Dragon Heart Arc Final (Original chapter Chapter 120)
Taylor's Cave
I was in fine form as I trotted inside my cave, feeling quite pleased with myself. I had avenged the dishonour that the bedamned Bone Knight had dealt to me the previous day, conquered his former territory AND swiped his sword into the bargain. This had been a VERY good day for me.
With a thought, I ended the [Dimension Pocket] spell, dropping the sword of the Bone Knight to the floor of the cave just in front of the rest of my small hoard.
[DING!]
You have acquired the [Treasure Sword of the Trusk Empire #4: Wolf Star Fang]! Experience gained!
[Treasure Sword of the Trusk Empire #4: Wolf Star Fang]
Treasure – Tier 4 Rarity
Equipment – Tier 5 Rarity
Out of the Seven Imperial Blades of Trusk, Wolf Star Fang was traditionally held by the Commander of the Guard of the Imperial Seat of Malvin as both a ceremonial symbol of his rank and position, as well as a potent weapon for if the need came to get into close quarters combat personally. Forged from the fang of a Star Wolf Demon and imbued with powerful enchantments and spells by master wizards, if held by a competent swordsman, it would take the greater part of a veritable army to bring its wielder down.
Mastercrafted Sword, Master Enchanted, Demonic Blade Origin (Suppressed)
Durability: 2000/2000 DP
Magic Reservoir: 1500/1500 MP
Slashing Damage: S+50
Piercing Damage: S+35
Bludgeoning Damage: S+10
Special Properties: 1) [Magic Imbuement]: If wielded by a magic user, the blade can absorb magic from them and add a variable amount to all attacking stats equal to the level of the Magic multiplied by ten, and the type of magic is added to the type of damage that the sword deals out. Costs Wielder 5MP/Minute.
2) [Magic Flying Slash]: Once [Magic Imbuement] has been activated, the user can convert the energy added to the sword into a Magic Slash attack that deals X-Magic Slashing Damage equal to the level of the magic chosen multiplied by ten, plus a bonus for every ten points of WIS the user possess. The range is ten meters at most.
3) [Magic Blade Repair]: The sword automatically draws ambient magic in and uses it to repair any loss of Durability Points, and can even store MP away for later use. It takes one minute to restore one Durability Point. The wielder or a magician can also add to the reservoir and top it up to maximum.
Whoa…! I had really gotten my hands on one really, really good sword here! This was the very first item I'd gathered as a treasure that was also equipment. I guess it made sense; the rest were either purely ornamental items or coins.
I had absolutely no basis for comparison, but I could tell from the ludicrously high numbers that this was a VERY good sword. Not only that, it didn't seem to have any level requirements to wield it like some weapons I'd seen on MMO and RPG games back on Earth Bet, which I found very unusual for such a powerful weapon.
So the Bone Knight had been the Commander of the Garrison, eh? What had he been doing in the Military District of the city instead of commanding from a tent or something like military commanders usually do? Had he been a 'lead from the front' kinda guy or had he simply been caught clearly unaware during an inspection when the attack began?
Given how everything else around here that I'd discovered pointed me towards a very carefully planned and executed surprise attack, I think that the latter is probably the answer.
Reaching out into my new territory with my mind, I looked it over for any sign of more treasures. Surprisingly, there were very few, no more than half-a-dozen, most of them in a single location. The Armoury of the Military District, I assumed.
Deciding to reward myself for defeating a powerful foe, I trotted over and dug some more gems out of the back wall. Then I ate them. It really was amazing how quickly one can get used to a new diet.
[DING!]
You have eaten two [Fire-Stirring Rubies]! [Fire] Magic Skill has increased its level! LV4-LV5!
Skill: [Fire Magic] has reached Level 5. Spells are now purchasable for [Fire Magic] in the [Grimoire].
You have eaten one [Dazzling Lapis Lazuli]! [Light] Magic Skill has increased its level! LV4-LV5!
Skill: [Light Magic] has reached Level 5. Spells are now purchasable for [Light Magic] in the [Grimoire].
…OK, that happened. Let's have a look at my status now…
Draconic Name: None
Common Name: Taylor Hebert
Title: [Defiant]
Species: Greater Dragon
Subspecies: Proto-Dragon
Growth Level (2/5): Baby
HP: 2646/2646
HP Regen: 5HP/Minute
MP: 2250/2250
MP Regen: 5MP/Minute
Level: 4
To Next Level: 27%
STR: 49
DUR: 54
AGI: 52
INT: 50
WIS: 51
LUK: ?
Whoa, my HP, MP and their respective regeneration factors have shot up like weeds. Strength was the only stat of mine below fifty, but honestly, fighting with overwhelming physical strength had never really been my MO in combat. I had always needed to fight strategically and intelligently, choosing my tactics, timing, battleground and timing with care so I could outthink my enemies. I had gotten used to that way of fighting and it was now second nature to me.
What I viewed as somewhat interesting was that my stats were, for the most part, fairly close to even. The biggest gap, between my STR and DUR, was only five points, and none of my stats had ever been more than ten points apart. Was the auto-stat distribution doing that deliberately, I wonder…?
Closing the Status Screen, I turned my attention to my magic. There were two or three paths I could take here. First was that I ignore my new magic in favour of mastering my [Spatial Magic]. Second, I could try to master all of them at once. Third, I split the difference. I could stay mostly loyal to [Spatial Magic] whilst picking up useful spells from the other magics I had access to when I needed them.
The first two options didn't sit right with me for different reasons. The first, while it would make me a powerhouse, would also make me somewhat predictable, while the second would make me live up to the saying 'he who tries to be strong everywhere, is in fact strong nowhere' or something like that. I had little to no desire to be a Jack-of-all-Trades, Master of None.
This left…the third option. Quite honestly, it was my preferred option. Adapt and overcome the enemy as they came at me. Improvising on the fly was something that I was very good at. Just ask that bastard Coil, as well as Mannequin and Alexandria.
That being the case, I opened up the [Grimoire] screen and asked for the introductory spiel about my two new magics.
[Fire Magic]
One of, if not the most, well-known branch of combat magic, it is both practical and powerful in that role. However, it is not just useful for combat. Fire can be used as a medium for scrying magic, it is an ancient symbol of rebirth and those with the proper mind-set can thus use it to heal as well as harm. From starting a campfire and lighting candles, to immense firestorms that can engulf whole cities, Fire Magic is easy to learn, but hard to control, so discipline is needed to wield it.
[Light Magic]
To correct the common and ill-placed misunderstanding held by people, Light Magic is a totally separate branch of magic to Holy Magic. It possesses no special ability to harm demons any more than any other branch of magic. It is especially effective against creatures of shadow, however. Light magic illuminates the darkness, drives back the shadows and can be used offensively to those with the correct mind-set.
Huh…well that's informative.
Pulling up the list of [Spatial Magic] spells, I chose to learn three Tier 1 spells: [Shrink], [Grow] and [Minor Dimension Distortion]. The first two were some of Vista's minor tricks that she used on objects, while the last one I had little to no clue about what it might do. Its name was suggestive about what it did, but I wasn't entirely certain about the specifics. So, ten minutes later.
[Shrink] (Active) [LV1, 0%]
Tier 1 Magic
A minor spell of Spatial Magic, it is usually used to make something large and unwieldy small enough to carry in one hand. Although it affects both the size and weight of the target, it is a serious drain on the caster's MP to maintain the spell on something which has an original size and weight surpassing the caster's skill with this spell.
- Maximum Safe Target Initial Size: three feet squared.
- Maximum Safe Target Weight: Ten Kilograms.
- Maximum Initial Range: Five Meters.
- Costs 25 MP to initially cast.
- Costs 10 MP per minute to maintain.
- Limited to non-living objects.
- While not suggested, this spell can be cast on objects larger than the recommended maximum size and weight, but the MP cost to maintain it is tripled.
- The user must remain inside of casting range to maintain the effect.
[Grow] (Active) [LV1, 0%]
Tier 1 Magic
[Grow] is the diametric opposite of the [Shrink] spell. It warps the space around the target, making it expand in size and weight. While slightly more difficult than its counterpart, it is still a relatively simple use of [Spatial Magic] and is known by most mages who walk the path of the Dimensional Mage. As with [Shrink], there is a limit to how big and how heavy any given object can be made, as well as a maximum size and weight the caster can affect with their spell to begin with.
- Minimum Safe Target Size: Grapefruit.
- Minimum Safe Target Weight: Ten Grams.
- Maximum Initial Range: Five Meters.
- Maximum Safe Target Result Size: three feet squared.
- Maximum Safe Target Result Weight: Five Kilograms.
- Costs 30 MP to initially cast.
- Costs 15 MP/Minute to maintain.
- Only usable on non-living objects.
- The caster can choose to enlarge objects smaller than the minimum size and weight and go beyond the recommended weight and size for the end result, but MP consumption to maintain it doubles with each recommendation ignored.
- The user must remain within initial activation range to maintain the spell.
[Minor Dimension Distortion] (Active/Delayed) [LV1, 0%]
Tier 1 Magic
An amalgamation of the spells [Grow], [Shrink], [Expand] and [Contract] set to activate as one. This spell can be used even if you haven't got the component spells themselves though. This was the first [Spatial Magic] spell made for the purposes of combat. For the most part, it is used to impede the advance of troops by distorting the landscape around them. A skilled enchanter can even imbue this spell into stones for use as Magical Traps, making it an especially useful spell for a defender.
- You currently possess 2/4 of the component spells.
- AOE: 2 Meters.
- Range: 5 Meters.
- MP Cost: 40 MP to activate, 20 MP/Minute to maintain.
- Only usable on non-living objects.
- The effects of this spell are completely random with every cast. Affecting every object within the AOE, even the ground itself if applicable, the area becomes drastically different from its previous form in handful of seconds.
- This spell has a special casting mode called delayed activation. The caster can use the spell, paying the initial amount to cast it but holding back its activation for up to thirty seconds after the caster has paid the cost.
I mentally whistled at the effect that [Minor Dimension Distortion] had. It was a nasty little spell that could seriously slow an advancing army down rather quickly, although it was limited in its range of effect and lack of lethality or damage dealing abilities.
My curiosity was piqued by the fact that the spell actually counted the number of its component spells that I had. A part of me wondered what would happen if I chose to buy the other two, but I forced myself to put it aside for the moment to inspect the spell lists for [Fire Magic] and [Light Magic].
Fire Magic
Tier 0 - [Draw Heat] – 1 MP, 1 Minute to Learn.
- [Ignite] – 5 MP, 2 Minutes to Learn.
Tier 1 - [Fireball] – 10 MP, 3 minutes to Learn.
- [Fire Lash] – 10 MP, 3 Minute to Learn.
- [Fire Bolt] – 10 MP, 4 Minutes to Learn.
- [Fire Twist] – 10 MP, 4 Minutes to Learn.
Tier 2 - [Combustion] – 15 MP, 5 Minutes to Learn.
- [Burning Head] – 15 MP, 5 Minutes to Learn.
- [Fire Spear] – 15 MP, 5 Minute to Learn.
- [Flame Explosion] – 20 MP, 6 Minutes to Learn.
- [Small Flame Barrier] – 20 MP, 6 Minutes to Learn.
Tier 3 - [Wall of Fire] – 25 MP, 10 Minutes to Learn.
- [Fire Sword] – 25 MP, 10 Minutes to Learn.
- [Ring of Fire] – 25 MP, 10 Minutes to Learn.
- [Flame Golem] – 30 MP, 15 Minutes to Learn.
- [Fire Blast] – 30 MP, 15 Minutes to Learn.
Tier 4 and beyond unavailable due to low level of [Fire Magic].
Light Magic
Tier 0 - [Finger Light] – 1 MP, 1 Minute to Learn.
Tier 1 - [Lesser Illumination] – 5 MP, 2 Minutes to Learn.
- [Flash Flare] – 5 MP, 2 Minutes to Learn.
- [Light Beam] – 5 MP, 2 Minutes to Learn.
Tier 2 - [Radiant Aura] – 10 MP, 5 Minutes to Learn.
- [Light Barrier] – 10 MP, 5 Minutes to Learn.
- [Ray Gun] – 10 MP, 5 Minutes to Learn.
- [Gathering Light] – 10 MP, 5 Minutes to Learn.
Tier 3 - [Light of Sanctuary] – 20 MP, 10 Minutes to Learn.
- [Light Shield] – 20 MP, 10 Minutes to Learn.
- [Imbuing Light] – 20 MP, 10 Minutes to Learn.
- [Light Wave] – 25 MP, 10 Minutes to Learn.
Tier 4 and beyond unavailable due to low level of [Light Magic].
As my eyes ran down the lists of spells, my jaw opened in a draconic grin. For different reasons, protective spells were not in the lower tiers of these two spell lists. Fire, because it probably takes a lot of control to use fire as a shield, and Light, because it probably takes a lot of power to use light as a shield.
Fire was, as expected, offence heavy. I was practically licking my chops at the thought of using all of those spells. Light, by contrast (ha!), focussed more on supplementary spells involving illumination, with at least one that involved manipulating the available light in the area for whatever reason, and one that I'm certain acted like a torch.
Certainly an eclectic selection of spells, but as I had almost no limits on what spells I could buy aside from the limit of my MP and the time that I had available to me, that meant little in the long-term. Purchasing them in combat was a stupid idea, as even with my [Mental Dataflow Management] skill, the pain of the download would be far too distracting to allow me to concentrate. If I was attacked in that state, it would be very hard to fight back, so that was another limit I could add: I could only purchase spells when I was in a secure location and was certain that I wouldn't be attacked or otherwise forced to undergo mentally-demanding tasks.
Closing the [Grimoire] for the moment, I tapped a claw on the metal floor as I considered what to do next, although the answer was obvious. I had to gather the treasures from my new territory and add them to my hoard. I doubted they'd be anywhere near as rare or powerful as [Wolf Star Fang], but every little to the hoard counts, right?
I nudged my new sword into pride of place in front of the rest before trotting off to Malvin once again. Dearie me, a dragon's work is never done, is it?
Same Time
Lord's Study, Castle Embracer, City of Kalvin, Panadol Province
Lord Amicus Caine was distinctly unhappy. The reason was that not only was his city being combed over by Crusader Knights, but that one of them was literally two minutes away from a meeting with him. Just to put the cherry on top, it was Knight-Captain Sir Miles 'the Smiter', who was more arrogant and zealous than any three other Crusaders.
This was certain to be irritating, in his humble opinion. And he was rarely wrong about such things.
"My Lord, Sir Miles has arrived for his meeting with you." Tibbens informed him. Looking up, Amicus could still see that the food poisoning the poor man had contracted had left the head of his personal footmen pale and somewhat sickly looking still.
"Very well. Have one of your men show him in, and then go and lie down before you fall down, for pities sake." The lord order-scolded Tibbens. "You know fine well that you aren't supposed to be up yet."
"Sitting down and doing nothing all day makes me feel as though I've not earned my pay, My Lord." The Head Footman protested, but with an air of resignation. "Mir Miles will be with you presently."
As Tibbins retreated out of the room, Amicus half-smiled. Knowing his faithful footman, he'd spend the time in bed doing the household accounts rather than actually resting. Ordinarily, the man should have been promoted to butler over three years ago, but no one was suitable to replace him as the Head of House Caine's Footmen, so he was in the middle of scouting for a suitable replacement that lived up to Tibbens' exacting standards.
'Tibbens has higher standards than most Drill Sergeants that I've met.' Amicus thought in amusement. Hearing footfalls, he sculpted the inscrutable mask of a Lord back onto his face and waited.
"Knight-Captain Sir Miles of the Order of the Just Crusade, Milord." Geraldo Clout, another of his footmen introduced them as Sir Miles marched in, the faint air of arrogance about him unabated in the centre of Amicus' seat of power.
"Thank you, Geraldo. That will be all." Amicus said evenly. As the footman left, the Lord of Panadol Province met the gaze of the Knight-Captain and waited.
"Lord Caine, I bring you greetings from His Grace, High Bishop Zosimus Blutadler of the Impartial and Holy Inquisition." Mile started his speech. The man was stocky without being squat and handsome without being feminine, a rare combination. Were it not for his reputation of bloody-minded zealotry, Amicus might imagine that he was talking to some lesser courtier.
"Indeed? I imagine His Grace would be most affronted by the fact that you waited two days to deliver his greetings to the Lord of a Province." Amicus remarked mildly.
Miles' eye twitched at the utter lack of respect from the Province Lord. "Many apologies, My Lord. I was busy arranging appropriate lodging for my men and myself inside the city walls."
"By 'appropriating', you refer to basically commandeering the entirety of the Sword and Shield Travellers Inn and its surrounding environs and evicting the owners, I take it?" the Province Lord asked with a reproving tone to his voice.
"Indeed I do, my Lord." Miles answered stiffly. "As Panadol Province lacks any Chapterhouse for my Order, I am forced to make do with what is available."
One of the few places where the Inquisition was legally, by both Imperial Law and Church Decree, banned from having so much as a cupboard to their name was Panadol Province. It had been that way since the rebellion.
"And it never occurred to you to ask me for quarters?" Amicus enquired with a raised eyebrow. "I have several empty barracks available that I may have given over to you for the duration of you…mission, had you informed me of your need for a place to stay."
Amicus kept a straight face as a look of disgust and a sneer of superiority fought a war across Sir Miles' face for dominance. The Knights of the Crusade were all members of the nobility and most assuredly did not take vows of poverty or abstinence; they enjoyed their creature comforts too much to do that. To make use of a barracks intended to house members of the City Guard or the Country Patrol would be the equivalent of sleeping on the ground with a cloak perched on sticks in lieu of a tent for the young knights.
"The offer is kind, milord, but we have settled in for the duration." Sir Miles managed to say politely eventually. "And, we have begun our task with alacrity."
"Yes, your task…even I have heard of the Reincarnator Phenomenon and the likely reason for your presence here is one of them, Sir Miles, so let us not beat about the bush." Amicus said, sitting back and folding his hands across his lap. "I do not know why it is that you have started looking inside of Kalvin itself, but I have had over four-dozen complaints on my desk about you and your men inside of the last twelve hours; since you have arrived, that number is already approaching a hundred and fifty. Surely this must be a record of some sort."
"Commoners complain about the price of potatoes given half a chance." The Knight-Captain scoffed.
"Really? So the three-dozen complaints from the local clergy included in that number have no bearing on the matter?" Amicus asked softly.
"They were housing monsters and the Lord's Scripture declares 'Suffer not a Monster to Live!'" Sir Miles replied fervently.
"That particular Scripture can and has been overturned in the past and present when specific monsters of certain qualities are discovered, such as Metallic Dragons and certain breeds of spider monsters." The Province Lord snapped back. "When such monsters are found and captured, a Writ of Exemption is passed down by the local Bishop and countersigned by your own Office of Inquisition! You have slain over thirty monsters producing vital materials for the sake of the Providence of Panadol, living by the grace of your own High Bishop! The Writs were shown to you, and you ignored them!"
"I hold the Scripture of the One True God as Holy. The Writs of Men cannot overturn Divine Words." Sir Miles replied indifferently.
"I…see." Lord Caine rumbled as he steadily started to lose his temper. "Well then, Sir Miles, I see that you leave me no choice…but to hit you in the purse and pride. I shall dispatch a messenger to His Grace High Bishop Blutadler with a list of all of the, shall we say negative actions to be a neutral enough descriptor, as well as a preliminary estimation of all of the damages and expenses that you and your fellow Knights have incurred since your arrival in my Capital City. As it stands, that sum is at almost a thousand Imperial Crown-Marks."
The look of honest horror on Sir Miles' face warmed the cockles of Amicus' heart. The arrogant brat had never been faced with the consequences of his actions before; no one dared to go against the Church in general and the Inquisition in particular…no one except for the highest ranking nobility in the Empire, that is.
"You dare…!" the Knight-Captain started, fiery anger in his voice.
"Silence." Amicus commanded with bared steel and command in his voice.
Much to his own shock and surprise, Sir Miles found himself falling silent.
"Now you listen here, you foolish little zealot." The Province Lord said with a flinty expression on his face. "I am not a commoner whom you can browbeat with your knightly rank and noble origins. I am not a merchant that you can intimidate into submission with your Inquisitorial Seal. I am not a minor noble that you can pressure or threaten into compliance with rumours of heresy on the slightest of rumours. I am the Lord of a Province, one of his Imperial Majesty's twenty personal liegemen. My authority in my own province is exceeded only by His Imperial Majesty Himself, the Lord Pontiff, the Chief Marshall of the Imperial Army and the Emperor's Voice. Barring direct intervention from one of them, you have all the ability to threaten me as a single ant has at threatening a Chromatic Dragon."
Judging from the rapid advent of puce to the Knight-Captain's complexion, he was either realising exactly how badly he had gamed the situation, or he was about to have a coronary. Possibly both.
"You are here for a singular purpose: to find evidence of a Reincarnator in Panadol Province. Fine. I shall not stop you and your men from carrying out your duty." Amicus said coldly. "But I shall not tolerate you and your group of thugs in armour running roughshod over my people. Every time something is broken that can be traced back to action of yours, I shall know about it and bill the Inquisition. Every cut, bruise and even skinned knee that my people suffer from your actions had better have good reason behind it. And, The One God as my witness, should you kill any of my people without justification, I will make your life a hell from which you shall not awaken from. Am. I. Clear?"
"Crystal." Sir Miles ground out.
"Good." Amicus said softly. "One last thing. The Order of the Huntress is to be left alone as well. I am aware of the mutual animosity that your Orders hold for one another and I will not tolerate the usual covert warfare that tends to occur whenever Huntresses and Crusaders cross paths. They have been warned to stay clear of you, and you have now been warned to stay clear of them."
"As you say, milord. I was planning on it in any regard." Sir Miles replied with forced calm in his voice. "I have little urge to see those apostates in the first place."
"See that it stays that way, Sir Miles, and we shall part without need for your career in the Inquisition to be abruptly and permanently arrested." Amicus made no effort to veil his threat in any but the barest sense of the word. "Now, I have a very busy day ahead of me, so kindly take yourself back to your duty."
With that abrupt dismissal, Sir Miles was left fuming as he walked out, barely restraining the childish instinct to stamp his feet as he did so. A minute later, part of the wall to the left of the desk rumbled open, revealing Captain Bruce.
"That was risky, milord." The man observed as he stepped out of the secret compartment. "What if he had lost reason and attacked you?"
"This desk has a shield spell enchanted into it strong enough to laugh off a Tier 7 spell of any grade." Amicus replied easily. "Besides, you would have come out and run him through had he taken the slightest action against me."
Nodding begrudgingly at that, Bruce frowned at where the Crusading Knight had left the room. "Do you believe that he'll behave himself?"
"Oh, I doubt it." The Province Lord demurred. "He's run rampant in the years since joining the Inquisition without anyone able to stand up to him, and he's gotten far too used to it. I've stung his pride and he won't rest until he can either get back at me for it or until he can link me to a crime that warrants the removal of my Imperial Protection. There is none, of course, but in the absence of actual proof, he may attempt to manufacture some."
"Tch. As if the Inquisition hasn't done that before." The Captain scoffed. "Should I get some of the lads to keep a weather eye on him?"
"The Order of the Huntress is already doing so; no need to spoil the broth with too many cooks." Amicus disagreed. "Be ready to intervene if the idiot incites a riot; it's a common tactic that 'the Smiter' has used before to justify some manner of rampant destruction or outrageous death."
"Yes, milord." Bruce bowed. "I'll start organising the House Guard and Castle Guard."
With that, his Captain left the room, the secret entrance sliding shut behind him.
"Stupid, idiotic, foolish religious zealots." The Lord cursed mildly. "Nothing but bloody sodden trouble, the lot of them."
Having given vent to his frustration, Amicus sighed and returned to his paperwork.
Elsewhere
"Hoh…so thing have started to move, have they?"
The one speaking was a gorgeous female with light green skin. Her lithe and fit body was covered in the clothes of a typical huntress and she carried a bow in one hand.
Peering into a pond at her feet, she smirked as she saw a small dragon scuttling about the ruins of a city. "So, this one is the so-called Godslayer…interesting. Really though, the [Worldly System] did too good a job at placing her on the planet. She's almost completely safe from outside threats thanks to the location she's at. Even I can't interfere overly much with that dratted [Orb of Severance] there. Doing too much interfering will bring the attention of that old bore the so-called One God here too…and he'd just tell his thugs in armour where to find the poor thing. Hmm…what to do…?"
The being was a Goddess of the world, although not the Saintess that the Order of the Huntress worshiped; she was the Saintess' sponsor Goddess who had helped her move between the [Worldly System] and the [Heavenly System] and settle in as a deity of Amaryllis.
She had heard of the fact that her former favoured would be depending on this so-called Godslayer for her existence at this particular point in time, and wanted to test her. Unfortunately, she hadn't counted on exactly how thoroughly the sheer happenstance of her birth would protect the newborn former Godslayer from outside interference by deities.
Even gods and goddesses had to use mana to interfere in the world below outside of the gifts they gave to their followers, and the [Orb of Severance] was a tricky thing to get around without destroying it or drawing attention to the one who had done it. Fortunately, the Goddess had been around for a couple of eons and knew a thing about circumventing the dratted things without either blowing them up or drawing too much attention to herself.
"Ah…this should work." The goddess smiled smugly and moved her hand in a swishing motion, moving the POV of the pool to a point outside of the Malvin Valley. Soon, she saw a small tribe of the lowliest monsters in the world…goblins.
"Up until now, you have hunted with impunity due to your enemies being the undead." The goddess muttered. "Indeed, laying those poor souls to rest could be counted upon as a service to the world at large. But how well will you cope with flesh and blood enemies, I wonder?"
And that's where I'll end it…for now. ^_^
Whoo, this came out easily. Over 4000 words in a single day. Some things just come easily, I suppose. Anyhow, review, if you please.