased by 1!"
I wiped my brow clear of sweat. That was twice in one day my STR has increased. Sure I've been lifting boxes for 10 minutes but that did seem a bit easy.
"That's everything Conrad. Feel free to have the rest of the day to yourself. Urahara will most likely have something for you to do if you feel bored." Tessai said kindly, his glasses showing calm eyes. His back turned to walk into the house. I really liked the guy.
"Observe" I muttered before his back vanished around the door frame.
"Tessai Tsukabish Lv ?
Shop Assistant, ?
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Tessai is a strong man in both strength and morals. Those who are honest and try hard will undoubtedly earn his trust. His kind manner hides a fearsome strength. Even without his true power he has the rare power of sternness. He has three child wards to look after. Jinta, Ururu and Urahara. "
I smiled at the window. I shut the door and walked around the outside of the building towards the new tree.
Urahara was there, next to the trunk. He was scraping some bark into a tube. A small collection of flasks and apparatus was on the ground next to me. I walked up to him with my hands in pocket.
As I approached Urahara, he snapped the box of science equipment shut and said.
"This tree is annoying me." He stated. I arched an eyebrow.
"Its a tree, how can it do anything to you?" I said amused. He grunted.
"It keeps knocking my hat off." To demonstrate his point, the branches moved as by an invisible wind. The tips of branches swiping the hat off his head. He bent to pick it up.
"I repeat. I do not like this tree." He said gruffly. I laughed behind my hand.
"Maybe because you're doing surgery on it? I can't imagine being to chuffed with you either. But its alive, like you and me alive?" I said curiously. Urahara sniffed.
"Its on my land. It is the lest it could. But its fascinating, its at a base level aware. It reacts to outside stimuli like myself, considering its method of creation I have no idea if this is norm. Also its turning sunlight into energy." His hand touched the trunk again.
"I think all trees do that. Unless I'm missing something?" I said dubiously. Urahara waved a hand at me.
"Attitude is not a charming feature Conrad. This tree is turning sunlight into magical energy. Living supernatural energy. The polar opposite of spirit energy."
I blinked at him.
"Magic energy and spirit energy are different?" He nodded and plucked a leaf.
"Quite, alive and dead, spiritual and physical energies, different sources. Shinigami and hollows use the power of the mind and soul. Mages and adepts use their body, mind and will power. Its very philosophical. But basic terms. Alive is magic, dead is spirit. With the usual cross over."
"Such as?" I said quite interested.
"Mediums, spiritual aware people, priests, near dead experienced people. All draw on their spiritual side. Astral projection, scrying, rituals, summoned creatures can also be used by spirits but their origins are steep in magic." Urahara said sitting down to examine a root sticking up. I frowned.
"Am I magical or spiritual?" Urahara didn't look at me.
"You exhibit the control over spiritual energy with you're illusion barriers manipulating the local spirit energy into shape and magical through your attacks. It is rare idea of both, you could be a shaman or another rare classification that draws on both. I dunno. But Magic is rarer as it is a born talent. Spirits are born everyday. Not that all of them can use their latent energies of course."
I thought about it. Magic was alive and when it died it became spiritual?
"What happens when spirits die? They can be destroyed yeah?" I asked as followed him into the house. He placed the case on the table.
"When a spirit being dies, their body dissolves back into spiritual energy. But what I'm guessing what you're actually asking is that how can there be a balance of living and dead when the process looks one way?" I shrugged and didn't say anything.
"The idea is argued about and debated. But people in the soul society all agree that on one specific day large amounts of spiritual energy leaks into the living world, just as living energy flows into the spirit realm. When two living souls reproduce the unborn child draws in the spiritual energy to form its individuality and own soul. Converting the spiritual energy to living. Just as in the spirit realm the unborn child converts living to spirit energy to form its own soul." His tone lecturing and serious. I listened, enthralled.
"So if its the same energy, how come more and more people are appearing and we can keep making more humans?" Urahara shrugged.
"Question for the ages. No one knows, some think the spirit king makes more souls, some think its draining the worlds energy to make people. I personally think when two souls come together like that, they donate a part of their own being to create life. Like cells dividing, one can lead to more. But who knows? But I drag us away from the wonderful issue of metaphysics and back to our lovely tree."
"Our?" I asked with a smile in my voice.
"We could debate it but I think its much easier to just nod and agree with me!" He said brightly.
"Sure." I replied sarcasm dripping.
"The tree is converting sunlight into magic. Its not the first to do so. The Kalpa tree, Yggdrasil, very select Lotus trees."
"You can have Lotus trees?" I asked, my mind racking for any reference and finding none. Urahara sat down, his cane swinging back and forward in his hand.
"Eh sometimes, every hundred to two hundred years they germinate. Hard to find as well. But the point that these trees all had magical properties. Yew trees have very low but reliable magical conducting wood. Our dear tree seems to be rather unremarkable so far but the I'll need to run some tests on the apples of course."
"My powers told me I could make it more powerful if I watered it with more stronger potions. I don't know where to get any right now though." I said with a sigh. I leaned back on a wall. Urahara was quiet for a few seconds.
"Conrad you have to know that despite the idea of a magic tree is not new, the tree you created is the only one that I know that exists today outside of legend as time has taken the rest. If you can say it become more powerful then I am truly excited at what you'll do next. Excited and a little scared."
He got up and walked out the room. Leaving me with the exact same thought.
SotG
I was completing the fifth lap around neighbour hood. My lugs burned, my feet hurt and stopped outside the shop.
A window showed up and I read it.
"Due to diligent exercise your VIT has increased by 1!"
The neighbour hood was about 8-10 minutes to one end to the other. This was the second time my VIT had increased. I started jogging in sweatpants to help sort my thoughts out, this stat raising was a nice bonus. I would have to try skipping rope or jump a few times to see if I could raise my DEX up.
As I dismissed the window another one flashed in.
"You have gained the perk [Living Healthy]!"
"[Living Healthy] A jog a day makes the burning go away!
Your health regenerates 5 HP every 1 minute."
I grinned at the window. Now both my MP and HP would regenerate at a slow but steady pace. I'm guessing perks could not level. I would have to find some way of gaining another perk or upgrading the current one to make it better.
"Status"
Conrad Stuart
The Gamer
?
Level 8
Exp needed to level: 436
HP 260
MP 144
STR 9
VIT 10
DEX 6
INT 8
WIS 8
LUK 5
Points to spend:35
No buffs activated
No conditions afflicted
No bonus granted
I reflected on my fast grown stat change from a whole two days ago. I had almost double the MP when I fought he legion zombie, well not far off any way. I then double looked at the title section which was still ?. I had totally forgot about the titles I had unlocked when the fight was finished. Too much happening and I was exhausted.
I clicked the space and another window appeared next to the status window. I had three titles inside.
Apprentice Zombie Slayer
Zombie Slayer
Near death Winner
Clicking on the Apprentice Zombie slayer I was given another window with a small description of its passive benefits.
" Apprentice Zombie slayer
Obtained: Kill 50 undead Zombies
You have a special interest in killing the undead.
30% Damage increase to the undead. This does not included ghosts or spirits.
15% less damage from the undead. This does not included ghosts or spirits.
STR increased by 5 when fighting undead."
I felt confused. I hadn't killed 50 zombies, 7 or 9 at most. So how the hell did this title come my way. A thought struck me. The legion zombie was counted as one but according to its own status scan, it was formed of the remaining zombies of the level. Did the my powers not take them forming into one creature into its calculation?
I re read and found the title massively powerful. Against the current undead creatures I could face this made me relatively stronger against the average zombie. Legion zombie might still need some levels to go before I went round 2.
I moved on to zombie slayer.
"Zombie Slayer
Obtained: Kill a monstrous undead creature.
You have fought and killed a invasion of a super zombie. What a STAR.
Killing the undead now gives you 20% more EXP!"
I stared at the screen. Holy crap. 20% more? That would help out a lot. So either faster killing or faster levelling. But killing them faster would mean I get EXP faster anyway to a point. But the zombie slayer affects all zombies. I could get 20% more EXP on Legion. Obviously I was meant to get apprentice before zombie slayer but eh.
I clicked the last title.
"Near death Winner
Obtained: Survive a win with an enemy 15 or more levels stronger with low health.
Death seeker or just careless? Who knows? Who cares? Have a title!
When your health is 20% or lower you deal 20% more damage!"
High risk for high output. It seemed like a stupid title to use or try to use. But at a flick of hand I can change titles. If was facing a enemy who was kicking my ass. Change title and be 20% stronger. Then change to another when I got health back. But I definitely planned to not to use title on purpose if I could help it.
"I take it from the gestures you're doing more of your power, either that of there is a fly you can't get rid off." The deep voice made me jump as it emerged from above.
Yoruichi was sitting on fence above me.
"Yeah checking a few things out., what's up?" She yawned and nodded to the setting sun.
"We're going to the other side of town for tonight's session. Might as well head off now before its dark." I nodded and headed towards the shop.
"Give me a minute." Her voice followed me.
"I'll give you two since tonight is going to be interesting."
SotG
"The Night Jaw! Find and destroy the hollow haunting the train station at night!
Success: 500 EXP
Failure: none."
The Karakura train station was mostly unused at night, its darkened locomotives were dead for the night, empty and silent.
The entire station and its network of rails seem to emanate the same feeling.
"The train is only used during the day. Only five on each track trains operate as well. five forward whilst the other five go back. The town isn't big enough to require more but keep several for back use in case they break." Yoruichi explained, her voice swallowed in the silence.
Tonight we were here because Yoruichi had been passing by and found residue energy of a stronger than norm energy. Plus listening to several law enforcing officials and behind the door talk of people going missing at the train station.
"So they just tell you these things?" I asked quietly.
"Nobody minds a cat. They'll tell them everything or talk around about anything when its just a cat. It isn't just spiritual powerful people that are going missing. Its everyone which is why this takes importance over usual hollow activity."
"Does it matter who they eat?" Yoruichi jumped on a bench.
"Yes. A hollow who only targets spirits and spiritual aware or powerful people takes time to find their prey. A hollow who eats anyone will decimate a town in days if not stopped. I told you the Shinigami who works this town is a muscle bound idiot who only cares for a good fight. No skill in detecting or tracking hollows what so ever. He depends on the soul society to alert him to particular tricky hollows. Thankfully the rotation of the shifts are coming up and a new Shinigami will take over soon" She said. Her opinion on the issue quite clear.
"So why hasn't the soul society detected this hollow?" I said eyeing the dark spots around us. Her tail flicked.
"I can only assume it appears to feast then hides until night fall next day. Most hollows don't care to have such tact or planning. Still from what I sense it isn't much stronger than last few you fought." Her tone was clam and relaxed my own nerves. She closed her eyes and I assume searched with her mind. If the hollow was around, she sense it.
"Its here, but its not revealed it self. Hollows can hide in the hollow side of the spirit realm to give it self an ambush advantage. They can vaguely sense what lies on the human side so it can do primitive plans." As she spoke,a figure emerged from the concrete wall of the ticket station about 15 feet away.
It was humanoid.
The night jaw as my power had dubbed it, touched the ground lightly, white feet with claws. A long white robe danced around its body. White like the rest of its body the robe stirred lightly around its feet from a gentle breeze. The pseudo clothes covered its body and arms. The sleeves covered its hands hiding them from sight. Its mask was of human with long curved horns, it had no hair or other marks, its eyes were sealed over by thin white lids. It had no mouth or nose.
It shook as on its forehead a third eye ripped open. It was black with sick yellow pupils. It eye darted side to side without moving its head. It was disturbing how much movement the eye had without disturbing the rest of the body. It focused on Yoruichi and I and stepped forward.
It raised one limb and instead of a hand, a bell was grown from its left arm. It hung from a ring that connected to its arm.
Night Jaw rung the bell with a single crystal clear ring and my vision blur. My head was suddenly burning. I clutched at my head and fell to my knees. I heard another ring and felt the pain increase, my heart twisted. I covered my ears with both hands trying to scream but failing. I felt a weight on my shoulder and a wave of energy washed over me and the pain vanished.
"..ot real! Its not real, do you hear me?" Yoruichi's voice suddenly became real. I saw her jump down and face the hollow hissing.
"Not real? But it hurt. How can it not be real." I asked, trying to stand and nearly falling over.
"Do you feel pain or take any damage?" She asked and I opened my mouth then paused.
No I didn't, my powers didn't say any HP was lost. I double checked the status window and for she was right. Still full health.
The hollow stood where it was before, tilting its head at Yoruichi.
"I shook your system with my energy. It uses illusions but they're impressive but fragile. Being a cat saved me from the attack, seeing as cat ears don't work exactly the same as peoples. Any energy usage on or from you is enough to break it. I see how its stopping people from cry for help, you even forgot to make any noise when it attacked you but what is it doing with the people, where are the bodies, the mess or blood?" She asked, her tone dark.
I stood and looked at it.
"Observe"
"Night Jaw Lv 11
HP: 1000 MP: 670(700)
Basic Hollow – Technique based
This hollow is not fast or strong but it makes up by ringing a bell that can disable several enemies at once with pain. Its hunger is never sated."
It didn't really seem to be eating them, having no mouth and all. I raised one hand fired a energy bolt. It smacked into the hollow and it took a step back.
115 Damage!
Night jaw's eye looked down at the burned whiteness of its robe, a muffled scream emanated from it and it rang the bell again. I felt the pain but shot another energy bolt. The pain was again broke and vanished instantly.
The ball flew at it and just as was about to hit its robes flew open and instead of a torso, a large mouth connected its legs, arms and head. It was side ways, two rows or serrated teeth on both left and right side. The ball flew in and it snapped its teeth together. There was paused .
Hollows health restored by 110!
My own mouth fell open.
"It eat my attack."
Yoruichi eyes narrowed as she inspected the creatures open body.
"This explains it. Its got an advance devouring ability. Hollows have been seen to eat people and grow stronger within minutes. It doesn't have a stomach in there. That mouth is its hollow hole. Any energy that goes in there it will devour unless its too powerful. Basic hollow 101, aim for the head Conrad."
I nodded but as I ran around its side, it just rotated. I fired another energy bolt and ran as its mouth opened. Its torso just swallowed my attack and before I could line up a side shot the mouth snapped around, ready for another meal. I aimed high for the head., the energy ball look it was about to hit when Night Jaw bent its head backwards until it vanished behind the gaping maw of its body.
It overshot and smashed into the building behind.
I studied its movement just as it rang the bell again and stepped closer. I raised my hand as the pain shot over me.
"Life Drain" The red aura envelope it and it paused for a split second and then walked forward.
25 Damage!
HP restored by 25!
Well that was handy. Level 14 and it still lacked particular damage. 1000 HP was going to awhile with 20 damage alone. I moved as it got close. I had no intention of being close to those teeth. I needed a decent back attack. I needed to make sure it couldn't follow me with that mouth of its.
I idea struck me and I pulled out the bind chain from my inventory. Yoruichi made a sound of approval.
"Good idea. Do you know how to use it?"
I held the chain with both hands and powered my energy through my hands into the beads. The golden beads glowed.
"Think I got it." I twisted my arm behind my back threw the beads in a wide arc towards the hollow. It once again opened its mouth to swallow but the beads snapped around its body, sliding over its arms and pinning them to Night Jaw's body, Forcing the mouth closed.
It stretched to break the beads but as it was about loosing them, the beads pushed its arms back down and tightened like a lease. I wasted no time.
"Power Jump"
I jump up and over the hollow. Its body unable to follow. As I landed a window appeared.
"Due to a hobby of jumping your DEX has increased by 1!"
I held my arm above my head and focused energy.
"Soul Spear" I said quietly.
The long narrow shaft grew from ether side of my hand and then solidified. The whole process taking 10 seconds. Without the javelin to help the skill seemed more awkward to handle, the spear barely having anything solid to actually touch let alone hold.
The beads glowed brighter with effort to contain the hollow. Just as the first bead snapped I flung the spear. It pierced through the head and lifted Night Jaw off its feet.
"1500 Damage!
Back attack!
Bound!"
The spear pinned it into a disconnected train car. It hung there, its legs kicking in protest before it went slack and dissolved into spirit particles. I sighed and sat down on the ledge of the platform.
300 EXP gained!
Quest completed! Defeat Night Jaw!
500 EXP gained!
You reached level 9!
45 Stat points to spend!
I dismissed the notifications.
Yoruichi soft feet making no noise as she approached.
"Are you okay?" I nodded and breathed, the adrenaline leaving me in a rush.
"Good, you handled your self well. Attacked, failed and planned accordingly. A good warrior can adapt and learn in the battlefield as well as in controlled environments." She said as she started to walk away. I got up and followed her.
"Yeah but if I didn't have the chain I be screwed. I need to develop a bind spell or skill." I complained. She hummed in agreement.
"Take that as your lesson tonight. Make one, adapt, grow and so on. Now lets go back. Unless we run into any other hollows we can take it easy tonight. I don't think we..." Yoruichi words died off. She stopped walking all together. I made it a few more steps before I looked back at her.
"What's wrong?" Feeling a bit worried.
"Do you see that Conrad?" She said, her voice full of incredulous disbelief. I followed her gaze and blinked once then twice.
A door stood in the middle of the tracks. Around its edges fairy lights illuminated the red wood and gold handle. It was perfect rectangle with no other marks on it. It stood in mid-air by itself.
"What the hell is that?" I asked her, she didn't reply. It wasn't there when we were approaching but as we went past it we could see it. I walked back until the door vanished. It was paper thin from the side. Only the door knob sticking out gave it away. I walked further back. The door vanished completely only visible from a certain direction.
I circled again and got closer.
A window appeared.
"Random event found!"
"Would you like to take on the challenge [No-Face, No-challenge]?
Y/N"
Oh fudge.
SotG
Holy crap guys this took awhile. Sorry for the wait but I put in some extra content and words for y'all. Hope you like and any questions, review or PM!
Ciao!