Prologue 3: The Desert #2

BOOM!

The Desert Shriek Hawk an apex of the sky a monster said to grant it's prey a loud death hovered over the cloud of dust it had erected after blasting the unique prey with it's skill <Sonic Cannon>. A skill that released shockwaves through an ear deafening screech. The Desert Shriek Hawk had spotted the prey from its high mountain pick with it other skill <Keen Sight> nothing was to far to see for this red screaming doom.

The Desert Shriek Hawk look for the corpse of it's prey the dust cloud it needed to know if the target had survived. Flapping it's massive wings it began blowing the dust cloud away. <Keen Sight> could spot movement from afar but it couldn't see through stones and dust clouds which is why it didn't land before removing the dust cloud, it didn't want to blind itself.

The dust cloud cleared revealing nothing the prey was gone. The Shriek Hawk screamed in anger and it failure.

_ _ _ _ _ _

"Cough!..cough!... cough!"

Shoto coughed out the dust as he rose from the from being berried in sand by the Shriek Hawk's sonic blast. He was very lucky if the Assistant hadn't boosted his body with magic and told him to jump back within that split second the Shriek Hawk was charging  it power he would have been dead.

"Thanks Assistant"

{It is my function to insure your survival}

"Whatever" Shoto got up.

He had jumped quite the distance but he wasn't far away from the Shriek Hawk screaming in frustration. Even though he was in a dangerous situation where the Shriek Hawk could spot him and kill him, his face remained expressionless. "No matter the situation panicking leads to early graves" is what Shoto grandfather taught him and it was a lesson he took to heart.

The Shriek Hawk hadn't spotted Shoto yet because he was covered in sand from head to toe and he was crouching. Shoto had already guessed that even with his enhanced body he wouldn't be able to escape the Desert Shriek Hawk for to long. He breathed deep quickly formulated in his mind.

"Tch here goes nothing" he click his tongue.

Shoto removed the glass shard from his the sand and broke it in half. He raised one of glass shards in the air reflecting it in the sunlight catching the eye the Shriek Hawk. It whining instantly stopped seeing the prey it cried about still alive. It flapped it's massive wings heading for Shoto.

Shoto put the glass shard in his mouth and ran in a horizontal direction forcing the Shriek Hawk to turn because of it's massive size the Shriek Hawk's takeoff speed and turning were slow which worked in Shoto's advantage.

Shoto increase his speed with the help of the Assistant circulating magic particles in his body.

{Warning attack incoming} the Assistant warned.

Shoto ran as fast he could the desert sand was becoming harder meaning he was reaching more solid terrain.

{Bleeding Detected}

Shoto feet began to bleed as the sharp  pebbles stabbed his feet but he pushed on.

BOOM!

The Shriek Hawk screamed releasing a sonic round from its mouth shattering the earth. The Shriek Hawk was flying close to the ground so that sonic round from that distance did a lot of damage to the hard ground.

Shoto managed to avoid the the attack but the Shriek Hawk was closing the distance. The Shriek Hawk charged up another sonic round it was close enough to kill Shoto even if it missed the blast would knock him off balance but then ...

SWISH! Stab!

As sharp glass shard entered it's right eye drawing blood from it. The Shriek Hawk fired the sonic blast in the air because of the the pain now it neck was exposed.

The second glass shard Shoto had was flew aiming the neck of the flying beast.

Stab!

The glass shard pierced it's throat ceasing the sonic blast. Choking on its blood the Shriek Hawk flopped down to the ground it land within walking distance for Shoto. He walked to the Shriek Hawk with a large heavy rock in his hands he loomed over the hawk drowning in it's own blood. Shoto brought the rock down three times on the Shriek Hawk's head.

THUD!

THUD!

THUD!

The Shriek Hawk's skull was cracked open.

"Huff...huff ... huff!"

{No signs of life have been detected would you like to use <Harvest> Y/N}

"Yes"

The Shriek Hawk's body disintegrated as it was absorbed by Shoto's muscles tensed up from the influx of energy entering his body.

[Congratulations you have gained a new skills <Sonic Cannon> and <Keen Sight>] the Voice Of Creation announced in Shoto's head.

Shoto plopped down the ground excused the magic circulation also took a toll on his body. He was hungry and even more thirsty. He looked at the puddle of blood left behind by the Shriek Hawk.

"Hey Assistant is the blood of the Shriek Hawk safe to drink?"

{Due to it's diet of sand worms it's blood is a little acidic but still safe for consumption}

That meant yes for Shoto he leaned his head down to the puddle taking a huge sip from it.

"Cough... cough... cough" a burning sensation engulfed Shoto's through.

"I thought... you said... it was... safe.. to drink" he said.

{Taste does not apply to safety for consumption}

Drinking the blood was like downing a whole bottle vinegar it burned but the burning feeling soon left Shoto's throat.

"Phew" relief washed over Shoto.

{Sir due the emergency early you have taken damage. Your body needs to be immediately repaired}

The circulation of unconverted magic particles caused Shoto's muscles and veins to tare and bleed. He could feel the pain all over his body.

"You can heal my body?" He asked.

{If you allow it. Would you like being repairers Y/N}

"How long will it take?"

{Half an hour} it answered.

"Your going to repair it like you did with my hands early?"

{Affirmative. Would you like to be repairs Y/N}

"Yes"

A unknown sensation engulfed Shoto's body as the Assistant repaired all his injuries. The Assistant took it a step further reconstructing Shoto body making every cell stronger than before and allowing magic to flow easily.

{Repairs have been completed. Sirs  Body has also been reconstructed}

"Reconstructed?"

Shoto began to feel the magic particles flow inside not just the ones he gained from the monsters but only the ones in the atmosphere. He could also feel his body had become stronger he was truly amazed.

"Whoa what else can you do with magic particles?" He asked amazed.

{Twenty functions can be conducted using magic particles would you like to see them Y/N}

"Nah let get a move on I don't want another Shriek Hawk to find us" his amazement fell.

{Affirmative}

Shoto got up and began walking wasn't far from the giant rock piller the Shriek Hawk came from. Going there might seem like a bad idea but staying out in the open put him in more danger.

He reached the giant rock piller staring at the oval hole in it. Looking inside Shoto saw nothing the light outside couldn't pier inside the dark cave.

"Assistant do you have night vision?" Shoto asked.

{Affirmative Night Vision will be activated once you step into unilluminated area}

"Okay?"

Shoto stepped in the dark cave causing the night vision to turn on. The sandy floor of the connected with Shoto's foot activating his <Seismic Sense> he had much broader view of the caves inside. The rock piller seemed to be hollow up to a certain point while the cave was much wider.

Shoto scanned around with his night vision looking for any signs of life. After killing two monsters and collecting their skills this looked like a game to him but with the possibility of him dieing and not coming back.

Shoto eyes cought something zooming in with the help of the Assistant it looked like a small stream of water. He rushed to it kneeling down and scooping water with both his hands. Then  as he was about to bring the water to his lips he heard....

Sniff! Sniff

Sniff! Sniff!

Loud sniffing the behind raised everything hair on his body.

'Why didn't my <Seismic Sense> pick that up?'

Shoto looked like a priest offering water to a statue in his current position. Slowly pouring the water into the sand Shoto raised himself from his kneeling position. He could feel the eyes of the large predator stabbing his back like knives. The predator didn't seem alarmed by him getting up.

Sniff!

Shoto heard another sniff he turned around bringing the predator into view.

A lizard not different from a komodo dragon in his world only super sized. The giant lizard tasted the air with it's forked tongue. Shoto could guess what it was tasting his blood and sweat. After concluding it's taste test it began to hiss while slowly flashing rows of teeth.

The boss fight of the desert level was about to begin.

[A/N: I'll try ending Book 0 within ten to twelve chapters. Just think of Book 0 as a training Arc.]