Seeds of Discordia

Liam peeked over to see the Mud Shaper Hermit Crab moved its pincer from right to left, spraying a line of water in front of it. As the liquid touched the rocky terrain, it sank a couple feet down. Standing up on the shell gave Liam a better view than the others. He watched as the muddy liquid started sloshing around within the indent created. From the movements it was making Liam understood the Wave Boss wasn’t going to create hardened mudballs from this.

He had a bad feeling about this as the Mud Shaper Hermit Crab started spraying more water back and forth, creating more mud. Not entirely sure what the creature had planned, Liam shouted, “We need to stop it! Its creating a wave of mud!”

The others reacted to Liam’s words as soon as they heard them. Liam’s attention switched back to the task he was working on. He looked at the broken pickaxe he was just using. There was an uneven line showing where the tool had broken. He then looked down and saw that the tip hadn’t shattered but was snapped off as the broken tip remained stuck in the spot he had last struck.

He thought about what he needed to do. He couldn’t use the broken tool anymore which meant his attempt of mining the shell was no longer an option. The shell suddenly shook as his teammates spells struck against it. He felt his footing shift underneath him as he almost fell to his side from losing his balance. As he corrected his balance his sight was down on the spot where the broken piece of pickaxe was.

He activated his Spot Frailty and stared at the shade of red that specific area was as well as the area around it. While the area was red, the area where the pickaxe was imbedded in was a slightly darker shade. He didn’t have much time to think it through, but instead allowed his gut to guide his action.

Liam reached for the hammer that was on his belt loop and pulled it out. He waited until it grew to its normal size before lifting it over his head. However, before he could swing it down, the shell shook up and down, causing Liam’s feet to lift off the shell a few inches before coming back down on it. his knees buckled and his grip on his hammer loosened enough for him to drop it. He looked back over the edge as he gripped tightly on the shell to make sure he didn’t fall off.

One of the Mud Shaper Hermit Crab’s pincers waved wildly as the other was brought up in front of its face. Upon further inspection, he saw an arrow sticking through one of the eye stalks. Steam was also rising from the lower jaw were bubbles started frothing cooling down the last bit of fire that was on its lips.

He then noticed a half built wall of mud that had grown several inches from the ground. Liam was impressed that they were able to hit the eye stalk as well as get it to stop its attack midway. However, due to them landing both of those strikes he had almost fallen off the shell. Grinning, Liam knew what he had to. He needed to finish his part so the shell would be exposed, and they would have an easier time landing attacks.

Liam released his grip on the shell and pushed himself to his feet. He assessed the movements the giant hermit crab was making, trying to make sure he wouldn’t fall over again. He bent his knees when the shell rose and extended them when the shell dipped. As he accumulated to the shell’s movements he stepped forward. slowly, but surely he made his way back to his hammer and the spot where he needed to attack.

As soon as he got there he raised his hammer over his head and waited before striking. He knew he needed to attack at the right moment so he didn’t miss or else he would have to redo it. Once he felt the right moment came, he swung as hard as he could. However, right before the hammer came down on the broken pickaxe piece, the shell tipped slightly, causing his aim to go off by a hairs width.

Liam cursed as he knew he couldn’t stop it, but to his surprise, the hammer had hit the piece at an angle, causing the slightly broken arc of the pickaxe to curve upwards and peel off a nice chunk of the shell. Even though this wasn’t what Liam wanted, he wasn’t going to complain. The areas around the cracked shell went from light red to dark red. Instead of Liam stopping there to pour in the oil and chant Light and Burn, Liam instead started slamming his hammer around those areas, widening the exposed frail skin of the creature even more. As soon as he had widened it enough Liam placed his hammer back on the loop, pulled out a vial of oil, dumped the contents of the vial on the exposed skin, chanted his Light and Burn spell, and dropped the flame on the oil.

Before Liam could clench a fist in victory, he felt the shell he stood up suddenly dip forward towards the head. Where he stood was higher up and instead of sliding off the shell, he felt his feet no longer touching it and was flying in the air towards his team. Before he could register anything, he felt his body hit the ground and rolled sideways across the bumpy, rocky ground.

He felt a couple pair of hands grab his shoulder and leg, stopping him from rolling even more. The pain from landing on the ground after flying and rolling over several different sizes of rocks quickly caught up as his bones and muscle ached. He breathed heavily trying to regain the air that was knocked out of him before looking at Artem and Blair.

“Are you alright?” Artem asked.

“Does he look alright?” Blair quipped.

“Artem, heal him! His health dropped by a lot from that!” Mercer shouted out.

“Alright!” Artem responded as he started chanting.

Fighting through the pain and loss of wind he was trying to get back, Liam raised a hand up and pointed towards the top of the shell before informing, “Hole…exposed…finish…it…”

Blair looked up at the area Liam had stated. As the Mud Shaper Hermit Crab dipped his head down, she noticed the spot he was talking about. With a wicked grin she called out, “Roman! Avery! Let’s get up there!”

Roman and Avery didn’t need to be told twice before they started running. They both jumped on the small amount of hardened wall of mud that had stopped being made when it took an arrow to the eye and a fireball to the face. It was sturdy enough for both of them to use it as a springboard to get themselves into the air high enough to land on the shell.

As soon as they landed, they slid to a halt on both sides of the exposed shell. Their footing was suddenly thrown off due to the thrashing the Mud Shaper Hermit Crab was making due to all the pain from the flames that was spread within the shell. They were both about to fly off, until roots suddenly sprouted from the rock surface of the shell.

They both looked to see Ariyana had smiled and waved indicating this was her handiwork. Without wasting the help given, they both started chanting the spell for their Fire Blast. “Fire, powerful and deadly. I request you take form and explode hotter and brighter than before. Engulf my enemies with your brilliance. Fire Blast!”

A powerful blast of flames erupted from their palms. The heat emitted from the flames burnt the roots that held them in place as the force of both the flames erupting and colliding against the creature caused them both to fly backwards towards the walls. Unlike Liam and his unreadiness of falling, Roman and Avery cushioned their falls by landing feet first against the walls and bending their knees before using it as a spring board to jump back towards the others.

Blair used this moment to fly up into the air, her axe gripped tightly in her hands. As soon as she reached the height she wanted, she divebombed for the exposed area that was currently on fire. She then sent mana through her axe, making it sharper and slicker than usual. As she picked up speed she then swung her axe as hard as she could over her body and under her feet causing the rest of her body to follow and spin. Her timing was perfect as soon as she reached the area, the bladed part of her axe dug deep into the crispy flesh that was burning hot, causing blood to explode outwards.

Blair pulled her axe out with all her strength, brought it back up and over her head before swinging it back down, once, twice, three times. As she pulled it out once more, she felt the Wave Boss’s body shudder before dropping down. A notification appeared before them all causing them to breath in relief.

[Congratulations! Wave Boss 1: Mud Shaper Hermit Crab has been slain!]      

Liam stood with the others. The aches and soreness he had felt from the fall and tumble had lessened thanks to Artem’s healing. He looked at Blair who had dropped down from the shell, blood splattered across her chest, skull helmet, legs, and arms. A look of disgust written over face.

Before she could complain, Artem had started chanting a spell and created a Water Orb and offered to wash Blair off. She gave him a smile of appreciation and used it to wash the blood off of herself. After she was finished she looked at the others and asked, “Do we continue now, or do we want to want for Liam to harvest all that he can?”

Mercer looked at Liam and asked, “What do you think?”

“It might take some time since I haven’t harvested them before…,” Liam started to say until Ariyana asked with a confused look, “I meant to ask earlier when it was brought up, but can’t you just harvest instantaneously?”

Everyone looked at Liam who shook his head and explained, “No. I can’t do that anymore. After my class evolved my Class Ability, Harvest, had evolved into Soul Harvest. Since the class ability was tied to my Harvest Skill the levels stayed the same, but the ability to instantly harvest a creature disappeared. Now I have to harvest creatures regularly like anyone else.”

“Interesting,” Mercer said as he stared at Liam. He then realized he said that out loud and swiftly said, “Interesting that it split like that. It sucks you can’t instantly harvest creatures anymore though.”

Roman, Ariyana, and Artem chuckled at Mercer as the others shook their heads. Liam shook his head as well as gave a slight chuckle as he said, “So that’s the issue. Are you all fine that I try and take some time harvesting the creatures or do you want to move on?”

The others looked at each other. They shrugged before Mercer stated, “It should be fine if you want to take some time to harvest the creature. It will give us some time to look over our notifications and replenish our resources. Plus didn’t Uncle Naro want you to harvest them?”

Liam snapped his fingers as he remember that was the case. “Yeah, you’re right about that. Alright I’ll get on that then.” Liam then turned around and went straight for the slain Stone Crusher Shell Crabs. As he made his way over to the closest one he brought up the notifications that were awaiting his attention.

[You have successfully mined Chunk of Mud Shaper Shell.]

[Warning! Material you are mining has a tougher density that current tool, Crude Pickaxe, can handle. Damage to tool, Crude Pickaxe, has accrued.]  

So that’s why my pickaxe broke.

Liam thought as he read similar messages until he reached the one that stated his Crude Pickaxe was about to break due to low durability and the one that told him it had broken. That’s a first though. I didn’t think I would be able to mine it even though the material was tougher than my tool. I’ll have to ask Uncle Naro more about that later.  

He looked at the rest of his notifications and was surprised at some of what he had seen.

[Congratulations! Spirit Stat Luck Sub-stat Lucky Soul has reached level 19! Progression to level 20: 71%!]

[Congratulations! Weapon Skill – Hammer has reached level 8! Progression to level 9: 100%!]

[Congratulations! Weapon Skill – Hammer has reached level 9! Progression to level 10: 10%!]

[Congratulations! Gathering Craft – Mining has reached level 4! Progression to level 5: 100%!]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

[Congratulations! Gathering Craft – Mining has reached level 8! Progression to level 9: 57%!]

[Congratulations! Mining Strike Accuracy has reached level 4! Progression to level 5: 100%!]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

[Congratulations! Mining Strike Accuracy has reached level 8! Progression to level 9: 57%!]

[Congratulations! You have received the Gathering Craft – Mining skill Rock Breaker!]

[Congratulations! Rock Breaker has reached level 1! Progression to level 2: 100%!]

[Congratulations! Rock Breaker has reached level 2! Progression to level 3: 5%!]

Liam was confused as to how or why his Lucky Soul had leveled, but he wasn’t going to complain. He was both happy that his Gathering Craft Mining had leveled so much and surprised he had received a new skill from it. He pulled up the description of the skill and read it.

[Rock Breaker. Description – A Mining ability that makes it easier for the person to break through rocks when mining. By using the Gathering Craft Mining ability Mining Strike Accuracy the user can locate easier spots to strike at to break through rocks.]

So it’s a skill that can be used to break through rocks easier and one that can stack with Mining Strike Accuracy. Liam thought as he dismissed the notification. That will come in handy if we have to fight these monsters or others like it in the future.

Liam was happy with the growth. Even if his participation was as great as the others, he was able to assess what was best to use in the fight. even though it had costed him his pickaxe, he was still happy he learned something new. He looked at the creature he was about to harvest and looked it over. He didn’t know where to start, but after looking it over he decided to start by cleaving the legs and the pincers.

Liam spent almost an hour harvesting what he could from the creatures. Some of the creatures were either too badly damaged to harvest or had impossible due to not having the proper tools. As his understanding on how to harvest the Stone Crusher Shell Crabs grew he had found out that the shells could be harvested as well. However, they could only be harvested with a pickaxe due to the earth materials mixed within them.

Liam had cursed himself when he found that out. He would need to make a pickaxe that could withstand the hardships of mining the rock-like shells. However, that didn’t stop him from feeling happy with what he was able to harvest. The legs and the pincers he had cleaved came back as both a cooking material and a blacksmithing material. He had discovered the meat inside the shell of the legs and the pincers were edible if cooked right. He could understand that, but the shells of the legs and pincers, that he wasn’t sure of. He just chalked it up as another thing he needed to ask Uncle Naro about.

After he was done with the Stone Crusher Shell Crabs he made his way over to the others who were standing around the first Wave boss. As he approached he heard them discussing something, but as they saw him they had stopped talking and looked at him. Confused he stared at them and asked, “What’s up?”

Majority of them shrugged as Mercer stated, “We looted the Wave Boss a few minutes ago and were discussing who should get the item that was dropped.”

“What’s the item that dropped?” Liam questioned.

“A pair of greaves,” Roman replied as Mercer showed him the shin and feet armor.

They were dark brown in color with a rock like design. Even though the design looked like they would be stiff, when Mercer moved them the ankle sections moved like they had no restrictions to them. Not wanting to waste any more time, Liam assessed the equipment.

[Mud Shaper Greaves. Item Type – Armor (Feet). Item Rarity – Common. Item Quality – Average. +10 to defense. Effect – Mud Slide. Description - Allows the wearer, when running really fast and slides both feet on the ground, to soften any rocky or earthy areas creating a line of mud that the user can use as they wish. Requirements – Field of the Elements Focus Point Earth and Water. Both Focus Points need to be level ten or higher.]  

 Liam was impressed with what he read. The effect, even with the requirements to use the effect it had, was interesting and if used right, could be very helpful. He looked back at everyone as they stared at him and asked, “So what is the issue again? I think we all know who would be the best at using these.”

Mercer shook his head as the others let out a chuckle. Mercer then said, “We wanted to make sure you didn’t want them since you had both of those Focus Points unlocked as well.”

Liam shook his head. “While I do have them unlocked I don’t really plan on leveling them to ten. The effects on these greaves require you to be level ten or higher in both of those Focus Points. I’m only using them for the Mana Type Manipulation and Control.”

Mercer shrugged before handing the pair of greaves to Roman. Roman smiled as he grabbed the pair of armor and placed them in his inventory. Artem looked confused before asking, “Not going to put them on?”

Roman shook his head before explaining, “Not yet. My Water Focus Point is only at level eight. So I can’t use the effects just yet.”

“Ah my bad,” Artem said as he understood.

“All good,” Roman said before turning to look at Liam. “Are you going to harvest the Wave Boss?”

“Yeah. It shouldn’t take too long since I can’t harvest the shell,” Liam stated.

“Why can’t you harvest the shell?” Avery and Ariyana asked as they looked confused.

Liam looked slightly embarrassed as he replied, “I need to mine the shell in order to harvest it and well…I kind of broke my pickaxe during the fight.”

Everyone stared at him for a long moment before they broke out into laughter.

“How did you do that?” Avery asked.

“Turns out the Mud Shaper’s shell was stronger than the others and since my pickaxe was a Crude Quality tool it couldn’t hold up. I’m actually surprised I was able to mine as much as I did.”

Mercer placed a hand on his shoulder as he said, “We’ll have to get you a new one after we finish today.”

Liam smiled as he looked back at the man. “Actually I might make one. I have an idea and new materials I think will be perfect for the task.”

Mercer raised a brow at Liam’s words. “Oh? Then I look forward to seeing it when it’s done. For now hurry up so we can move on to the next part.”

Laim ran up to the Mud Shaper Hermit Crab’s body as he pulled out his meat cleaver. It didn’t take long for him to finish the task. After that they made their way down the rest of the rocky path. To their surprise what awaited them at the end of the rocky terrain was a sandy beach with waves from the sea moving the water back and forth on the edge. The smell of the sea was stronger as well as the heat of the sun beating down on them.

Everyone looked around to see if they could spot anything, but there was nothing moving nor could be seen in sight. Roman placed a hand down to see if he could hear or feeling anything, but instead frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Mercer asked as he and Liam noticed the look on his face.

“I…I can’t feel or hear anything,” Roman said.

“What do you mean? Doesn’t that just mean there is nothing around?” Artem asked.

Roman shook his head. “No. this is different. Normally when there are no monsters around I can still feel the earth beneath us. This…however…feels like nothing. Like there is no earth. Like there is an absence of earth.”

“That’s strange,” Ariyana said as she looked back out.

“It is,” Avery agreed.

“Let be on our guard then as we proceed,” Mercer stated as he took a step off of the rocky terrain and onto the sandy beach. “We’ll figure out what it means later. We need to hurry and…”

Before he could finish his sentence the sand in between them and the waves started to rumble. After a few seconds dozens of white oval shell creatures emerged from underneath the sand. They looked to be two feet tall and three feet long. Fast clicking claws pointed forward as their six pointed legs moved about in an agitated fashion. High pitch shrieks escaped their small mouth filling the air causing the group of adventurers to wince at their sounds. After the last creature emerged and faced them, each of the small creatures suddenly broke out into a sprint, which shocked the group, straight for them.