2 Flaming Hellcat

Mina opened her eyes and sighed. Her Astral Body reformed, standing beside the rotten wooden sword. She plopped onto the ground, staring up into the trees above her.

"So sleeping doesn't work. Is there a reason for this?"

[Energy is maxed out. Unable to rest.]

Mina blinked slowly, reading the systems response.

"That actually makes sense. So system, is there any sort of tutorial or introduction to this world, or something? I have absolutely no idea where I am."

[This is the world of Arvor, created long ago by the Great God of Divinity; Vex. Arvor holds six major kingdoms, each holding reign over a massive magical font. These fonts grant immense elemental energy towards that respective element.

The human kingdom, Fennis, holds the Font of Fire. The elven kingdom, Truvale, holds the Font of Wind. The underwater kingdom, Atlan, holds the Font of Water. The Dwarven kingdom, Durren, holds the Font of Earth. The fonts of Light and Dark are hidden away from this world, sitting on separate plains.

Currently, you are situated within the Lesser Forest of Beasts near the kingdom of humans, Fennis. While not particularly close to the human kingdom, it is the closest kingdom.

This forest harbors many beasts of ranging quality. Your body, the Wooden Sword, was plunged in a weak to mid zone. While not in immediate danger, it is recommended to leave.]

"Is this water important?"

No response.

"Guess not. Or it is, and you can't say. So, was that Vex I met before?"

Mina walked to the water, letting her legs sit within its cool blue body.

"I really don't feel it. This body... it's so useless. A child that can't move away from a sword, unable to feel what surrounds her nor move the piece of shit sword that she's bound to."

Mina laid back, covering her eyes. Her suppressed emotions beginning to boil over, when a sudden voice broke her from her mind.

"R-run! It's coming- uuaagh!"

Mina sat up and looked back into the forest. Behind a tree, she could see blood beginning to pool around it... yet another voice came forward.

"Heh. Got that one. Damn, Dani got caught. Why was that bastard so scared? A little Hellcat is nothing."

Two men entered the clearing, both beginning to get on in years. One held a large hammer while the other a longsword. Mina watched them, keeping her body low.

Suddenly, one of them laughed.

"Haha. Meno, we got a child here."

Mina pushed herself up, the man's eyes scanning her.

"Hey sweetie. How'd you come about to this place?"

Mina didn't feel safe near them, her instincts telling her to run. She approached her sword, and placed her hand on it. The men both laughed, but Mina could see a pair of gleaming eyes waiting in the forest. Something stronger, eyeing it's prey.

"Little girl, we won't hurt you. Hehe. We were just hunting out here. Why so scared?"

"Who in their right mind would shrug off the death of one of their own?"

The men quickly shut up.

"You ain't human, are ya?"

[Hostile enmity detected. Origin: Human. Humans resent all beings that are not human, killing or enslaving them. A dark race, blessed with fire.]

Mina tried to free her sword, but it still wouldn't budge. Suddenly, the man with the hammer lunged. He slammed his weapon against the rotting sword, holding back a ton of power.

A powerful surge of pain erupted from within Mina. She crumpled to the ground as her voice erupted in a scream of agony. Her sword sent flying into the pool of water.

[Danger! Durability levels low! Eat ore to heal!

Durability: 2/50]

Mina slowly began to fade, shocking the two men. They lunged once more, attempting to grab her, but she disappeared from view.

As the men cursed their luck, eyeing the pool and where Mina vanished from, a sudden being flashed from within the trees. Both men didn't have a second chance to turn around as the being laid beside the pool and watched it's depths.

Mina's eyes opened, slowly falling to the bottom of the deep pool.

'It hurts... it hurts so much.'

She tried to hug her aching body, noticing how futile it was.

'Protect the sword. I need to protect me... for the sword is my body.'

As she fell to the bottom, a strange glow began to surround her.

[Blessing of the Goddess of Swords has been received.

Blessing of the God of Spirits has been received.

Blessing of the God of Forging has been recieved.

Blessing 1: Sword evolutions will become easier, as well as reduced pain levels from Sword Body. New evolutions available.

Blessing 2: Spirit evolutions will become easier, as well as senses being released on Astral Body. New evolutions available.

Blessing 3: Rotting, Chipped, Dented and Rusted status becomes unavailable. New status (Enhanced) active. Allows Sword Body to be reforged by trusted individuals to increase stats with special ore.

Core has been formed.]

Mina allowed her Astral Body to grab her Sword Body, inspecting it's new look. The wood had been fixed up, almost looking beautiful. In the center, a deep clear gem was nestled. Mina could feel her soul within it, pulsing as she stared.

Slowly, she began to swim to the top.

[Energy: 7/50

Durability: 2/50]

"I'm almost dead... heh. Mistakes were made, but I can carry my body now."

Emerging from the water, Mina climbed out and pulled her Sword Body up beside her. Out of the water, she had to drag it to move it.

"Eh? Still can't carry it?"

[Astral Body needs 2 strength to fully bear the weight of your Sword Body.]

Mina shrugged and set the wooden blade down. She looked at her Astral Body, realizing she wasn't wet.

"Does this body just not get dirty either?"

Suddenly a small huff came from nearby. Mina looked over, her eyes fixed on a beautiful cat-like creature the size of a panther. Jet black fur coated it's strong muscles, while soft patches of crimson-yellow lined it's back. Deep gleaming amber eyes locked on Mina, though they no longer seemed to be hunting.

"Uh... hi?"

"Fufufu. Do you not fear me?"

An elegant voice seemed to travel from the cat-like creature, though her mouth didn't open. Mina tilted her small head, then sat down.

"If you wanted me dead, you'd have killed me. I'm a lot weaker then those men were, I'm also almost dead."

The creatures eyes narrowed, it's thin face seeming to become confused. Mina simply laid out, not wanting to tell her anything more.

"Is there a way to heal you, child? I know nothing of healing spells, but if I may bring you something."

Mina looked over at her, her curiosity peaked.

"You killed those two so easily, yet you won't attack me. Why?"

"I do not feel that you are a threat to my people. Nor are you human."

Mina thought for a bit before she finally confessed... by tossing her Sword Body at the cat, then ramming into her.

"That's what I am."

She pointed towards the Sword Body, her Astral Body peaking from around the cat.

"Fufu. A spirit tied to a sword?"

Mina shook her head.

"I AM the sword. Say, a Sword Spirit. A sword given life."

Mina grabbed the weapon, slightly dazed by tossing herself at the beast.

"So what are you?"

The beast slowly stood up, fully measuring about a meter and a half tall, and almost two meters long.

"I am the Flaming Hellcat Queen, a Hellcat variant. Current leader of this small group those bastards were hunting. *sigh* they killed two of our youngest, most promising, and three elder cats before I could intervene. That is why they died. That is why I do not trust humans."

Her amber eyes almost burned within her head.

"My cats and kittens have taken to calling me Inferna. What may I call you?"

Mina sat beside the water, letting her feet dangle as she put the tip of the blade in. She felt cool and refreshed.

"Mina. Though that's probably not going to stay true for much longer."

Inferna crouched low, lapping at the pool of water.

"Hmm. I've come through these parts numerous times. I don't remember a pool of water so heavily enhanced with water elementals. The purity is quite strange. High tier, yet very little of it is pure. It's almost as if... it's following something?"

Inferna sniffed softly, testing the water. She followed the purest drops, finding a pair of small pale legs dangling in the pool.

"It's not coming from you, but being drawn towards you? Do you have the ability to draw pure elemental energy towards you? Magic from you would be divine."

Mina slid into the water, looking into Inferna's eyes.

"I can absorb elemental energy, but I didn't think I could draw it in. My Sword Body can eat ore, crystals and monster cores to grow. My Astral Body can absorb elemental energies. Should I?"

Mina stared into the water, slowly bobbing as if her body was truly physical.

"Hmm. I would say yes. If you could grow stronger, then you could easily deal with humans like these. Their race isn't incredible, but they can be a nuisance. Disgustingly greedy and monstrous towards every other race. I wish their fire would die out, yet I am no match for their true warriors."

Mina sighed as she submerged.

"Absorb."

[Absorbing Low Purity Water Elemental Energy... ... ... complete. You have earned... 500 exp.

Level Up.

Level Cap Reached.

Evolution Available, return to your body to evolve.]

Mina faded, returning to her sword. Inferna peered into the water, wondering where she went. Deciding to wait, she curled herself around the wooden sword... eyeing strange pouches on the men's waists nearby.