91 Happenstance
After nearly half a day of fooling around, Vira teleported herself and Cairn to the middle of a knee-high meadow that stretched out to a horizon filled with fractured rock formations, distant mountains, and billowing clouds. It was quite the scenic view, but Cairn's pupils contracted when he spotted a caravan traveling a poorly maintained dirt road. More importantly, it was currently being assaulted by a group of winged creatures with guillotine-shaped heads.
"Well, what are you waiting for~?" asked Vira, linking her arms around Cairn's shoulders from behind and whispering, "That's your Experience down there..." directly into his ear.
"And to think, I was actually beginning to warm up to you..." muttered Cairn, breaking free from Vira's hold and bolting in the direction of the besieged convoy. It was being protected by armed guards, presumably Freelancers, but there were a lot of non-combatants from various races traveling in the wagons or fleeing for their lives, the latter becoming easy pickings for the exceptionally swift swarm of creatures.
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Name: Chikalukian
Species: Guillotine-Headed Wyvern
Gender: Male
Age: 2
Title: Headhunter(Critical Rate increased when targetting the neck.)
Class: Winged Assassin(Rare)
[Attributes]
Level: 22/49
HP: 3,419/4,344
MP: 199/286
Str: 53
Agi: 375
Vit: 103+26
Int: 32-16
Dex: 148+65
Cha: 49
Talent(s): [Presence Concealment(22/49)], [Natural-born Killer(22/49)], [Aerial Mobility(33/57)], [Assassination(29/50)], [Shock-absorbant Skull(25/49)], [Ridgeblade Mastery(22/48)], [Synesthesic Vision(-/-)]
Skill(s): [Decapitating Strike(MAX)], [Dive Bomb(7/10)], [Wind Blade(3/10)]
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Getting close enough that his Insight could identify the creatures, Cairn's eyes widened as he realized the monsters were a species of Microwyvern whose Levels ranged from 18-25. Their average HP was thankfully low for a wyvern subspecies, but their Agility was no joke...
Spotting Cairn, six of the Guillotine-Headed Wyverns circling the convoy broke off from the rest of the group and swooped toward him, descending in a semi-straight line that allowed those further behind to benefit from reduced drag as they split up at the last moment to try and slice different parts of his body at nearly the same time.
Though he was fairly confident in his [Heavenly Divine Body], the lack of Sera at his back compelled Cairn to don his twin [Aberrant Aegis], holding them in front of him like a peek-a-boo-style Boxer. It could be because of the grass, but none of the wyverns tried to target his legs, allowing him to focus on protecting his head and upper body.
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
Undaunted by Cairn's shields, all six Guillotine-Headed Wyverns avoided a direct collision as they grazed against him with the edges of their blade-like heads. Cairn was nearly knocked off balance by the force of the linked blows, but his [Ground Grabbers] allowed him to remain firm as he took 48, 39, 44, 58, 61, and 69 damage. Had he not brought his shields up, he would have sustained hundreds more.
'Well, now that I know what they're capable of, let's see how this works...' thought Cairn, steeling himself as he took in his surroundings, failing to track each of the assailing wyverns. Fortunately, didn't have to as he had something Vira had deemed 'fairly dangerous,' specifically when it came to him, an idea.
As the mouth of his [Ookami's Visage] opened, Cairn released a loud, ear-piercing shriek that sounded like the peal of a baby panda, just a hell of a lot louder. The Guillotine-Headed Wyverns weren't close enough to suffer any debilitating effects, but stunning them wasn't what Cairn had in mind when he activated [Whelp's Roar]. It was the Skill's secondary effect, the part about it drawing the attention of nearby Dragons...
While some might not classify Wyverns, much less Microwyverns, as Dragons, they were taxonomically related. Differing species of Dragons also had an instinctual hostility toward the members of other species, so the cry of an infant dragon was like a dinner bell to the thunderous flock of Guillotine-Headed Wyverns.
With their limited Intelligence making it impossible for them to discern that Cairn wasn't an actual Whelp, the Guillotine-Headed Wyverns began assailing him with blades of wind from a distance. Fortunately, their lack of Intelligence also worked against them in this regard, as they could only unleash 2-3 ultimately harmless magical attacks against Cairn's [Heavenly Divine Body] before having to use their heads, quite literally.
Gritting his teeth, Cairn smiled beneath his mask even as he was knocked to and fro by the Guillotine-Headed Wyverns' assault. Their penchant for forming bombing groups and attacking in a line was a simple yet effective method to take down much larger prey, but since Cairn was a fairly small target, only so many wyverns could attack him at once without getting in the way of their kin. This allowed him to reposition and meet each group head-on, his smile broadening as the dopamine-inducing dings of system notifications filled his ears.
*You have sustained 31 Damage!*
*You have sustained 43 Damage!*
*Ding! Your [Shock Absorption] Talent has increased to Rank 7!*
*You have sustained 23 Damage!*
*You have sustained 28 Damage!*
*The [Retaliation] effect of your [Aberrant Aegis] triggers! You Reflect 253 Damage to your foe!*
Though Cairn had to endure a beating, his [Shadowflame] regeneration, combined with his ever-increasing Resistances, allowed him to stand firm while the retaliatory effect of his [Aberrant Aegis] periodically sent those unfortunate to have their attacks rebounded reeling into the grass, unable to immediately retake to the sky as they struggled to gain lift beating their wings against the tall grass. He was essentially engaging the wyverns in a battle of attrition, but as he recovered 2.7 HP for every 1 MP converted by his [Shadowflame], his 18,736 HP was more like 51,406.
Seeing Cairn draw the Guillotine-Headed Wyverns to him, the people protecting the convoy went from profound confusion and awe to quickly regrouping to join the fray. They couldn't let the person who had come to their aid fight alone, so while their injured members hung back to protect the people and supplies they were transporting, the rest began assailing the swarm with crossbows and the occasional magic spell.
'KSing bastards...' groaned Cairn, the smile fading from his face as he saw nearly a dozen wyverns knocked out of the sky by a fast-moving cloud of ice magic. He gained partial Experience by being near each kill, but since 'rare' monsters gave around twenty Experience per Level, seeing numbers like 56 and 70 when he should have been gaining an average of 880 was 'disconcerting,' to say the least...
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With most of the Guillotine-Headed Wyverns dead, turned to Drop Items, and the remainder fleeing, Cairn found himself staring at the sky, his mask concealing a listless deadpan. His system log had recorded the deaths of 48 wyverns. With the boost of his [Training Collar], he should have gained approximately 42,000 Exp. Such a substantial amount would have raised his Level from 25 to 28. Instead, he was 2,948 Experience away from 26, having averaged a meager 65 per kill...
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Name: Adam Masterson
IWN: Cairn
Gender: Male
Age: 27(Apparent Age: 16)
Title: Grand Architect's Favored Disciple(Growth Rate+100%)
Class: [Jack-of-All]
[Attributes]
Level: 25(213,619/216,567)
HP: 17,895/18,736
MP: 9,850/12,100
Str: 100
Agi: 100
Vit: 120+222
Int: 300
Dex: 50+75
Cha: 104+156
AP: 0
Talents: [Slow Start, Endless Potential(25/100)], [Never Say Die(MAX)], [I Can Do It Too(2/10)], [Animal Magnetism(15/90)], [Heavenly Divine Body(5/80)], [Shadowflame(29/100)], [Mining(41/100)], [Bedroom Arts(36/100)], [Shield Mastery(35/100)], [Pain Tolerance(35/100)], [Nurtured(28/100)], [Acid Resistance(25/100)], [Cooking(18/100)], [Fire Resistance(25/100)], [Pickaxe Mastery(14/100)], [Sword Mastery(10/100)], [Corruption Resistance(20/100)], [Charm Resistance(15/100)], [Disease Resistance(5/100)], [Grooming(10/100)], [Stun Resistance(11/100)], [Thievery(3/100)], [Taming(1/100)], [Shock Absorption(13/100)]
Skills: [Insight(MAX): 1MP], [Domination(2/10): 200MP], [Shield Bash(MAX): 50MP], [Sophistry(4/10): 30MP], [Penny-Pinch(2/10): 50MP], [Gamble(2/10): 10MP], [Self Immolation(MAX): 10MP], [Whelp's Roar(3/10): 100MP], [Darkness Dragon's Breath(6/10): 500MP], [Claw of Destruction(4/10): 50MP]
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"Thank you so much! I don't know how we could ever repay you...!" exclaimed the presumed leader of the group escorting the caravan, a fairly youthful-looking Therian with unkempt, muted beige hair, pastel purple eyes, fox-like ears, and a tail. Their body was garbed in tan/beige robes woven from Karakut fur, but what caught Cairn's attention was the branch-like staff in the Therian's hand, denoting them as the culprit behind his Exp loss...
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Name: Sihl
Species: Therian
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Title: Chief Custodian(Increases morale of nearby allies, improving their Damage Potential and Growth Rate by 20%)
Class: Shaman(Epic)
[Attributes]
Level: 31/82(246,509/256,141)[Secret Keeper(20), Exorcist(11)]
HP: 5,442/5,908
MP: 29,115/33,043
Str: 31
Agi: 66+20
Vit: 159
Int: 282+245
Dex: 172+150
Cha: 169+68
Talent(s): [Mystic Sight(20/20)], [Talisman Mastery(20/20)], [Spirit Call(11/20)], [Therian Physiology(31/82)], [Calligraphy(47/80)], [Shikigami Mastery(33/69)], [Ice Elemental Mastery(28/54)], [Earth Elemental Mastery(25/50)], [Sealing Arts(19/48)], [Camping(4/19)], [Perfect Pitch(-/-)]
Skill(s): [Silence(MAX)], [Natural Healing(MAX)], [Possession(MAX], [Reverse Possession(MAX)], [Ice Bolt(MAX)], [Cone of Frost(8/10)], [Lesser Blizzard(3/10)], [Earth Spike(MAX)], [Stone Javelin(6/10)], [Fissure(1/10)]
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Keeping his [Ookami's Visage] in its visible mode, Cairn flatly replied, "Don't mention it. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time..."
"At least allow us to prepare a meal for you. We need time to repair our wagons, so we'll likely make camp here for the next day or two," said the beige-haired fox boy, Sihl.
"Mind if I ask where you're headed...?" asked Cairn, though the answer was fairly obvious, given the circumstances.
"The Heartland has become unstable due to the attack of Black Dragons on The Abyss. As such, my tribe is relocating to seek refuge in the Great Plains of Cliabhaan," explained Sihl, smiling wryly as he added, "It won't be an easy migration, but when Dragons wander or take flight, you either get out of their way, get trampled, or get eaten."
Hearing Sihl mention the Great Plains, located nearly 3,000 kilometers to the North, Cairn decided to be the bigger man and forgive the youthful-looking Exorcist for his transgression of stealing Experience. Just getting into Cliabhaan was going to be difficult. If they had money, things would be easier from there, but Cairn got the impression that the caravan wasn't carrying much value besides a few articles of Karakut fur clothing and the odd, well-worn Karakut fur rug.
Making up his mind, Cairn gave a curt nod and said, "Fine, I'll accept your gratitude. But I have some questions for you while we eat."
"Questions I would be more than happy to answer," replied Sihl, beaming from ear to ear. Then, after a quick round of introductions, he ordered the others in his group to assist in making camp. While they focused on that, he and Cairn went around collecting the Guillotine-Headed Wyverns' Drop Items, Sihl insisting the former keep them all but ultimately splitting them 80/20...
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Though he planned to retreat into the Interspatial Pouch at some point, Cairn accepted Sihl's invitation to stay with the 337-person caravan, 289 adults and 48 children, until his departure the following morning. Sihl had similarly invited him to accompany them to the Great Wall, but when Cairn explained his circumstances, the friendly Exorcist instead provided him a rudimentary map depicting the migration routes of the Karakut tribes his people most frequently traded with.
"I'm glad I didn't supplex him for stealing my Experience..." Cairn mused, relaxing atop a thick Karakut rug in the cozy patchwork tent Sihl and his tribe had prepared for him. They had lost seventeen people in the attack, but if Cairn hadn't arrived when he did, they would have lost many, many more. As such, Cairn was regarded as a savior/benefactor by the Therian troupe, causing him to feel content and slightly drunk as they poured him at least a dozen cups of wine over the course of the impromptu banquet held in his name.
"Excuse me..." said a faint, feminine voice, followed by an ashen-haired Therian entering Cairn's tent. Her clothing, resembling a grey and black kimono, was of a much higher quality than the rest of the people in the caravan, but Cairn barely paid them any mind as he met the girl's pastel blue gaze and asked, "Can I help you with something...?"
"It's the opposite..." replied the girl, loosening the sash around her waist and allowing her robe to fall past her shoulders as she impassively added, "If Sir Cairn is willing, I have come to express my gratitude for you saving my people..."
Adopting a wry smile, Cairn remarked, "Well, you're certainly cute enough. But, as I told Sihl, I didn't help you to receive a reward. You should return to your tent or wagon and get some rest."
"I must show my gratitude to the one who bears the sacred relic of Lady Ookami..." contended the girl, restoring a bit of Cairn's clarity of mind as she allowed her robe to droop even further, revealing modest, porcelain white breasts. Her skin was so fair it looked like she had never seen the Sun, but Cairn was more interested in the girl's words, asking, "You know the Goddess, Ookami...?"
"She is the Patron of our people, the Goddess who presides over the Hunt..." replied the girl. Then, in one fell swoop, she allowed her robe to fall to the ground, revealing her naked form. She was a bit thin for Cairn's taste, especially after his recent awakening, but her unblemished skin had a certain 'ethereal' beauty that made it difficult to look away.
"Hmmm..."
Checking the girl's status and seeing that she, like Sihl, was much older than she appeared, Cairn's smile eased into a faintly smoldering grin as he kicked back, closed his eyes, and replied, "If you're going to insist, I won't turn you away. But if this is some kind of entrapment, don't be surprised if I leave you disappointed."
Instead of responding to Cairn's words, the ashen-haired fox girl, named Tear, got on her hands and knees and approached him, crawling on top of his body and surprising him with a kiss. After that, she seemed to kiss just about every meaningful inch of his body before tentatively but earnestly licking his erect cock, getting it nice and lubricated before she practically impaled herself on it, her expression a mask of impassivity even as a thin trickle of blood leaked from where they were connected...
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