Progenitor's Burden

Alice lifted her sore body into a seated position, glancing at the quest screen hovering in the center of her vision, awaiting her confirmation.

Quest: Trial of Iron and Ash (Completed)

Rewards:

Second place achieved. Rewards doubled!

12 Gold (6 x2)

12,300 Experience (6,150 x2)

Quest Complete. Continue to the next Stage? Yes/No

She snorted. That fight had been worth more than the six gold she was supposed to get, let alone the twelve she received as recognition for her extra effort. In her mind, a few hundred would have been more appropriate. Stingy system, she thought with a wry smile.

Taking a deep breath and glancing around one last time, Alice pressed "Accept."

Instantly, regret washed over her as the world shifted. She was suddenly on a deserted beach, the wind tearing through her with brutal force as a storm whipped sheets of icy rain against her skin, each drop stinging like needles.

Gasping, she spun away from the raging ocean, which crashed against the shore in furious waves, sending mist and salt into the air. She broke into a sprint, heading for the nearby tree line, hoping it would offer some cover.

Reaching the shelter of a grove of towering trees, she leaned against one, breathing hard as the storm roared on around her. The thick trunks provided some relief from the rain, though gusts of wind still found their way through, rattling the leaves and chilling her to the bone.

"Great. Just great," she muttered, cursing her luck as she scanned the area, trying to get her bearings. What is the point of this quest? she wondered, half-expecting some prompt to explain it all. But her interface remained blank.

Squinting through the rain, she noticed a faint glow on the horizon, barely visible through the storm's fury. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to make out the shape or source of the light, but it was too distant and blurred by the downpour. Still, it was something. She wasn't here to sit around waiting for an explanation.

With a huff, Alice pulled herself up, moving quickly but carefully, her eyes never leaving the light as she began to navigate the storm-soaked landscape. The muddy ground squelched beneath her feet, and each step was harder than the last, but the faint glow pulled her forward.

Moving toward where the light filtered through the tree line, Alice could make out rows of cages ahead. Men patrolled around them, occasionally kicking one cage or another.

As she squinted and crept closer, she noticed these weren't ordinary barred cages but rather twisted wire enclosures, clearly designed to contain something more dangerous. She couldn't yet see what was inside, but the atmosphere of miserable cruelty was unmistakable.

Edging even closer, she finally spotted a creature that looked strikingly like a basilisk from a series of movies she'd enjoyed back on Earth—though this one was smaller, only about four or five feet long. Just then, her quest interface sprang to life, nearly scaring her out of her skin.

New Quest: Wrath of the Storm (Rare)

Description: The ancient storm-wrought basilisks are sacred creatures, bound to the fury and freedom of the storm. You have stumbled upon a group of men seeking to subdue them for profit, imprisoning their wild spirits within cruel cages. Now, the choice falls to you: Will you lend your strength to the slavers' cause, assisting in their capture of more basilisks to meet their demands, or will you defy them, unleashing the captured creatures and standing against the injustice of their chains? Whatever you choose, the storm will remember.

Goal: Choose to either aid the slavers in capturing additional Storm Basilisks or free the captured creatures and confront the slavers.

Reward:

Gold

Experience

One Item: (Quality and nature depend on the choice and quality of success)

Alice knew she would never help slavers. The thought was as absurd as videos of kittens, not being cute—it was instinct to be repelled by one and go 'awwww' at the other. Taking in the scene, she counted three occupied cages, each holding a captive creature.

She crouched, watching the guards as they patrolled, marking the timing of their rounds. Occasionally, a tremendous screech echoed through the storm, sending chills down her spine. It was distant but disconcerting, reminding her of just how dangerous this situation might become.

When the guards were a safe distance away, Alice crept silently toward one of the cages, the rain masking any sound she might have made. She reached the nearest cage, seeing that the lock was nothing more than a series of tied knots. Inside, the Storm Basilisk lifted its head, watching her closely.

She froze, holding her breath, half-expecting the creature to sound some alarm. Instead, the basilisk tilted its head, glancing from her to the ropes on the cage, then back at her, giving a surprisingly deliberate nod. Alice blinked, shocked at its level of intelligence. Shaking off her surprise, she hurriedly began untying the remaining knots.

The moment the cage opened wide enough, the creature lunged forward. Caught off guard, Alice stumbled backward, bewildered by the sudden aggression. Why was it attacking her when it seemed to understand her intentions?

Alice staggered back, heart pounding, as the basilisk sailed past her, its serpentine body a blur of movement. It latched onto the throat of a guard who had crept up from behind, one she hadn't even noticed in her focus on the cage.

She spun around, realizing just how close she'd come to being ambushed. Without hesitation, she leapt onto the downed man, finishing him off quickly to ensure he posed no further threat. With a grunt, she dragged his body out of sight, clearing the path for their next move.

The basilisk slithered forward silently, seeming to understand her intentions. It paused and glanced back at her, almost as if to signal that the way was clear. With a nod, she moved toward the next cage, staying low and swift. Reaching it, she knelt down and started working on the knot. The basilisk positioned itself beside her, coiled and watchful, guarding her as she undid the final binding. With a twist of her fingers, the knot came loose, and another storm basilisk surged out, joining its freed companion.

They moved toward the final cage, but before they could reach it, two guards leapt from cover, weapons drawn, ready to intercept.

The two storm basilisks struck first, their movements a blur as they whipped forward, coiling around one of the guards. Fangs bared, they sank their teeth into his arms and legs, the guard's screams cutting through the thunder. His weapon fell uselessly as he struggled against the creatures' relentless hold.

Alice wasted no time, turning her focus to the other guard. She launched herself forward with a flurry of strikes—her fists and feet moving in a blur of calculated, powerful blows. Her fist connected with his jaw, and as he staggered back, she followed up with a series of lightning-fast kicks that sent him crumpling to the ground. The man didn't even have a chance to raise his weapon before he was out cold, sprawled on the rain-soaked ground.

With two guards down, Alice and the basilisks moved to the final cage. She quickly undid the knot, freeing the third basilisk, which gave her a grateful nod before joining its companions, their gleaming scales catching flashes of lightning from the storm overhead.

Just then, a commanding voice boomed over the chaos, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Alice turned to see a figure stepping out from the shadows, his stance imposing, flanked by three men to one side, two to the other. His gaze swept over the scene—the unconscious guards, the freed creatures, and Alice standing defiant with rain running down her face. He had to be the leader.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"I'm freeing them," she replied, voice firm. "And unless you want to end up like them," she gestured to his fallen men, "I suggest you clear off."

The man chuckled, a smirk playing on his lips. "Clear off? You're outnumbered, girl. Six of us, against you and your little pets."

Alice smirked back. He has no idea what's coming. She dropped into a fighting stance as the six men moved forward, weapons drawn, each with the intent to kill her and recapture the creatures.

She summoned a surge of energy, feeling the heat ignite in her core as she channeled flames into her fists. Her hands blazed with a fierce, controlled fire as she activated Focused Charge, launching herself directly into the oncoming group. Her fist connected with the first guard's jaw with explosive force, flames bursting on impact. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he even realized what hit him.

The fight erupted into a chaotic frenzy, steel flashing through the rain and flames lighting up the darkness as Alice dove into the fray. The slavers swarmed her, but she met each assault head-on, her fists blazing with magic-infused fire. One guard swung his blade down, but she sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a brutal punch to his ribs that sent him staggering back.

To her side, the storm basilisks moved like shadows, striking with precise, fluid motions. They coiled and struck, their sharp fangs sinking into exposed flesh, sending men crashing to the ground as they writhed in pain. Alice could feel a strange energy pulsing from them, rhythmic and intense—not chaotic as she'd first thought, but powerful, controlled. She let that rhythm seep into her own movements, and soon, they were fighting as one.

She ducked under a swinging ax and lunged forward, her leg snapping out in a high kick that connected with a guard's jaw just as a basilisk struck low, its fangs sinking into his calf. The man screamed, his weapon falling from his hands as he dropped to the ground. Alice turned, catching another attacker's wrist as he tried to stab her, twisting his arm with a fierce yank before sending a fiery uppercut into his face.

The basilisks moved with her, synchronising their motions as though they anticipated her every action, their strikes in harmony with her own deadly melody. Alice would strike with a fiery punch, and a basilisk would dart around her, coiling around her opponent's legs and yanking him down. Another guard lunged from her blind side, but a basilisk intercepted him with a swift bite to his shoulder, sending him crashing to his knees where Alice finished him off with a powerful kick to the temple.

She felt the heat of their energy coursing through her, melding with her own fire. They moved as one, a perfect, relentless storm. The guards faltered, their attacks slowing as panic crept into their eyes. They couldn't counter the seamless assault, their group whittled down one by one.

Finally, the last slaver fell, collapsing under the combined assault of her blazing fists and the basilisks' snapping jaws. The silence that followed was punctuated only by the heavy drumbeat of rain and Alice's steadying breaths. She stood there for a moment, drenched and victorious, the basilisks coiling beside her..

Without a word, Alice moved through the aftermath, looting the bodies of anything useful. Gold, weapons, supplies—anything that might come in handy. The storm raged on, but for now, the battlefield was hers.

Alice knelt down beside the basilisks, noticing their agitation. Their heads moved back and forth, flickering with clear irritation. Just then, another loud call echoed through the storm, the same haunting sound she'd heard earlier crashing down around them.

In unison, the basilisks made a strange noise, turning toward the source of the sound. Without hesitation, they began sliding forward, clearly intent on heading in that direction.

"Wait up, I'm coming too!" Alice called, rushing to keep pace. Despite their fierce appearance, there was something oddly endearing about them, and she couldn't help but feel a growing connection. The way they moved and fought as one stirred something in her—she wasn't sure what it was, but mentally parked the question for later.

After about fifteen minutes, they reached a clearing, and Alice stopped at the edge, ducking low to avoid being seen. In the center of the clearing lay what she could only assume was the mother basilisk, a massive creature with scales glinting even in the dim light. Ropes and chains, thick enough to secure a tank, bound her to the ground

Alice's gaze shifted and she spotted a small group of people nearby. Most appeared to be basic guards, but two of them were dressed much like the slavers she'd fought back at the camp. One was a large, imposing man, while the other wore a robe that seemed woefully impractical in the pouring rain. She scratched her cheek, wondering if he was as uncomfortable as he looked.

Edging quietly closer in the cover of the trees, she managed to catch snippets of their conversation.

The big man grumbled, "Where are those idiots? We need more people to keep this thing contained."

The robed figure replied in a sharp, irritated tone, "I told you we needed more people. Eleven wasn't enough to handle this job."

"Shove off, you prick," the big man snapped. "You also said there'd be a single mature Storm Basilisk, not two, and certainly not one with a litter of little pests. If I hadn't killed the other adult, we'd all be dead by now."

The robed figure looked unfazed, responding in a clipped, waspish tone, "I told you I had that one under control. You didn't have to kill it. Waste of money, honestly."

Alice watched the group, surprised they hadn't already turned on each other. The tension between the big man and the robed figure was thick enough to cut with a knife. She could tell they barely tolerated each other, each exchange crackling with resentment.

Turning to the three young storm basilisks, now clustered silently at her side, she motioned toward their mother. "Go around behind her," she whispered, gesturing toward the thick ropes anchoring the massive creature. "Chew through the bindings. I'll keep these guys distracted."

The basilisks regarded her for a moment before nodding in unison. She marveled yet again at their intelligence, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it. She watched as they slithered silently into the shadows, circling around the clearing. After several tense minutes of listening to the group bicker, she caught sight of them once more, barely visible in the dim light, as they began to gnaw at the thick ropes binding their mother.

One of the guards stiffened, his gaze turning toward where the basilisks worked in the shadows. He squinted, suspicion growing on his face.

Without missing a beat, Alice stepped out from her hiding spot, acting as though she'd just stumbled upon the scene. "Whoa, what's going on here?" she said, her tone a careful blend of curiosity and innocence, as if she were seeing these creatures for the first time.

The big man turned to her, his face a mask of annoyance. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, eyeing her with open suspicion.

She gave a casual shrug. "Just a traveler. Never seen a beast like that one before." She nodded at the chained basilisk. "What's it worth to you?"

The robed figure sneered. "Not for sale. You'd best keep moving."

Alice feigned a disappointed sigh, stalling as best she could. "Pity. Looks like a fine prize," she said, keeping her tone as neutral as possible while her gaze flicked to the young basilisks. They had nearly chewed through the last of the ropes; the massive creature shifted, sensing its freedom drawing near.

The big man shot the robed figure a glare, then turned back to Alice. "Fine prize indeed," he growled, stepping toward her. "But not something for you to meddle in."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Alice replied, her voice laced with mock innocence.

In that instant, the mother basilisk gave a powerful heave, snapping the weakened ropes with a surge of force. The massive creature lunged, scattering the men back as her tail whipped through the air, clearing a space around her.

Seeing her opportunity, Alice dropped her act and charged forward, fists blazing with magic-infused fire. Her first strike connected with a guard's jaw, knocking him out cold. The robed man shouted something unintelligible, his hands moving to cast a spell, but Alice was already on him, landing a rapid succession of fiery punches that broke his concentration, leaving him vulnerable.

The mother basilisk, now free, let out a thunderous roar, and her young surged forward to join the attack. Alice and the basilisks moved in sync, an unstoppable force that quickly overwhelmed the remaining slavers. The big man made one last attempt to draw his weapon, but Alice caught him off guard, delivering a brutal kick to his chest that sent him crashing to the ground.

Within moments, it was over. The clearing fell silent except for the soft patter of rain. Alice stood amidst the fallen slavers, breathing hard, her fists still tingling from the magic.

An eerie silence settled over the clearing. The rain had lessened, which was… strange considering the storm's earlier intensity. Turning, Alice realized why—the elder basilisk was towering above her, shielding her from the worst of the rain.

For a tense moment, it looked as though the massive creature might rear back and strike. Alice tensed, her heart pounding, until her three new allies slithered forward, positioning themselves between her and their parent. She could only hope they were somehow communicating, assuring their mother—or father—that this human was a friend… and that she deserved to live.

Alice held her breath. Finally, the tension seemed to melt from the giant creature's coiled form. It lowered its head, inhaling deeply as it took in her scent. Then, with a slow nod, the basilisk released a surge of energy that flowed from its body and into hers, filling her with a strange, wild power.

System Message Alert: Path Discovered

New Path: Path of the Storm Serpent

Description: The Path of the Storm Serpent embraces speed, power, and agility. This path is about coiled power, precision strikes, and the ability to harness natural energies. Like a serpent in a storm, you will strike with sharp, decisive blows, fists imbued with the energy of thunder and lightning.

Tenets:

Strike Fast, Strike True:

Speed and precision are your greatest assets; you attack with intention, leaving no room for error.

Harness the Tempest:

Channel the energy of storms, using their chaotic power to fuel your strikes and disorient your enemies.

Master of the Moment:

You control the pace of combat, dictating the flow like a storm rolling through the skies.

Resilient Spirit:

Like the serpent weathering the storm, your spirit remains undaunted in the face of challenge.

Alice stood in the rain, her eyes glazing over as her body slowly adjusted to the weight of her new connection to the Storm Basilisks. A cold energy pulsed through her, winding its way around her body until it settled in her shoulders and arms, coiling there like a serpent poised to strike.

She couldn't wait to tell the others about what had happened.