The atmosphere was nerve-wracking, every minute, every second that passed made Ric more and more nervous, he wasn't the fighter type at all and even though he and his brother were privately trained in martial arts when they were younger, he took all of those teachings for a joke.
He only realized now how much important it was to have the ability to defend himself.. well he wasn't to be blamed for his thinking, he was born in a noble house and was raised spoiled, he knew he was weak, even since he was young oh but he reasoned with having everything else.
Sure his body was small and feminine, still he had a handsome face... of a child that is. Ric was a small boy about 5'4 in height, amber eyes, glorious blonde hair, and a... complicated personality, as a child, he was viewed as different from other children, due to the treatment he received he developed a shield, a tough face to protect against the comments, he appeared haughty and nonchalant as if it didn't matter to him that he was weaker than everyone else.
Yet of course that wasn't really the case, no one really knew what he felt, loneliness... was what he felt most, everyone said that the place at the top would be lonely... so was his place at the bottom. Thinking about all of the things he heard from other people, Ric could not help but feel more motivated... he would prove all of them wrong..
..But what then.. after proving them that he was worth more than being different, what was he to do? He could not help but feel bland with his goal, thinking about it now... he grew restless and concerned... he feared of being lost... being forgotten..
All the thoughts that crossed his mind yet one reached his heart, he has a plan to escape and more than that was battle the guard... he was fearful yes... it was a normal reaction from someone who hasn't ever been in a fight, additionally... could he even trust his newfound power.
Ric looked at his small smooth hands 'Looks like a hand of a young girl' he thought but what he wondered was what he can achieve with it, he has heard stories of men and women capable of bringing down mountains with their bare fists.
Ric looked outside, the expression on his childish face growing solemn, his eyes gave a feeling of dedication, the blazing sun hit his blonde hair making it more elegant, Ric gave attention to his clothes, he was wearing white tunic sleeves and black pants.
The typical noble dressing one would say, in the past at least. While Ric was having his oh wonderful self-reflection, he was interrupted by the notification of the system.
[ Ding! 95% Extracted - 2 minutes till completion ]
Ric could not help but feel heavy, he was going fight someone else soon... yet he felt excitement? The victory he so desperately desire... started a flame inside his heart, he looked inside the eyes of his opponent, a D class guard he thought, he wondered just how much damage he could do against him.
[ Ten seconds till completion... 10.. 9.. 8.. 7.. 6.. 5.. 4..
3.. 2... 1.. - 100% complete, extraction complete.
Would you please choose one ability only for each summon host,
White class winged stallion -
Passive skill - Wing regenaration - Wing regenerates for 1 mp at the speed depending on the damage
1 - Wind rush - Fly in only one direction at the speed of 189 km/h for an hour - Mana cost - 15 mp
2 - Wing shield - Wings enlarge and creates a defense shield - Mana cost - 22 mp
3 - Wing retraction - Wings retract without a trace - Mana cost - 2 mp
White class fire ant -
Passive skill - Ants have the natural strength of an adult - No mp cost
1 - Ant bomb - Ants merge together to create an ant bomb capable of the destruction of two standard handgranades combined - mana cost - 57 mp
2 - Chained fireworks - Ants create a chain and latches onto a target, binding them while being bombarded with scorching round of fireworks - 26 mp
Attributes added - Strength >18 - Agility> 15 - Endurance >12 - Bonus ]
Looking happily at the skills, bonus and passives, Ric started formulating on his plans. The skills that he naturally needs would be Wind rush and Chained fireworks, yet he was still contemplating on choosing Wish shield for defense and Ant bomb for an all around attack...
Ric couldn't help but feel tangled with his choices yet ultimately he made his final choice that would aid him in battle.. 'I choose Wind rush and... Chained fireworks!'
He settled with Wind rush which he will rely on to escape and Chained fireworks to bind and attack the guard... he was really deciding on choosing Ant bomb for a more higher damage, but since the mp - which he theorizes as the calculation of his mana costs almost half his mana, meaning he would only be able to use it once because of wind rush, he decided that a weaker damage yet more usage would be much beneficial.
[ Wind rush and Chained fireworks chosen. Congratulations on your first mimic my lord! ]
Instantly, Ric felt a connection with the two summonings. He could view them mentally, the ants being normal ants but with a small flame on their end, the black winged stallion all over its wings and body.
He also felt the elements of fire and air for the first time, now armed with these new summoning's, Ric felt a bit more confident.. well of course until he actually uses the abilities and it works then he'll actually be fully confident in himself.
Ric looked at the guard, wondering just how should he start this... and then...
"Hey you bastard... let the light shine by the darkness you bitch!!" Ric's voice quiet turned into a roar, his tone filled with scorn, his eyes mocking, and his fists shaking... Ric couldn't hide it all, the thirst for battle made him shake with excitement!!
All of a sudden shadows in form of snakes came ot of their hiding and launched at Ric with the goal of restraining him but he was one step ahead, Ric jumped by the window fully exposing his body with light making the shadow serpents retreat!
Suddenly small ants with tailing flames came out of Ric's boots, quickly making their way to the guard, but all those experience made its use, he knew that Ric still hasn't made contact with his summon but looking at it now he seems to be using one! Although shocked from what Ric just did, he backed a few inches away from the ants.
The guard drew his sword and kept on striking at the ants that seemed to only grow in number as time goes on, one the other side Ric was completely defended against the shadow serpents.
The battle inside the chopper made it unstable, further complicating the matters. Ric looked at the pilots only to see a gun aimed at him by the hands of a pilot!
Bang!! A shot resounded, yet before it was able to hit Ric.. he was able to dodge just by a fraction! He instantly commanded some of the ants to bind onto the pilots, then he realized..
"Oh shit!" Ric was taken out of sunlight, enabling the shadows to latch on to him, restricting both of his arms and one leg. The guard saw this and smirked, he was still dealing with the ant infestation yet he looked at Ric and spoke:
"Boy I've already gotcha.. I truly admire your courage but how bout you calm it down and listen to me yea?" The guard reasoned thinking that maybe he could discourage Ric.
Yet Ric didn't answer, instead he used his other leg and kicked the guard on his knees making him drop to the floor, the ants took this chance to successfully bind themselves to the guard, they started to grow brightly and then...
Pow!! Pow!! Pow!! Sounds of fireworks started to emanate and blinding light flickered from the ants, becoming a literal miniature fireworks.
The expression the guard had contorted into that of pain, his body started to release steam, and burns popped out of skin, burns after burns in the shape of a chain appeared from everywhere the ants had binded themselves with.
From the pain that the guard felt, his focus shifted, the only thing he was able to think about was to escape that hellish burning pain and so his shadow serpents that were neutralizing Ric all came running to their master in a dismay.
With Ric finally free, he looked around the chopper the pilots were also in a similar state as the guard, yet still they tried to maneuver the vehicle of which in they failed terribly so. The chopper going in every direction except up made Ric dizzy.
With the chopper crashing into the earth in just a matter of minutes, Ric summoned the winged stallion and jumped out of the chopper during the last 5 seconds...
Boomm!!!!
A large fiery explosion echoed from the crash, Ric who was riding the winged stallion was swept away for a few meters from the sheer power of the blast.
Ric who up until now had a heavy heart could finally have a sigh of relief. Looking at the crash site, which was filled of green trees of a forest, Ric could only see scattered parts of the chopper separated from its body, he couldn't spot any sign of life.
Ric looked up the sky and could see that how the dark smoke from the fire of the chopper filled the skies, covering the sun from him completely.
"I didn't think it would be that easy... are they dead?.. no... I should probably get out of her-" Whoosh! Ric was murmuring to no one but himself when the sound of air stopped his chitchat.
[ It seems like the host has jinxed himself lol,
Mission - Win your first battle as a summoner
Rewards - Unknown ]
Before Ric could look at what the system said, it was as if a truck hit him in his diaphragm . Ric grunted in pain, he coughed, trying to catch some breath but all he did was cough up some more, his blood mixed with it.
From his kneeling position, Ric looked up only to see the guard in a bloodied manner, with several extreme burns on his body, and a missing left arm...
Spack! A large burnt foot appeared before Ric's eyes, kicking him right in the face. He was sent flying away in a ragdoll...
Ric helped support his body with one hand, and the other made it up to his bloodied nose, his eyes watered from the kick, and his mind in a headache.
He stood up hoping to defend his body... but even with attributes added onto his stats, he was still leagues away from his opponent. Ric put his arms up and got ready.
The distance between them suddenly shortened as the guard bolted, appearing infront of Ric in just a matter of seconds, bringing his fists to slam Ric in the face, Ric immediately countered by block with his arms across.
Although he managed to stop the attack, a searing pain crept up his arms and was pushed back by a little bit. Ric tried attacking by doing a side kick at the guard, failing as he was grabbed and flanged at a nearby tree, hitting it with his back.
Ric grew dazed from the trauma he experienced just then, but he didn't get any chance to rest as the guard slowly walked towards him with eyes that promised endless pain...
"Don't you worry my young lord... I won't kill ya.. I'll just make you suffer really really bad..." The guard asserted with a chilling voice. He grabbed Ric by the hair, aligning their eyes perfectly and he whispered..
"Forgive me my lord... I'm doing all of this for a good reason... for my sister... I am doing this for a good reason... so you just behave alright? I don't know how you suddenly got stronger and I don't care... just behave dammit!!" His toned changed into something desperate, Ric could hear the wrath emanating from him.
"Ya'know... I just really can't let this slide!" Ric spoke as he gathered he strength onto his right fist, making his muscles contract...
SHTOOK!! Ric took this chance to deliver an uppercut to the guards jaw, making the guard fly up into the air and landing on solid ground right after. Ric sprinted at the guard and jumped on top of him, making a bloodied mess as he hit him in the face again and again leaving the guard with no chance to defend.
Exhausted from the numerous hits he had just delivered, Ric raised his fists, planning on making this the final hit that would end the battle but then... he found that he couldn't move at all! He looked behind and saw how the shadow serpents coiled and limited his movements.
Ric immediately looked at back at the guard. The guard, looking at him with a smirk rammed his head onto Ric's, the collision being so powerful made Ric fall down onto his side.
"Very stupid for you to forget that summoning's are the hugest factors to determine your win as a summoner.." The guard spoke, his voice sounded cold yet his eyes contained anger.
He was right, Ric thought to himself. How could he, a summoner could forget to use his own well copied power...
Ric rushed to summon the fire ants, he used the chained fire on the guard with hopes of incinerating him once and for all, but the guard immediately countered by moving away from the light and into the shade of the trees, making his shadows much stronger and annihilating the incoming army of fire ants.
Ric tried to summon the fire ants and use the chained fireworks yet again, but he was shocked and petrified because of what the system replied to him..
[ Error! Host has insufficient mana - 4/120
- Skill costs 26 mp
- Mp regens for every two minutes ]
Ric couldn't process clearly as his face was bashed in by the guard using his fists, making the already bloodied Ric more gory.
'Without mana.. I'll really seriously die against this maniac!!' Ric thought with dread. He wasn't able to use skills but... he could still attack with the fire ants!
Skills were just special attacks, but summons were able to naturally battle even without these skills, at least those that are natural battle type. He ordered the army of fire ants to... latch onto him! If he could not touch the guard with these ants, then he would just make a light dome to untangle these shadow serpents.
The guard was surprised by the ants retreating back to Ric yet he was able to read Ric's plan without a sweat, he quickly followed out of the shades and tried to intercept the retreating ants... but then the ants changed their direction, immediately trying to jump on him!
This was Ric's safe plan, he was sure that the guard would stop plan A, so he made a plan B, if the ants would fail to reach him then he would just use them as bait to catch the guard. Small group of ants has now latched themselves on the feet of the guard. Ric didn't have the intention of using any skill at all since he already had insufficient mana but the guard didn't know that...
Ric would just use the passive skill of the ants which was adult strength to pester him while the remaining ants would help him get out of his restraints. The guard started to panic as he tried to get the ants off of him, the trauma from being a literal firework show earlier was so intense that it made his reaction of that of a mentally ill.
As the guard was preoccupied with ants, the remaining ones created a triuagular formation and crept up Ric's body, lighting him up from head to toe, slowly the shadows that restrained Ric began to dissapate..
Free atlast, Ric took a look at the guard thinking of what he should do, right now, the guard was flailing and screaming on the ground, obviously incapable of fighting anymore yet he was approached by the system...
[ Does the host wish to show mercy to the opponent? ]
'Ahh yeah?' Ric responded perplexedly
[ That wouldn't be wise my lord, with how the guard reacted earlier, seemingly desperate enough to commit heinous act for a personal matter. My lord, someone like that would only serve more complications later on! ]
'And what do you suggest kill him?' Ric snickered with a slight smile..
[ Yes host... killing him would be the right decision ]
Ric's eyes widened from what he heard the system say, his face grew a frown, obviously showing his distaste with murder.
'Yeah that wouldn't be necessary, with how he is right now I don't think he would be able to fight for a lifetime, hell I'm surprised by how he stayed alive with those injuries of his... well that's the perks of being a seasoned summoner I guess?' Ric contradicted the system while closing one eye unwillingly to show his fatigue.
[ But ho- ] The system tried to reason
"No "buts", my decision is final, understood?" Countered by Ric, this time in an authoritative tone, one that would fit a noble like himself..
[ Understood dear host... ] The system finally surrendering its point.
With that, Ric decided to take a rest. One eye closed and one eye open, also reminded the system to notify him incase of any danger, the guard has passed out long ago but he still left the ants to watch him just in case, with how much the smoke filled the skies, Ric was sure that soon people would come here to investigate, whether they were friendly or not.. one could only guess.
Ric took a few minutes to take a breath before summoning the winged stallion and ordering it to find a safe spot and bring him there, after finding a good spot under a small open cave where no one would look under, Ric finally took a good rest...
Ric looked back at his life, being met with a different treatment just because of him being a weakling... Ric finally got a taste of victory... and he promised that this would only be the start.