Chapter 65. Destruction on All(4)
Waking up early the next morning, Ash looked at his bonds and felt a change in them.
'Did they gain a skill or something, why do the both of them feel different? Status Check'
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Beast: Grim (f rank)
Attributes: Blood/Death/Spirit
Sex: Male
Status Healthy
Innate skill: Battle Fanatic- Fighting becomes unconsciously easier. Bloodshed produces the knowledge.
Interests: A growing love of weapons, tools, and objects.
Skills: [blood let- accomplished] [claw swipe-accomplished] [piercing ray- accomplished] [Necrotic shard- familiar] [Berserk- intro]???? [Soldier's Onslaught-intro] [Blood Spear-intro]
{Str: 3.0 Sta: 3.1 Agi: 4.3 Vit: 2.7 Int: 4.5 Spi: 7.5}
Beast: Pocket (f rank)
Attributes: Metal/Earth
Sex: Male
Innate skill:
Greedy Bastard- If anyone can find some treasure it'd be this cunt.
Interests- A love for pranks and all that is money.
Skills: [Shard Blast-intro] [Trapper's Mind-intro] [Treasure's Musk-intor] [Earthen Slop-accomplished] [Hallow Tunnel-familiar] [*************] [Steel Plate-intro]
{Str: 3.7 Sta: 3.6 Agi: 3.0 Vit: 2.7 Int: 3.4 Spi: 3.7}
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"I don't get it, you guys both got some skills and there are a couple that haven't fully been excavated yet, but what is it that is making you guys feel different. Why was I able to see your growth even in my sleep?"
Ash contemplated on the issue but shrugged his shoulders. Grim flew and sat on his shoulders causing Ash's body to almost fall over.
"You're getting heavier buddy. Man... it was only a few weeks ago that you felt like nothing."
Grim sent over annoyance at being called fat while Pocket stealthily tried to launch some goop at his head. Using his blood affinity, Ash increased his speed and grabbed Pocket, turning him upside down. Shaking the creature resulted in the jingling sound of coin pouring out from who knows where.
"You mangy prick, have you been stealing my coins." Pocket only responded in nervous giggles and serpentine curses.
"Uhhhhh, I can't do this with you guys right now. We need to get ready." Ash cleaned up his station and then looked at a candle artifact in order to tell the time.
"It's beyond early. We should have time to use the training area to gauge your guy's power and afterwards, we'll nap, then finally we'll get ready for the battle.
Walking outside the tent Ash and trio went to the makeshift training area. Setting up a few dozen dummies, Ash wiped the sweat from his brow and called out to Pocket.
"You're up first bud." Pocket just flicked his tongue lazily at Ash but a strong fist wave from his tamer put some pep in his step.
"First I want you to use [Shard Blast]. Use full power." Looking at the dummies, Pocket condensed earthen energy and shot it out in sharp prisms. They proceeded to shred the dummies before dissipating.
'Mmmm, it has ok power. Nothing to write home about but an improvement from before.'
"Alright Pocket, I want you to use [Earthen Slop]." Face muscles getting taut, Ash could feel the elation Pocket had the moment he was asked to use his favorite attack.
A glop of musty earthy gelatin filled the goblin's hands as he threw handfuls at the dummies.
'Should I be happy or annoyed that this guy's accuracy is so high with this specific attack? They're heavier than before no doubt.' Approaching the dummy, Ash tried to yank the material off of it only to fail miserably. A shiver ran down his spine causing him to look intently at the bond.
"You better not hit me with that or I promise I'll take all your coins." Hate flooded the link as Pocket started throwing slop everywhere as a form of protest.
'Ughh, it's like raising a child. This guy didn't even come outta my nuts though.'
"Alright, alright, alright, calm down already." Throwing Pocket a coin seemed to soothe the little creatin while Grim squawked like he wanted something too.
"Gluttons, the both of you" After a few minutes of banter, the young tamer finally got his beasts back on subject.
Pocket I want you to use [Steel Plate], try to condense it as hard as possible. Doing just that, a metal rhombus shaped plate appeared in front of Pocket. Attack with his saber, it held for three strikes before caving.
'Ok, this is helpful. As long as we work the heck out of that skill, he can be can provide both defense and support. I have no clue what [Trapper's Mind] does, that skill probably does something with [Hollow Tunnel].'
"Use [Hollow Tunnel] as fast as you can and go as deep as you can. When the time is up I'll let you know. And no you're not getting any more money from me."
'This guy...' Pocket seemed to sneer while sending feelings of disdain towards Ash's poverty.
"Start." Dirt flew everywhere as Pocket tunneled.
'1, 2, 5, 7, 10. He's done a pretty good job getting that far in only ten seconds. His hands becoming a bit bigger was a nice plus. Bet the Mole Rat King's tongue enhanced that tunneling skill.'
Having called Pocket back to the surface, Ash encouraged him. "Nice work bugger. We're gonna need those skills of yours if we want to get wealthy."
Looking at Grim who seemed to be sleeping, Ash called out through his link.
"Alright buddy, lets see what you can do." Yawning like birds do Grim perked up waiting for his trainer's command.
"Now, claw swipe on four of the targets." Grim's figure moved with intensity as his claws ripped all four targets open like shredded meat.
"Follow up with [necrotic shard], completely destroy those four targets." Flying further in the air, Grim rained down bone like shards infused with the aura of death. One barrage and the four cut dummies where now scrap material scattered about. A smile on Ash's face as he kept giving commands.
" Use [Piercing Ray] on eight of the dummies, only the head." Beams of energy fired off so smooth it was like butter. One head after another was left with gaping holes. "You tired yet buddy?" Grim cawed conveying his energetic state. A white light flashing in both of their eyes.
Emotions shared the intent to battle thrived. Pocket watched all of this, he quivered as he looked at his hands and just simply trembled. The bond weakened ever so slightly but Ash was too engrossed to notice.
"Follow it up with blood spear, then attack each dummy with blood let." Grim fired off thin spears of blood that slammed into the torso of each target dummy. Though a few missed, it was a sight to behold. Grim zoomed to each affected dummy and used blood let on each. Now all of the dummies had a glowing red claw mark on each.
'[Claw swipe] was the close combat skill that did the most damage. [Blood let] did damage but because it's not an actual living creature, it's effects aren't much. [Piercing ray] had great penetrating power and the accuracy is amazing. [Blood Spear] did moderate damage but the accuracy of the attack isn't too great. [Necrotic Shard], it's overall destructive capabilities were good even on targets not alive. [Soldier's Onslaught] is a skill too burdensome to use and I can't use it now with the battle underway, Grim won't recover.
"I can feel it, our link got stronger. Hahaha, I may really be like dad. Hunters always love a good fight." Calling Grim back he praised him.
"That was incredible buddy. You were like zoom, zoom, and then you were hitting everything so accurately. You've come a long way, must've been those improvements in intelligence huh." The two seemed to speak amongst one another while Pocket observed. Frustration welling in him but strangely it did not spread through their link.
After the two finished talking Ash and duo left back to their tent to rest. "Rest up guys, the fight today will be something else. We'll have a good breakfast and then we'll work on getting out of here."
The three slept morning coming around after a few hours. The trio arose well rested and full of energy. Exiting the tent Ash went to Kaz's tent. The two boys hardly got to greet one another when the horn sounded. It was time for them to gather.