My Life As A Salamander - Chapter 94

I didn’t descend on the horde of beasts immediately. I didn’t want to get run over by the beasts. One low level beast was no problem. Two low level beasts wasn’t a problem. A pack wasn’t even a problem. But this was a sea of beasts that in reality could have run my a$$ over and left tread marks. I descended on a close by mountain and started looking. Then I found the beast I wanted. A tiger the size of a tank, coated in molten earth, that had black clouds floating about it in a halo. It eminated strength and pride as it stepped through the hordes. Energy from the ground filled it’s frame as sunlight glistened off of its glowing red mane.

I wondered for but a moment before striking. I settled down into a small crevice. Pulling Dragons Cry from my back I placed it against my shoulder and readied to fire. It took but a moment to focus on my target. The point right behind it’s left shoulder. I aimed there to get it to it’s heart. Immediate death was better than a tortured end. A bullet shot from my barrel with a screech that ripped the air apart scaring half the animals in the vicinity. The Tiger roared loudly tearing up the ground around it. Cracks tore through the terrain sending dust into the air.

To my surprise the bullet stopped mid air as though it had been grabbed by some force. It was inches from the Tigers hide which only served to aggravate me. The beast turned glare at me. The chilling killing intent it sent out was terrifying to any creature about it. So terrifying in fact that the creatures closest to it died from terror and shock. It opened it’s mouth wide and an molten power gathered together into a ball. The lava in it’s mane gathered in streams to the ball making it glow brighter and brighter till the Tiger slammed it’s mouth crushing the ball in it’s powerful jaws. It looked at me for only a moment before opening its maw and unleashing the power within. A beam as red as crimson burst toward me at a speed even I had a hard time blocking. I raised the hands that governed fire and earth to strike the beam and protect myself.

The blast assaulted my hands with a power as strong as earth and as fierce as fire. It was a murky blend of the elements that tore at my hands. It hurt like hell and as I took it I became more and more angry. I could take pain. At 70% increase against pain it said volumes about this things power. I coated my hands in the power of all my energies with exception to the nether energy of course. The powers offset the beam enough for me to swipe it away into the rest of the mountainside. It caused rockslide down he mountain as it created a 2 foot deep trench that glowed red hot against the dull gray rock.

I turned back to the Tiger and roared at it the same way it had me. The ground cracked but there was no waves or stagnation of air. It was just excessively loud and filled with my aura. Crushing pressure pushed down the remaining animals making it impossible for them to move. Some foamed from the mouth while others simply died from their hearts giving out. the tiger and I were about equal for aura. That fact made me glad that we were about a day or two’s ride from the City of Verst. I wouldn’t want Sam worrying. I slowly walked down the mountain and let my frame expand to it’s natural size. My 100 feet in height with a 30 foot width span was enough to intimidate most creatures. The Tiger on the other hand was nowhere close to finished with me. It’s fur spiked up and crackled with energy as it tried to focus another blast at me. I merely picked it up like a kitten which peaved it off as it tried to scratch me. I held it and started petting it which only aggravated it further.

I laughed heartily at it’s futile efforts to escape my grasp. Before setting it down. It’s claws had left faint scratches across my scaled palms. The Tiger fully realized at this point that it was completely outmatched and decided to run leaving me in the middle of a field of either unconscious or otherwise dead creatures. And despite what people might have though I just let it go. Sure I might have been able to get a skill or two from it. But it was an unnecessary kill. I had enough creatures around me to feed me for a few days. Enough I figured to offset the evolution Gluttony was preparing me for. I went about and found the creatures that were just unconcious. And no I wasn’t the kind to spare a free meal. But overkill is not my thing. I counted my haul as I went on my mercy kill streak. 5 Stone Guardian Buffalo (The size of a VW Bug), 2 Ore Rabbits ( Rabbits that have metal for bones and fur the color of silver), A Flaming Ant Eater, 13 crystal horn gazels, 15 rock hogs (hedgehogs covered in rock), 20 Sun Eating Owls( Owls that feed on sunlight and use fire magic), And a Diamond Carapace Tarantula( About the size of a car). I cooked and ate all of my prey till my stomach bulged. I looked like a rolling mountain by the time I was done. And the skills I gained were actually just absorbed into my defensive abilities and Apocalypse class powers. Soon G notified me that I had reached the minimum for eating the shard. I frowned a little as my bulging stomache was already starting to slowly shrink at a visible rate. I looked around a bit more for some food and managed to find another small herd of Stone Guardian Buffalo’s. 10 is what it would take for me to be in the safe zone according to G’s readings.

I looked down at the heard of 30 and picked out the ones I would take out. I couldn’t just annihilate entire herds at will else they could go extinct. I pulled my bow from my back and got an arrow ready. My bow was made of ironwood with steel banding to strengthen it. I know bows are a little medieval but when you need stealth as a friend they are very handy. Dragons Cry was too loud. My last encounter had truly proven that point. My arrows were made of steel and tipped with beast fangs. Sometimes a tooth can cut deeper than any metal as they say. I pulled back and let an arrow fly at the closest Buffalo. I hit it in the eye dropping it without a sound. It caused the herd to start circling on the other hand. The young were in the middle and the big ones were on the outside. I shot another and another. The shots came easy due to my mastery of archery. Leading my shot ahead of the target came naturally.

The arrows arched and came down with the wind into the eyes of the Buffalo granting them a swift death. The heard saw how many of them were falling and quickly started rushing away. But not before I met my quota. 10 of the beautiful beasts lay across the grounds. They would have looked asleep if not for the arrows. But I didn’t waste any more time than necessary. I got a couple fires going and got the beasts on spits. Their hide I quickly cooked in my hands with fire and ate it like bacon. It was tough and tasteless. But I didn’t waste any of it. I thought back to my previous world due to the buffalo.( I was raised in a world where buffalo were near extinct. But here they thrived in droves. I would hate it if that happened here as well.) I thought sadly amidst my melancholy.

Soon the Buffalo were done cooking. Their meat was dense and full of flavor. Like beef but mixed with a wild flavor. Barley and honey would have made great finishers for these guys before I killed them. Would’ve made the meat sweeter. But I couldn’t complain. It was a good meal. I sat down at the next one and offered a small thanks to the heavens for such a bounty. I soon finished my hunger induced mission. G spoke up. /You have reached the safe zone for material consumption if you wish to consume the shard. If not… whatever./ I frowned at it. “Whatever huh?” I said with an unimpressed look. I pulled out the shard and nervously twiddle with it before carefully placing it in my mouth and swallowing. It tasted of old blood and iron. /Host has swallowed a shard of Divinity. Nail Shard of the Christian. Will commence evolution./ It said in its mechanical voice.

I felt a warm sensation spread form my center till I felt something. Like a small animal moving about within. After a moment of confusion the pain came. Pain wracked my body as smoke and steam rolled from me like a fog. My soul felt like it was being burned. /Host must stay awake or we will both perish permanently./ Gluttony warned. I was curled on the ground with my teeth gritted. I could feel my bones cracking and healing. Cracking and healing over and over. My body began to shine with a holy power that drove close by monsters away. A white beam shot from me to the heavens as I agonized in its center. I grew another set of arms. One white and one black in response to the divine power. My understanding of this thing grew with me. It was holy. And it’s opposite was the infernal nether. Power flooded me as my frame shifted and strangely items began to appear from my flesh. A cup filled with a storming sea came from my stomache. A scroll emitting the energy of death came from my dark wings. A crown of fire adorned my head. Dragons cry hummed and shifted. It lengthened and the blade on its end grew. It became a hollow halberd emitting power. A ball of light came from the white arm while a black ball came from the black one. These items rotated about me in the air like puppies waiting for a masters attention. Though I was still preoccupied with my evolution. My tail was stretching and gained a furry tuft at the end of it. My scales gained a vibrance that exceeded gold and silver. Those things didn’t hurt. My skeleton was breaking and mending alot which confused me. (G what is happening!? Why are my bone breaking so much?) I howled in my head as I hissed at the ground.

/Your skeletal structure is being cleansed of impurities and strengthened by the Trial of Breakage. Soon your bones will have toughness comparable to a divine armament. This is standard for gods to go through./ It replied. Pride on the other hand was howling at us. /Boss I’m doing what I can to prevent anything from damaging you further on the outside but there’s nothing I can do about the inside./ The rumbling voice sounded worried. Gluttony yawned. /You worry too much. I’ve made him go through worse. He’ll make it./ They began to prattle back and forth. It took what felt like hours for the pain to stop. My evolution had started around mid day and finally finished around nightfall.

ACROSS THE WORLD POV:

On the continent of Weremar. The destroyed capital. An elderly blind man looked into the distant sky at the beam that pierced the heavens. “How many millenia has it been since a god was born?” He rumbled. As his cane vibrated against his grip. “Calm down old friend. I doubt he will be worse than those who rose before him if it’s who I think it is.” He said patting it gently.

In the Northern Continent of Ice Galmara.

From a castle balcony a Great lion headed beastman stood with his armor on his body. Hs was built like a powerhouse. His muscles rippled and what little armor he wore seemed to stretch a little. “Finally a worthy challenger has risen to the ranks today.” He rumbled with a growl as an eager smile stretched itself across his face.

Eastern continent of Water. Melra

A tall elf woman with unparalleled beauty stood within a large garden filled with small streams and a beach that looked like an old fashioned bed. She pulled out a bowl with water in it and set it on a pedestal before stroking it’s surface making it wripple. It’s murky waters turned clear revealing a great glowing beast amidst the rocky mountains of Belmac. “So… It’s that time again.” She said. Her voice was like clear flowing water but filled with a happy tone.

And in Belmac at the city of Verst stood King Kyle. His back was to the room where the queen lay asleep. The beam of light stretching to the heavens finally ebbed till it was no more. A great smile played across his face as mischief glinted in his eyes. “That troublemaker. He really did it this time.” He said as he spun his cloak flaring out dramatically against the air. He energetically woke his wife who blearily looked at him like he had gone mad. “Dear what is it?” She said. He looked at her like a boy excited for Christmas. “Get up woman! It’s not often a god is born on ones own continent!” Her bleakness vanished at his words. “What?!”