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Wet ash squishes under the knight's iron boots. He had hurried to the now destroyed city once he heard that bodies in strange positions were found after the fire was done raging. He raised his hand catching the chattering rain before squeezing his hand shut. "This seems closely related," he pondered. "The monster tracks at the ball not long followed by the attack at Goldenteeth estate where the head of the family was found in that creepy position." He ruffled his hair in agitation. "That same night as the attack I found a den with a monster the king wanted, and there was evidence of an intelligent monster which was the same one at the ball." He walked in circles before kicking a skull away which exploded on impact. "Now this village got attacked and the corpses that were littered outside were all put in that bone chilling position. Beside the tracks of that mystery monster are also here." He nodded with his conclusion his fist clenched as he unleashed his mana countless lightning bolts thundering down with mighty cracks. "That murderer is a monster, and it seems it's sending a message and the most horrifying of all, it may have the intelligence of a human or even higher."
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Ivy's claws itched as if someone figured something out. Shrugging she continued onwards her pads scraping against the rough stone. While passing a lake Ivy and Luna stopped to drink and rest. Numerous birds shrieked their melody's. As Ivy was about to turn around a small ball of water floated into the air freezing over before crumbling revealing Tsalice. "Hello there my child!" Luna shrieked in horror, her hand reaching for her weapon. Ivy quickly swatted her hand away from her weapon. "Don't do that that's my god." Ivy hissed. Tsalice watched them with a grin they looked like two children squabbling. Luna turned her head from Ivy to Tsalice and back. Angela trotted out of some bushes before spotting Tsalice. Tsalice saw the ghost walking through the bushes "so you're Ullr's biological mother." Angela winced at the goddess's remark. "Yes, that would be me." Ivy noticed how uncomfortable Angela was with Tsalice. "Tsalice what is the problem? What's the problem for you to show up personally?" Tsalice stared at them for what felt like an eternity her fur catching the light and making her glow. "Well Your mother asked me to give you her request… She wants you to become strong enough to cast at least three medium level spells so that you are more prepared for the dangers of this world." Ivy nodded slowly in understanding. "Alright, that's reasonable I will do what I can." Tsalice turned her gaze back to Angela who was now hiding inside a bush before nodding and collapsing into a pile of snow. "Well I better prepare some cores to increase my mana." Angela nodded at Ivy's remark. Luna nodded along while hyperventilating.
Ivy conjured up two icicles and hurled them at the ogre that was swinging his massive wooden club at her its green skin swelling with puss and grime. Ivy jumped up in time glancing at Luna who was busy fighting with some goblins. The ogre seizing the moment swatted her away the force of the strike makes her fly into a tree causing blood to be spat out. Coughing Ivy struggled to stand up cursing at herself for such a mistake. Angela rushed over having seen the attack. "Are you alright? Does it hurt?" She went on and on shooting questions one after each other all in concern. "Be quiet!" Ivy snapped but instantly regretted it when she saw Angela's hurt expression. "Wait I didn't mean to hurt you." Angela slowly nodded before stalking away. Ivy turned back to the ogre just in time to dodge another strike, the heavy object crashing into the ground and leaving a decently sized imprint. With a flick of her tail Ivy launched the icicles she had created earlier at the giant one of them missing the other piercing its hand. The resulting roar bellowed through the mountains, it flung its hand towards Ivy who was barely able to dodge. Its other hand rose with preparing to bring the wooded object down again with brutal and deadly force. Ivy shifted to her humanoid form and created for herself two long lightweight curving ice swords, she knew she wasn't trained in the ways of a sword, but her mind called to it. Brandishing these curved sword she dodged the incoming strike and slashed out the green skin opening wounds and letting green blood flow freely. Jumping onto its arm she started climbing by stabbing her swords into the arms. It tried to flatten her with its free hand. Ivy jumped in response shifting back into her original form landing on its thump, the impact also forced the blade deeper into the ogre's arm. It roared in pain flailing around its massive arms. Ivy tried to hold on her claws digging deeper and deeper into the monster's but to no avail as she was flung of its body her body hitting the ground with a heavy thud. With heavy groans Ivy got back on her paws, "That hurts." The ogre eyes shone amused before it pointed a finger at her. It started speaking with a smile, but it words were incomprehensible, something sparked below Ivy and a magic circle formed under her. Ivy tried to escape, but the ogre flicked its finger up and a massive pillar of fire shot up from the circle. The flames engulfed Ivy licking hungrily at her fur. She screamed out in pain while the flames seared her fur and flesh. "This can't be, am I really going to die like this? I haven't reached Ullr yet, l haven't saved him." The fire magic suddenly halted while Ivy collapsed to the ground her body aching, her mind reeling and her breath labored. The ogre was twitching a large pool of blood was forming under it. Ivy turned her head with much effort every muscle straining under the movement. A massive gaping hole stood out in the ogre's chest, it twitched a bit longer before crashing to the ground. The goblins that were fighting Luna and were still alive fled. She turned around to look at Ivy her eyes clouding with horror at her state. "Are… are you…" Her sentence broke off as a twig snapped behind the ogre's corpse.
A long thin bony arm appeared out of the shrubbery. It's brownish green skin blending with the surrounding, she black bone like protrusion running along the arm and jutting out the joints absorbing light. Its three fingered clawed hand silently grabbing the ground. Another arm appeared accompanied by a massive head, teeth jutting out of its jaw in impossible angels, three eyes put one after the other in a line on both sides of its head. It opened its jaw rows of mismatched teeth placed around the gum before quickly vanishing as it snapped shut cutting half of the ogre's body clean of. Bones crunched and drool mixed with blood dripped from the creature's jaw as it pulverized what was in its mouth. Ivy shuddered
at the sight. Its eyes turned to look at Ivy who quickly shut her eyes and stopped breathing. Luna was hidden in the bushes praying that it wouldn't eat Ivy. The monstrosity crept closer to Ivy, its numerous eyes continuing their uncomfortable gaze. After what felt like forever it finally turned around and left.
Ivy slowly opened her eyes while gasping for air, Luna came out of the bushes and rushed over to Ivy helping her up. "What was that?" Luna looked at the trail the monster left behind. "That was an eachnid" Ivy turned around to look at her friend. "An eachnid? That's what's it called?" Luna nodded. Angela hovered above them. "Ullr is stronger than that thing." Ivy looked at the floating at the cat annoyed. "It's nor really difficult. He is a red grade monster." Angela snorted with pride.
Ivy turned to the ogre's lower half, padding over to it. Raking open its flesh with her claws Ivy was lucky enough to find a core. Meanwhile Luna gathered the other goblin cores. Ivy sighed. "That thing. I need to kill it and take its core to increase my magic." Ivy Shuddering as she recalled the beast's horrifying figure.
The core became translucent as they soaked in the water losing their impurities making their mana absorbable. Angela stared at the glittering stars. "Sometimes I wonder if my family and ancestors are looking down from there judging my or Ullr's actions." Ivy turned her head to stare at her. "Who knows. Everybody believes in different things. I have Tsalice, while you May not even believe in a god everyone has different beliefs when it comes to the afterlife." Angela nodded slowly understanding the implication. "My parents told me that we gain our powers from the cold distance between the living and the dead… the dead, my ancestors." A sparkling tear filled with stars rolls down her cheek. She starts sobbing. "I want, I want so desperately to feel my son again. His warm breath spreading out against my fur." She flexes her claws leaving scores in the ground. It doesn't go unnoticed by Ivy though before startling as Angela cries out. "My son. My beautiful innocent child who I saved from my horrible fate," she pauses for a second catching her breath. "To only get send back to that hell-hole." Her scream bellows through the woods, the air dropping in temperature in mere moments. "To be forced into procreation with his siblings, cousins, and family." Her voice echoes out in raw heart-wrenching emotion. Frost start gnawing at the plant leaves while snow slowly falls like sprinkles from the heavens. Ivy starts panicking. This isn't her powers this is Angela's. In absolute terror and confusion she tries jumping on Angela. Ivy's eyes flies open in absolute terror as she doesn't go through Angela, but instead has contact with her and sending them both crashing to the ground. Angela snaps out her frenzy as she feels Ivy actually on-top of her. She starts stuttering as her tail goes over Ivy her paws unable to go through her until she concentrates. With a dumbfounded expression Ivy paws Angela's chest. Every touch is cold like a gentle winter breeze but also filled with warm gentle energy. Luna walks through the trees only to freeze as she sees Ivy. "Ivy, what is that?" Ivy follows her trembling finger to Angela who is now hugging Ivy like her life depends on it while bawling her eyes out. Ivy's lips curl up in a grin. "That my dear Luna is Angela."
Ivy, Angela, and Luna continue their way once Ivy explains everything about Angela to Luna while also finally gaining enough mana to cast 2 medium and 5 low level-spells after three grueling days of fighting. Slowly the group reached the edge of the forest scents tickled Ivy's nose. Angela audibly took a breath to filter the scents. Ivy stared at her waiting something, and she didn't have to wait long. Angela's ears pointed upwards. "I smell Ullr." She grinned like a child before padding of in its direction. Ivy and Luna looked at each other before going after the ghost.
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Abaddon practically launched out the throne as he received his daily report. "So the lost kitten has been captured and is returning home." His grin widened and the shadows flicker as if they had a life of their own. He begins laughing maniacally the people present in the room begin trembling as fear creeps down their spine. The fire in the chandelier flares chaotically. Then the king stops dropping the room in dreadful silence. "Still an entire village wiped clean of the map probably caused by my missing pet." He grits his teeth before descending the stair and marching over to the messenger his strides eating up the space between them at an alarming rate. He glares in his eyes. "Yet nowhere to be seen." He hisses through gritted teeth practically vibrating. The messenger tries to step back but is mat by Abaddon's backhand smashing him into the ground. He snaps his neck to a guard. "Execute his firstborn and send him his hand." He snaps before grabbing the messenger he marches to a red-blue door at the side. "Leave!" He barks before entering the room and slamming the door shut behind him. He pulls the messenger to his face and leans in. "See those monsters," he whispers dangerously sweet. "They have been drugged to the point they will breed with almost anything. Of course, it has to be opposite gender." The lights flicker some of them dying dropping the room in dreadful gloom. "So much in fact that they don't stop until they are…" The king pauses and points at a small baby frost cat. "And even better," he leans in even closer. "They are absolutely vicious." He rips his head back to look in the man's eyes giving him a perfectly masked smile, before he tosses the man in the cage as the five monsters pounce. He walks over to a cage where a black spiked egg is located humming at the screams filling the room. "I'm going to have fun with you."
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author note:
Well, here is chapter fourteen after what two months? I'm sorry for the long leave. I had to get my teeth removed, and went out several times. I'm also processing the loss of one of my cats. Still thanks for waiting.