Once Asher left they didn’t see any reason to prolong it so the groups split apart the day before. They went slowly, deciding to go East for their destination. Abby led, followed by Ria, then Bishop walked with Keera while Batman scouted ahead.
Abby Fitzgerald scanned the area with her Mana Sense. It was a lot like Mana Sight, but she didn’t need to use her eyes. She had learned it recently and was understanding it worked kind of like the power level sensing in DBZ. She was able to sense the strength and general location of high mana. Most of the time it led her to monsters, but right now she was sensing something else.
“Batman, over here,” she said pointing off to her right. One of her oldest friends stepped out of the shadow ahead of her. The only reason she knew he had been there was because she tried to keep her Mana Sense and Mana Sight going at all times.
They were soon in a clearing of trees. The blue glow of mana was now visible without skills. They gathered around. The Mana Branch poked out of the ground then went back in heading toward the shore somewhere. As they studied it the ground shook a little from a minor earthquake. Everyone looked at one another a little surprised.
“Guess he wasn’t joking,” Keera said. Her eyes distant, she was looking through her own little recording screen. The recordings were invisible to everyone but her.
“Don’t get near it, that’s for sure,” Ria said. She was studying the blackened sand around it.
“Yep. Get your shot?” Abby asked Keera.
Ria and her were neck and neck on levels, but Ria turned to her to lead since she had more dungeon experience. Keera nodded. They headed to the Northeast again. It wasn’t long until they ran into some mammoths.
—-
“I miss sleeping on a normal bed,” Ria said. “Or at least normal height chairs. Pillows are not for me.” A few people nodded.
They had traveled for 3 days straight until they came across a large valley. Abby could sense it was full of monsters. They camped outside of it on a large grass plain. A small fire was at the center of the group. Earthquakes became more frequent. Either because they were moving to the supposed Leyline Root, or the corruption was worsening, no one knew.
“I’m loving it,” Abby admitted since it was her turn. “I didn’t think I could level so fast before. I really used to think I was at the peak. I've been in dungeons and haven’t found a challenge in a long time. I’m really glad I came.”
“Me too,” a few others admitted.
“Well, I think we are gonna turn in,” Bishop said. Ria gave him a look and smiled. The couple said their goodbyes and were off to their tent a little farther away.
Abby rolled her eyes. When they were in their tent and she assumed their sound dampening accessory was in use she said, “They do it more than Asher does.”
Batman laughed. Keera said, “I think it’s sweet. They’re so in love.”
“Cus they wear each other out too much to do much else. It’s only gotten worse since they started leveling,” she said. Somehow her room always ended up next to theirs. And despite their sound dampening accessory she still heard things she’d rather not.
“What about you?” Keera asked. “Got anyone special at home.” The dark skinned girl had opened up on their trip, and Abby considered her a friend.
“Nope,” Abby admitted. “Had someone once, but I think it’s the Saiyan blood. Almost like my urges changed from sexual to training.” She smiled. “Besides, there's too much to do before settling down. I haven’t even killed Krillin yet.” Keera laughed loudly. She had to explain the joke to Batman.
“What about you Keera?” Abby asked. “Get anywhere with Tosh?”
“You knew about that?” She asked meekly.
“Tiff may have told me some secrets after I confronted her.”
“Well, we went around as friends,” she said. “But I think maybe there’s a chance.”
“Oh ya?” Abby asked. “Getting yourself some elf? Just don’t fall for Asher,” she warned.
Batman laughed. He had been mostly quiet as his name entails. The girls both looked at him. “Who’s Aneela?” Abby asked. It appeared Keera knew the name as well as she smiled broadly.
“Nope,” he said.
“Oh come on,” Keera pleaded. “This is basically a sleepover. We need some details. We won’t tell anyone,” she promised.
“Nope. Could be a few trillion aliens watching us right now.”
“Oh come on. They’re not interested in us gossiping around the fire. I’m sure they’re following Asher or Tiff and her new plaything,”
“Who? Ming?” Keera asked surprised.
Abby shook her head. “Atalanta.” She let out a huge laugh from the look on the dark woman’s face.
“No!” She yelled. “My money was on Ming.” She said then Batman clicked an invisible button. He tried to hide a smile on his face.
“You double dipped?” Abby asked. “We had a different pool going,” she explained. “Batman bet on Ming.”
“That’s cheating,” Keera said angrily.
“Now now, in all fairness, I thought he would get Atalanta and Ming. I have the unfortunate power to either have to watch him or stumble on him having sex. His System skills are very strong. I am playing the long game.”
Abby laughed, she had heard the rumors as well. Keera was still upset though. “I will forgive the double dipping if you tell me the skinny on you and Aneela,” she said.
Batman let out a long sigh. “Not much to say. I asked her for directions one day. Helped her pick something up later. Then I happened to run into her in a waiting room. Then later that day at the mall….then a few more times since.”
“Not good enough,” Keera said.
Batman frowned but said, “ok, but no recording.” Keera nodded. “She’s 24. Has worked at the palace for a few years. And she’s a Pumakin.”
“How many dates have you been on?”
“2 or 3,” he admitted. “And I think that’s as personal as I will get,” he admitted.
“Fair enough,” Abby said. They had plenty of time around a camp fire coming up to get him to spill more. “Think I’ll head to bed. We get up in 4 hours.”
—-
Another black cat popped out from the tree line. The clearing they were in was far enough away to force the monsters to get out of the shadows.
“Another!” Abby yelled.
“Kind of busy,” Ria explained. She had the eyes of 3 other Tiint Felines. Abby grunted as she moved to intercept the new one. The shadow panther stuck low to the ground. Its body was only a few inches above the ground. It was able to mostly sink into its own shadow.
Abby charged her fists with mana and pushed her hands out. The bright blue Ki blast shot out right where the cat should have been. It jumped out of the shadow coming right for her. Abby charged her arms with more mana and met it.
The panther’s claws tried to scratch her face but Abby ducked down and punched it 3 times in the ribs. The cat yowled in pain from the blows. Abby charged more mana. Raising her hands together over her head she expelled her Ki Wave and blasted it. Her Ki acted like a physical blow throwing it a few yards away.
Batman stepped out of his own shadow and sliced it with his Batblade. The beast's head lopped off and rolled. The body kicked headlessly, but no one was close to it to be harmed. Abby wiped sweat off her brow and moved to help Ria clean up the other shadowcats.
Abby began showering them with mana charged blows. Her MP dipped, but she could feel how much stronger her hits had become when using mana. She knocked one to the ground and Keera shot it with her mana gun. It was a lucky hit and got the beast right in the eye. The beast stirred but Abby got experience for it. When the last cat died she got a new notification.
| Congratulations |
| For reaching level 28 you have learned the skill |
| DESTRUCTO DISC (LVL 1) |
Abby’s eyes widened. She had tried replicating the famous technique more times than she could count, but it was finally there. She was ready to try it out.
“Everyone good?” Ria asked. She was already making the felines disappear into her ring.
“Yeah, just winded. It’s been a week. How are these things still popping up?” Abby asked.
“No idea,” Batman said. Bishop moved near them and cast his new Refresh skill. Abby watched the white light coat all of them. Her breathing started becoming less labored. The 20 HP points she had lost were slowly coming back up as well.
“Break or keep going?” Keera asked as she drank from a water bottle.
“Keep-“ Abby stopped and turned. Her Mana Sense spiked. Turning around she looked into the line of trees. There were still plenty of shadows but sweat broke out on her forehead as she stared in. “Boss is coming,” she said. Either that or another dozen panthers. It had the same mana amount as that many monsters.
Ria, Batman, and Abby stood in a line. The support stayed just behind them. “What do we do?” Keera asked, fear in her voice.
“I say, see what it is,” Abby said. There were no complaints as she noticed a large shadow shift in front of her. She cast Identification on the shadow.
*Tiint Shadow Meowster*
Level 28
Seriously? She asked as she read the name a few times. Abby was brought out of her annoyance as the beast stuck it’s head from the black shadow. It looked like a big version of the Felines, but it’s head was 12 feet off the ground. The others were maybe 3 feet. The panther kept moving forward. More of the large body appeared as if it was leaving a portal.
Thick muscular legs bulged as claws dug into the sand. The face wrinkled as it sniffed the air. It’s long black tail was just as long as the 30 foot body. Then without warning it let out a loud hiss. A shadow extended from the boss. It rolled on the ground, spreading as it circled around the group. The shadow writhed and deformed as more felines popped up. 10 in total. Abby gulped.
Abby’s mind blanked for a split second. Part of her said to run, but a growing part wanted to fight them all. A smile grew on her face. She worried the Saiyan blood may be making her too overconfident. She didn’t want to lead. She wanted to fight, and if she got herself killed it was her own problem. Abby would hate herself though if she got others killed. She gulped.
“Hey,” Ria said, snapping her out of it. “This is why we are here.”
Abby looked to the others. They slowly nodded, although reluctantly. “Alright Batman and Bishop on that side. Take those 5 on. Keera, you’re with me. Make a couple of screens to hide behind and shoot those I lose aggro on.”
“I’m on big boy,” Ria said as she hefted her shield. The boss monster began to sink down into its own shadow. The other smaller ones raised up. Ria hit her shield and started walking at the boss. “If my son can do this, so can I.”
Once Asher left they didn’t see any reason to prolong it so the groups split apart the day before. They went slowly, deciding to go East for their destination. Abby led, followed by Ria, then Bishop walked with Keera while Batman scouted ahead.
Abby Fitzgerald scanned the area with her Mana Sense. It was a lot like Mana Sight, but she didn’t need to use her eyes. She had learned it recently and was understanding it worked kind of like the power level sensing in DBZ. She was able to sense the strength and general location of high mana. Most of the time it led her to monsters, but right now she was sensing something else.
“Batman, over here,” she said pointing off to her right. One of her oldest friends stepped out of the shadow ahead of her. The only reason she knew he had been there was because she tried to keep her Mana Sense and Mana Sight going at all times.
They were soon in a clearing of trees. The blue glow of mana was now visible without skills. They gathered around. The Mana Branch poked out of the ground then went back in heading toward the shore somewhere. As they studied it the ground shook a little from a minor earthquake. Everyone looked at one another a little surprised.
“Guess he wasn’t joking,” Keera said. Her eyes distant, she was looking through her own little recording screen. The recordings were invisible to everyone but her.
“Don’t get near it, that’s for sure,” Ria said. She was studying the blackened sand around it.
“Yep. Get your shot?” Abby asked Keera.
Ria and her were neck and neck on levels, but Ria turned to her to lead since she had more dungeon experience. Keera nodded. They headed to the Northeast again. It wasn’t long until they ran into some mammoths.
—-
“I miss sleeping on a normal bed,” Ria said. “Or at least normal height chairs. Pillows are not for me.” A few people nodded.
They had traveled for 3 days straight until they came across a large valley. Abby could sense it was full of monsters. They camped outside of it on a large grass plain. A small fire was at the center of the group. Earthquakes became more frequent. Either because they were moving to the supposed Leyline Root, or the corruption was worsening, no one knew.
“I’m loving it,” Abby admitted since it was her turn. “I didn’t think I could level so fast before. I really used to think I was at the peak. I've been in dungeons and haven’t found a challenge in a long time. I’m really glad I came.”
“Me too,” a few others admitted.
“Well, I think we are gonna turn in,” Bishop said. Ria gave him a look and smiled. The couple said their goodbyes and were off to their tent a little farther away.
Abby rolled her eyes. When they were in their tent and she assumed their sound dampening accessory was in use she said, “They do it more than Asher does.”
Batman laughed. Keera said, “I think it’s sweet. They’re so in love.”
“Cus they wear each other out too much to do much else. It’s only gotten worse since they started leveling,” she said. Somehow her room always ended up next to theirs. And despite their sound dampening accessory she still heard things she’d rather not.
“What about you?” Keera asked. “Got anyone special at home.” The dark skinned girl had opened up on their trip, and Abby considered her a friend.
“Nope,” Abby admitted. “Had someone once, but I think it’s the Saiyan blood. Almost like my urges changed from sexual to training.” She smiled. “Besides, there's too much to do before settling down. I haven’t even killed Krillin yet.” Keera laughed loudly. She had to explain the joke to Batman.
“What about you Keera?” Abby asked. “Get anywhere with Tosh?”
“You knew about that?” She asked meekly.
“Tiff may have told me some secrets after I confronted her.”
“Well, we went around as friends,” she said. “But I think maybe there’s a chance.”
“Oh ya?” Abby asked. “Getting yourself some elf? Just don’t fall for Asher,” she warned.
Batman laughed. He had been mostly quiet as his name entails. The girls both looked at him. “Who’s Aneela?” Abby asked. It appeared Keera knew the name as well as she smiled broadly.
“Nope,” he said.
“Oh come on,” Keera pleaded. “This is basically a sleepover. We need some details. We won’t tell anyone,” she promised.
“Nope. Could be a few trillion aliens watching us right now.”
“Oh come on. They’re not interested in us gossiping around the fire. I’m sure they’re following Asher or Tiff and her new plaything,”
“Who? Ming?” Keera asked surprised.
Abby shook her head. “Atalanta.” She let out a huge laugh from the look on the dark woman’s face.
“No!” She yelled. “My money was on Ming.” She said then Batman clicked an invisible button. He tried to hide a smile on his face.
“You double dipped?” Abby asked. “We had a different pool going,” she explained. “Batman bet on Ming.”
“That’s cheating,” Keera said angrily.
“Now now, in all fairness, I thought he would get Atalanta and Ming. I have the unfortunate power to either have to watch him or stumble on him having sex. His System skills are very strong. I am playing the long game.”
Abby laughed, she had heard the rumors as well. Keera was still upset though. “I will forgive the double dipping if you tell me the skinny on you and Aneela,” she said.
Batman let out a long sigh. “Not much to say. I asked her for directions one day. Helped her pick something up later. Then I happened to run into her in a waiting room. Then later that day at the mall….then a few more times since.”
“Not good enough,” Keera said.
Batman frowned but said, “ok, but no recording.” Keera nodded. “She’s 24. Has worked at the palace for a few years. And she’s a Pumakin.”
“How many dates have you been on?”
“2 or 3,” he admitted. “And I think that’s as personal as I will get,” he admitted.
“Fair enough,” Abby said. They had plenty of time around a camp fire coming up to get him to spill more. “Think I’ll head to bed. We get up in 4 hours.”
—-
Another black cat popped out from the tree line. The clearing they were in was far enough away to force the monsters to get out of the shadows.
“Another!” Abby yelled.
“Kind of busy,” Ria explained. She had the eyes of 3 other Tiint Felines. Abby grunted as she moved to intercept the new one. The shadow panther stuck low to the ground. Its body was only a few inches above the ground. It was able to mostly sink into its own shadow.
Abby charged her fists with mana and pushed her hands out. The bright blue Ki blast shot out right where the cat should have been. It jumped out of the shadow coming right for her. Abby charged her arms with more mana and met it.
The panther’s claws tried to scratch her face but Abby ducked down and punched it 3 times in the ribs. The cat yowled in pain from the blows. Abby charged more mana. Raising her hands together over her head she expelled her Ki Wave and blasted it. Her Ki acted like a physical blow throwing it a few yards away.
Batman stepped out of his own shadow and sliced it with his Batblade. The beast's head lopped off and rolled. The body kicked headlessly, but no one was close to it to be harmed. Abby wiped sweat off her brow and moved to help Ria clean up the other shadowcats.
Abby began showering them with mana charged blows. Her MP dipped, but she could feel how much stronger her hits had become when using mana. She knocked one to the ground and Keera shot it with her mana gun. It was a lucky hit and got the beast right in the eye. The beast stirred but Abby got experience for it. When the last cat died she got a new notification.
| Congratulations |
| For reaching level 28 you have learned the skill |
| DESTRUCTO DISC (LVL 1) |
Abby’s eyes widened. She had tried replicating the famous technique more times than she could count, but it was finally there. She was ready to try it out.
“Everyone good?” Ria asked. She was already making the felines disappear into her ring.
“Yeah, just winded. It’s been a week. How are these things still popping up?” Abby asked.
“No idea,” Batman said. Bishop moved near them and cast his new Refresh skill. Abby watched the white light coat all of them. Her breathing started becoming less labored. The 20 HP points she had lost were slowly coming back up as well.
“Break or keep going?” Keera asked as she drank from a water bottle.
“Keep-“ Abby stopped and turned. Her Mana Sense spiked. Turning around she looked into the line of trees. There were still plenty of shadows but sweat broke out on her forehead as she stared in. “Boss is coming,” she said. Either that or another dozen panthers. It had the same mana amount as that many monsters.
Ria, Batman, and Abby stood in a line. The support stayed just behind them. “What do we do?” Keera asked, fear in her voice.
“I say, see what it is,” Abby said. There were no complaints as she noticed a large shadow shift in front of her. She cast Identification on the shadow.
*Tiint Shadow Meowster*
Level 28
Seriously? She asked as she read the name a few times. Abby was brought out of her annoyance as the beast stuck it’s head from the black shadow. It looked like a big version of the Felines, but it’s head was 12 feet off the ground. The others were maybe 3 feet. The panther kept moving forward. More of the large body appeared as if it was leaving a portal.
Thick muscular legs bulged as claws dug into the sand. The face wrinkled as it sniffed the air. It’s long black tail was just as long as the 30 foot body. Then without warning it let out a loud hiss. A shadow extended from the boss. It rolled on the ground, spreading as it circled around the group. The shadow writhed and deformed as more felines popped up. 10 in total. Abby gulped.
Abby’s mind blanked for a split second. Part of her said to run, but a growing part wanted to fight them all. A smile grew on her face. She worried the Saiyan blood may be making her too overconfident. She didn’t want to lead. She wanted to fight, and if she got herself killed it was her own problem. Abby would hate herself though if she got others killed. She gulped.
“Hey,” Ria said, snapping her out of it. “This is why we are here.”
Abby looked to the others. They slowly nodded, although reluctantly. “Alright Batman and Bishop on that side. Take those 5 on. Keera, you’re with me. Make a couple of screens to hide behind and shoot those I lose aggro on.”
“I’m on big boy,” Ria said as she hefted her shield. The boss monster began to sink down into its own shadow. The other smaller ones raised up. Ria hit her shield and started walking at the boss. “If my son can do this, so can I.”
