System Break

Step, side-step, dodge, and lunge. I repeated the simple maneuver while adding qi strike to the mix. My qi licked up the sides of the spear like it was part of me. The weapon Mother made was indeed special. It was taken from the willow; the sacred willow and I would bet it was still alive.

It bent when needed but it retained its suppleness and strength like it was new. Not matter if I blocked a feral, spider or pretend monster if it became marked the mark would disappear in a day or two. And the flanged edge near the tip remained sharp.

Sakaala watched me practise and when I noticed her, she smiled shyly.

"Don't you have something to do?"

She took my words for an invitation to walk over to my practise spot amongst the trees. "I'm not like you. I can use qi-arrow without practising."

I peered at her. "Seriously?"

"I think we got this ability thanks to you. I don't think anyone else has it, nor tree-run."

"What happened to pretending this was all real?"

She looked around. "It's just me and you and I'm not hardcore like Ailen."

I grinned. "Don't put it past a sneaky guardian to be spying on us at any time." I pointed at a tree. "And for all I know Mother could be in that tree right now."

She jumped back, her eyes darted about, and her hand covered her mouth.

I laughed.

After hearing my laugh her lips curled and then she grinned at me. "You."

"I am serious. This time."

Ailen broke into the small clearing.

"See."

"What are you two laughing about?"

I pointed at them both. "I was practising, like you two should be."

"Oh," Ailen said. "I was but I was told to rest. We're going to scout the southern border again this afternoon. Collect some cores if we can."

I thrust and pushed my qi. "I need to get this strike down."

He raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't the quick-slot work?"

"Nah it's shit. It pushes so little qi and it doesn't go past my fist."

Sakaala's eyes widened and she looked at Ailen. "He's so OP."

Ailen shrugged. "He's an alpha tester."

"They told me jack shit about what I supposed to do."

Sakaala laughed. "You opened a new race." She closed on me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I was well over six foot to her five and a half. She stood on her tip toes and said softly, "I'm so grateful." She fluttered her eyelids.

I laughed.

Ailen shifted and looked away.

I took her hand and gently removed it from my shoulder.

She looked at me demurely.

"I need to practise. This shit ain't gonna work itself out."

Ailen smiled and waved. "Yes, guardian I shall rest before our patrol so I can be of service."

Sakaala rolled her eyes. She whispered to me, "He loves this stuff."

"Why are you here?"

She boldly looked at my ass without a care for decency. "I like excitement and you are well endowed with that."

It was Talila's turn to interrupt us and she earned a glare from Sakaala.

"Leave him be to train apprentice. We are surrounded by threats and all of us need to be at our best."

They left together, one determined and the other surly. It didn't take long for me to wear down my core and I went back to the glade to rest before this afternoons mission.

I lay on the grass near the willow. I felt this was the place I recovered the quickest. It was either all in my head or there was something special about the land core hidden within the tree.

Noon passed and the sun began its decline when Gisael came to fetch me. She peered at me and all she said was, "We go."

We ran as a group to the south keeping pace with Sakaala who was the slowest amongst us. And once we were at the border of the forest Gisael ordered everyone into the trees. Well everyone except me. I had a spear.

She leaned close and placed a hand on my chest. "Find us something that doesn't climb and bring it back here."

"Like what?"

"Not a troll, but with a healthy core is good."

I sighed. "You know I have no idea what-is-what around here."

She smiled, "But you learn. Or as you say, you will die trying."

I laughed and left. I began roaming the plains while keeping the forest in sight.

I crept over the hill, my gut told me there were monsters close and so did my nose. I could smell something in the air that reminded me of house full of dogs. I raised my head enough to peek over the embankment and was rewarded with a view of the plains below.

Four shiny, black coats caught my attention immediately. They were massive dog like creatures with glowing red eyes. They were totally cool and scary at the same time.

Ailen had described hell hounds, but after seeing them in person his words did not do them justice. They would be fast and if they were like earth dogs, they would have caught my scent if the wind was blowing in the opposite direction.

I picked up a particularly large rock and smiled with the knowledge that hell hounds probably could not climb.

I stood and threw as hard as I could, "Here boy!" I called. I activated qi body and pushed qi into my legs and feet. As soon as their heads swivelled in my direction I ran like the wind.

Even racing with qi enhanced speed, I felt they were catching me. But there was no way in hell I was going to look back.

The growls and the sounds of paws crunching into the turf loomed closer. I gave it everything I had and then some. I was thankful as arrows sped past me and wasn't upset in the slightest when they almost hit me.

"Run faster," Ailen called before he broke out laughing.

"Fucking am," I yelled as I leapt onto a boulder and then bounded off it to the closest tree. I scrambled up its trunk like a monkey on cocaine.

The hounds were wearing arrows like porcupines wore needles, but they were tough bastards, I had to give them that.

I didn't like being bait, and what I liked less - was watching others do the killing. So, I jumped down behind the beasts that were desperately trying to climb my tree. Was it smart, hell no, but it felt good.

I thrust my spear into the closest wide-open spine knowing firsthand the damage that did. I had to quickly yank my spear free as it twitched violently and fell to the ground.

I heard deep, angry growls directed at me personally. It should have crept up on me quietly and taken a bite. But it didn't so I was able to turn and fend off its lunge with my spear.

I pushed qi body up my arms to give me the strength to fight it off. It twisted and two arrows appeared in its now exposed underbelly. It thrashed, desperately holding on to what was left of its life until I stomped on its neck and putting it out of its misery.

All I could hear now were whimpers. The last two had bled out from the arrow wounds during my scuffles and lay on the ground dying.

I looked down at my qi core because I was feeling woozy and I swore. I had depleted the last of my reserves during the fight.

Falling to my hands and knees, I took deep breaths. I wished my qi reserves were deeper. I walked a fine line, by pushing my limits, it was raising my core, but when I drained myself, I fell unconscious until I recovered.

I flopped onto the ground. I felt someone's breath on my cheek. "You'll have to drag me to safety," I said, and my lights went out.