Chapter 23: Chapter 23 – The Avalan Forest

Adrianne inhaled the fresh scent of natural forest and felt the rough bark prickle her hands. The mental fog around her actions lifted as she remarked optimistically.

“I feel energized already. Don’t you agree, idiot?”

Behind her, Novus seemed spirited. As he sighed, it almost seemed like his spirit would leave his body.

How was I supposed to know that inventories could run out of space? I only wanted her to charm the merchant and lower their prices… it’s a perfectly useable technique! I did it to the female merchant afterwards.

“Quit calling me an idiot! I’m your teacher!”

Adrianne felt refreshed both from seeing Novus’ aggrieved face and resting on their way to and from the town’s markets. Adrianne still remembered the look of coins in Novus’ eyes as he sold their fox hides.

“Of course, baka sensei.”

Despite not knowing the last two words, Novus growled a response.

“I am not—”

Suddenly, Novus’ hand gripped Adrianne’s arm and yanked her back as he crouched down. Adrianne made to scold him but stopped when the severe look in his eyes shot a silent message.

With a sudden glow endowing her eyes, Adrianne looked towards where Novus’s attention shifted.

Ahead of the duo, a pack of three creatures were gathered around the muddy ground of a vibrant green herb in a sparse forest clearing. In stark contrast to their otherwise bland brown fur, the creatures held a red racing stripe down their back and abnormally long claws.

Novus’ hushed tone revealed the name of the wild creatures.

“Blood Racoons.”

The Blood Raccoons all rested except for one sniffing around the muddy ground.

Adrianne memorized the name and began to observe the area for any advantages. When Adrianne found one, she made to alert Novus. Any natural advantage could mean the difference between an easy fight and a difficult one for them both.

“If we—"

Adrianne didn’t get a chance to explain anything as Novus unsheathed his sword and moved towards the Blood Raccoons from the front. Adrianne’s hushed words rebounded off Novus as she internally rebuked his ‘say as I do, but not as I do’ teaching style.

“Novus! Hey! What are you—”

Adrianne was silenced as a faint crimson aura lined Novus’ figure, sending shivers down her spine. Then, slowly, the crimson aura gathered into Novus’ hand as it spun into a halo-like circle, and he launched it at the Blood Raccoons.

Slice!

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Squeak!

The guarding Blood Raccoon had the aura halo slice through its torso and was killed, but not before alerting the other blood raccoons through a dying cry. With fright and immediately sensing danger, the two Blood Raccoons were already within range of Novus’ sword.

Slice!

The aura halo returned to Novus as it melted and formed a layer over his sword. Then, with a swing, it raced towards the oncoming teeth.

Squeak!!

One of the remaining Blood Raccoons dodged at the last minute, and Novus’ new sword only drew a bit of blood from its injured arm. Mysteriously, The blood caught onto the rusted sword, and an odd phenomenon occurred. Like a thirsty vampire, the sword drank the blood, and the small rusted spots peeled off to reveal the shining steel underneath.

Adrianne looked in amazement as the remaining Blood Raccoons charged at Novus. But, even from behind, Novus repositioned his body and avoided the blows. It was as if Novus had prearranged a scripted battle for the Blood Raccoons as they collided their claws and chased after Novus’ feet. Adrianne almost voiced unfair thoughts when she saw Novus position his sword before a leaping Blood Raccoon. Unable to stop its leaping momentum, the Blood Raccoon impaled itself on Novus’ sword, and the party gained another bout of experience.

Adrianne mumbled her questions to herself.

“Is fighting that easy? It’s like a slaughter with faster movements.”

Meanwhile, Novus plunged his sword into the last charging Blood Raccoon, and his sword absorbed the remaining blood before it escaped into twinkling lights. Then, feeling refreshed, Novus stretched his muscles and felt like they had gained a tiny bit more power.

Is this the effect of Player’s Body? I temper myself with a bit of the power that I expend?

Novus thought for a bit longer before gathering and concealing his Crimson Aura again. The ability's physical manifestation aspect had proved quite useful. Then, he pulled up the description of his latest bargain.

 

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