The Terrarian wakes up, heaving a sigh of relief as he heads off to start his day.
In early morning, he went off and chop a couple of firewood before hunting some animals and getting yields from his crops. After doing so, he stored them into his chests and then take a few ingredients out to make a breakfast.
Strangely, cooking rather than crafting is much more satisfying and while the result is the same, the process is vastly different. It's like there's a minigame to it, Terraria was a world with game mechanics derived from a game of the same name.
And now that he's in a different world, he could not find himself care for his safety as the world is much less dangerous than Terraria which are all pit against him in the very beginning. Except for his friends which are just friendly NPCs though they're not NPCs at all when he got transported.
Given, there are occasionally some troublemakers here and there but they're far too weak to even pose a proper threat. While he could just summon, he didn't want to spook the villagers nearby so he just use his weapons to get rid of them. Monsters here are different and they're quite unique in a way that not only are their numbers lacking but the stats they have are...pretty small.
Again, quite a peaceful and docile world.
He guessed the only ones he had trouble dealing with are the mages of this world. Not because they're powerful though that's to be unknown until he faces all of them, it's more of what they are. The creatures in Terraria are just hostile creatures, monsters that shows no remorse in killing. Even the Tax Collector in his tortured soul state were no more than a monster killing anything in its path.
But the mages of this world are all intelligent people much like himself and the friends he made in Terraria. They're able to think, feel and make decisions. They're no different than himself, they're humans. But sometimes, they can get very...infuriating with how they conceive him as a Manaless human.
After all, mana in Terraria works differently than the one in this world. Still, imagine their shock when the Terrarian simply swiped their "Grimoires" and use every magic that was written in it against them. The elements that one grimoire possesses are limited to only one but the amount of spells one Grimoire has is quite astonishing.
Terrarians are natural born slayers, conquerors and builders. They construct kingdoms, empires, worlds. And to do that, they themselves have to slay many beings and adapt to every creatures that poses a threat to them. Such was one during when the Old One's Army attacked him, creatures of another world though frankly, in the game, it was a crossover event coming from a game called "Dungeon Defenders 2".
Terraria has a lot of crossovers with different games like Don't Starve.
So the Old One's Army invading Terraria was the greatest mistake they had ever done. The Terrarian are natural born slayers and with the adaptability, he managed to use their magic against them; the Etherian Mana.
In a world ruled like magic like this one, any Terrarian would thrive like a sunflower blooming under the sun. Especially with the existence of Grimoires which are easily accessible to someone like the Terrarian that can use all magic spells inside it. The only problem was the mana which in this case, he'll call "Maryoku" considering the people here speak Japanese for some reason despite having western culture.
Must be a manga/anime world, he supposed.
Maryoku in essence are mana but it seems it chooses its wielders. In simplest terms, they're picky in that certain people can't use magic despite training immensely. And apparently, the Terrarian is one of them. Well, not exactly considering the reason is different wildly in that he just simply needs to collect Maryoku just like he did with Etherian Mana. After that, he'll be able to use them.
Funnily enough, due to the magic being of one element only, the magic spells consumes less Maryoku than he expected. Which is somewhat frustrating since he has been collecting Maryoku for a while and had chests stacked up with them.
But he figured it'll one day be handy if he comes to face a threat dangerous enough.
For now, his life continues...
"MMAAAASSSSSTEEERRRRRRRRRRR!"
"Oh boy." The Terrarian smiles while shaking his head.
The door was flung open and young boy with spiky grey hair came in looking incredibly enthusiastic. "Master! I'm done with my training! Anything else you got for me today!?"
"Asta." The Terrarian greeted, smiling. "I'm nearly done with breakfast so do wait for a bit and I'll instruct you on your next training."
"Yes, master!" The boy known as Asta replied, saluting as he waited patiently for the Terrarian to finished.
Asta, an orphan belonging to a church of a nearby villaged named Hage. A humble village sitting at near the border of Clover Kingdom. The Terrarian met Asta through sheer coincidence during one of his hunts where he showcase his skills and strength as a swordsman. Impressed, Asta wanted the Terrarian to take him under his tutelage.
And he agreed knowing the kid won't give up since his loud voice can be heard even from here, in the Terrarian's humble abode. Asta is a pretty loudmouth...quite literally. Still, the reason the Terrarian agreed to is because like him, Asta reminded him of himself during his early times in Terraria.
Full of energy, youth yet...somehow desperate. Although the reason varied wildly, it was enough for the Terrarian to take Asta in as his pupil. However, Asta is a Manaless human. In his body, he possesses no Maryoku. Since birth, Asta was known to have no trace of Maryoku inside of him which does made him very...infamous. Of course, the villagers don't bully him for it but being Manaless amounts to being useless.
That does pull some heartstrings so instead of giving him magic and a Mana Crystal, the Terrarian thought with how determined Asta is, he simply needs to train himself physically to be able to fight against mages. He figured that such convenience like spell books and Mana Crystal would just not suit Asta. It is saved for when Asta is desperate enough.
After finishing his breakfast, the Terrarian brought Asta to the training grounds where a dummy was placed. In this spot, Asta swings a large blade the Terrarian made from metals of this world and teach him swordsmanship. His progress was incredible, to put it simply. Asta may not be suited to a mage, but he is quite a swordsman.
More of a berserker really.
Still, his strength grew faster than average human and it honestly made the Terrarian proud. But it wouldn't be enough for Asta as the mages could still take him out easily. However, Asta is not one to give up. So the training continues on for days, weeks and months.
Tomorrow was the day for when the younglings from all round the kingdom to receive their Grimoire. The Terrarian hoped that Asta would get one and finally be able to use magic without needing his assistance but...the Maryoku always seem to avoid him. When he tried to have Asta absorb Maryoku without him knowing, the Maryoku just repels from him like magnets repelling itself.
It was strange.
However, Terrarian Mana was a different case as with how Asta is, he was a Terrarian candidate technically. But again, it was only when things are hopeless as Terrarian Mana is incredibly potent and dangerous with the spells. While spell books contain only one spell, the higher tier ones are...well, the responsibility of wielding it is quite ridiculous.
"Agh, I'm so tired!" Asta exclaimed as he collapsed onto the ground. "Ah, but it is worth it! Even if I don't get a Grimoire, I can always use my sword! My magic is that I don't give up!"
The Terrarian chuckled. "Still aiming to be Wizard King? Well, I won't stop you..." He sits down as they both stared at the sunset. "If push comes to shove, I'll give you something that will greatly help you."
"Oh! What is it!?" Asta sits up before grimacing, muscles pains all over his body.
"Don't get too excited, this is just in case." The Terrarian replied. "But let's hope you'll get Grimoire of your own."
"Yeah! I want a Grimoire and shoot magic! Or maybe use it like a sword so all this training won't go to waste!" Asta replied, grinning as the Terrarian shook his head while smiling.
"Well, there are mages that are muscle brains like you so it is possible." His smile dropped as he stares into the light. "Asta."
"Master?" Asta quickly noticed the Terrarian's serious look.
"Just remember, even if things look hopeless...don't give up. You said it yourself, didn't you?" The Terrarian ruffled Asta's hair like how a father would do to his son. "Not giving up is your magic, right?"
"Master..." Look of awe before determined filled Asta's expression. "Yes! I will never give up! Never!"
"Good." The Terrarian then quickly took out the Wand of Sparking and shoot it as it disipates into the air. "Well, magic isn't always everything like what you see. But if you still want to become the Wizard King, don't be afraid to ask me for help, alright?"
"Of course, master!" Asta replied before looking at the wand in awe. "And whoa, you can use magic! Though, I don't see any Grimoires?"
"Well, let's just say I'm a different case." The Terrarian then stands up. "Alright, let's get you home. I also have some things to give to the church."
Asta stood up, stumbling a bit and nodded. "Alright!"
The following night, the Terrarian was invited to a dinner at the church as he and Sister Lily, the caretaker of the orphan, cook and made great dinner.
Asta did not receive any Grimoire.
It was devastating for the young boy and unfortunately, he was actually hoping to get one. The Terrarian could've seen it but he thought it was a mistake, he thought the training Asta endured was enough to convince that magic was not everything. But he was wrong.
Asta in the very beginning was a Manaless human.
How could he have not seen it?
Asta truly loved magic which is the reason why he wanted to wield it in the first place.
And now that he didn't receive any Grimoire, he was in distraught. The Terrarian wanted to visit him and cheer him up but it was best to leave Asta alone for a bit so he could recollect himself.
After then...would he offer Asta the Mana Crystal and a spell book.
The Terrarian sighs as he ponders out the window. Once Asta consume the Mana Crystal, the magic he wields would be far different than the one in the world. It's a good thing, a positive outcome for his life. But it can bad too as the magic is far too unique to be glossed over. Because one Mana Cyrstal is not enough as the Terrarian would give Asta more as he masters different magic.
By the time he reached the peak, the power he wields is devastating and could potentially be dangerous.
He just hopes that he wouldn't stray from his path.
As the Terrarian was staring out the window, a knock could be heard. The Terrarian blinked, did Asta get over it this quick? He assumed it would take a whole day for him to recover but he guessed he was wrong. The Terrarian stood up and answered the door only to then devoured by an explosion.
"Gwahahahahahaha!" A laugh resounded from outside. "He let his guard down! What a fool! Hahahahaha-gahhh!" Suddenly, the man who attacked received a kick from the back and was sent crashing into the house in rumbles. "What the-!?"
The man stared at the front only to see no one was there. As he lay there in the rubbles of the Terrarian's house, a shadow lingers into his vision from above. The Terrarian stared down at the man who assaulted and destroyed his home in irritation.
"I'll give one chance to come clean, who are you and why did you attacked me?" The Terrarian asked - no, demanded. "I assure you," The Terrarian crouches down as his figure overshadows the man's vision. "One wrong move and I'll make you regret it."
"Tch! I'm a mage, you Manaless bastard!" The man chose the wrong answer and leapt away only to then come to see the Terrarian was already right on his face.
The Terrarian buried his fist deep into the man's guts and he was sent spiraling through trees, across the colossal bones protruding from the ground before plumetting onto a tree.
The Terrarian raises his eyebrows, "Mage, figures."
The man huffed as the blue barrier around him broke like glass. "Ice Magic: Ice B-Barrier..." The man collapsed onto his knees, the amount of Maryoku he used against that simple punch must've been quite draining. "Guhagghh!" The man spits out blood onto the ground, holding his stomach in pain.
"You do know that I haven't use any magic yet, do you? I was just using my bare fists and you went down so fast." The Terrarian shook his head as he walks towards the man. "You know, I don't need you to tell me who you are and why you attacked. I assume it's because of the guys I beaten up a few months ago, yes? They reported to your boss and he sends you to presumably kill me."
"D-Damn you...you can use magic...?" The man slowly stands up, blood dripping from his mouth. "I can't sense any mana in you."
The Terrarian sighs as he once again shook his head in disappointment. "Your buddies should've reported that I use some kind of magic. But you decided to trust your senses rather than valid info so this is the consequence." The Terrarian stood a few meters from the man, crossing his arms. "So, wanna give up or do you want to continue? It won't be pretty you know and it'll only hurt your pride to lose to a "Manaless Bastard" like me."
"DAMN YOU!" The Grimoire beside him flip its pages. "Ice Magic: Ice Blade!"
The Terrarian pinched the bridge of his nose before using the Rod of Harmony and teleported behind the man, kicking him in the back and have him planted into the ground headfirst. "Of course you want to continue, what did I expect? Your buddies didn't gave up either but man, was I expecting too much from you. You're not as smart as you seem."
The Terrarian pulled the man back up, holding him by his shirt. "Once again, wanna give up?"
"Screw...you...!" Then the man smiles, "T-That...kid of yours...will suffer too..."
A fist landed on his face just after he said that as he landed onto the ground, caving in and carved a large crater spanning over hundreds of meters in diameter. The fist, however, wasn't from the Terrarian but instead from the Stardust Guardian behind him.
"You guys clearly messed with the wrong person."
The Terrarian quickly spread his wings and dashed towards where Asta could be.
The Terrarian was glad, seeing Asta and his childhood friend and rival Yuno, fist bumping as Asta seem to have been able to take down the assailant. He chuckled and smiles widely, proud of Asta as he didn't get the whole Grimoire thing get to him.
Truly, what an amazing boy.
With that, the Terrarian went back to his house or what's left of it, leaving Asta to enjoy his victory with his rival. He repaired his house and restraint the attacker from earlier, handing him over to the authorities of this world. The day passes on and night darkens the surface. The Terrarian was cooking dinner until he heard a familiar voice.
"MMAASSSSTERRRR!"
"Asta, tone down a bit. It's night." The Terrarian said as Asta burst through the door.
"Master!" Asta presented a Grimoire onto the Terrarian, surprising him. "I forgot to tell you since I was so excited but I got my own Grimoire! Doesn't it look cool!"
The Grimoire was black and it had a five leaf clover which represents greater luck in his world. It seemed quite old and it was clearly had been used quite a bit with how it appeared. That was actually a good sign in the Terrarian's eyes. It's meant that it is used more enough that it became like this.
"It does have a unique aesthetic..." The Terrarian commented as he observed Asta's Grimoire. "But how did you get this?"
"I don't know! It just appeared to me when I was fighting this creepy guy that was attacking Yuno." Asta replied, "But it gave me this cool sword which is good since you taught me how to use it and stuff!"
The Terrarian smiled as he ruffled Asta's hair. "Good for you, Asta." The Terrarian places down his dinner. "That being said, to celebrate this, do you want to have dinner?"
"I would like to but Sister Lily is cooking a feast back at the church! I should get there soon!" Asta said and the Terrarian nodded.
"Oh, before you go. May I take a look to your Grimoire? And oh, get the fruits in my cabinet in the back for you guys' feast." The Terrarian stopped Asta before he could dash.
"Really!? Thanks! Your fruits are the best!" Asta replied and handing him the Grimoire. "I'll get it!"
Asta ran in the back and rummage through the chest. As he does that however, the Terrarian stared into the book before opening it. He pulled out a sword and he can feel it, the different mana. The Grimoire doesn't have Maryoku, it was a different type of mana or specifically energy. Quite the opposite of Asta, it instead absorbs Maryoku but the Terrarian doesn't have it at the moment.
But there was one thing that he felt that concerns him the most; evil. Evil wherever he goes are familiar and while this was different, it was evil nonetheless. The Terrarian is quite well acquainted with evil and this one concerns him. It's been a while he got concerned like this after the defeat of Moon Lord. Seems like...he has to do this.
He narrowed his eyes before putting the giant blade back into the book.
"Got it, master!" Asta came in with a bag of fruits on his hand. "Don't you want to join us? The guys at the church would love to have you again!"
The Terrarian handed the Grimoire back to Asta with a smile. "No, it's your special day. I already intrude enough yesterday. Instead," The Terrarian took out a Mana Crystal. "Here, have this."
"Oh! What's this!? It's sparkly and looks cool!" Asta took the Mana Crystal and stared at it in awe.
"Asta, listen." The Terrarian grabbed his shoulders as his smile disappeared. "After the feast, before you sleep, I want you to crush this crystal and eat it."
"Eat it!?"
"Yes, and no. It doesn't taste bad, it's good. It's much better than the fruits there, consider it a present." The Terrarian motioned towards the bag of fruits. "In the morning, we will have an early training, alright? And...I have something to tell you."
Asta blinked and nodded. "Alright, master! Thank you so much for this!"
"Promise me you'll eat it." The seriousness in the Terrarian's tone put Asta off but he nodded.
His master knows best after all.
"I promise!" Asta replied, looking determined.
The smile returns back as he pats Asta on the back. "Good. Now, go on back and have a feast. You wouldn't want to make Sister Lily wait, would you?"
"No way!" He puts the crystal into his pocket and dashed out with the bag of fruits. "Thanks again, master! I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Asta." Asta halted his tracks and looks into the eyes of the Terrarian who was clearly proud and happy for Asta. "Don't give up, okay?"
"Of course!' Asta grinned. "Not giving up is my magic after all! Even after I got this Grimoire!"
After that, Asta dashed away, leaving the Terrarian alone in his repaired house. He sits down and ate his dinner slowly, thinking about the day when Asta would tap into the evil power of the Grimoire. Would he be able to control it? Will it consume him? He did not know.
But what he does know that he has an apprentice now, and Asta will wield magic that would help him not to depend much on that Grimoire maybe even helping him to control it. The Terrarian could only hope for the best.
As he closes his eyes, a new day unfold.
Prelude End
Yeah, pretty random for a crossover but hey. I had fun writing it. I don't want to say much aside from do leave reviews. Favs and follows are greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading and have a nice day.