B2 Chapter 148: Testing Gains Pt. 1
Kaius stood in his saddle, absorbing the shock of Porkchop’s bounding leaps by crouching slightly with every impact.
His eyes were trained firmly on the irontusk, watching and waiting for the moment it would notice them with its dulled senses. Explosive anticipation thrummed within him, every single one of his muscles held in delicious tension. He could taste it. The blood that would soon be in the air.
Porkchop charged silently, though Kaius could feel he yearned to release his bloodlust with a cracking roar and a snarl of gnashing teeth.
After having decided on their course of action, they had set off for their target. It was painful at first, the irontusk too far for them to race into an immediate charge, and Ianmus too slow for them to even jog.
Instead he’d watched it lumber across the grasslands, lowering its head to tear through foliage as it ate its fill. After so many stories of their strength and fortitude, he was eager to test his blade against them. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, they were little but gnats against the true powers of the world, but the irontusks were one of the greatest ‘threats’ on the plains.
Stout of frame, even meagre levels were enough to give them crushing power, and it wasn’t like the average traveller of the frontier was a high levelled delver.
After descending the hill, Kaius had dismounted for a moment, his brother aiding him with charging his vambraces. While the energy would bleed quickly, he hoped that by the time they were thrust into glorious battle it would only take a single block, or maybe two, for him to tap into the artifact''s stored devastation.
That had been a fun one to explain to their half-elven solar mage, though the man understood as soon as they had. They’d left him a little behind. Close enough the battle would still be in range of his spells, but more than far enough that he would be well clear of any wayward blows.
Ahead of him, the irontusk tensed, its massive head twitching as its small eyes locked on their rapidly approaching forms. Gods, it was big, easily as massive as the Siege Ogre had been, though far less tall. A stout neck as thick as Porkchop’s waist held up its head just fine, even with the impressive weight of its curved metal tusks weighing it down.
Kaius focused, bringing up its status once more.
Irontusk Vagrant - Level 49:
Beast, Brawler
Singing joy harmonised with the resonance in his blood and mana, filling him with fervent energy as a wicked twinkle alighted in his eyes. Below him, a deep rumble started in Porkchop’s belly, the start of a rattling growl.
The irontusk shook itself, bucking its head in a challenge as it worked up its fury with a pair of stomps that shuddered the very ground. It bellowed, a deep bassy call that shook the plains and sent birds flying to the sky in fright.
Kaius howled, his voice tearing at his throat as he relished in the sight of a challenge. A true foe that would test his mettle once more. It had been too long, too many days without the sweet succour of pouring sweat and leaden limbs. Too long since he had felt bones break and blood spill. His own, or his enemies, it mattered not. Only that he was tested. Only that he could prove himself the victor, champion by right of arms.
Primal aggression and the simple heated fury of challenged supremacy flooded his bond, his brother’s own Song alighting in unison with his own. Porkchop’s roar was a thing of beauty, drowning his surroundings in a ringing crack that one felt in the heart.
**Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 38!**.
The irontusk charged, thick muscle rippling beneath its shaggy brown coat as it lowered its head. It reached speed quickly, no matter its size and weight, simple power overcame all restrictions.
Feeling his pulse spike, Kaius leaned in as his brother kept his course. No challenge so simple, so direct, would sway their path. He had faith.
In their might. In Porkchop’s armour. In their stalwart fearlessness.
Then the vigour and warmth of the sun sunk into them, suffusing them both with unrivalled potency. Infusing them with an energy that only heightened his need to tear into the titan that dared stand in their path.
**Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!**@@@@
He unsheathed his sword.
The irontusk drew close.
Kaius launched himself from the saddle, kicking off his brother''s back to launch a full ten strides into the air. Porkchop raced forward unhindered, teeth bared as he tapped into his amulet.
Ianmus, perfectly timed to distract it.
Porkchop howled in fury, ripping himself from the beast''s tusks as he spun - undeterred by his wounds - and gouged the irontusk’s face for its impudence.
Kaius grinned, planting one foot solidly to kick off the still quaking ground. Launching to the beast''s side, he pivoted on his front foot and twisted his hips to drive his blade home into its chest with every scrap of power he had available. Forceful enough that he slid back through the dirt as the hilt of his sword pressed against its thick hide.
Lifting its head to the sky, the irontusk bellowed. The sound was baleful, penetrating deep into his chest. Kaius danced back, ripping his blade free as it wheeled on him, shaking its head in insensate frustration and rage.
Mana glowed in its chest.
He retreated, creating the distance he needed to react to the oncoming skill as Uncanny Dodge blared a warning in his mind. Another bolt of lightning crackled in his fist, lashing the bubbled and blackened flesh of the beast once more as he attempted to disrupt the working.
**Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 26!**.
As tough as it was, it maintained its hold on its ability, paralysing storm mana causing little more than a momentary spasm. It seemed that the dazing strike of his spells was not guaranteed to be consistent - frustrating, considering its usefulness.
Thankfully, his brother was beset by far less compunction. Diving into the fray, Porkchop lashed out with green claws, gouts of flesh torn from the beast''s side to reveal the thick wall of its ribs.
Ignoring Porkchop’s attempts, the irontusk continued to channel. A moment later, mana flashed, pulsing with steely brilliance as it flooded its tusks.
It dipped its head, points of its curved tusks catching on the dirt. Earth soared through the air as it bucked, showering the surroundings in dust and arcane brilliance.
Two thin metal blades materialised, racing through the air as they spun end over end on a terminal path towards him. A second skill.
A terrible scream of churned air followed their arc; gods they were fast.
Glee coursed through Kaius, even as he slipped to the side, dodging one with skill enhanced agility. He raised his blade, ready for its twin.
He’d missed this. The simple rush.
Planting his foot as he stepped as far out of the path of the attack, he rolled his shoulders and slammed his blade into it hard. An unearthly screech filled the air as he smashed his blade into the whirling projectile. Even tensed and ready for the collision, Kaius felt every joint in his body creak, bones jolting from the sheer force of the impact.
His grip stayed steady, even missing two fingers, it would take more than a simple skill to overwhelm him.
Sparks showered him like a spring storm, an echoing crack accompanying the spinning blade as he redirected it, sending it careening off to the side. A subtle click pulsed as a small fraction of the collision was drained and collected.
**Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 27!**.
His Vharcossian Vambraces. Full once more.
Smashing his brother aside, the beast turned its head to look at him with what could only be described as shock. Kaius grinned, bearing his aggression plain on his face. It hadn’t expected him to survive that.
He could smell it. The growing uncertainty.
Once lord over all on the plains, the irontusk was no longer sure of its own victory.
Kaius intended to show it how right it was.