Chapter 4: Chapter. 4: Prowling Harvester

Prowl Reapers, the most common beast found in the mines of Armag Hollow, and then there were⁠—

I was forced to dodge as the Prowling Harvester pounced without care. Its large body nearly struck me down as its maw of serrated teeth narrowly missed me. The blue fire surrounding my body wisped off onto the Prowling Harvester as it landed. It let out a small hiss and its fur distorted, akin to a wave as it shifted and the fire that was beginning to spread across its body was extinguished just like that.

Prowling Harvesters.

I slowly circled around as the grand beast stared at me, this time much more wary than before.

I had only heard of its name once. It was during the middle of the night when the camp exploded into shrieks and screams of despair, guttural cries of anguish and calling for help. The Supervisors arrived and culled the beast quickly, and yet there had been over fifty casualties in just over a minute. I never got to see its corpse, but it was the first and only time the camp had been attacked by a Prowling Harvester. A beast of the Dark Hollow whose sole purpose was to kill.

I looked at its sharp claws and serrated teeth. It had six eyes instead of four, but aside from that it looked eerily similar to a Prowl Reaper. However, its stare was slightly different. It seemed wary of my flames. Unlike the Prowl Reapers that were only capable of sensing danger or attacking, the Prowling Harvester seemed to be making a decision. It wasn’t afraid, yet glanced at where it had come from for a moment before turning its gaze to me.

Whatever decision it was making, it decided against it as its teeth bared. The Prowling Harvester jumped from side to side in a zigzag as it sped up before lunging towards me at an explosive speed. I threw myself to the ground, barely dodging it. Its speed was ridiculous, and even though my flames had grazed it, they were quickly snuffed from its body by another ripple of its fur. The Prowling Harvester eyed me dangerously and I felt sweat trickle down my head. It was fast and the [Fallen Embers] weren’t doing anything.

I felt some internal panic settle as the Prowling Harvester charged at me. It was clear to me, and it was much clearer to the Beast of the Dark Hollow that I was powerless to actually stop it. The talon-like claws as its feet glinted with the blue light of my flames as it lunged, swiping towards me. I did a small hop to the side, but my foot was torn and pain shot through it. I couldn’t help but wince as I tried to turn. The beast took distance to extinguish the flames that had formed on its leg, meanwhile I felt nervousness encroaching upon my heart.

The Prowling Harvester just relaxedly placed its leg that was slightly burnt on the ground and gazed at me. There was a glint of satisfaction in its eyes as it eyed my bleeding leg. I bit my lip as I wondered what to do, my mind raced before I remembered something. That’s right⁠— the World’s Voice⁠— the Skill I had learned.

[Fallen Ember Bolt].

I hugged my pickaxe close as I raised the palm of my hand towards the Prowling Harvester. I was simply following the instinct that was within me, perhaps it was a byproduct of the Third Grade Relic and being integrated to The Beyond, but it simply felt natural. Yet, the Prowling Harvester simply grinned, almost as if it was taking it as an offering. It took winding steps back, making space to run towards me before it charged once more, this time baring its teeth. However, unlike before I did not panic nor take a step back, I simply urged the warmth within my body towards my hand. The flames around my body dimmed for a moment, before the warmth, the mana, coalesced at the palm and then I pushed it imagining a streak of fire.

There was a flash of blue as a streak of fire zipped through the air and struck the Beast of the Dark Hollow just before it could jump. The Prowling Harvester let out a shrill cry as it was pushed back. The place that was struck combusted onto blue flames that coated its entire body as it yelped in pain. However as it stood still, in an instant, its fur rippled and the fire was extinguished. Even though it wasn’t burned for long, I could see its expression twist with pain as it eyed me warily.

I let out deep breaths as I felt the warmth within me diminish considerably. I could use the [Fallen Ember Bolt] five times at most, and that made me frown. Moreover, the [Fallen Embers] were constantly nibbling at my magic too. Even though I had succeeded in pushing off the Prowling Harvester it still held its advantage, however it didn’t know that, for it waited for my next move.

I frowned. There had to be something I could do, but there wasn’t. Well there was one thing⁠. I took a breath and the flames around my body faded, the warm blue light that was illuminating the room vanished. Now all there was was the white light from my helmet, the Artificial Grade Relic. I looked at the Prowling Harvester that began to circle around me, this time however there was more confidence in its stride. Unfortunately, if I wanted to get the most uses out of the ember bolts, I had to stop using my passive skill altogether.

I felt fatigue crash over my body and pain too, but I ignored it as I prepared myself to engage with the Prowling Harvester once more. I raised my hand as it stared at me and once more followed the same instinct and motions, this time it was much faster as I⁠— fired. The bolt zipped through the air, but this time the Prowling Harvester lunged forward and barely dodged it, then with a nimble hop it pounced towards me. I barely managed to raise my pickaxe as it threw me to the ground, just as it was about to claw at my throat I urged my mana and blue flames exploded forward.

[Fallen Embers] engaged and unfurled onto the Beast of the Dark Hollow. It let out a small shriek as it hopped away from me. It came to a stop, its body shivered, its fur rippled as the flames were extinguished once more. My heart raced. As soon as I gave it any space it almost killed me. Though something felt amiss, I looked down only to see one of my arms profusely bleeding. When⁠— how? Questions flooded through my mind as I looked back at the beast before me.

It was preparing another charge again, meanwhile I was just getting up from the ground. The [Fallen Embers] seemed to numb the injuries on my body, but not exactly heal them. Nonetheless, I tried my best to stand up as it began to run. In a panic, I raised my palm and the Prowling Harvester jumped away. There was a brief moment of confusion, before it finally clicked on me.

It was expecting an ember bolt. The Prowling Harvester had recognized that it was my method of attack, and it had preemptively dodged… And then, the realization came.

“You can’t be serious…”

It was as if a pit had formed within my stomach. The Beast of the Dark Hollow had pattern recognition. It knew that it had to whittle me down, if I raised my hand it knew to dodge, if I had no flames it knew to attack but get away before they came back… I couldn’t help but gulp as the Prowling Harvester eyed me warily. At that moment, regret finally settled within me.

I should’ve gone back to the camp. Instead, I was going to die deep inside the mines. I didn’t have many friends, just one person, but the fact that I would never see them again clawed at my mind. I took shallow breaths as my entire being shook. The Prowling Harvester circled around me as it produced a laughing sound. It was a Beast of the Dark Hollow, the enemy of humanity, and I was just some abandoned girl…

Could I even do it?

Seeds of doubt festered in my mind, but I remembered my father’s words and that’s all I needed to know. At the end of the world I would find him. I didn’t even understand their meaning, but the journal and its words had given me hope, and so I simply had to face the Prowling Harvester even if⁠— it was much more dangerous than anything I had fought before, even if it could read my movements and react accordingly, even if I was going to die to it, I simply had to fight it.

My heart calmed, though I still felt nervous. I eyed the Prowling Harvester, more specifically its leg and body. I could see the burns under its fur, even though its fur didn’t burn its flesh was another story. It was ugly and twisted, and its breaths were uneven too. It was more injured than what I had initially thought, however I couldn’t quite kill it, not as I was now. I had to be stronger. At least, my attacks had to be stronger.

I rapidly opened my status and allocated my skill point.

[Fallen Ember Bolt has gained a level. Current level: 2]

At that moment, I paused as an idea came into my head. It was almost forced and unnatural⁠— a byproduct of leveling the skill. And it was but a simple realization. The bolt could be fired in different ways, not just from my palm. Normally it took me a bit of time to cast the ember bolt, but now I knew I could do it incredibly fast⁠— and it was stronger too.

I eyed my attribute points for a second but decided against spending any of them. With a roar, the Prowling Harvester interrupted my thoughts⁠— it had had enough of waiting and simply pounced towards me, I attempted to raise my hand but it was too late. It pushed me onto the ground, ignoring the wisping flames and tried to bite onto my neck. I flared my flames which gave it slight pause before using the little strength that I had to roll around with the Beast of the Dark Hollow. I felt its claws dig into my skin as I moved my mana.

Not just my palm, or hand for that matter.

Like the salamanders of legend I opened my mouth and shot a bolt of embers at the Prowling Harvester. It whimpered as its face was set ablaze by the blue flames, and it finally disengaged with a tumble. However, I wasn’t planning on letting it get any respite. I got on my knees and pointed my finger at it, whirring my mana to it before commanding it⁠—

[Fallen Ember Bolt].

The blue projectile zipped, striking the Prowling Harvester with a yelp of surprise. It rolled on the ground as more flames got on its body. It hadn’t been able to extinguish the previous ones yet, and I too was able to observe that it had to stand still to snuff the flames on its body. It stood up and eyed me for a second, it stood still and⁠— I fired with my finger, making a finger gun.

The ember bolt flashed and hit the Prowling Harvester. The beast let out a guttural scream of pain as it stumbled backwards. It looked at me, its six eyes meeting my gaze. It didn’t try to extinguish the flames that nibbled at its body no more, instead its fur spiked and a weird aura began to wisp off its body. It let out yet another roar, but this one was primal and full of anger, it trembled, resounding through my ears. It bared its teeth, rushing towards me.

I threw my body out of the way as it missed. The Prowling Harvester turned but it was met with my finger pointed at it⁠— and then I hesitated. It was the last of my magic⁠. The Beast of the Dark Hollow threw its body out of the way on reflex stumbling, and I took the chance. My finger trailed, and like a finger gun it fired.

[Fallen Embers] were deactivated as the sole bolt of blue flames hit the Prowling Harvester. It rolled through the ground, but still got up and looked at me. It stood still and I pointed my finger at it, it hopped out of the way and rushed towards me, and at that moment my mind blanked. I had dropped my pickaxe somewhere along the way, I had nothing. There was a small amount of regret of the situation I had caused, but I also knew if I gave the Prowling Harvester the opportunity to extinguish the flames on its body it was basically over.

I gritted my teeth.

“Fuck it.”

And finally, as I stood there with my finger, it pounced. I slammed my head forward, head-butting the Prowling Harvester with my helmet. The light of the helmet flickered. I felt a dull shock of pain travel through my body as it let out a whimper. I stumbled backwards two steps as I saw the Prowling Harvester get up on the ground. It was bleeding profusely as it looked at me, and then⁠— it took steps back.

I grunted and pointed my finger at it, but it didn’t react and simply shook⁠— its fur rippled and the flames were extinguished. I looked at the Prowling Harvester, its figure was deformed from the burns and parts of its fur had fallen as the flesh beneath had been completely cooked, but that didn’t matter. The flames had been snuffed, gone. The blue light had faded from the room and my mana was practically non-existent. I could hear my own rushed breath as I stared at the Prowling Harvester. A sinking feeling formed, it was as if I had gotten sick, but I knew what it was. It was the feeling of defeat.

I lost.

The Beast of the Dark Hollow broke into a sprint coming for my throat. I closed my eyes for a moment, there was no pickaxe to hold onto, if I headbutted it again it would only delay the inevitable, and my mana was⁠— if I ran out⁠— no. I opened my eyes and as the Prowling Harvester was about to reach me and yet I simply urged my mana, as I pointed at the beast.

A small bolt shot out, enough to interrupt it. It hit its face as it let out a shriek, tumbling over almost on reflex expecting insurmountable pain yet it was nothing but a small ember, but that was enough. I took my chance. I grabbed my helmet from my head and rushed towards the Beast of the Dark Hollow, I swung at it with the metal edge of the Artificial Relic.

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The Prowling Harvester was slammed onto the ground. But that wasn’t all, adrenaline coursing through me, I grabbed the helmet with both of my hands and slammed it down onto the Prowling Harvester’s head. It let out a dull sound along with another cry of pain, but I gritted my teeth and continued.

Each hit made the light of the Artificial Relic flicker, but I didn’t care as I screamed, bludgeoning the suffering beast over and over again. The fire proliferated all across its body as I continued hitting it, until it stopped whimpering. The flames slowly extinguished and the light of the helmet flickered a final time before finally going out.

The world was plunged into darkness as the World’s Voice spoke.

[You have slain: (Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowling Harvester. Lvl. 7]

[Your primary aspect has leveled twice from this encounter. Current level: 7]

I let out a long breath of relief. Even in darkness I couldn’t help but feel simple catharsis. I won… I smiled, feeling pain in my cheeks and all over my body, yet I had won. I had grown stronger once more. I opened my status with a smile.

[Name]: Sybil

[Level]: 7

[Life Essence]: 1st Tier. Ancient Human of the Golden Era

[Primary Aspect]: Fallen Flames. Lvl. 7

Free attribute points: 7

[END]: 9 [STR]: 7 [AGI]: 8 [WIS]: 10

Free skill points: 1

[Skills]: [Passive: Fallen Embers. Lvl. 2], [Fallen Ember Bolt. Lvl. 2]

I stared for a moment, before feeling slightly dumb. Perhaps it was because I was more used to the magic of The Beyond, but Wisdom clearly meant my mana. With a sigh, I placed a point into it, making it 11, and⁠— there was no change in the minuscule if not non-existent amount of magic I had, if anything it had been reduced very slightly. The amount of magic that I could hold was expanded, but no regeneration was seen.

I let out a small chuckle feeling the cold metal of the helmet within my hands. In the end, I had done the right thing. Perhaps it would’ve gone smoother if I had used some attribute points but it made no difference as far as mana was concerned during the battle. Shaking my head, I allocated my skill point, deciding to think about attribute points later.

[Fallen Ember Bolt has gained a level. Current level: 3]

And then I waited.

Time passed, as I finally had enough magic to light up a flame on my finger. I used the light to pick up my things and huddled over to a small corner inside the cavity, it was lifted off from the ground and hidden away from sight. I perched on it with pain and slowly drifted away to sleep.

It had been a long day.

* * * * *

Endrad had been feeling nervous since he entered the office. No, he was a nervewreck as the Overseer inspected the Spectral Glass. His bald scalp shining under the yellow light as he enclosed his wrinkled face. Endrad watched as the Overseer’s leather clad hand flicked it and rubbed it carefully, watching no imprint appear on the transparent surface. There was a brief moment of silence as the Overseer of the Grand Mine of Armag Hollow watched the Spectral Glass as he laid it on some cloth.

Seconds passed as the bald headed man stared at the Spectral Glass with a small frown, the wrinkles on his face contorting in an ugly way. Endrad began to sweat profusely. He had treated the Artificial Relic with utmost care. About another minute passed as Endrad felt pale, before finally, the Overseer spoke.

“So she found a Relic…” His voice was grave and raspy as he stood up. The man wore a long overhanging black coat that gave him an intimidating presence. It was looming and Endrad didn’t even question how the Overseer knew.

The man was powerful, to be a Supervisor one needed to be able to venture about twenty-five percent in depth of the Grand Mine of Armag Hollow without struggle, but the Overseer, the man before Endrad had ventured well over fifty-percent and returned alive. It was unknown how he had done it, rumors had it that the Overseer owned a Fourth or even a Third Grade relic, but needless to say Endrad feared the figure that was standing over him.

There was an eerie silence as the Overseer looked at the Spectral Glass on the table. Endrad couldn’t help but gulp as his ears took in all the ambient sounds, the steam running from the pipes to his side, the leak inside the office to the right⁠— the overbearing heat of the metal room and the annoying yellow light, and then⁠, the Overseer shook his head. Everything was forgotten as Endrad stared.

“I do not know the grade of this Relic,” The Overseer said with a gloomy tone. “However, it is still property of the Region of Armag Hollow and humanity as a whole.” His eyes met Endrad’s, they were akin to hollowed out husks but piercing and intimidating.

“Endrad,” the Overseer spoke, sending him a shiver. “I know what you wanted to ask. Yes, you may begin to assemble the culling squad. Have everyone have at least one Second Grade Artificial Relic on their person. I have a feeling the lot of you might need to venture into thirty percent depth.”

Had he heard that right? Thirty percent? At that place, the accursed Prowling Harvesters were very common that deep into the mines. However, Second Grade Artificial Relics and a team of six people including him? That was the same grade as the Spectral Glass he was so afraid of breaking. Being honest he was looking forward to it more than scared. He fervently nodded at the Overseer before kneeling.

“Yes, my Lord.”

“I am no Lord.” The Overseer chuckled. “Your loyalty and duty is to Humanity, Endrad, never forget that.”

Endrad nodded before standing up. “I will gather five more Supervisors and bring back the girl.”

The Overseer nodded with a small smile. “Remember, Sybil can be dead or alive, preferably alive but do what you must do. The journal and Relic she holds are of higher importance.”

“I will bring her for judgment. She has betrayed humanity by not reporting back with her findings.”

The Overseer turned around. “Good, you may set off tomorrow morning.”

“Yes.”

After a deep breath, he saluted the Overseer that was looking out of his window and left the office. The man was mysterious, Endrad did not know his name, however, one thing was for certain, his commands were absolute. It was said that the Overseer had been on his post for over forty-years now, and nothing had ever escaped the Mines of Armag Hollow, whether it was workers or monsters under his watch.

Endrad closed his eyes as he closed the door behind him. He was prepared to kill the girl if necessary. All for the Great Mine of Armag Hollow and the Region of Armag Hollow itself. All to keep his dreams of retirement, but then he sighed.

One step at a time, first came collecting the Second Grade Artificial Relics and assembling the culling squad, and then came killing the girl.

He would try to converse through it first, but if not, he wouldn’t hesitate to give the order.

In Endrad’s eyes, she was already as good as dead. He stepped away from the door, and went to gather the other Supervisors.

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