Disclaimer: I don't own the Legend of Mana or any other game series.
Chapter 16: Indigestion
Amidst the rows of corn, there sat a small crop circle where two walnut trees stood. Crossing the expanse between them was a green hammock on which Jack lazily reclined. He puffed away on another piece of sugar cane as he was gently rocked from side to side under the cooling shade by two [Woodings], tree creatures of lesser sentience to the better known [Treant]; not to be confused with [Trent].
Using one hand to support his head, Jack took a swig from his ice-cold bottle of apple cider as the sun's warmth touched his brow through the leaves. The mana-infused liquid that slid down his throat was distilled from unnaturally grown apples whose growth was enhanced by Jack's mana during the field's restoration. This method of production offered greater nutrients than the standard fare, but didn't hold a candle to the power that true [Mana Produce] bestowed.
Farmers tended the fields around his not-so-secret hideaway in preparation for the next planting season and let the captain be. They were used to his eccentricities by this point. And, thankfully, most of their crops were able to be restored with very few losses in the form of some squashed pumpkins.
This, along with his occasional defense of the town, had long quashed any lingering resentment or jealousy at the fact Jack mostly just lounged around.
Unlike Earth, the magic rich world of Fa'Diel existed in a state where crops could be grown at any time of the year. Apples could be picked in the dead of winter and pumpkins harvested in the dog days of summer. That's not to say people just threw anything in the ground and called it a day, however. That was a certain process to it.
Furthermore, Sean's placement of the various artifacts also had a subtle effect on crop rotation and production, one that would become more pronounced in the coming days. Each object raised the strength and alignment of the different elements for respective and neighboring territories on The World Map. This mainly affected the aforementioned [Mana Produce] which were arranged into one of 8 categories by color, but a change in all floras would occur.
Jack hummed as the distinctive "he-he" of a white-breasted nuthatch sounded from the branches above. The sound intermingled with those of the farmers' hoes striking the earth in sync, hacking and scraping away and suffusing the air with the welcome scent of wet dirt.
The rest of the [Norwich Advance Guard] were out patrolling the fields. Every so often, one would send a glance Jack's way. Their captain's closed eyes and relaxed visage drew annoyed huffs from some, clearly displeased that he wasn't doing his job.
"He's supposed to be training us," was the thought on everyone's mind. The fight against the flock dropkicked the lethargy out of most of them.
"It's not good to work too much," came his reply, an easy excuse to avoid doing work. "Especially not after that scare. Just hang around. Chill a spell."
A ping sounded overhead and Jack opened his lids, curious as to who was harshing his buzz.
"What's up?" He spoke on reflex, not moving from his reposed position,. His attunement to nature detected no malevolent presences or ill-will.
Sean: "Hey, Jack. This is Sean. The guy you ran into at the bar the other night. I'm just calling to let you know there's a monster approaching Norwich. Goes by the name 'Chocobo Eater' for obvious reasons. It should be at Kathy's Ranch in about 10 minutes if you know where that is. I'm heading over there to deal with it and I'd really appreciate your help.
I also need a favor… (Scroll down for more)."
Attached, there was a party invite titled, "Graveyard Smash."
Jack took another swig and mulled it over. "That's something." He poked one of the blue boxes and watched the screen ripple. "Should probably check with the guys, first." He swallowed his sugar cane and rolled out of the hammock. "Hold onto this for me, will you?" Jack then passed his bottle of cider to one of the [Woodings] and looked around for the nearest sentry. He held his right hand over his eyes as he scanned the fields.
"Dude! You don't want to eat that!" A chubby guard exclaimed, a one Derek "Sandman" Hammer. He carried an axe on his back and wore a true Viking helmet, none of that horned business, but that bulging gut screamed more sumo wrestler.
"Why not?" His taller friend, Ray Publick, asked in a high-pitched voice. In his gloved hand, he held a single watermelon seed.
The pair stood away from their peers who meandered about and did little of anything, their minds partially numbed by the job's monotony.
"That thing will grow and blow up inside you. How do you not know this?"
Ray groaned. "Ugh, that's just an urban legend."
"We have Jack as our fricken' captain." Derek waved his hands around. "Just last week, he reverse iron-maidened a guy with a hibiscus tree. Why do I need to explain this!?"
"He wouldn't just leave that stuff lying around. Otherwise, he wouldn't be captain," Ray argued.
"Jack's bipolar. There's no telling what he's going to do."
"Well, I—"
The fatter man suddenly held a finger to his lips. "Dude, shh! Here he comes."
"Hey, dudes!" Jack called as he came walking over. "You guys staying busy out here?"
"Yes, sir/captain." They both snapped a salute, postures straight and spears held aloft. This kept them from smacking their toes…again. "Everything is good/A-okay here, sir," they spoke nervously and hoped they weren't caught slacking off.
"That's great." The two Woodings shuffled up behind the smiling captain, drawing the guards' attention. "I've got to head out for a bit. Some trouble might be brewing nearby."
"Did you receive a message, sir?" Neither had seen Pelican nor the Moogle mail services that day.
"Kind of," Jack replied. "Need to go check and see it's not bogus. Can you two let everyone know I'll be gone a spell?"
"Yes, captain/Whatever you need, sir!"
"Radical. I'll catch you guys later. And loosen up a bit, will you? All that stress is killer on your psyche." Jack then sank into the earth and disappeared.
They both waited a few seconds for him to be out of earshot.
"Phew, that was a close one." Derek breathed in relief. His posture returned to its slouched state.
"I know." Ray stared at the spot where Jack left. "You ever wish Jack had a thought balloon over his head?"
Derek nodded. "Totally."
The taller guard then looked at the Woodings' unblinking, solid blue eyes and grimaced. "Shame we've still got these things to deal with," he stated quietly, unsure if they understood human speech.
"Dude, right," the shorter one empathized. "These things have always given me the creeps."
"I guess we should tell everyone Jack's gone."
"Yeah," Derek agreed. "And get us away from here." He cupped his hands to his face and took a deep breath. "Hey! Everybody! Jack's Off!"
A moment later, another guard shouted back, "They sure do!"
Laughter swept across the land as the guards snickered at the childish jest. A select few chose instead to smirk and roll their eyes at the played-out humor. The farmers, who had been working since dawn, leaned on their hoes to stay standing whilst their bodies shook with mirth. Beads of sweat fell from their foreheads as they took this chance to relax under the sun's sweltering heat on this humid, cloudless day.
"Man, that joke never gets old," Ray remarked. He wiped an invisible tear from his eye and glanced towards the town. "Why do you think Jack asked us to stay quiet about that Sean guy?"
Derek shrugged. "Beats me. I thought that red police officer was about to blow a gasket."
"Can you all keep this hush-hush?" Jack had asked the assembled guard yesterday. "There was a breakout last night over at the jail and I don't want there to be any misunderstandings."
Murmurs passed amongst the crowd as everyone turned towards their neighbor and inquired about what happened whilst trading looks of uncertainty. All of them were in the dark concerning the escape, except for Jack because he picked up a flood of mana signatures fleeing the town early that morning. They'd passed by the fields and Jack's house wasn't far from them.
"Why would there be a misunderstanding, captain?" One guard asked.
"Apparently, the responsible party used plant-based magic. I shouldn't have any issues, but the Mandragora seed I gave to our young friend had a strange reaction to his magic and I wouldn't want him to catch blame for something that was out of our hands," Jack explained, fully aware of Sean's peculiar aura.
It was a blessing that none of them nor the farmers possessed a solid enough grasp of magic to detect the half-truths in his words.
"What should we tell them if the cops come poking around?"
"Just direct all inquiries to me, dudes," Jack said. "I'll make sure everything gets sorted out."
Biggs and Wedge POV
"What a waste o' time," Biggs groused. The pair had just exited the library empty-handed and were presently walking through town. "Who woulda thunk they wouldn't have anything. Norwich is a trading hub, for crying out loud." Then, in a lower voice, he mumbled, "Bitter old broad."
"At least Barts pointed us in the right direction," Wedge consoled. Neither was any closer to figuring out exactly who infiltrated the station, having spoken with both resident experts. "That has to count for something."
Biggs snorted. "Yeah. A fat load of good that did us. I still say them mooks was hiding something."
During their visit to the farmer the other day, finding him tilling the soil behind his residence, Barts revealed to them the existence of a creature known as [Mandragora]. And Barts, despite his years invested into agriculture, knew very little of said plant beyond the bare minimum. He was the type of man who loved the outdoors and preferred getting his hands dirty to using magic to do all of the work.
"There's nothing like enjoying the fruits of one's labor," he spoke passionately, beaming with pride at the healthy, red tomatoes standing but a few feet from him.
Biggs rolled his eyes under his helmet. "That's great, but do ya really not know anything else?"
"Sorry," Barts apologized. "Wish I could be more help."
"Your assistance in this matter has been greatly appreciated," Wedge interjected, a common tactic to avoid confrontations. The police's PR wasn't the best and the lieutenant helped run damage control. "We also plan to meet with Jack, but before we leave, do you perhaps know of anyone else who might know more on the subject?"
Barts tilted his head in ponderation. "No one comes to mind and I was about to say he'd know better than I. Jack should be out in the fields again. He fixed up the place before I could get over there."
"Thank you again for your time."
"Do you truly believe Jack was lying?" Wedge asked his compatriot.
"I'm not sure," Biggs confessed. "I'll readily admit Jack knows more about plants than me, but I can't help feelin' somethin's rotten around here."
"Kind of hard for the dude to do that when he's been kidnapped." Wedge blinked and jotted down notes on a pad.
"What do ya mean, kidnapped?" Biggs questioned. One of the farmers mentioned Sean's involvement in the town's protection. "I didn't hear anything about no kidnapping."
"All I know is that one second he was here and the next he wasn't," Jack responded calmly and scratched his chin. "That's about the best I can reason. There're also Chocobo tracks headed that way." Jack gestured towards the woods at the edge of the fields. "And someone did shoot arrows at us during the attack."
"It's the tribe again," Wedge commented.
Biggs grit his teeth. "Yeah, I know that." He turned back to Jack. "You ever heard of somethin' called a Mandragora."
Jack nodded. "I normally use them to scare crows and monsters away from swiping our stuff."
"One of our officers reported hearing a lullaby and the smell of onions before everyone hit the sack. Does that fit its description?"
"Nah, bro. A mandragora's scream kills people, not put them to sleep…well, not temporarily."
"Might the tribe have someone who can use plant-based magic?" Wedge asked. "It doesn't seem that far out of the question."
"Maybe," Biggs assented. "Or at least that's what Jack seemed to suggest. But them guards looked constipated to me. Like they was trying to hide something."
"They did fail to maintain eye contact." Wedge distinctly remembered some of the guards fidgeting at their presence. The way they suddenly clammed up and found the ground to be extraordinarily interesting when questioned. "But we did also discover traces of sleeping powder near where Sean and his acquaintances were purported to be, along with the tracks Jack mentioned."
"Yeah, there was that."
"Do you wish to head back to the station?"
Biggs inclined his head. "Mayhaps we can—Wah!" He exclaimed as he fell back on his rump. Passerby turned to gaze at the commotion in bewilderment and anyone who thought to laugh at or ridicule the Major were dissuaded by the flat stares and subtle headshakes of their fellows.
"We don't need him disturbing the peace again," civilians whispered amongst the crowd.
Wedge, meanwhile, tranquilly inspected the blue screens. "It appears that Sean has sent us a message."
Sean: "Hey, guys. Sorry if I'm interrupting anything, but a monster is approaching Kathy's Ranch and will be there in under 10 minutes with friends. I'm going there to deal with it and I wanted to alert the police in case any monsters tried to enter town. Accept the invite if you want to help. Thanks."
"Thanks, Captain Obvious," Biggs snarked. He grumbled a few choice words under his breath as he climbed back to his feet and dusted off his pants.
"Do you think he's talking about the [Chocobo Eater]?" The police were the ones who posted the flyer.
"What else could it be?"
"Should we notify the Inspector?"
Biggs shook his head. "Nah, let's head over there. It shouldn't be much of a problem and I ain't exactly missing his shouting either."
"Very well," Wedge replied, head dipped in resignation.
Gengen POV
"Where Leona want this?" The kobold asked through the sack of flour clenched in his teeth. Bags of oranges were held firmly in his arms and a basket filled with various spices was balanced precariously atop his head.
The proprietress had sent him on a grocery run, as she was wont to do, mainly for her business, but occasionally for some peace of mind. At least once a week, Gengen would visit the market with a shopping list in paw. This would normally consist of foodstuffs with an extra, rarer item thrown in that would keep him away from The Wandering Specter for a few hours.
Now, Leona adored Gengen and they'd known each other for months. However, his mannerisms could become grating over long lengths of time.
Leona stood near the back entrance and examined the kobold who remained in the open doorway with subtle amusement. Xanthe, a female, yellow-scaled Bangaa and Big Bull, a literal bull man, stood by her sides. Both raced over when they heard the delivery gate crash open. The resultant bang was loud enough to frighten the patrons inside. They jumped in alarm and scrambled for their weapons due to the expectation that the front doors would be blown in.
"It's just him." Xanthe sighed when she caught sight of the kobold and sent him a look of exasperation. "At least he didn't break anything this time," she said.
Humphrey, a muscular man wearing a white, blacksmith's headband, came running up to them. He hunched over and placed his hands on his knees as he panted desperately to catch his breath. A light bruise colored his shoulder from where he bashed into the gates. He'd narrowly been fast enough to run ahead and throw them open before Gengen could ram into them and destroy the cart.
Humphrey lifted his head and gave him the old stink eye, not knowing what got into the canid.
Leona discreetly glanced at the wall clock and found to her surprise that he'd cut their shopping time in half. The kobold wasn't winded either and gazing past him, Leona saw that all of her goods were completely intact, neatly stacked on the cart, with no spillage or leaks in sight.
"Gengen," she voiced, a touch of concern entering her tone. "Have you been exercising more lately?"
"Me been doing regular routine, same as always," Gengen answered, wholly oblivious to the atmosphere. "Why Leona ask?"
"I was just curious," she replied. "I noticed that you've gotten faster."
"Oh, right." The kobold nodded and almost dropped the basket of spices. Xanthe managed to catch it and she hissed at him irritably. Leona simply raised an eyebrow and he smiled back awkwardly and blushed in embarrassment. "Sean made Gengen stronger."
"Sean?" The name sounded familiar. "Was he a young man with black hair and green eyes?"
Gengen nodded fervently. "Yes! That's him. Me and Soiree were in the fields with him when the alarm went off. He made us stronger to help." His ears drooped and he softly kicked the ground like a petulant child. "But I didn't get to help at all."
"Easy there, brother," Big Bull said, sounding like Hulk Hogan. "There will always be more opponents out there." He patted the kobold on the shoulder, causing him to stumble from the strength behind it.
Leona hummed and considered this new information. "How did he make you stronger? And has Sean done anything else that seems strange or suspicious?"
"Soiree made me promise not to say anything else about it. Gengen is sorry."
"I understand." She knew him to be the honorable sort, one to stay loyal and stick to his word, possibly influenced by his canid nature. "You can set what you're carrying down in the storage room. We'll get the rest of this sorted."
"Aye, my lady."
The kobold left for the storage room with the flour and oranges while Humphrey and Big Bull started unloading the cart. The former handed Leona the leftover lucre from the shopping run, then stepped past her carrying several bags of potatoes. Mr. Macho walked after him lifting a barrel of pickles on each shoulder with a wide smile on his face.
Xanthe joined Leona by the back gate as they were expecting a shipment soon via the [Moogle Delivery Service].
Around the side of The Wandering Specter, there was a side street that led to the back gate. Said gate closed automatically after Gengen and Humphrey returned with the wooden cart. It was thoroughly reinforced with runes to prevent any and all chances of theft and could easily withstand cannon fire. The last person who tried robbing the bar found themselves trussed up in a prison cell with all of their hair missing.
"Does Leona need help with anything else? Gengen doesn't mind," the kobold spoke upon returning.
Leona shook her head. "No. That will be all. Why don't you take a break and get yourself something from the kitchen? I'd hate to overwork you."
"But me not tired."
"Can you please do it for me?" She asked in a sweeter tone. "It wouldn't do for a brave warrior to wear himself out."
Gengen briefly hesitated. "Very well. I'll take a break. But Leona be sure to call Gengen if there problem."
She smiled and waved away his fears. "Everything will be fine. You just run along and take a rest."
"Okay. Me going now."
The kobold reentered the establishment and Xanthe turned to Leona once he was gone. "You shouldn't take it so easy on him all the time," she stated. "His naivety won't get him far in this world."
"Gengen is a good boy," Leona remarked. "And I don't intend to tarnish that."
Inside, the kobold walked down a short hallway and took the second door on the right. This led him into the employee breakroom, a small area with a tiled floor and light blue paint coating the walls. A few tables and an attached kitchenette occupied the space.
Leona didn't allow free meals at the restaurant/pub for her workers, but she did keep snacks and refreshments stocked in the fridge and cabinets as a show of appreciation. A coffee machine also sat on top of one of the counters with a fresh box of donuts next to it.
The room itself was vacant aside from himself and smelled of nacho cheese, a leftover from yesterday's lunch. The soft breeze from the ceiling fan helped spread it around.
Gengen opened the fridge and found a 90s era spread inside: A pack of energy drinks, soda, purple stuff, OJ, and lime green Jello. Between the orange juice and a slice of strawberry cheesecake, there was a container with a cubed steak inside, smothered in BBQ sauce and completely free of onions, a vegetable that's toxic to dogs.
"Oh, boy!" His ears stood straight up. "Me love steak!" His stomach rumbled in agreement.
Gengen tried reaching for it, but as he extended his paw, a message from Sean popped into existence. In his haste to fill his belly, the kobold failed to register the window and accidentally pressed 'Y' on the party invite and disappeared. Humphrey appeared 10 minutes later and rolled his eyes when he saw the refrigerator door open. He quietly closed it after retrieving his lunch.
Sean: "Hey, Gengen. I wasn't sure if you'd be up for this, but there's going to be a monster attack on Kathy's Ranch in less than 10 minutes. Would you mind helping out? I'm already inviting a few other people. Thanks."
Soiree POV
"Thank you! Come again, kupo!" She waved enthusiastically at the customer's retreating back, a freshly repaired fiddle in his hands. The big-nosed elf stepped out the door without a word as the Moogle sound effect heralded his exit.
It had only been a day, but Soiree already made 700 Lucre in sales, a more than 50% increase in daily profits. The fiddle alone netted 300 and a drum set and marimba made up the rest.
She gazed across the store at all the bits and bobs housed on its shelves and was half-tempted to contact Sean to come back again for more repair work.
"Don't get greedy, kupo!" Soiree berated herself. "You're doing just fine on your own…But maybe he could teach you the spell for a discount?" She flumped onto the stool behind the register and sat there alone in her little shop, watching dust gather.
Soiree exhaled and supported her head on the counter with her right hand while her left anxiously drummed the countertop. She stared out the window in quiet contemplation as she waited for another customer to stop on by.
She then flinched and nearly fell off her stool when a blue screen appeared in front of her face. Soiree flapped her wings to steady herself and leaned forward to read the message once she was stabilized.
Sean: "Hey, Soiree. Remember how you wanted me to take care of the [Chocobo Eater]? Well, I'm about to do just that. It's going to attack Kathy's Ranch within the next 10 minutes. Make sure to have that [Spring] spell book ready. The imminent battle may or may not showcase the necessary magical expertise, but I'll have gotten rid of the monster like you wanted. Peace."
The Moogle slowly read the message a second time and thought back to their previous conversation.
"The monster has a nasty habit of running away whenever we get too close…. The main issues are the creature's armored hide and the other monsters that show up with it," Her own words echoed back to her.
Soiree examined the party invite that Sean also sent. "Sean will probably be fine, kupo!" She told herself, remembering vividly the strength of his summons. Soiree then took a quick glance at her shop and frowned at the reminder at Muto was presently at Kathy's Ranch.
"But I suppose I'm due for a little break."
She flew from the stool and left her shop, making sure to lock the door and flip the sign to 'Closed' behind her. Soiree then pressed 'Y' on the invite and joined up with the rest of the party.
Sean POV
New Reputation!
Two River City (Kobold (Dog) District): (Neutral: 100/499)
Due to your actions, your reputation has changed.
Two River City (Human District): +100
Two River City (Winged District): +100
Current Reputations:
Two River City (Human District): (Neutral: -100/499)
Two River City (Winged District): (Neutral: 120/499)
Sean waved away the notification after having sent off the last of his messages. He knew the present risk of inviting certain people along when taking their lower stats into account, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. That was the reason he texted Jack first. Sean believed the man's person to be enough to safeguard everyone else and keep them from being beaten to death by the [Chocobo Eater]'s superior strength.
"If Jack doesn't show up, I'll just reset the save and only invite Soiree."
For using your head, you have gained +2 INT and +2 WIS.
INT: 84 → 86
WIS: 115 → 117
"I also hope this doesn't bite me in the ass later," he thought. "I need everyone to get stronger, but I have no idea how strong the monsters that are tagging along are. Also, need to make sure no one steals my kill."
He strode up the dirt path to Kathy's Ranch and checked his map every few seconds for either his friends' or the monsters' arrival. Both the quaint cottage and Chocobo pen were quick to come into view, but the present situation swiftly obliterated the excitement that bloomed in his chest at seeing the giant, goofy birds.
The Gnoll guard eyed him with suspicion from over by the stables. She spotted the tenseness in his shoulders and hurried pace, watching the human's eyes shoot back and forth like he was being followed. She pushed herself off the wall and walked over non-threateningly, her gait relaxed and composed and her weapon still sheathed on her back.
Name: Urd
Race: Gnoll
Title: Bodyguard
Age: 25
Level: Lvl 52 Next Level: 7000/10,400
Affinities: Water: (800)
HP: 7025/7025
TP: 17,725/17,725
MP: 850/850
STR: 402
VIT: 281
DEX: 307
INT: 34
WIS: 57
SPI: 22
LUK: 43
Synchro Effect: [Primal Fury Lvl 2]
Effect: During battle, all stats increase by 50% for every 10% of HP lost.
Stat Points: 260
Perk Points: 104
Description: Hailing from the [Flooded Savanna], this wild woman loves a good fight and dominating her foes. Currently working as a bodyguard to send money back home. Started training with the bardiche at the age of 8. Once defeated 10 opponents simultaneously, securing herself victory in a tribal tournament.
Muto was busy carrying bags of Chocobo feed to the stables and glimpsed Sean from his peripheral. He waved at the nice man whilst sporting a goofy smile and completely failed to catch the mood.
The owner of the ranch in question happened to see him from the living room window of her cottage, the interior of her home smelling like freshly baked apple pie. She quirked a brow at his unusual behavior and even more so at the peculiar company he kept: a school of floating piranha, a red wolf, and the strangest looking rooster she'd ever seen.
Each followed behind him like a row of ducklings and her face screwed in confusion when she heard flute music playing on the wind. "No idea where that came from."
She then stepped outside to greet the stranger and see what got him so worked up.
Name: Kathy
Race: Human
Title: Ranch Owner
Age: 18
Level: Lvl 7
Likes: Chocobos, Racing, Steak
Dislikes: Thieves, Laziness
Description: A young cowgirl and proprietor of her own ranch located at the edge of Norwich. A hard worker, this little lady worries about her dad who spends his time travelling the world in search of treasure. Has a half-brother that she doesn't know about and is an expert at using the lasso. Wants to go on a diet, but can't help eating. Believes she'll get freckles if she's careless.
Observe: Lvl 56 → Lvl 57
Level 57: The user can now see invisible and hidden objects.
"Howdy there, partner," she called in a southern twang. "What brings you to my ranch?"
"Sorry about this, but we don't have time for pleasantries. I'm Sean Rent and in less than 10 minutes, the [Chocobo Eater] is going to be here," he warned. Her welcoming smile twisted into a hideous scowl at that piece of news. "I've already alerted Jack and a few of my friends about it." "And I'm really glad it's a thing that I can [Pause] to type messages."
"You rang, dude?" Jack's head popped out of the ground between them. The man's hair was shiny and clean without a single loose pebble or speck of dirt.
Kathy hollered and jumped back whereas Urd snorted at the man's absurdity.
"Do you need any help?" The Gnoll asked.
"I'm good." The rest of his body soon followed as the earth shifted to raise him up to his feet. Jack idly brushed tiny traces of dust from his shoulders.
"Wish I had a thought balloon over that guy's head." Sean thought. "Hey, Jack. Thanks for getting here so fast."
Jack placed his thumb on the side of his nose and blew out a rock. "No problem. It's kind of my job to handle things like this." He looked to the east. "And it'd be hard to miss what you're talking about."
"You can sense that?"
"I've had a lot of practice."
"Would one of y'all mind clarifying exactly what you meant about that varmint?" Kathy asked sternly. She'd heard Jack's name floating on the wind, pushing her to take the matter more seriously.
"It's as I said, that monster is going to be here soon," Sean answered amicably. "And Soiree asked me to help take care of this a little while back. She told me about how you all were having trouble dealing with it."
Gengen suddenly appeared with his paw still outstretched.
The abruptness of it startled the nearest Chocobo at the edge of the pen and it warked and started pacing about, its frantic state putting the rest on high alert. Each member of the flock promptly stood up and swiveled their heads about in search of danger. Light brown feet stomped the earth and kicked up dust as the birds extended their necks and fluffed up their feathers to make themselves more of a threat.
Muto carefully set the bag of feed down when he saw the display and cautiously moved towards the fence while keeping his eyes on the birds for signs of aggression. He climbed over the fence and took out some [Gysahl Greens] from one of his pockets just as Kathy instructed him to do in these situations. Muto tossed a handful of them to the yellow birds, but only the chicks displayed any interest when they chirped in delight and waddled over.
Also known as [Carrots], different [Greens] could even be used to distract Chocobos in battle when monsters were near. And, they were a pivotal part of the Chocobo Breeding side quest in Final Fantasy 7, the culmination of which was the acquisition of the [Gold Chocobo] and the [Knights of the Round] summon.
"Who? How? What?" The kobold spun around in astonishment, glancing every which way once he registered that he was no longer at The Wandering Specter. "Where me at!?"
"Settle down there, cub." Urd reached out her paw and rubbed the top of his head, a regularly employed method to get her younger tribesmen to cool off. The kobold twitched under the soft touch of this complete stranger, but melted nonetheless and closed his eyes as his tail wagged behind him. She removed her paw after 5 seconds elapsed, allowing Gengen to gather himself and regain the decorum befitting a "Captain."
He blinked his eyes as if coming out of a haze and stood at attention. The kobold then coughed into his fist to dispel his discomfort.
"I can see what you mean," Jack whispered, passing a piece of paper to Sean. "His strength is around the same as the guard."
"Yeah," Sean whispered back. "The Tree of Mana is returning and I really need to get people ready for it. I give it less than 2 years till we're all fucked."
"Sean," the kobold voiced when he saw the human. "You bring Gengen here?"
"I sent you an invite. I thought you being here meant you accepted it."
"You mean like back in the fields?"
"Yes, like the fields." There was a displacement of air. Soiree popped into existence and plopped onto Sean's shoulders. He blinked at the sudden warmth as she wrapped her little arms around his neck to keep from falling. "Hey, Soiree. You're really warm, you know that. Like clothes straight out of the dryer.," he greeted unashamedly.
The last time she was teleported, both her and Gengen appeared standing on solid ground, so she was thrown off guard by reappearing in the air.
"If I were a teenager, this would be some straight up Ecchi crap."
Soiree let go of Sean's neck and flew back in embarrassment, a deep blush coloring her cheeks. "Have you seen the monster yet, kupo!?" She asked hurriedly to deflect attention.
"Hey, Soiree!" Gengen waved.
"Hello, Gengen." She waved back.
"It'll be here soon."
"How exactly did you know that that varmint is coming?" Kathy inquired of Sean; her hands clenched at her sides. The blasted thing had already killed three of her prized mounts and she'd seen the remains after the fact. Muto, bless his heart, had been the one to sound the alarm and unlatch the gate so the rest could run free. "It's always caught us by surprise."
And curse her hard-headedness, but had the kobold not then thrown the cowgirl over his shoulder and taken off, she might have never set eyes on the ranch again in her foolish attempt to protect her flock and livelihood and show that critter what for.
"Wolves have very good hearing." Sean pointed at Faith who puffed up her chest in pride. "Depending on conditions like wind and terrain, they can hear between 6 to 10 miles away." This was factually true.
"Ah man, that's disorientin,'" Biggs stated. He hunched his shoulders and breathed in and out slowly to clear away the nausea. Wedge stood upright and held a calmer disposition, his expression even in contrast to his superior's grimace.
"Looks like everyone's all here," Sean announced.
"You required assistance, Sean?" Wedge asked. He noticed Soiree and Gengen immediately and recalled the farmers' words. They reported that the two had been abducted at the precise moment Sean vanished. He made a note to inquire about the circumstances surrounding their collective kidnapping.
"Yeah. The Chocobo Eater is going to be here in about…." He looked at his [Event Alert] where everyone else saw empty air. "3 minutes."
Gengen sniffed the air and his muzzle scrunched in revulsion. "Ew! Smells like moldy sauerkraut and tuna."
"That's been left to rot in the sun for a week." Urd didn't react anywhere near as strongly, given the kinds of cuisine her people ate. Hyenas, what the existence of Gnolls was heavily influenced by, could smell carrion from several kilometers away. This was also true.
"So, he's telling the truth?" Kathy asked, finding Sean's behavior a might concerning.
"Yeah," Jack answered. "Again, it'd be pretty hard to miss."
The farm girl didn't know a lick about magic, but decided to give Sean the benefit of the doubt with all these people standing civilly around him. She didn't know anyone of them that well either, only aware of Soiree through Muto and acquainted with Wedge from their prior meeting. Still, the key factor here was that she witnessed no hostility in them towards this perfect stranger who just waltzed up from out of nowhere.
"How exactly did ya plan to deal with it?" Biggs asked. "Ya don't exactly strike me as a strategist."
"That's because I'm not," Sean replied with some bite. "Initially, I was going to jump out and bum rush the thing while cutting down whatever monster got in my way." He gestured around the ranch with his right hand. "But there's really nowhere to hide and wide-open spaces like this suck for these kinds of fights."
"Let me take care of that, bro," Jack stated. "This isn't my first rodeo."
"Didn't you say that before?" Gengen asked.
"So I did."
A Few Moments Later…
The Chocobo Eater slowly crested the horizon with its misshapen body, basically a giant head with two long arms and knees bent towards a non-existent neck. Purple scales covered its form up to its wrists and ankles where black, bird-like talons and feet began, respectively. Spikes lined the back of the arm sections below the wrist. Natural armor in the form of brown, pauldron-like growths covered its shoulders.
It sniffed the air and let its dark purple tongue hang from its mouth. Red eyes shone in hunger as the appendage ran along its sharp, yellow teeth, coating them in saliva. But within those sanguine orbs, there was no intelligence, simply a beast acting on instinct.
Kathy's Ranch appeared about a mile away.
It saw neither hide nor hair of the owner nor could it discern the presence of visitors or other inhabitants when it scented the air. All there was before it was a bountiful buffet, the main pen in front of the household where two dozen adult Chocobos grazed with their chicks.
More generic monsters moved alongside it, two types hailing from the [Mana] series and the third a common sight in RPGs in general.
[Mushbooms] and [Shrieknips] were the first two monsters in the entourage, the former having appeared throughout most entries in the Mana series. They were short, anthropomorphic mushrooms with stubby limbs, broad stalks with large faces, and purple caps covered in red hearts. The latter were floating, red radishes sporting goofy expressions, thick yellow lips and leafy eyebrows, and a top that ended in six green leaves. Only in the Legend of Mana could they be found.
Blue [Slimes] oozed through the tall grass around them, leaving behind small traces of themselves that evaporated in the sun. Two yellow orbs accounted for the eyes of the knee-high creatures, but those were their only features. Were they to fuse together, the slimes could fill a small pool.
The number of each monster present, aside from the boss, was 20.
"[Bramble]," Jack uttered as if discussing the weather.
Prickly, scrambling vines shot up from the earth, simply a blur as they wrapped around each monster like a straitjacket, excluding the slimes who were all absorbed. Only their eyes and mouths were visible. Normally, these would serve as avenues of attack, were it not for the thorns which sunk into their maws like meat hooks and spread out from there to every vital organ.
The tiniest twitch would result in a shredded heart or a full-on lobotomy.
"There you go." Jack sat down on a tree stump that suddenly appeared and lit another piece of sugar cane. "Have at it."
"Thanks," Sean replied as everyone's presence materialized. He stared at the completely immobilized Chocobo Eater. "Does take away the challenge, though," he muttered, faintly disappointed by the continuing trend of taking the back seat in fights.
"Me not get to do anything again?" Gengen queried aloud.
"He said 'have at it.' Just take out your sword and stab these things to death."
"It feels cheap."
"Just think of the nice ranch owner you'll be helping, kupo!" Soiree patted his head.
"Eh, I don't have a problem with it. Anything that makes the job easier," Biggs stated. He raised his right gauntlet at the enemy and twitched his middle finger, ready to fire.
"And I'm not risking mine by letting you all duke it out," Jack said before taking a small drag. "Can't even begin to tell you how expensive property damage gets, man."
Urd stood back by the pen and merely watched the proceedings, having no interest in fighting a restrained foe. There was no fun or glory in it; no challenge to overcome. Kathy joined her as she refused to miss seeing the varmint get its comeuppance and Muto resumed his work. The yellow birds had calmed down considerably from their initial scare, but still remained alert and sensed something was off.
"Soiree, can you fly over here please?" Sean asked. She looked to see what he wanted and he pointed his thumb at CE. "This guy's stronger than the others and Gengen and them need the experience." That, too, was true.
Chocobo Eater Lvl 37 [Normal] -Beast-
STR: None
WK: Shade, Salamander
HP: 10,000/10,000
TP: 10,500/10,500
MP: 50/50
STR: 320
VIT: 400
DEX: 100
INT: 2
WIS: 35
SPI: 20
LUK: 10
Perks:
[Armored Hide]: Reduces all physical damage taken by 70%.
Description: A monster with a ravenous appetite for Chocobos. Can be knocked onto its back to bypass its armored hide. After he says, "You're next!" he'll unleash a powerful attack. Has been causing problems for Kathy for a while.
Mushboom Lvl 18 (x20) [Plant/Wood] -Plant-
STR: Shade, Dryad
WK: Wisp, Aura
HP: 2000/2000
TP: 3725/3725
MP: 250/250
STR: 85
VIT: 80
DEX: 64
INT: 10
WIS: 14
SPI: 12
LUK: 8
Description: A cute mushroom that attacks by kicking, and by throwing its own cap.
Shrieknip Lvl 18 (x20) [Plant/Wood] –Plant-
STR: Dryad, Gnome
WK: Aura, Salamander
HP: 1625/1625
TP: 3375/3375
MP: 500/500
STR: 60
VIT: 65
DEX: 75
INT: 20
WIS: 10
SPI: 23
LUK: 7
Description: A giant radish that shoots its leaves and seeds like missiles.
Soiree stared at Gengen who, despite the letdown, showed no hesitation as he withdrew his sword and stabbed a [Shrieknip] between the eyes. "Okay." She flew over to Sean and slammed her hammer onto CE's crown, dealing no damage to the vines. A roar of pain jumped from its throat as the strike forced the thorns deeper.
"Hey, Jack! How strong are these things?"
"I once captured a giant with them."
"…Have you ever read—"
"Yes."
"And fire-resistance?"
"They can take it."
Sean nodded to himself in satisfaction. "Okay. Good." He then placed his hands over CE's mouth, the beast glaring at him hatefully.
[Flamethrower]
Thick streams of fire poured out from each palm and down the brute's gullet, setting its internal organs alight. Paralyzed as it was, all CE could do was let out a silent scream as its health was quickly whittled away and the smell of burning oil wafted out into the air.
"Any reason why you picked the name "Graveyard Smash?" Jack asked from his stump.
"It's a song reference!" Sean shouted back.
A flash and an intense wave of heat went off behind him as Biggs set monsters of his own ablaze.
"Ain't so tough now are ya, ya bastards," he jeered.
Wedge kept his head down and remained silent, not wanting to argue again about his superior's poor attitude. He stuck to dispatching the monsters in a fast and clean manner to reduce suffering. Wedge saw no need to butcher them when a quick stab would do.
The Chocobo Eater produced a choking sound as its HP reached 0 and it dissolved in a cloud of lights with no further trouble. The rest of its friends took another minute or two. When the last ceased living, a short list of notifications appeared.
Quest Completed!
Monster Mash
Reward: 5,000 Exp, 3000 Lucre, Chocobo Summon, Increased Reputation, New Title: Chocobo Enthusiast
Enemy Slain! Chocobo Eater Lvl 37!
Lessened Experience due to Being Restrained:
+5,000 EXP
+400 AP
Level Up!
Sean Rent: Lvl 30 → Lvl 32 (Next Level: 1200/6600)
Soiree: Lvl 31 → Lvl 32 (Next Level: 3600/6600)
Remora: Lvl 15 → Lvl 16 (Next Level: 40/300)
Faith: Lvl 13 → Lvl 14 (Next Level: 80/340)
Axl: Lvl 9 → Lvl 10 (Next Level: 160/260)
Enemy Slain! Mushboom Lvl 18 (x20)! Shrieknip Lvl 18 (x20)
+15,000 EXP
Biggs: Lvl 16 → Lvl 20 (Next Level: 200/4200)
Wedge: Lvl 17 → Lvl 20 (Next Level: 3600/4200)
Gengen: Lvl 14 → Lvl 18 (Next Level: 1800/3800)
But another notification appeared from out of left field, one which pushed him to [Pause].
Tutorial Completed!
Thank you for completing the tutorial. The System would like to thank [The Gamer] for their efforts and the valuable hours spent exploring The System's functions. It realizes that keeping the tutorial hidden could be seen as inconvenience to the player and offers its sincere apologies. Furthermore, it advises the player to exercise greater caution from this point moving forward as the settings will now be changed to reflect the [Normal] difficulty.
Have a nice day.
"What?"
System Updating…10%...50%...Update Complete!
System Software Update
[The Gamer] Version 2.2
Main Features in the System Software Update:
-Normal Difficulty: The difficulty has been adjusted from [Easy] which is a setting that doesn't exist within the Legend of Mana.
-Summon AP Requirements Reconfigured
-Access to Achievements
Achievements
A game mechanic once found mainly in RPGs, they've become more prevalent with the passage of time since the beginning of the 7th Generation of Game Consoles (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii). Additionally referred to as "Trophies," they serve as rewards to the player for completing objectives or tasks usually found outside the game's main focus or storyline.
It might be something like beating a boss without taking a hit or completing a level in a certain amount of time. Fulfilling these conditions is known as "Unlocking the Achievement" and can be worn as a badge of skill depending on the achievement.
Achievement: First Steps: (Completed)
Description: Complete the Tutorial
Reward: Second Title Slot
Achievement: The Journey of a Thousand Miles: (Completed)
Description: Reach Level 25
Reward: Double the Perk and Stat Points Gained Per Level. This effect applies to other people when reaching the required level.
"Can't be too bummed about that. And it's not like this is the first time a game had a hidden mechanic. Fricken' Star Ocean: Till the End of Time and it's invisible karma system."
Sean Rent
Stat Points: 73 → 123
Perk Points: 60 → 80
Lucre: 46,750 → 49,750
STR: 242 → 244 → 264
SPI: 327 → 330 → 350
WIS: 115 → 117
DEX: 111 → 114
VIT: 93 → 96
Elemental Affinities:
Wood/Plant: 595 → 635
Moon/Space: 580 → 620
Lightning/Thunder: 120 → 125
Water: 120 → 125
Fire: 660 → 700 → 705
Soul: 480 → 520
Earth: 90 → 95
For reaching 250 STR, the user gained this skill:
Nerf Gun (Active/Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
No, not the toy, although the term did originate as a reference to the Nerf brand of children's toys. These are foam-based toys that are considered safer and less harmful in comparison to the real deal, hence the term "nerfing."
In video games, nerfing is when an element such as a character, weapon, or skill are purposefully weakened or made less effective. This is done so that these elements aren't or don't become overpowered and to improve the difficulty balance of the game. It's also to make sure that the player's enjoyment and game experience isn't diminished and that the game offers a fair challenge instead of becoming a cakewalk with an easy strategy.
Effect: The player can weaken a character(s), weapon, and/or skill by 20% for 5 minutes up to 3 times a day. This also works on spells. Stacks with other effects.
"Not bad," Sean commented. "Should be pretty useful."
For reaching 500 Soul Affinity, you've gained a new skill!
Beginner Soul Mastery (Active/Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
Unaligned with a specific Mana Spirit, the realm of the Soul is home to many misconceptions, that it is nothing but [Necromancy], [Life Stealing], and more contemptible forms of [Divination]. But just like anything else, it can be used for good, from lifting curses to sustaining health. Take care not to fall into the darker arts.
Effect: Learn all soul-related abilities +5% faster
Effect: Soul-elemental damage decreased by 5% and moon-elemental spells are 5% more effective
Effect: Decreases the cost of soul-related abilities by 5%
"Was that all of them?" Wedge asked after Sean resumed. He took out a cloth and wiped his blade clean.
"I don't sense any others," Jack answered.
"Yeah." Sean glanced at his map and found no enemies in hiding. "We're good." He cast a discreet look at Remora who understood the signal and went about gathering the few drops scattered amongst the corpses.
"Hey, what're they doing?" Biggs asked in suspicion.
"Eating," Sean answered flatly, his face blank. "You can watch if you want." He pointed to where Remora was tearing strips off a [Mushboom].
"N-no thanks."
The group made their way back to the ranch and partway there, Kathy came over to meet them.
"Thank y'all for saving my ranch," Kathy said. "But what happened to that varmint?" The lack of a corpse concerned her greatly.
"You're very welcome, Ms. Kathy, but you should give your thanks to Sean on both accounts. He is the one who called us here."
"Yeah, he did do that. Coulda gone about it a different way though."
"Me was just hungry."
"Catch!" Sean reached into his inventory and tossed him an apple.
Gengen barely looked up in time to catch the red fruit and nearly fumbled it in surprise.
"It's not much, but it'll stave off the hunger some. Plus, I remembered that we didn't really get a chance to eat because of the attack not too long ago."
"That's okay." Gengen bit into the apple. "Thank you," he said with his mouth full.
"Anyway, to answer your question," Sean said as he gave Kathy his attention. "Enemies disappear when I kill them and you're welcome. But I can't take all of the credit. Jack's the one who held them still."
"Just take the credit, guy," Jack replied. "I might not have known about this if not for you."
"Somehow I doubt that." "You're welcome again, then."
New Reputations!
Kathy: (Neutral: 200/499)
Urd: (Neutral: 10/499)
"I apologize if I was a might rude earlier, partner," Kathy said. "Times have been getting tougher for everyone and you never know who you can trust. If there's anything I can do to repay you, just give me a holler."
"I wasn't too bothered by it, but I wouldn't mind some riding lessons," Sean spoke immediately. He wanted to grin like a fool at having acquired the [Chocobo] summon sphere, but he reined himself in. He was patient and could wait till he got home.
Kathy nodded and held out her hand. "I think we can arrange that."
Sean smiled and gripped her hand firmly. The cowgirl's strength soon proved greater than he expected as she shook his arm up and down.
Quest Alert!
Riding 101
Out of gratitude, Kathy has accepted your request and decided to teach you the basics of [Chocobo Riding]. An international sport, the cowgirl doesn't yet know just how inexperienced the gamer is. But that's okay. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Main Objective:
-Reach Level 10 in the [Riding] Skill: (1/10)
Success: Chocobo Saddle
Bonus Objective:
-Successfully Perform an Advanced Trick: (0/1)
Bonus Reward: Increased Reputation with Kathy, Gysahl Greens (x5)
Quest Failure: Nothing
"That's grand," Biggs commented impatiently. His hostile tone grabbed everyone's immediate attention, most of them seeming befuddled by what could've evoked his anger. "Now, with all o' that taken care, ya mind explainin' what happened with the Chobin Hood tribe?"
"Not really much to tell," Sean replied. "They abducted me because some members of their clan were injured and they needed healing."
"And ya went ahead and did it." Biggs sneered. He vividly remembered the dead officers that the Clan killed. Their arrow-riddled corpses and shocked eyes stared back at him in his mind's eye, as did the crying faces of their widows.
Sean looked at him like he was stupid. "They took us somewhere where there were hundreds of them armed to the teeth and no one knew where we were. I wasn't exactly in a position to refuse."
"Do you remember where their hideout is?" Wedge inquired.
Sean shook his head. "No. I passed out and didn't wake up until after I got there. And Soiree and Gengen don't remember anything because they used some type of magic to wipe their minds of the location." "And I'd just be sending you to the slaughter if I told you," was what went unsaid lest a fight break out.
Soiree nodded. "It's true. They hit us with sleeping powder, kupo!" The Lieutenant placed a check mark on his notepad. Her statement corroborated their findings.
"Pfeh! A likely story," Biggs said. "If they needed you so badly, then how'd you get away."
"I did a short distance teleport," he replied succinctly. "Did you need anything else or can I go home now?"
"That was all we needed," Wedge responded. He placed a hand on Biggs' shoulder. "Thank you for your time."
Sean disbanded the party and walked away from the ranch back into town. He was ready to relax, grab a bite to eat, and start doing chores around the house. There was already a laundry list of things to get done.
"Go on, ask him!" Soiree's subconscious shouted at her as she watched him leave.
"Excuse me, Sean." He turned around as she flew up to his face. "Would you happen to know where I could learn the [Repair] spell?"
"I can teach it to you right now if you want. It might give you a headache, but it'll be much faster than studying a spell book."
"Is this like how you made us stronger?"
Sean tilted his hand side to side in the so-so gesture. "Eh, it should be pretty similar. I'm not sure how much it's going to hurt though." "Hope it doesn't make you braindead." She saw the wariness in his expression.
"Not to worry, kupo!" Soiree cast the [Soothe] spell on herself and landed on the ground to prevent another mishap. "I'm ready when you are," she stated with complete confidence.
"All right." He raised his hand. "Just stay still." A white ball of brilliant energy flew from his palm and entered her temple.
Soiree's eyes squinted at the tingling sensation, giving her the traditional Moogle look as her brain processed the influx of information. No pain plagued her, but a wave of dizziness did wash over her. She slowly leaned to the side and Soiree stomped her foot down to maintain balance.
He placed his hand on her shoulder to keep her steady. "You okay?"
She nodded and made herself dizzy again. "Bad idea," she uttered quietly. She then looked up with her indigo eyes. "Thanks, Sean."
"Don't mention it…You wouldn't happen to have that book on you, would you?"
"No. I left it at the shop, kupo!" She rose up and poked him in the chest playfully. "You didn't forget our deal, did you?"
"I was just being hopeful. Did you need anything else?"
"Would you mind showing me how to better cast it?"
"I can do that later," Sean replied. "But I should be getting back home. Koroku might be getting hungry again."
"Okay. I'll be seeing you, kupo!"
"Before you take off…" Sean materialized a folded-up piece of paper in his hand, not the same one Jack gave him. "Would you mind handing this to Biggs, Wedge, or Jack? It'd probably be best if they all saw it, but at least one of them."
"Sure, but what is it?" She examined it for markings, but felt no residual energy.
"Something very important. They should probably still be at the ranch."
"Why didn't you hand it to them back there, kupo!?"
"Because I've been running around all day and didn't want to deal with Biggs' questioning." "And I'm not completely sure that [Esuna] will fix this." He gave her a two-fingered salute. "See ya."
Sean left the Moogle floating there and watched her dot on the map meet up with the others. Shortly after, he heard Biggs scream "What!" and laughed, but the true situation wasn't humorous in the least.
Due to your actions, your reputation has changed.
Soiree: +100 → (Friendly: 1100/1999)
Gengen: +70 → (Friendly: 620/1999)
Biggs: +20 → (Neutral: 350/499)
Wedge: +30 → (Friendly: 1/1999)
Jack: +20 → (Neutral: 120/499)
Muto: +50 → (Friendly: 750/1999)
Minutes later, Sean stepped off The World Map and made his way up the path to his homestead. A gentle rustle ran through the trees, home to several sparrows who sang melodiously as if welcoming him back. It was when he reached the footbridge, hearing the stream softly burble below, that this encompassing peace was shattered.
There was a loud shatter of glass and he spotted Pelican speedily flying away from his house.
Sean's shoulders slumped and he exhaled. "What now?"
The answer was revealed in the form of a baseball-sized hole in his kitchen window, leaving spiderweb cracks around it. Shards of glass sat in the sink and were spilled across the floor. Axl clucked what sounded like laughter at seeing the mess and Faith barked at him to get him to stop.
There was also a faint buzzing noise that Sean attributed to a bug having gotten inside as he raised his hand and cast [Repair] on the window. Every piece of glass rose into the air and flew back to the window where they all melded together, like it had never been damaged in the first place. Still, the buzzing persisted.
Koroku, who had been awoken by the crash, whined at him and nudged his leg.
"What is it, boy?"
The dog leaned his head down and pointed his nose towards underneath the fridge.
Light glinted off a globular shape when he looked there, one that was pitch-black aside from two sanguine dots which seemed to track his every move. A stamp bearing the image of a [Cactuar] plastered half its surface. One of his Remora swam down, took the orb in its teeth, and deposited it onto the countertop.
"Good fish," Sean praised.
Koroku whined again in the hopes of a treat and gave Sean the most pitiful look he could muster.
Sean rolled his eyes. "And good boy." He threw a piece of steak to him from his [Inventory] which Koroku gobbled up in like 3 seconds.
[Epic][Summon Sphere] Mothman
Using this item gives the player access to the Mothman summon. It is important to remember that "Mothman" is a species, not a singular entity.
"This must be the summon the update notification spoke of." Despite the realization, Sean refrained from touching it. He knew the story of the Mothman and its reported sightings in Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Chernobyl. "In some cases, it's been said that his presence warned of imminent danger while others said he was the direct cause."
"And I have like 7 other spheres to use first." "Still kind of neat to encounter one from North America, though." Most of his summons to date had been from the Final Fantasy series with the exception of the [Red Wolf] from Chrono Cross. And any that originated from a real-world country came from Europe.
This thought was followed by another crash as Sean's window was shattered once again.
"Oh, come on!"
The object bounced off Sean's chest and landed in his hands, the weight of which would've knocked down a regular human. It was a rectangular box wrapped in yellow twine and brown, grocery store paper. The words "To Sean" were written on it in permanent black marker and had no return address.
Axl guffawed even louder at his owner's continued misfortune until Faith became sick of it and nipped him in the butt. The cockatrice squawked and leapt onto the countertop. It did a quick inspection of its tail feathers before setting its sights first on Koroku, who ducked behind Sean's leg nervously, then at Faith who grinned at him in challenge as if saying, "What are you going to do about it?"
Sean cast [Repair] at the window again and unwrapped the package.
Inside, there was the head of a mighty axe that had long since been separated from its haft. A pungent, metallic stench rose from the crimson blade, permanently stained from the many lives it had claimed. Celtic runes were etched into the head and glowed a ghostly blue.
[Legendary] Artifact: Executioner's Axe
Cursed by the tortured souls of the damned, this weapon was sealed within the deepest depths of [Grimm Hollow], a notorious prison built during the [Holy War]. The runes were said to keep any and all from claiming it, but the truth was that it kept the evil inside the prison contained.
Allows the artificer entry into Grimm Hollow.
"The game did talk about the [Holy War] some, but I don't remember reading much about it." Sean looked out the window and stared at his map for a few seconds to confirm if third time's the charm. "All right, then."
Sean placed the axe on his dining room table and Remora fetched the orb and set it down next to it. He was about to go upstairs to speak to Li'l Cactus when he heard the doorbell ring.
"I have a doorbell?" He couldn't help but ask aloud.
"Hello! Is anyone home?" A young woman asked.
He opened the door and standing before him were a teenage girl with long black hair and a tall, broad-shouldered man with a stone-faced expression.
"Hello," Sean said. "Can I help you?"
Author's Notes: Here's Chapter 16. It's been a while. I know. And to reiterate, I don't intend to abandon this story, but I got distracted by life and I'm not sure when the next update will be. I'll try not to make the wait as long next time. I've also been making more notes and hopefully I haven't forgotten to include anything. I reread the first nine chapters and I'll probably go through the others again. There'll probably be small details that I'll miss in future chapters, but I'll try my best to avoid that.
Returning to a story after a while also creates a weird feeling like visiting a house you haven't seen in years. I'm going to try harder to get back into this. Also, [The System] isn't sentient and its messages are closer to automated. I tried something sort of like that a long time ago and it didn't work out.
If you see any problems such as grammar or spelling errors or if I repeated or missed details from previous chapters, then please let me know. This is the Sixth Draft of this Chapter and I think I've caught most, if not all of them. And I'm still not 100% sure about how this chapter turned out, but you can't fixate too much on something or else you'll never move on.
The next chapter will probably be a [Character Encyclopedia].
Thank you for your patience, favorites, follows, and reviews. I truly do appreciate them.