One. Hundred (and FIVE). Reviews. I love all of you. I also do read all your reviews (I have a tab open to my reviews since when this story came out, a bunch of reviews refused to load so I had to constantly look at my E-Mail).
So, about Hollow's size… I want to say he's 8ft in this world, almost ten if you count his horns.
Anyway, ONWARDS~
I found myself in the town's storage room, the body of their 'Chimera' lying atop a table of wood. The beast had been stripped of most parts save for three of its legs. Taking my Nail, I sliced first along a leg joint, soon separating limb from body. The body had been well preserved, the meat and muscle retaining much of its form.
As I worked, River had jumped from atop my head to the table, pecking at one of the beasts three opened necks. Returning focus to the leg in my grasp, I examined the clawed limb before placing it within my Nail.
[Paw Blade Unlocked]
[Paw Blade Rank 1/50
Damage: 50
Active: Target Bleeds 2% for ten minutes]
The blade's hilt had been shaped much like the beast's claw, a tuft of fur lining it as a large curved blade jut from the fur. Curious, I moved about and found a hooved foot. As I began to bisect the limb, the doors had opened.
"Hollow!" I heard Naofumi shout from the entry, "The elder said you'd be here, didn't think you'd be alone though," As he drew near, he paused as River had left the inside of the beast, its heart in her possession as she began to devour the mound of flesh, "They… do they all eat like that?"
Chirping from atop the Shell Bearer's head had been another of the species, it's white feathers shining with brilliance as it flared its wings.
"River may be a special case I'm afraid," I replied as Naofumi's Filorial had jumped upon the table as well, the two avians now examining the other as if in a territorial dispute.
"Huh, at least they're getting along…" He muttered as the two began to pick and claw at the Chimera's heart, "I think…" Sighing and shaking his head he turned to me, "Hollow, about what you did back at the castle..."
"Raphtalia cares for you, I did nothing to influence that, Shell Bearer."
"Still, she's still around thanks to you," He said softly as he clenched his fists, "I still can't believe I lost…"
"Are you aware of what caused you to fall?" I had asked curiously, Naofumi laughing softly as if the idea in his head were absurd.
"Yeah… I ran out of Mana…" He laughed again and sighed, "That Shell… it's powerful. Probably the only thing I have that can deal any actual damage… but damn does it take a lot of Mana."
Mana… the mystical energy that flows through all living things… "Can this be remedied?"
Humming in thought, Noafumi had retrieved a tome and began to review its contents with some difficulty, "Hrm… can't exactly understand this world's written language yet, but Mana grows with the person… or something."
"May I?" Shrugging, Naofumi allowed me time to read his tome, it's words immediately rewriting themselves in my eyes…
[Higher Beings, these words are for you alone.
Soul may come in many forms, and may you learn to mold it to your will…]
[Spell Learned: Soul Shift
Focus Soul into Mana]
"So, learn anything?" Naofumi asked as he retrieved his book.
"Through time and effort, you may crack the threshold of your Mana through your Soul," I explained, "Until then, we shall train your ability to use Hegemol's Armor effectively."
"Soul?" He asked curiously as he moved to capture his wayward avian, "So you're saying if I focus hard enough, I can brute force my Mana bar to grow?"
"It is worth the effort," I replied idly, my own chick jumping atop my head as I continued to sever the cloven hoofed leg, feeding it into my Nail.
[Goat's Horn Unlocked]
[Goat's Horn Rank 1/50
Damage 50
Passive: Ignore 10% of enemy armor
Active: Destroy 20% of enemy armor]
The Horn was no ordinary blade in that it in no way resembled a blade save for it's leathery brown hilt and handle. The 'blade' of it had been a curved and coiled horn more akin to a hammer.
"Have you been making weapons from everything you pick up?" Naofumi asked with some confusion.
"Haven't you?" He chuckled at my reply as he started to leave.
"Yeah… yeah I guess I have," He gave a hushed laugh as he left, I myself following closely behind.
The sun had begun its decent, light slowly fading from the forest we found ourselves in.
"So what do you want me to do?" Naofumi asked, "Just turn the armor on and see how long I last?"
"Precisely," I replied as I readied my Fish for this fight,
[Sword Fish Rank 1/10
Damage: 10
Passive: Strikes slide off target
Toggle: Sword/Fish]
"Prepare yourself, Naofumi."
Naofumi blinked, offense written on his face, "A… fish. You're going to fight me… with a fish?"
"First lesson, Naofumi. Appearances are not always what they seem," I replied as my straightened fish had gone slack.
Eye twitching, Naofumi huffed as he brought out Hegemol's Shell, "At this point, I can't even tell if you're playing with me…"
"I do not play, Naofumi."
"And that just makes it worse!" He shouted as he heft the visage of Hegemol skyward, the Shell splitting in two as he rushed me shoulder first, now having donned Hegemol's Armor.
I allowed him to draw near as I slammed the flaccid fish into him, the 'Nail' spinning him round at an incredible speed as he spun into a tree… which caused him to bounce into another tree. The process continued for about one minute before he managed to bring his arm out and hook himself onto a tree he only narrowly missed.
"I… am not getting pinballed like that… again…" He gasped out before jumping into the sky, fist poised to strike me down upon impact. Dodging his initial strike had been a simple endeavor, however I had been wholly unprepared for his quickly swinging back hand, his armored fist striking me like a hammer.
Fading into the shadows upon my landing, I had appeared above his head only to find his palm upon my mask, gripping me as he threw me into the ground and upturning stone in the process. It was a comfort to know that he had since learned from his initial fight with the Needle Bearer.
I could not strike from above, I could not lower my guard before him… and so I would strike from below.
Fading, I reappeared behind him, plunging my once more rigid fish into the earth… as a Soul Geyser erupted from beneath adorned with several lively fish. Now airborne and stunned, I quickly jumped and slammed the Sword Fish onto his armored head while activating Strong Cut, the Fish exploding upon impact as it brought him down.
"Hollow…" Naofumi growled out as he rose to his feet, "Hollow!" Power seemed to well within him and whirl about as the armor threatened to fade, "HOLLOW!" Solidifying once more, Naofumi rushed me once more with greater speed and grace. His feet had practically slid along the earth, the only indicator of his presence being the light disturbance and settling of grass in spite of his increased movement.
I could not dare to take my eyes away from him as he darted left and right, always in motion as he closed the gap between us. I prepared myself for the impact, yet flinched as his hand clawed the earth between us and shifted his momentum. He had not sought to strike me head on, but to strike me from behind. I spun with only seconds to spare, my Fish raised as Hegemol's armored gut slammed into me.
As Naofumi once more began to spin, the impact had jettisoned me into an awaiting tree, "Hollow… Hollow… Holllooow…" Noafumi's spin had finally settled as he shakily made his way forward, the armor now finally fading as he fell. I had managed to capture him before his face met dirt, holding him up and carrying him as I returned to the village.
"Rest, Champion of Hegemol… the morrow shall bring good tidings."
Once more I found myself in the Nest, the verdant villa of the Path gracing the sight of Fera and myself. Finding and following my kin had proved simple this time as he walked away from a dying Vengefly King. Little Ghost seemingly urging us, or more appropriately, Fera, to follow his steps.
His wandering had led us through dense vegetation, Fool Eaters and the Moss Kin littered the path we walked. His first stop had been a shrine dedicated to Unn, the goddess and progenitor of the Moss Kin people.
"Unn," Fera had spoken in our silent journey, "One of many gods and goddesses within the Nest, isn't she?"
"That is correct, partner mine," I replied as Little Ghost had returned to delve deeper into the Path. The deeper he went, the more fungal spores had started to appear.
Passing over a bridge above a caustic pool, we soon encountered the creatures of the Fungal Wastes. Yet… why? Had he business with the Fungi Tribe? Navigating the wastes had been… slow. Fera had been having trouble navigating the Wastes as it had been covered with repelling mushrooms. Strangely, I had thought my kin would have resumed his passage, yet he had not only waited on Fera, he showed her how to comfortably navigate the naturally repelling shrooms.
Through cavern after cavern we moved until coming across a pool of acid. The area felt familiar… had I been here as a child?
The path of the Wastes had become volatile, precise jumps and use of the Moth Wings forced Fera to think and examine her surroundings in a way she had not done before.
The further we continued, the quicker I realized that it was not the Fungi with whom Little Ghost was to meet, but the Mantis Tribe. As we passed the pool separating the borders between the Wastes and Mantis Village, we had been immediately attacked by the flying hatchlings and adolescent fighters of the tribe as my kin navigated his way to the village store rooms.
I knew not what he sought, but I shouldered the many fights that Fera would have been forced to weather as she followed little Ghost. The mantis kin had tried their best to impale me as I vivisected them one by one. It did not matter how many had come, I tore them down all the same. Impaling some and disarming others, I battled patiently as Little Ghost and Fera had returned and made way for the Mantis Lords.
The Mantis Lords… why would my kin lead us to those sworn to guard and contain the Deep Nest? As I pondered this, my kin had hastened his pace as he fell into the pit of the Lords.
"My Master, should we follow?" Fera asked as she looked to me. Should we? Little Ghost had not yet led us astray…
"Come, there is something he wishes for us to see."
It was not long until we had traversed the traps set forth by the Lords as we made our way to their chamber. The Mantis Lords… they had a different name then. The Siblings of Battle, my father called them. I once had the honor of fighting the four Lords, their speed and prowess matched only by their grace and power.
We soon found Ghost standing before three of the four Lords, one of their thrones having been shattered. Had one died? Disregarding this, the three remaining Lords stared down Little Ghost before… bowing. It was a strange sight, to see warriors so grand bow to another.
Ghost had bid us before the Mantis Lords as they stood to attention. They looked upon me idly, their gazes never leaving me… until of course I had taken my leave. I had no business with the siblings, and so I had left… until the sharp twang of locking metal gave me pause. Looking back, I found Fera had been trapped within a cage along with the Mantis Lords.
"My Master, what is happening?" She asked with fear as she was forced away from the bars of her prison as the earth fell from her feet, revealing the ringed spike pit underneath. The Sisters rose to attention before two had taken their seats, the mid most of the trio jumping upwards only to fall, Needle poised and ready to skewer Fera where she stood.
Stepping backwards calmly, Fera had let loose two Revenge Soul blasts as the Mantis Lord lunged forward. Fera spun deftly, her Nail grazing the Lord's Needle before slicing along her arm and releasing another Revenge Soul.
The Mantis Lord quickly jumped upon the cage, her claw holding her steadily as she threw her Needle. The elongated lance began to spin rapidly as it hovered along the arena in an attempt to cut partner mine into ribbons. It was no surprise however that Fera gracefully vaulted over the spinning Needle, landing upon her feet with Nail at the ready.
As I watched the spectacle, I flinched as Little Ghost had appeared next to me, eyes fixated upon Fera, "Why, brother mine? Why?"
Little Ghost had not answered, he only pointed at the battle, Fera having once more spun about and crouching as her Needle drove itself into the Mantis Lord behind her. Stepping back, the sister jumped once more to land in her seat, palm holding her chin as she… pouted?
I did not understand it, but… they had challenged me before too, had they not? They were the Siblings of Battle for a reason. They lived for the fight. It was like the finest of wines to them… then…
The two sisters had become shadows to the other as they attempted to drive their Needles through Fera as she spun left then right, slicing along their bodies as she dodged their strikes. Downward strikes were dodged with short back hops and Revenge Souls, lunges were dodged as if Fera had been apart of a simple dance, and despite their precision the sisters could not touch partner mine.
Soon, the sisters mirrored each other as they latched onto the cage and threw their Needles, watching as they spun and encircled the arena and closed in on Fera. Waiting for the right moment, Fera jumped as the Needles had found the center of the arena before striking down upon the lances. The sisters watched in silent awe before rushing for their armaments as Fera focused her Soul and causing the sisters to pause from the weight of the burst.
One sister had been slammed down, face first; the other was quickly impaled. Huffing, the sisters rose before jumping to their thrones, all three now standing at attention. With a bow, the cage had fallen and the earth once more covered the spike pit. Returning the gesture, Fera bowed to the sisters as the world was bathed in light.