SMO Chapter 11.1 : Godspeed

Some time prior to meeting the Silverwind Wolf Clan Leader...

"Hey, why aren't there any Wolves around? We've been here for hours and only found Two!" SuXu sat on a nearby boulder.

"It is pretty strange. There are usually at least quite a few packs or groups roaming around." Shi was collecting herbs.

"But this is boring! Mia! Have you found anything?" SuXu looks at Mia, who was on the Tree branches above.

Looking around, Mia shakes her head.

"Dang it. How much longer?"

"We might as well rest here for now. Does anybody have the 'Cooking' Skill?"

Mia and SuXu shake their heads.

"Where's Suuco when you need him..."

As Shi attempted to make a simple Stew with some random ingredients, SuXu had a question pop into her mind.

"While we're at it, can you tell me what the 'Clan System' is? I heard a bit about it online, but it didn't interest me until now."

"The Clan System... Okay. There are 5 Different 'Ranks' in a Clan. From the lowest, it's 'Member', 'Scout', 'Soldier', 'Pack Leader', and 'Clan Leader'. If it's a more Peaceful Clan, the instead of 'Pack Leader', it's 'Herd Leader'. The Members usually include those who can't fight, and for those in a Peaceful Clan, it involves those who can't or don't want to fight."

"That seems pretty cool. What about the Scouts? They sound interesting."

"The 'Scouts' are those who move swiftly around their territory, searching for sources of Food and Water. They also report any Major Threats to the Leaders."

"So, they have to be quick? How do they move so quickly in this forest?"

"Actually, they jump from the Treetops. They can use Wind Magic, so they can leap from Tree to Tree at really quick speeds."

"From the Trees? They sound a lot like Elves now. And the Soldiers?"

"The 'Soldiers' are also known as 'Hunters', since they are the Members that do all of the Hunting for the Clan. They also stand guard around their Central Territory, which is where the Leaders and most of the Females are."

"Seems like something a Normal Wolf Pack would do back home."

"Now, the 'Pack Leader' is like a 'General' of sorts. They manage the Soldiers and Scouts, and is a higher Rank than the average Wolf."

"He's the Big Honcho of the Wolves, huh?"

"Not quite. The strongest of them all, the 'Clan Leader' is-"

A Crack from a nearby tree can be heard.

Before the Tree fell, Shi grabbed SuXu and jumped out of the way. Mia jumped onto a nearby Treebranch, also avoiding Danger.

As the dust settled, Shi was able to make out the figure.

With a face filled with terror, she realized what they stumbled upon... no.

What stumbled into Them.

"Hey, are you okay? Why do you loo-"

SuXu looks at the Large Wolf in front of them.

"That... is a really big Wolf. Shi, what Rank is that one?"

Shi couldn't answer.

She knew exactly what Rank it was, but was too afraid to speak.

The Clan Leader was hunting on it's own.

Looking at Shi, then back at the Wolf, SuXu draws her Claymore.

Shi realized what she was gonna do, but was too late.

"Wait!"

As SuXu charged in, she was immediately struck with a Slash from the Large Wolf.

SuXu was launched past Shi, hitting a Tree, then falling to the ground.

"SuXu!!" Shi hurried towards her, and took out a Health Potion from her 'Storage'.

"SuXu! Drink it! Hurry!"

SuXu layed motionless.

"SuXu! SuXu! Wake up!"

It was of no use.

She was dead.

. . .

Then, through the Trees, LacX appeared.

He looks at the Body that Shi was holding.

"Shi? Is that... Su... zu?"

"Shi... Skill." Mia jumps from the Trees next to Shi.

"Skill? What do you... wait..."

Realizing her only chance, Shi activates her Unique Skill.

[Resurrection]

A Light began shining around SuXu, healing most of her Wounds, and alowing her to breath.

She was still unconscious. Shi then faces the Newcomer, LacX.

"Suuco? Is that you?!"

He wasn't paying attention.

He was solely focused on the Wolf.

'What happened? Did... did that thing do this to Suzu?'

[Appraisal]

[Name : Project 72]

[Race : <Error : Artificial>]

[Error : Unknown Source]

[Cannot Appraise any further]

[Appraisal Leveled Up : 1 -> 2]

"Suuco! What are you doing?! We need to Run!" Shi was attempting to run away with SuXu on her back.

He still didn't pay attention.

Part of him wanted to run. The other wanted to Strike without holding back.

He began battling himself within his own mind.

Kill or Run. Those were his options.

I can't kill it.

I HAVE TO KILL IT.

I'm too weak right now.

I STILL HAVE A CHANCE.

Suzu is alive, and that's all I care about.

THEY HURT HER, AMD I CAN'T FORGIVE THAT.

His mind was in a Torrent of Pain.

What he was going to do next was going to have a massive impact on what happens next.

. . .

Then, as if all of his thoughts were nothing but mindless chatter,

He snapped.

The Large Wolf stood there, almost mockingly.

And as they watched the pained faces of Suzu and Shi,

They began to chuckle.

Without a word, LacX takes out his Daggers, and activates 'Booster' and 'Bash'.

Immediately charging in, he struck the Wolf in the center of it's head, causing it to stagger.

[Booster Leveled Up]

[Booster Rank Up : F -> E]

[Chance Effect : SP Consumed -5]

[Bash Leveled Up]

'Not enough.'

Going in for another Strike, the Wolf attempts to counter attack with his left Claw.

Teleporting away, LacX ran out of SP.

'Not enough.'

[Short Range Teleportation Leveled Up]

Casting as many amounts of Magic he could, he began launching them without delay.

As the Wolf was blinded by his Magic, it began to gather a large amount of Wind.

"As if I would let you."

Gathering Mana into the Palm of his hand, he threw it, cancelling the Magic.

Surprised, the Wolf couldn't move.

As the Magic kept going, LacX's Skills kept rising.

[Wind Magic Rank Up]

[Quick Cast Rank Up]

[Multitasking Rank Up]

The Barage went on for a Minute, until the Wolf used it's Skill.

A coating of Wind began to surround the Wolf, and the Magic was being Blocked or Deflected.

"I said I wouldn't let you."

Gathering even more Mana then before, LacX launched his Condensed Mana at the Wolf.

The Wind around the wolf began to outrage.

Scratch Marks and Torn Fur could be seen appearing around the Wolf.

The Skill ran out, and the Wind dispersed.

The Wolf, gravely wounded, them began using a different type of Magic.

With Green Light appearing around it's body, it slowly began to recover from it's wounds.

'Healing?'

Not wasting his chance, he dashed towards the Wolf at top speed.

Putting MP into his Dagger, he gathers a mass of Wind.

However, before he could strike, the Wolf Slashed with greater Speed than before.

'Ah, I'm dead.'

Was what one side of him said.

The other immediately put up a 'Mana Coating' just before being hit.

Taking a direct hit, the Coating shattered, and LacX was launched a few meters away before hitting a tree.

{HP : 27/100}

'Damn it... I'm not... strong enough.'

He looked at Shi, who was trying to say something, but he couldn't hear it.

As he sat there, the Wolf was still recovering from it's wounds.

LacX was looking through his System for some way to win.

'How... how do I win against something that strong?'

Finally, he stumbled upon an option.

[Job : None]

Clicking the word "Job", the System asked a simple question.

[Select a Job?]

[Y] [N]

[Y]

[Please select a Job]

A Menu appeared with a long list of Jobs.

'I don't have enough time.'

Looking through the Jobs, he finds one that caught his eye.

[Runner]

'This... looks interesting.'

[Description]

<Allows the User to use Agility Boosting Skills with No SP Consumption>

<+50 Max SP>

<Skill : Swift>

Not having enough time to think, LacX quickly chose the Job.

[Job Acquired]

[Job Set : Runner]

As soon as his Job was selected, the Wolf was completely healed.

Taking some Pop Leaflets and Mana Water from his Storage, he used his "Alchemy" Skill to make the Potion from before.

Drinking it, he gained the Healing Effect, and managed to recover 50 HP.

{HP : 77/100)

Recoating himself with Mana Coating, LacX gets up.

Activating his Agility Boosting Skills, he recalls a recent memory.

[Absorption]

'Maybe... just maybe...'

Readying his weapons, he starts again with a clear mind.

"It's time for round two."

. . .