Rising Kite - A story from the world of HWFWM

Two staves collided, a pleasant reverberation echoing across the small arena upon the impact, followed by the sound of an ephemeral mirror breaking as Phiona Geller’s staff disappeared into shards of dissolving mana. To her credit, she was barely even unbalanced by the sudden shift of leverage, quickly transitioning into a dodge as Kite’s fist passed through the air where her head had been just a moment ago.

She became a blur of extreme speed, suddenly having created a few meters of distance to Kite as well as having brought out a replacement staff from a dimensional satchel in but a heartbeat.

“Well, that will be supremely annoying.” she remarked, charging back a scant moment later. Kite had already started to send strikes her way through his intent, and Phiona sped up further to weave through the vicious gauntlet of attacks.

“Dissolve the patterns of power.”

The dispelling wave washed over her, canceling Phiona’s increased speed. Adjusting quickly, she blocked another projected attack before her staff suddenly lengthened, shooting down into the ground at an angle to launch her toward Kite. The spinning staff met a conjured barrier the size of a dinner plate, Kite moving it back and forth to deflect a rapid-fire series of thrusts which followed. Another moment later, this became a lot harder as the staff started bending sharply at angles to swerve around his small barrier, forcing him to suffer a few hits as he reconjured the barrier with a bigger diameter, albeit at the cost of durability. He tried intercepting what special attacks he could detect with his own weapon or hands in order to disrupt them, but Phiona’s skill with her weapon of choice had as many blows landing as Kite managed to fend off.

Still, he did manage some retaliatory attacks as well as to remove a lot of the special attacks and other magical boons that his foe tried to stack up, putting small chinks in her rhythm which started paying more and more dividends as her mana was gradually absorbed by his vortex, special attacks and her hitting him or his barriers.

Unfortunately for Kite, Phiona steadily began to get his measure as she chose to forego her more powerful attacks in favor of keeping up the pressure with her readily available special attacks that could be used in quick succession. Combined with her superior skills, this forced a confrontation of attrition which Kite realized that he would not be able to prevail in as long as his foe was that much higher in the rank than him while they both kept from using their more spectacular attacks. While the training arena had a powerful protection in place ready to stabilize and heal them, it was still not the safety of a mirage chamber.

He was actually pleasantly surprised to have lasted the amount of exchanges that he did, especially when an attempted leg sweep fell short as his now active special ability which resisted attempts to move him prevented such tactic from most opponents of a similar rank, allowing him to land a decent strike of his own. But in the end, she broke through his barrier, staff colliding with his head hard enough for stars to explode in his vision as he staggered backward, finding his teacher’s staff resting on his shoulder as he came out of his daze.

“I yield.” he panted, blinking the spots from his vision.

“Good. We will proceed to review this bout.” Phiona said, this time waiting for him to join her before walking back towards where Rachel sat observing them. “Rachel, would you mind?”

“No problems, Nona!” the red-haired woman cheered, as a serpentine head suddenly grew out of her back before spitting a glowing, green glob at Kite. Even though its origin was friendly, he still couldn’t help but flinch as it splattered across him, quickly melting away through his armor without leaving as much as a stain. Instead, he felt both his physical and stamina recovery increase.

“Not so bad, huh?” Rached asked him with a cheeky grin. “While I am not mainly a dedicated healer, my renewal essence and hydra confluence still gave me enough to help out. Just be glad I didn’t accidentally use the poison or acid spit.” she finished with a wink.

“I will endeavor to stay ever grateful for your mercy.” Kite said with a mock bow.

“See, Nona? The locals sure know how to show proper respect to beautiful ladies.”

“If you are quite done, we have a sparring match to review before lunch.” Phiona said as she sat down at one of the benches. “It is noticeable that you at least have integrated your powers with your technique, especially the barriers. Have you had a mentor in that regard?”

“Yes, a silver ranker. I lived with him for a few weeks and he taught me a lot.” Kite answered, feeling a twinge of nostalgia at remembering his time with master Stone.

“And you do use your drains and dispels decently well. Many opponents will be put out of their rhythms enough for you to really punish them. But I have seen a few holes in your defense which we will need-” Phiona said, following with a more lengthy instruction. From the way she spoke, it was obvious to Kite that she had been trained very thoroughly.

“I must say, teacher-” he said as her review of his performance had ended, “- that you are most impressive. Who trained you?”

Phiona started slightly, and for a moment it looked like she would brush off the question. But in the end, she answered.

“One of my aunts. Katerina Geller. She spent a lot of time with me as I grew up, and trained me along with many other teachers.” The explanation was short, but there was a slight smile in Phiona’s voice as she seemed to be fond of the memories.

“Well, if I ever meet her, I will convey that she trained one impressive student. I will ever strive to emulate your excellence, teacher.” Kite said with a grin.

“Uhm- thank you…” Phiona began before her more professional side returned in force. “But it is not my process we should be focusing on. You need to continue forging your own style, not try too much to emulate mine. Taking inspiration is always nice, but one should be vigilant to not having it step out of bounds of the synergies-” she continued, falling into another lecture.

From behind her back, Rachel gave Kite a huge grin and two thumbs up.

As lunch was fast approaching and their daily session ended, the trio eventually retrieved their things and started leaving the practice area. During their walk, Kite took the opportunity to broach another topic.

“Teacher, Rachel, I have a proposal if you don’t mind giving me just another moment of your time.”

They both looked at him as they walked, Phiona waving for him to continue.

“I have happened upon a business arrangement with a crafter-” he began, explaining his arrangement with Peony and her family. “-and as you spoke of contracts as a part of training, I was wondering if it would be acceptable for me to bring her along as well? We have planned an outing for tomorrow, should you wish to accompany us, or we can make other arrangements for the future.”

Phiona looked thoughtful while Rachel, true to form, looked excited. “That sounds like an acceptable proposal.” Phiona said eventually. “And as for her joining in our physical training, it should be self-explanatory, no, mandatory. We can’t have something go wrong and then be too hampered by an auxiliary. Besides, it will give Rachel some experience in training others.”

“Don’t worry, Kite! I’ll whip your little crafter friend into shape!” Rachel added, a gleeful smile playing across her face.

“Thank you, both of you.” Kite said, bowing politely while sending a thought and prayer of forgiveness to Peony for what might befall her.

“It is only a reasonable part of training.” Phiona said, brushing it off. “But we shall have to postpone lunch a bit. If we are to take contracts, we might as well create a proper route. Tell your friend to prepare for at least five days in the field.”

As he followed the two Gellers towards the jobs hall, his earlier thoughts and prayers intensified.

“A bronze-ranker? Just a random bronze-ranker, not one from any of the families?” Stoic Boar asked as he looked at one of his family retainers, a bronze-ranked woman who’s path was that of stealth. She had been an excellent asset in the past when information needed to be gathered.

“Not from what I could gather without deeper infiltration and investigation, young master.” she answered from where she was kneeling. “He seems to currently reside at the adventure society campus.”

“Then I am suddenly quite curious as to why a bronze-ranker would make Peony so assured.” the young master mused. “He might just be an intermediary to throw us off, hiding the faces of their would-be backers. Not a bad move, if they found an outcast reliable enough.

You have done well. Continue this line of investigation and go as deep as you deem safe without undue risks. Your usual payment is already waiting for you.”

“Thank you, young master.” the woman said, leaving and disappearing from view even before she had completely rounded the corner of Boar’s office.

“Well, Peony, it seems like you have managed to root yourself without me noticing. Let’s start digging them up and bring you into the nice little spot in our garden which we have prepared.” he mused, before returning to his work. His little project in bringing Daybreak Peony into the fold was but one of many threads currently worked by the young master, after all, as his work for the family and their benefactor took up quite a lot of time.

He sighed and continued writing the letter to their subsidiaries. Boar was unsure why they were shifting some of their deals the way they did, especially in regards to the Relentless family, but he remained a dutiful son of the family. Maybe his hard work would even be noticed by their benefactors in the long run, opening new avenues of advancement.

“Maybe even marriage arrangements?” he dreamed idly as his pen continued its work.

Kite felt surprisingly nervous as he was waiting at one of the plazas at the Bastion magic society.

“Why am I this jittery?” he asked Glint who was floating next to him. “It is Brook. I’ve known her for most of my life.”

The little carp looked at him blankly, and through his bond he got the feeling that she would have shrugged, had she possessed the anatomical means of doing so.

“Any input, Sage?” he asked, instead turning to his other familiar who seemed engrossed in an abstract sculpture with almost impossible angles presented.

“Quandaries?

Uninteresting.”

The statement was made through its usual projected meaning, and Kite chuckled. “Well, I at least got what I was expecting.”

He knew that talking to his familiars was ultimately a distraction from the core of the matter; that he did not really know where he and Brook stood now. In one way, he had met someone who was basically a stranger and in another, he had been turned back into a teenager with unresolved feelings rising from the depths of the past.

Fate, however, did not see fit to allow him more time for rumination, which might have been considered a mercy. He saw Brook enter the plaza behind him, notice him, freeze for a few seconds and then walk over.

As she drew close, he realized that he hadn’t yet turned towards her as he almost forgot his own expanded vision at times these days, and accidentally startled Brook as he spun to face her.

“Oh- I- He- hello Kite.” she said, blushing slightly.”

“Hello, Brook.” he said. “You look lovely.” It was obvious that she had dressed up a bit for the occasion, wearing a two-layered flowing dress of pale pink and white silk, along with an umbrella to ward off potential rain. It was quite a different look on her than the village girl he had seen so many times during his life, now looking every bit a demure young lady of the city.

“I- uh- You too. You look almost like a noble. Very dashing” she said with a small smile, apparently sharing Kite’s sentiment. He wore the same new outfit as he had during yesterday's meeting with Peony and her family, clothing a lot richer than he had ever worn back in Starberry Peak.

An awkward silence ensued, Glint coming to their rescue as she twirled up between them, making Brook giggle a bit as the little fish showed off. “Hello to you too, Glint.” she said, tentatively stroking one of her silky fins.

“I suppose that these two vagabonds will have to be in your care today, fair sage.” Kite said, falling back into their little jargon.

“Then I shall do my best to impart my wisdom to you.” she replied, blushing slightly but also relaxing a bit more. Brook had always been rather easily flustered, but she seemed to find her calm a lot faster these days.

“Please, lead on, fair sage.” Kite said, offering her an arm. She stepped up to him, and they walked off, side by side, finding a rhythm after some slight stumbling.

The next hour was spent walking along the boulevards of the seventh step, Brook showing him the often impressive buildings to be found there while telling him about her family’s move to the city.

“I do remember that your uncle was expanding his farm, although I must admit that the younger me did not think about it very favorably.” he said as she paused in her telling.

“Neither did I, at first. I think my mother was a bit worried for a while, but eventually the place started growing on me.”

“I can see why. There is so much here. And the ocean…” Kite said, trailing off while looking out over the bay. The pair had stopped at an overlook near the base of the mountain which housed the churches, and the day had so far been blessedly spared from the rains, even though dark clouds on the horizon promised an end to that respite. “But how did you end up at the magic society? I always knew that you were bright, from how short a time it took for you to catch up to me once you started sitting in on auntie Crow’s lessons.”

“Well…” Brook began while blushing yet again. “It wasn’t that spectacular. My uncle happened to hear that there was an intake for apprentice scribes and archivists, and as I am the best in my family at reading and writing as well as knowing the few minor rituals auntie Crow taught me, they sent me here to take the tests. I passed and was apprenticed for a year under a librarian, before being taken in as a junior archivist.”

“You apparently impressed them enough to provide you with an essence as part of your contract. I would assume that not everyone get such a treatment.”

“Well no, or yes, depending on how you see it. Not every scribe gets one, but all archivists do as part of our tasks are to care for and maintain both the library and the scrolls. If you work for long enough to get your full set, you have the chance to become a full librarian. Raising the spirit attribute becomes important down the line, as they have to process a lot of information at a time, so you get a stipend of monster cores too.” Brook explained, less flustered as it was a topic she felt confident in. Kite once more found that he felt happy when he saw the core of confidence in her, as it had been one of her struggles at times when growing up.

“Do you hope to be one then? Eventually?”

“If… If I can, yes. Magic, even the little I possess, feels so… It’s like my being just found a new arm, but missing most of its fingers. I want to use it more, to get better. And I like the books, scrolls and knowledge. Being more in tune with that would be quite nice.”

“And you haven’t considered applying to join the church of Knowledge?” Kite asked. There was a lot of collaboration between the magic society and the church, many being part of both organizations.

“I have, but… no, I do not think that is for me. It's not just the knowledge, but the place too that I like. Other duties would mostly feel like a distraction, and if I was to serve a god more directly, it shouldn’t be half-hearted.”

“You are indeed the wise sage of us now.” Kite said, understanding her sentiment.

“But would you… But would you please tell me about how this-” she said, gesturing at him, “- came to be?”

“Well, I think that is a story best accompanied by dinner. Would you mind guiding me to a place to eat? I’ll start telling you as we walk.”

As such, another two hours and a nice dinner on some kind of foreign stuffed bread roll passed, Kite telling Brook about his years since she left. The training under uncle Walker, the vague revelations from his past and the essences which accompanied it. His travels to Gilded, of his companions and mentors there. About the jade-sky gate and the war. And finally of him traveling to Bastion and the reasons why.

“So you met young master Providence again? Here?” she asked him.

“Yes, just before meeting you, actually. We were both quite surprised. He just goes by Brilliant Bloom these days. Like many of us, he still seems to be trying to find his place in the world, but he seems to be doing alright.”

“Kite, I- You-” she began, floundering a bit. “Your life these last two years. It sounds… intense. Are… are you alright?”

Her last question had him start slightly, looking at her. She looked at him, a bit in disbelief but also a bit worried. He took a while to think his answer through, as it wasn’t really a question that he had asked himself.

“I… Yes, I believe that I am. There have been some parts that have been… stressful, to say the least. Combat and violence comes in many different shapes. I guess that part of my training has been to prepare for that as well. But I have also been fortunate to not go through it all alone, and I have talked a lot about it with my friends, uncle Walker. And my aunties, when I visited home again.

So.. yes. In many ways, life as an adventurer has surpassed my expectations. While I have witnessed some horrors, there has also been excitement and wonders to balance it out. Feeling that I as an individual can accomplish so much, and often make a difference for those important to me. It’s a rather heady experience.” he admitted, feeling good about how the words came out.

Brook looked at him for a while, before nodding to herself. “Then I am glad that you got to walk this path, Kite. To me, it sounds quite terrifying, but the way you looked when talking about it… It suits you.”

“I share the sentiment. To see you engrossed in that library, passionate about it at all that is contained within. You’ve really grown as well, Brook.”

As expected, his words further increased her blushing. “Maybe we both have…” she murmured, and almost visibly steeled herself for the words that were to come. “But… where does that leave… us?”

Kite was a bit stunned by the question. Not that he hadn’t thought a lot about it, but rather that the shy and reserved Still Brook in Blooming had been the one to first ask it out loud. Back in Starberry Peak, taking initiative hadn’t really been her strong suite. Once more, he felt happy for her growth.

They stood there, looking at each other for a silent moment, before Kite answered. “Honestly, Brook… I don’t know. I’m not sure that either of us expected to meet again. But I’m glad that we did, and if you want- “he said, hesitating a bit. “- we could try to figure it out?”

She took a deep breath, seeming relieved. “I’d like that.”

“But it would mean that the wise sage would have to give guidance to this vagabond warrior once more. Probably a lot more than that.” he added with a wink, feeling the tension of the moment leave him as well.

“The sage will acquiesce, although said vagabond might have to provide her with at least one ride on his marvelous mount as promised.”

“Oh, I believe that can be arranged.” Kite said, laughing.

Peony let out a miserable groan where she sat behind Kite on Glint’s back, planting her forehead between his shoulder blades.

“Are you regretting our little arrangement, business partner?” Kite said a bit cheekily, looking back at the miserable woman, who just let out another groan in turn.

“Rachel, I believe that you may have broken my crafter.” he called to the red-haired Geller just a bit ahead of them on the forested road. She and Phiona were in turn riding Rachel’s conjured familiar, Missus, who was an aegis cobra. The serpent was almost a meter in diameter with a length to match, covered in bony protrusions like articulated coppery plates of armor which glittered a bit like unrefined ore. The armored hood of the snake was especially impressive, as she was able to flare it outward almost like an armored bulwark to block attacks.

“Don’t worry, she did great! Just a few more weeks of this and she’ll be in top shape!” Rachel called back cheerfully, Peony seeming to die just a bit further at her words. The crafter had given it her all during the morning’s round of physical training, but even a bronze-ranked body needed exercise to really reach its potential. And from the way Phiona and Rachel trained, that potential felt vast indeed.

While Peony had been happy for the opportunity for such a long outing, she had also been a bit intimidated by the two Gellers. Kite thought that it was probably just a matter of time until she got used to it though. As soon as she recovered from the rather tyrannical persona Rachel assumed while leading the physical exercise.

At the moment, the group was traveling westward from Bastion, on a route predetermined by Phiona from the contracts she had gathered up the day before. No less than twelve contracts had been taken on, in turn taking them through four different outlying villages. Without Glint and Missus to ride on, the trip would have taken at least two weeks, but as it were, Phiona had expected it to take about five days.

“Did we have to pick the contracts the furthest away from the city?” Peony whined pitifully, as even her bronze-rank recovery attribute seemed to be struggling with her soreness even a few hours after the fact.

“Those furthest away are usually left the longest, which means that there is a greater need for us to dispatch them before they go berserk.” Phiona said, falling into her professional instructor’s voice. “For us, who actually care about the experience and not just the payout, we will do the most good for both our growth and those villages.”

“And besides, these contracts often last long enough for more monsters to appear, creating clusters of contracts which we can clear in a fell swoop.” Rachel added. “This is gonna be so fun! Nona, it has been too long since we did a proper trip like this.”

“We came back just a few days ago.” Phiona interjected.

“Yeah, but that was just after what? Three contracts. Now we got some real numbers. Just a shame that there weren’t any silvers.”

“Remember, cousin, that we are here to allow Kite to train and for me to instruct him. But don’t worry. Enough of them were rather plentiful sightings, so you will get your due.” Phiona said, adding the last rather quickly when seeing Rachel’s pleading look.

Kite enjoyed hearing the familiar banter between the two, but was suddenly distracted as he felt a familiar pulse from Sage where the astral gatherer had been subsumed into his aura.

“Teacher, would you mind a short detour? My familiar has sensed something.”

“Sensed?” Phiona asked.

“I think it is easier to just show you, if teacher doesn't mind.”

At a gesture of assent from Phiona, Kite had Glint swerve off the road slightly, traveling through the forest for a few minutes. Fortunately, both Glint and Missus had an easy time navigating the terrain, and having to swerve between the trees was their only obstacle. He eventually found a patch of moss covered woodlands, unremarkable from the rest of the forest, but Sage confirmed that this was indeed the place.

At Kite’s mental signal, his familiar drew upon the ambient magic and pushed, giving the congregating energies just the shove it needed for the manifestation to trigger.

“A manifestation?” Phiona asked as the rainbow vortex appeared.

“Indeed. But it seems to be a monster this time. At least it means an opportunity for growth.” Kite said as he saw the size of the coalescing magic.

“Your familiar can trigger monster manifestations?” Peony asked nervously.

“Your familiar can trigger monster manifestations?” Rachel asked simultaneously, a lot more excited.

“Mostly monsters, yes.” Kite said, eyes still on the swirling colors. “But sometimes, other manifested treasure.”

“This one looks like a bronze ranked one, judging by the size and intensity.” Phiona said. “It shall indeed give you an opportunity for practice. Try using mostly your staff if possible, like we spoke about, and keep your other weapons as tactical options. Make it the pillar to support the others.”

The three women backed off, Rachel and Phiona seeming unphased while Peony was a bit more nervous.

“Don’t worry, we have his back if anything happens.” Rachel tried to assure her as Kite stood facing the oncoming monster. From the crafter’s expression, it was clear that she was not nearly as seasoned in the face of monsters and violence as the rest of them.

In the end, what manifested first seemed like a small hill covered in moss like the rest of the environment, soon unfurled a set of fourteen legs like those of a crustacean, as well as a pair of huge pincers. No eyes were immediately visible, but Kite could see small, beady orbs between the legs which seemed to gaze at him with hunger. The ‘hill’’ which had turned out to be a shell, was around three meters across.

The myriad legs allowed it to quickly rotate on the spot, screeching furiously as it saw the little morsel named Kite stand the closest. Both pincers shot out towards him, extending on flexible limbs looking like entwined roots.

“I think I’ve read about this…” Rachel murmured, retrieving the magic society’s index and started searching. “No… No… River hellion? No… Ah, here. ‘Mosstacean’. Really? Isn’t that as bad as the shab?”

Meanwhile, the pair of pincers had collided with a pair of force walls which had appeared, two of many segments which had suddenly appeared around the monster. Some were even forming platforms in the air. Cracks appeared on both panes of force as the pincers clamped shut, spreading across them like a slowly expanding spiderweb. Kite had already backed up a few steps, his staff appearing surrounded by spatial tears as he swung at one of the claws from around two meters away.

The mosstacean shrieked again, retracting the limb as the blunt and resonating force cracked parts of the green shell. Meanwhile, the other pincer had almost finished with the force wall caught in its vice. Before the monster could go on the offensive again, Kite decided to get some further use from the failing barrier before it collapsed.

Spinning the staff, he struck out to his other side as the head of his staff hit the shimmering wall segment. The normally pleasant chiming of the weapon turned into a deep ‘gong’, as the pane of force detonated in a resonating wave visible to the eye, causing hairline cracks over the parts of the monster which were exposed to the vibrations.

This was the new ability which his staff had awakened as he had performed the ritual to ascend it to bronze rank.

WWJS:

[Item] Immutable Echo

Combat Staff

Bronze rank - [Growth] Legendary

Forged through unyielding reverberations of inner strength, this staff heralds an immovable path.

[Effect] Greatly increased striking power

[Effect] Echoes the effect of special attacks delivered through this weapon once. The echo deals only half the damage of the original attack, but any other effects are undiminished. Can occur once every five seconds.

[Effect] Absorbs a part of the physical force behind intercepted strikes, if any, lessening the remaining physical force to be endured by the wielder. After absorbing force in such a way, the next attack delivered will deal additional resonating force damage. The damage increases with the amount of physical force absorbed from the blow.

[Effect] Vastly increased durability

[Effect] Pay a cost of moderate mana to detonate one of your barriers struck by this weapon, creating a wave of resonating force. The damage of the wave scales with the mana cost of the barrier destroyed, and size of the wave increases with the size of the barrier. Remaining integrity of said barrier does not affect the potency of the damaging wave.

The weapon had indeed proved to be linked to his soul, evolving another ability which directly interacted with his different barriers. Kite had tried it out with his different options, appreciating the opportunity to get some extra mileage out of his defensive options. If he timed it well, he could get both defense and attack out of the same spell, and the effect had proven to deal decent damage as it required both a barrier to use and had a cost in mana.

Even though he was pleased with his opening move, the battle was far from over. As his dispelling attacks had little effect on the straightforward beast, he instead leveraged them to deal the small amount of transcendent damage from his passive ability while delivering more decisive strikes with his void strike.

What followed was Kite moving in between his barriers, focusing on the two pincers which the monster used to reach between and around the force walls, beating them away with his staff and detonating barriers which had started failing. One particularly vicious swing finally managed to crack one of the pincers, leaving it a broken mess.

This was apparently more than the mosstacean was willing to just take, the primitive mind of the monster settling on a different tactic. It started to vigorously shake its shell, a cloud of yellow spores rising from it before spilling out over the area. Kite tried avoiding it at first, but eventually realized that there was little use unless he wanted to disengage and try to shift the battlefield.

As they came into contact with his skin, he felt a burning sensation as the small particles started to deliver their poison in an attempt to rot his flesh into nice and slushy fertilizer. The feeling was thoroughly unpleasant, and while the damage was not accruing too quickly, it still put a different kind of timer on the fight.

Keeping his calm through his combat meditation, Kite dodged the lone remaining pincer which darted back towards him with renewed vigor, crushing more of its shell through a counterattack. A scant few seconds later, he saw that the stream of spores flowing from the monster’s back was petering out and decided that it was time to employ his countermeasures.

Finding his way to an open spot, he kept his staff in his left hand while his war fan appeared in his right, opening to reveal the beautiful artwork upon it through a flick of his wrist. Kite took another step then swung it in a wide arc while channeling the required mana into it, careful to aim away from his three companions. A moment later, the wide torrent of wind rolled out from the weapon. The mosstacean was unmoved, but the clouds of spores were most definitely not. Yellow clouds were scattered out into the surrounding forest, losing further cohesion and leaving his immediate area mostly clear.

Following this, he sent the command to Sage to use both its stored charges of power, one cleansing the poison from his body while the other sent a surge of regeneration through his body to counteract the necrosis. While it would have been nice to use the familiar’s beams of resonating force damage, Kite thought that playing it safe was more important as he could now retake control of the tempo of the fight in a gamble that the monster could not just repeat its poisonous area attack.

Fortune showed him favor, as the struggle continued without further spore-related incidents. When the second claw fell limp, the mosstacean’s fate was sealed, but it still took a while longer to crack enough of its legs before Kite could finally finish it with an empowered void strike driven into the body where a leg once protruded.

The creature fell limp, twitching a bit before stilling completely, but Kite still gave it another minute for the spore clouds to dissipate before he waved Peony over to use her looting power.

As Phiona and Rachel drew closer, he could hear the end of their not so silent whispered conversation.

“But Nona, his familiar can manifest monsters. Monsters! And treasure! Surely the family wouldn’t mind if I claimed him for marriage?!”