Chapter 5: Limerick are rhymes too
"Shadows of night, awaken and shriek. Grab all the enemies and break them like a leek. [Star Shadow Snap.]"
The shadows of the creature we were fighting all grew hands hand and grabbed their owners. A few of them escaped the hold, but for those who didn't. They were pulled until they were ripped in half.
"What the hell has this child been reading?"
The creatures we were fighting were called Obese Fangs. Fat snakes that gobble up debris and other types of garbage. They can even shoot it back at you if they ever felt threatened, making a useful but very dangerous trashman.
I didn't even need to use my attack order to even kill these things though, but I did it anyways, slashing through all of them without any effort. Who cares about overkill, I just had so much pent-up emotions bottling up that I wanted to let loose for a bit. That, and I got to get used to fighting with one hand.
Level Up: 17 — 18
"Duck." Lizen did the same star connection and summoned the same translucent arrow as before. I got distracted by how cool it was though, and didn't duck by the time he fired, causing the archer to groan.
"Damn it Flores, [Homing.]" Quickly making another star connection in the form of a rotated T, Lizen made the arrow curve midair and struck the snake. Man magic is so cool.
"There goes the last of them. Good job y'all." Lizen praised.
"Yay. Encounter cleared!" Neila cheered. I was confused as to why Lizen would allow her to fight, but apparently, she was already level 78. That made her stronger than me, even with my attack order.
"We're making good timing. If we keep on this path we'll make it in 7 hours."
"Would be faster if we had horses."
"On paper, not the girl by the way. It's a smart decision. But it's a decision that'll quickly get you killed out here." Lizen took out a wooden disc flowing with purple energy and started to carve some symbols into it.
"What, no mounts allowed or something?"
"Somewhat. This is the reason we never take a type of equine into this place."
Lizen handed me a telescope and pointed at a location. Being already zoomed in, I focused on the area he directed me to and found a bunch of horses.
"Aww a nice horse family. There's a mommy, a daddy and… wait does it have wings?" Doing a double take, I look again and see that they do indeed has a pair of wings. So pegasi exist here as well? Get an alicorn and I can possibly recreate the plot of my little pony.
"Your observation is spot on. That wings horse is-"
"Don't bother. I know what a pegasus is."
"Skipping the descriptions then. The pegasi and unicorn, even through their long-standing turf wars with each other, have established a very noticeable disdain for humans who ride their kin. Any human in this forest that was found on a horse, pony, or even a mule was swiftly targeted."
"The hell… good thing you guys figured it out before someone got killed."
"When we did, we saw that they sent a very detailed letter along with one of our men severely injured."
"They can write!?"
"It was very shitty writing, but yes."
"Wow… who knew horses could be so ruthless."
"They have very powerful kicks. It was only a manner of time before they fought back."
Flag of the Obese Fang
Abilities Locked Equip Bonus: Agility 2
An obese snake giving agility. Oh, the irony.
/~/
"Hey Lizen, mind if I ask something?"
"I told you already. Pa- Yomiko, will be in charge of your magic and skill training."
"I know, but I can't wait anymore. You utilized that prism and stars for your casting while everyone else has to rhyme. Why is that the case?"
"Techniques from another world. I learned it from one of the cooking and prism heroes worlds a while back when Riala and I were on our honeymoon. I use star magic to create my arrows, and Rhymes for more powerful single target spells, and finally my prism for Area of effect spells."
"There are other worlds?"
"Indeed. Worlds that are different but are going through the same struggle as we are. I have traveled to many of them before."
"I mean it was only a thought. But more worlds existing just like this one sounds pretty awesome, I can't lie. Mind sharing stories about other worlds you've traveled to?"
"Hmm. Each world is different from out own in some way. Different land masses, structures, technology, and of course magic. My favorite thing to do in those worlds was the exploration of how they utilize their magic. In one world, they harness the stars in order to cast magic. In others, they make connections to the spirits. Moving on with the others techniques I've learned. There's bonding via contracts from the ball world. Using magic to heiughten your senses from the world of the capture tools, disc with inscriptions from the accessory, and finally dance or as they say, "Movement" in order to cast. That was probably the weirdest of the ones I've been learned. Especially when you see the strip clubs"
He definitely muttered that last part. I'll ask him about it later.
"What about this world then? I'm still in the dark about a lot of stuff, so I really want to know as much as I can."
"We'll if it's something to pass the time, I'll indulge allow me my fair hero."
"Please… never do that again."
"Fine. If it'll get you to shut up. I'll give you a short crash course on rhyme magic. Neila. Mind giving a demonstration."
"Okay, Daddy. Shadows of change, listen to the blind. Ascend from below and form chains that bind. [Star shadow chains!]"
The shadow from the tree in front of us leaped out and formed itself into chains before wrapping itself around the tree.
"Nice job sugar plum." Lizen praised as he ruffled Neila's hair. "Now Flores. What did you get from that chant?"
"Guess the chains that bind part. Pretty obvious really."
"Correct. By describing the spell's desired effect, you're able to control how the spell is formed and acts. That is one out of the five main requirements for a rhyme magic spell to work."
"Five?!"
"Yes. Now watch again."
Lightning of change, if you're so kind. Ascend from above and form chains that bind. [Star lighting chains!]"
I noticed he used a similar chant. But instead of the shadows leaping up, it was a bolt of lightning that fell from the sky and wrapped itself around the tree. I could already tell what the second requirement is then.
"I got it. You said lightning this time. That changed the element used correct?"
"Yes and no. I did say lightning, but if I were to say shadow, it wouldn't have worked." Lizen explained.
"Why is that?"
"That leads to our third require affinities. Everyone in the world is born with a certain affinity from birth. We naturally draw from these affinities. Giving us slight attunement to the element we have, and dictating our casting elements.
"Attunement?"
"Yeah! Mommy can move along the shadows!" Neila exclaimed.
"That's more advanced usages for those who achieved erudition, but still somewhat correct. A better example would be those who are attuned to fire and have a minor heat resistance or lightning users being able to sense where lightning may strike. Monsters also have this, like the bundrill having an earth affinity, allowing them to drill through the earth more quickly."
The more I learn about this place, the more I learn I know nothing about this place. I still have no idea who this exclusive mother is.
"So if I got this correct. You need to say the element that you want the spell to be, and describe its effect, all while making it rhyme?"
"Pretty much. But that's not all. There's also thing that will ultimately make or break the spell.
That being the number of lines. Two lines would equal a star-level spell. Four lines for a planet, and Six for a galaxy. You can maximize the filler in between those lines, but each requirement must be fulfilled and each second sentence must rhyme with the previous sentence. Final example."
"Lightning so grace this is my plan, Gather electricity from this land. Haze and faze into a maze, bounce and refract into several rays. Dance of light and static extrude, attack my foe and show them they're screwed. [Galaxy Static Rays!]"
7 beams of light blasted from Lizen's hand and ricocheted off of anything they came into contact too. They stayed out for a while and blocked out the path until they finally disappeared.
"There. I call upon the element in the first line. Described its effects in the second, did 6 lines for galaxy-level spells, and did it by making every sending ending rhyme. There are hundreds, if not thousands of ways to construct a rhyme magic spell. That's not even mentioning the advanced skills like limericks, chorus, and second verse. Or if you're really good, rapping."
"Wow. That is so needlessly complicated. Wait, what about Yomiko then?"
"She's a special case. As the Metronome hero, she can cut out a single requirement with no repercussions."
"Wow. That's unfair."
"Magic is a slut. Don't repeat that last part, sugar plum."
"I'm already used to it." Neila pouted. She really has gotten used to her father's annoying side.
"…Hey. Sorry for my outburst earlier. I took out my anger on y'all for no reason, and I was an ass for that."
"You brought up some valid points, so an apology was accepted."
Lizen punched me on the head. Even with him holding back, it knocked me to the ground and gave me a huge knot.
"Oww, why!"
"Mind the child, please. I don't need her screaming profanities yet."
"Neila, your father is bullying me!"
"Nonsense, he just tripped on a branch."
"Don't lie to me, daddy. I felt your shadow move."
"Whaaaat, nooo I would never."
"Daddy's a terrible liar."
"Agh. How could you turn my own daughter against me Flores."
"You deserve it!"
/~/
We continued out on foot through the forest, dealing with any monster that would come through our path. To pass the time, Lizen told me the various uses of the magic systems he learned. One of them was called sensory which improved his senses. Neila actually has this form of magic aswell, giving her a limited for a sight by sensing the movement in people's shadows as long as she has it active. With that, her shadow phasing thing, and the spell earlier. She seemed to be quite the competent mage.
…Man. I really am weaker than a child.
"I smell the target, he's just ahead."
"Come on brother, let's block their tread."
Two blurs fall from the sky and crash into the ground. The terrain in front of us was destroyed with stone and grass flying in all directions. A brand new crater laid in the ground where the two blurs landed. When the dust subsided, there were two kids blocking our path, both wearing a black shinobi garb.
"What in th-."
Just in an instant, the black shinobi dashed toward me and swung their fist at my face. I jumped back in hopes of dodging the attack, but my shadow rose up and blocked the hit. Thank fod Neila.
Picking up from his daughters assist. Lizen the grabbed the girl by the arm and tossed her into the air.
"Earth of the world hear my command, manipulate the rocks and stones of this land. Field of earth rise to the sky, give my sister a platform to fly. [Planet Earth Pillar!]" The other shinobi slamed the ground. The earth then started to rise up and form itself into a pillar, allowing the shinobi Lizen to just throw a platform that she can jump off.
"[Wild Winds: Heaven's Strike!"] The shinobi's arms grew in size and bursted through the sleeves of their clothing, The arms alongside their growth also developed into a stone-like substance. For some reason though, Lizen chuckled at the attack.
"Bite-sized, earth magic. I know who they are." Lizen sighed as he took a step forward and stood his ground. I felt a faint energy emanating from him but I couldn't tell what it was, but there was no time to figure it out now. "watch closely Flores, this is something you also need to learn."
"Got it. [Attack Order!]" Slamming my flag into the ground, the golden field appears once again and empowers Lizen.
"Nox. Lightning Blade."
"Yes, master."
Dropping his bow. A sword manifested from the prism on his neck. Taking out a disc, he placed it on the hilt of the sword and spun it, summoning even more lightning that summoned even more lightning. [Wild Winds: Starward Featherfall!]"
When the girl was about to hit Lizen, he teleported leaving along a purple trail. Reappearing above her, he hit her with an overhead strike, he teleported once again. The next slash came from the side, then from above. He did it again, and again, attacking from every possible direction.
"4/10, too easy to counter." The electric trails of Lizen's attack all converged on the shinobi and shot her into the sky. The lightning later came back down, causing a grand explosion as it crashed.
"That deal with her. As for you." Lizen looked over to the next one and started to slowly walk towards him. The shinobi seemed to have gotten extremely nervous and tried to run, but Lizen caught up to him quickly.
"You're not escaping either."
/~/
"Care to explain why you two attacked us!" Lizen complained. When we captured the two shinobi, we took off their mask to reveal dog ears. Along with their white hair, they seemed to be the same as Neila in terms of mutations… hybrid features? Hmm, I need to figure out the correct term for that.
"Ow. That really was a pain."
"You had it easy, I was almost slain."
The girl dog was still static after the fight. Her fur stood tall as someone who touched a plasma ball would.
"Hold on, Lizen, you know these two?"
"Yeah, they-."
"Ooh, I got it. Neila tackle hugged them to the ground.
"They are Aunt Shiku and Uncle Leo! Hehe."
"Uncle and aunt?… but they're so tiny?"
"Hey, don't insult our size!"
"Any more words and I'll knock you to the ski-." Before she could finish, both of them were hit on the head.
"Shut up and explain why Riala sent you out here."
"Oww, fine. It was a mission given by the chief."
"Find and deal with a certain thief."
"Bring them alive."
"And be back by five."
"Those were the order, to keep it brief." They both spoke in unison in the last part, man this is going to be a pain.
"My turn to question then. If you're after a thief, why attack me then? Also, since you seem to know Lizen, why attack him as well?"
"Well you see, that's the odd thing."
"We attacked you based on the evidence we string."
"What?" I asked.
"The assailant entered hours ago."
"And when he escaped, he certainly wasn't slow."
"The assailant in this case."
"Somehow had your face."
"That's why we almost came to blows."
"Alright before we continue, do you two always have to speak in rhymes?"
"No," Leo responded.
"Yeah. Why do you ask?" Shiku added.
"... Lizen, explain immediately."
"Don't be bothered by the limericks. The alchemist that made them tried to increase their magic and as a cost, a good majority of their sentences come out as rhymes. But the limerick dogs aren't the odd thing here, someone is posing as Flores?"
"That's correct."
"But that's impossible, news of his summoning hasn't even gone public yet."
"Really?"
"Yes. We only told a few people of your true origins. Damn, I'll bring this up to Mihare once we return home. Now then." Lizen cracked his knuckles. "Care to explain your reasoning for attacking me?"
"Umm, well you see. We couldn't confirm whether you were an illusion or not."
"Wrong answer."
/~/
"Our village is near, just up ahead."
"We'll make it quickly if we keep up this tread." The twin explained.
After getting hit by Lizen again, we rode Shiku and Leo for an hour. It was weird. Never in my life would I ever thought I would be riding on the back of two limerick-rhyming stone dogs, but there's a first time for everything I guess.
"I must say, this is quite a daunting situation. No leads, and zero reliable witnesses, and now we're throwing illusion magic into the mix. This is all just one big annoyance." Lizen complained as he fiddled with another disc.
"Indeed it was, Riala was pissed."
"She sent her advanced guard, sensing something was amiss."
"The person who ran"
"Escaped without a plan."
"We think that he had help, and that was a twist." The twins deduced.
"So they had an inside man. What a clever twist indeed." Lizen hopped off Leo and walked beside the stone dogs.
"Of course, it's just speculation. But I think we can all agree on who the traitor is right?"
"Katarina." They all said at the same time.
"Of course, she's the main suspect. We'll start our investigation after meeting with Riala then."
I don't know who this Katarina is, but she does sound very suspicious. Three people who immediately pointed their finger at you is either the sign of a scapegoat or just nobody liking you.
Keeping up the pace, we soon reached a wooden gate. It was painted black with spikes on top. Adding in the two stone towers on the edge of the walls, it looked well protected.
Shiku transformed back into her human form and knocked on the gate in a certain pattern. This seemed to catch the attention of the guard since he immediately opened the door seconds later. The guard was a lion with a greatsword on his back. If my memory is correct, it was a German blade called a zweihander. Those late-night youtube videos were really paying off.
"Back already?, did you find-" The lion looked over to me and cleared his throat. "Oh, well good job."
The lion opened the gate even further, allowing us in. The inside was a lot larger than I first expected. It was completely different from what was on the outside. On the inside, stone walls lined the borders of the town. The buildings were similar to the ones of Ken'bitch, with a big castle at the end of the city.
Lots of civilians with monster-like features roamed the streets with very few humans mixed in. I also noticed several guards who wore heavy armor and gnarly weapons were watching me as I entered.
I was gonna insult them for letting a fugitive inside without any proper restraints. But I'm very confident that they can just recapture me if I even attempt to run. Especially the ones with cat-like features, who knows which one is a Cheeta in there?
"I see that you also found Lizen, guess that would mean-"
"Ray!" Neila cheered as she jumped on the lion's arm.
"Little Neila is here as well. Didn't think you'll be returning so soon."
"Things became complicated, so our search had to cease."
"We need to speak with sister so we can put together this piece."
The lion grumbled before scratching his mane. "If that's your plan go for it. Just be warned, it's one of those days.
"Daughter of a bastard." Shiku, Lizen, and Leo both mumbled. What exactly was this mood they were referring to and is it really that bad?
"Flores. If you ever have the feeling your soul is leaving your body, warn us immediately."
"The hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Hopefully, you won't have to deal with it. Stay with Ray for now Neila."
Lizen rode off on Leo while Shogietsu lingered behind. I don't know if that warning was a joke or not, but I do not like it one bit.
/~/
Entering the castle was easier than expected. It still made me question the security of this place, but if they're thriving then I think they're doing fine. The castle was large on the inside. You'll have your usual normal stuff like plenty of rooms, books, and pictures of the royal family around. Then you'll have the odd stuff like some sort of ghost haunting the place.
At first, I thought I thought I was seeing things. But the further I went up, the more translucent and ghost-like creatures I saw also went up. Ghost-like cassowaries filled the hall, standing on the walls and ceilings as we walked past. We even straight up went through some of them which was the whole selling point of this area is haunted. And then everything made sense as we finally stepped reached the room of the omega.
I felt so much pressure fall upon me that I had trouble standing up. Like I was on the bench and my arms slowly give out due to the weight. I didn't even have to call out for help before Lizen started to move his lips. I didn't hear a single word he said, but it seemed to alleviate some of the pressure that was on me.
"What… the fuck."
"So how does it feel to have your soul pulled."
"My what!"
"The whole reason why we're here." Lizen opened the door and immediately sighs at the sight.
I also enter the room and was at a loss for words. Clothes were everywhere, bottles of wine neatly stacked into some form of a tower, and a woman with black hair with red tips and wings was sprawled out in her bed. She snored loudly and held a half-empty bottle in her hand. From the looks of it, it seemed to be some form of wine.
"I swear this woman has no dignity to speak of." Lizen walked over to the bird girl and tapped her on the neck. Chanting some quick rhymes, a surge of electricity leaped from his finger and onto the sleeping girl, jolting her awake. Lizen pushed me out of the room and jumped out of the room, and the only thing I could hear is a groan followed by a train whistle, some sort of explosion, and bottles shattering on the ground.
"Okay, I think it's safe to go in now."
Entering the room once again, I confirm that my ears haven't deceived me. Bits and pieces of glass were all scattered across the room as the previously tall bottle tower came crashing down. The wall was also missing, so I could only guess that was the cause of the explosion. That only leaves the train whistle left, and I don't see anything that could have caused that.
"Alright, who- Oh great it's just you." The tipsy woman pouted as she looked at Lizen.
"Evening to you too Riala." Lizen scoffed.
"Ugh. and right in the middle of my evening nap." Riala drunkenly pushes us out of the room and slammed the door shut. This world will always confuse me.
"Well, you're still alive. Looks like she's sober enough to act rationally."
"I almost died and that's the reaction you give?"
"Don't worry hero, it's all very natural."
"Losing your soul doesn't mean death if you want to be factual."
"That doesn't make things any better. I've already had several near-death experiences already and I'm still recovering from the last. I do not need any more thank you!" I angrily storm off before realizing didn't know where to go, so I begrudgingly returned to the group. Not knowing where to go is quite a pain.
/~/
Extra Story: Identification
"Okay. so which one is Shiku and which one is Leo?"
"I am Shiku, the brawler of stone. You can recognize me by the sleeves I have blown. I'm always the first one to start the rhymes, so if you hear one talking, it's usually me who chimes."
"I am Leo, the mage of the land. Unlike my sister, my clothes haven't lost a strand. I second to speak and to others, quite meek. But when we talk normally, I am always the first to speak."
"... Lizen, translation."
"Ugh." Lizen sighed. To start, Shiku is brash, rash, and dresses like trash. If the sleeves are missing, you can identify her fast."
"Was that on purpose?"
"Yes. now Leo is meek and is quite a geek, so the caster is the way he goes. He wears long sleeves, to protect his knees. And that explains how we know."
"... I'm too tired for this."
