There wasn't fear as I stared down the angry werewolf. I raised my hand and set fire to the blood coursing through my veins. Green flames erupted from my skin, traveling up my arm to my shoulder.
Freki rose from my shadow and curved to my side, draping his body in front of me. A deep growl battled against Garret's, both snarling wolves displaying their fangs.
"Attack me, and I'll bu...
2024-02-19 18:06:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Mana brushed along my arms, and I reacted instinctively. The shadow-aspected mana rushed through the crystal and entered my core, settling with the taste of cold dust on my tongue.
I cut the absorption once I felt Isaac ramp up his mana usage, and a shell of black wrapped us in its embrace. As we continued to fall, the chill sharpened into something beyond surface level.
The feeling...
2024-02-16 19:19:01 +0000 UTC View Post
The city was busy. People bustled to and fro, unconcerned about the caravan making its way through the streets. Some looked our way, and a few bulged their eyes at the sight of the red cloak, but nobody reacted to the same extent as the ones in previous villages and towns.
The horses were massive beasts, so people backed off and gave enough room, but the streets were wide, and we slipped ...
2024-02-15 18:06:02 +0000 UTC View Post
[Alert] You have slain: Furious Soul x47
…
…
…
Calculating Hunt Reward
Applying Strain-Modifier: -25%
…
…
…
[Alert] Portion diverted to repair Lore Matrix…
,,,
,,,
,,,
Calculations Complete
I waited and waited.
I closed the system message with a glare and flopped forward.
Alice nudged m...
2024-02-14 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post
"Go on, they're waiting for you," I told White-paw.
He shook himself out of his stupor and rushed over to his kids. The two kits were swept up in his tail while the third was gently licked.
The sounds between the four of them were chaotic and loud. Sharp yips and excited yelps filled the hollow, and I secured my hood back over my head, the sound dampening as it covered my ears,
<... 2024-02-13 18:06:00 +0000 UTC View Post
We came to a stop. Eodyne stood with her arms crossed and glared at the doorway.
"Well, at least we can confirm we're on the top floor," I offered.
"Annoying. If I turned around, I could have found sanctuary," Eodyne growled.
"We don't know that for sure. This isn't normal; the safe zone might not work as usual," Sereza countered.
"Let's get going. Whether it works or no...
2024-02-12 18:19:00 +0000 UTC View PostBright green leaves and rich brown trunks zipped by in a flash of color. Freki darted between the trees, carrying us on his back unimpeded by the weight.
I knew he was large, and I had wanted to try riding him, but up until now, I just never had a reason.
That was a mistake.
"L-left. Be-hind twisted trunk!" White-paw stuttered.
Freki made a sharp turn that pulled us to t...
2024-02-12 18:06:00 +0000 UTC View PostWhile Áine patched me up, I had to quickly scoop up my insides and shove them back in. It hurt like hell, but it saved my familiar mana, which was sorely needed.
Orlun and Rello swept the room while Aleena and Sereza stood guard over Eodyne. She was asleep, but none of us knew if she had a special kind of resistance to narcoleptics.
And if a monster attacked? They'd be there to def...
2024-02-09 19:25:11 +0000 UTC View PostWhen Devon saw me, he casually held up a thin wooden sheet. I couldn't help but stare at it as I got within conversational range.
"What's wi-" I tried.
He snapped his arms out so fast I barely registered the movement before the gust hit my face.
It stole my breath away, and I lowered my hand as another two flaps of Devon's arms pushed my hood back.
"Devon. What the heck?...
2024-02-08 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post"Devon, what is that?"
"It looks like bound souls. The impression of them," he answered coldly.
Alice stepped forward, and I noticed the crimson ring around her eyes instead of blue. "Why are they still here?"
"Most likely forgotten."
"Why can we only see them with mana running through us?" I asked.
He glanced my way, and I saw that his eyes were normal. "Learn to ...
2024-02-07 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View PostLeaving the corpses behind felt sombering. It reminded me too much of the ones we carried back to the church.
Yet…
I'm not sad about it. Just simmering anger. I'm not sure if that's a good thing...
Alice lightly bumped into me as we exited the forest and got back onto the road. "Are you okay?"
I licked my canines and tested the sharp tooth against the spongy f...
2024-02-06 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post
A glass jar appeared, containing a brackish liquid with an unidentifiable grey mass inside.
Bingo.
I presented it to Erebus, who inspected the glass by tapping it. He nodded and crawled up my arm to return to my soulspace.
"Yeah, it looks like my new perks are working correctly."
Sereza made a face while the guards stepped closer and peered at the jar.
"Wh...
2024-02-05 18:19:01 +0000 UTC View Post
"Cyrus, seriously..." Sereza complained as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I shouldn't have ignored all the warning signs when I met you."
"Hey, you chose to come along. I wrote 'Danger' in big letters when I explained it. Don't blame me for this."
"A vaguely worded letter saying your god has asked you to do something is not enough—not even mentioning that your god directly a...
2024-02-02 19:19:01 +0000 UTC View Post
(Howdy, so there shouldn't have been a post today but it is what it is. I'll take Monday off. Got some health complications and in a lot of pain so made writing impossible. So heads up, no post Monday. Sorry. Cya guys Tuesday, have a good weekend if u only read fhc :))
I stepped out and flopped onto the bench, where Yadalee glared at me from the other end.
"Cain, what's g...
2024-02-01 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post
(Patreons hates authors so if this looks weird im
sorry. I'll try to fix it.)
The pies were a hit; Ulyss had made them into culinary perfection, as far as my stomach was concerned. Yadalee and others joined us, including Odenn, who mostly sat away and toward the back.
The seamstress was rather pleased when we paid in silver, and I'm sure we vastly overpaid, but it...
The village didn't really have much. There was a generic store that sold everything and anything. But they didn't have anything I needed, so I asked for directions from the old shopkeep.
With directions in hand, I stopped at a building that was really a house, with plain walls, a rickety porch, and the smell of wood smoke coming from its chimney. There wasn't an open sign like the one on ...
2024-01-30 18:06:00 +0000 UTC View Post
As the sword met my spear, I willed it to wrap around the blade. I pulled, and the guardsman who swung the blade came tumbling forward.
Like a viper, Sturmrorex zipped out and sank his teeth into his shoulder, releasing a burst of electricity from his mouth.
The guard tried to flinch away, but the living tazer zapped him motionless and kept the skill activated long enough for him to...
2024-01-29 18:19:01 +0000 UTC View Post
It took me about five minutes from walking away to remember I still had silver coins from Maro.
Huh, I guess I never really went shopping that day. I wonder if the currency is the same.
I pulled out the small sack and picked out a single silver coin, comparing the coin from Maro to the ones Devon handed me.
They had different minting, but the coin weighed around the s...
2024-01-29 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post
"How do you know my name," I asked, mana continuing to run through my weapon.
Acrid venom began to swell at its tip, and I was ready to rush in.
"So that's your voice, interesting. Confident, cautious... yet no fear," he replied.
"Don't ignore my question."
His smile widened.
"If I didn't know Calstrax's origin, I'd have taken you for a different kind of demon," he...
2024-01-26 19:19:00 +0000 UTC View Post
It took a few days of calm that were sorely needed for the rest of the caravan. Every hour away from the pass seemed to put them at ease, but the guards were hyper-vigilant at night. Captain Volk ensured that an extra pair would be in rotation at all times, one set of guards at one end no matter what, to ensure the nobles' safety.
Krenlow was ecstatic; he had a fire in his eyes the last t...
2024-01-25 18:06:00 +0000 UTC View Post
"What does the system say about it?" Alice asked.
I closed my eyes and tried to bring up the information like Freki's summon. The only impression I got from it was a vague sense of strengthening my body and a change to my blood.
Shaking my head, I opened my eyes and shrugged. "Vague as usual. Something about changes to my body and blood. That's it."
She turned to Devon. "Are p...
2024-01-24 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View PostA blinding green light flashed across my vision. I tried to run, to squirm, scream it away, but the assault continued. It burned hotter than lava but cooler than the chill of shadows. It was energy, potent power, a nuclear reactor inside my bones that demanded I move.
It flashed again; I yelled.
The light seared my retinas. I begged it to stop.
It pushed past my flesh and brok...
2024-01-23 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post
As I entered the room, I heard Panasia shout.
"So there you are! I've been waiting for you!"
I blinked and found myself wrapped in a hug that easily carried me off the floor. I stiffened and heard air block out whatever it was the half-beastkin guildmaster said as she spun me around.
Eventually, I tapped her arm, and she released me, dropping me to the floor. "H-hello to you t...
2024-01-22 18:19:02 +0000 UTC View Post
"There! I think I see them!" Haldeena shouted from atop Volk's shoulders.
The captain smiled. "Your father will be ecstatic for your safe return, Ms. Ashton."
"He argued to stay and have the rest of the guards accompany us to find his wife and daughter," I commented.
Volk dropped his smile. "And my men would ignore his demands. I am glad that a tragedy will not devastate the A...
2024-01-22 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post
After sending my familiars back into my soulspace, I had Áine patch everyone up before moving on to Panasia. Unconscious, letting Áine's mana enter her body was easy, but that's where it struggled to heal the guildmaster.
With my eyes closed, I watched through Áine's memories in near real-time as she tried to move her mana through Panasia's flesh. It naturally resisted a good portion o...
2024-01-19 19:19:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Alice raced through the tunnel exit carrying a large bundle of something scrunched into her arm. As she neared, she rushed at Rock-splitter. The titan stood his ground with a raised eyebrow, and Devon began to reach an arm out, only for Alice to stop and launch the bundle at the titan.
The bundle turned out to be a large bedsheet from Hanse's bedroom. It draped to the floor but looked lik...
2024-01-18 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post
"Do you need help getting up?"
He waved his hand. "Do not worry; I control my mana now."
With a stomp, the ground cracked, and he slammed his palms together. As he pulled them apart, the earth shifted and created a series of steps that led up to the shore. With long strides, he quickly joined me and beamed.
I applauded, and he nodded while searching around.
"Loo...
2024-01-17 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post
"I'm glad we did it. I didn't know my flames could turn green like that," I admitted.
"You created green flames? Oh… that is why I felt a connection. Interesting, Little Wolf," Rock-splitter whispered.
"Do you know what's up with that? I think I uh, absorbed some of your flames."
He paused and then scratched his chin. "Perhaps. Little Wolf, tell me your name? It'd b...
2024-01-16 18:06:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Teddy stepped forward, but Igas lagged behind. I felt something scratch at the insides of my mind until Magnus roared, and I felt the effects lessen.
"Huddle up!" Teddy ordered.
We shuffled together, and I pushed myself toward the outside of the group; whatever it was that made the others stumble like drunks, it affected me far less than it did them.
Teddy began to glow as gol...
2024-01-15 18:19:01 +0000 UTC View Post
I forced my eyes shut as an explosion of air pushed me onto the ground. Using my hand, I managed to block the raging storm just enough to peek through my fingers.
The golden thread that bound the titan's wrist burned with emerald flames.
I didn't need to see through the storm to hear the snap as the thread broke into two.
As it snapped, I couldn't swallow; the pressure forced ...
2024-01-15 18:06:01 +0000 UTC View Post