“Harrietta, please take care of Lisa,” Kai said, gently petting Lisa’s head.
“Don’t worry, boy. The girl and I will have plenty of fun. She might even learn something,” Harrietta replied with a warm smile.
“Lisa, be a good girl and take care,” Kai said, hugging her tightly.
“Don’t worry, Brother Kai. Lisa will wait for all of you,” she smiled sweetly.
“Child, remember what I taught you. If you must fight, aim for the throat first,” Umbra reminded her.
“What are you teaching her, you brute?” Scry snapped at Umbra.
Nerva chuckled.
“Be safe, Lisa. We’ll return soon,” Nerva said, rustling her hair with a grin.
“Kran, train while we’re gone. I expect to see you at knight level,” Kai said, patting his shoulder.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Kran replied with a cold smile.
“Hansen, take care of the village while we’re away. Oh yeah, I never asked, what’s the name of this place?” Kai asked with a smile.
“We call it the Frontier. As usual, you don’t pay attention to names, huh? Don’t worry, we’ll do as we always have,” Hansen nodded seriously.
“Goodbye, everyone. See you soon!” Liliya waved as the group headed toward the gates.
Eira turned and smiled at Kran, who still looked upset. But he smiled back, sorrow in his eyes.
“She’ll come back, boy. Don’t worry,” Harrietta said, tapping his head gently.
“I hope so. I’m going to my shed. If I need you, I’ll come to your house, Mother. Take care of the girl,” Kran said as he walked away.
“He’s really upset, huh? I don’t know how he thought he could go with them,” Hansen sighed.
“Leave him be. He’ll get over it,” Harrietta sighed as well.
She knew all too well how stubborn he could be.
***
Kai and the group approached the gates, where the same two beastmen from the day before stood guard. This time, however, they were polite and caused no trouble. They opened the gates swiftly and said nothing.
“Bye, guys,” Zara said with a smile as she stepped out of the village.
Liliya was the last to leave. “Wait, everyone, I have something to do. Scry, watch this,” she chuckled.
“Earthen might, bless this land. Grant us the protection of the land spirits. Protection!”
A soft glow of earthy mana radiated over the gates and the tall wooden walls. Yellow glyphs gently carved themselves into the wood and the ground.
“Oho, that was a nice enchantment. It should protect them well, especially combined with Harrietta’s spells,” Scry praised.
“I just wanted to make sure they’ll be safe. I enhanced the spell with my full eighth-circle mana. It should hold for now,” Liliya said with a gentle smile.
Kai watched the scene, unsure what to think. She can be nice, I guess.
“Everyone, let’s go. Once we leave the forest, we fly west, right Eira?” Nerva asked.
“Yes, southwest. I’ll lead the way,” Eira nodded.
“She’ll fly with us, so everyone follow Umbra in the air,” Kai commanded.
After a short walk, they exited the forest. Nerva whistled, and moments later, his gryphons descended from the nearby mountain. Upon landing, they bowed to Umbra, who smirked with pride.
“Watch me, birdies,” she chuckled as her body shimmered with dark mana. She grew to a full five-meter height, and two massive, shadowy wings formed on her back. She spread them wide, clearly trying to impress the gryphons, who stared at her as if she were their leader.
Nerva chuckled. “Damn birds. They forget they’re my beasts.”
Kai and Eira climbed onto Umbra’s back while Scry floated beside them.
“Scry, make sure to keep up. We’ll be flying fast,” Kai warned.
“No worries. I’m faster than the brute,” Scry grinned, one of his canines poking out.
“Nerva, are we ready?” Kai asked, his voice cold; he was ready for battle.
“Let’s go,” Nerva said, and the gryphons rose into the air, following already airborne Umbra.
***
Smoke blanketed the sky as a hulking silver figure tore through houses with each devastating strike.
The villagers ran, screaming, but it was useless.
With every blow, the creature unleashed thick bursts of mana that either killed the weaker ones outright or left them unconscious.
Behind him, a group of grotesque grey monstrosities followed, gathering the living into cages and storing the dead in green liquid-filled containers.
Their master needed more parts. More specimens.
This village was just another target.
But this tribe had a Master-level fighter, a burly, middle-aged man clad in fur armor, wielding a massive sledgehammer that shimmered with grey light.
“Everyone, run! Leave everything behind, take your children and flee!” the Chief roared, positioning himself between the villagers and the silver beast. “I’ll hold him off as long as I can!”
“Chief, let us stay and fight! We can slow him down!” a few knight-level warriors pleaded.
“No! As long as you survive, our line will continue. Now go, run as far as you can!”
With a painful roar, the Chief charged toward the Rhino.
Seeing the wild man charge with his hammer raised, Rhino showed no emotion. He simply advanced, fists swinging, madness burning in his eyes.
Chief roared and brought down his massive sledgehammer. A twisting grey aura howled around it as it slammed into the moving Rhino.
BAM!
Rhino was driven back, his heels carving trenches into the ground as he slid. But he showed no signs of damage.
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Chief didn’t let up.
BAM! BAM!
The hammer crashed into Rhino’s silver body. The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the settlement. Sparks burst and scattered with every blow.
“You fucking monster! What are you made of? Aaargh!” Chief bellowed. Then he shouted, “Ancestor’s Wrath!”
It was a sacred bloodline ability, awakened only by those blessed by the tribe’s ancestors.
Green markings bloomed across Chief’s body. Like serpents, the runes slithered over his skin. His eyes turned a deep emerald, and his aura grew stronger, calmer, deadlier.
“Urrrrghh…” Rhino tried to speak, but only a guttural sound escaped. He roared and rose from the ditch carved by Chief’s relentless strikes. A silver aura enveloped his metallic body, making him look like a beast forged from living steel.
Chief struck again, now empowered. But Rhino crossed his trunk-like arms, blocking the blow and pushing forward. Each hammer strike was met with a step of resistance.
Impossible. I should be at mid-Master level with my ability activated. What is his body made of? No time to think. I’ll risk it all.
Rhino finally lost patience. With a primal roar, he slammed into Chief’s hammer mid-swing. The weapon flew from Chief’s hands, crashing into the ground like a falling comet.
The next punch drove into Chief’s gut, lifting him off the ground. A second blow, a brutal hook, smashed into his face, sending him spinning into the dirt beside his hammer.
His vision blurred. His right ear rang. Blood poured from his ears and mouth. His ribs were shattered. Only his innate ability kept his body from collapsing.
“Aaaaaaaaah, motherfucker,” Chief growled, using the hammer’s handle to pull himself upright.
I hope they managed to get far away. Farewell, my children.
Tears streaked his bloodied face as he sacrificed his vitality to unleash the full power of his skill.
“Ancestor’s Wrath – Berserker Mode!!!” he roared.
Inside, his mana burned at a furious pace. His heart pumped blood laced with mana through every vein. His core began to disintegrate, feeding him more power.
The green markings turned crimson. So did his eyes.
He left the hammer behind and leaped forward, consumed by rage. His mind was lost to bloodlust. The voices of his ancestors screamed in his head:
Kill. Kill. Kill. At all costs!
Rhino charged like an unstoppable force.
They collided.
A sonic boom leveled the remaining buildings.
Two titans clashed. Each punch thundered like a cannon blast. They pummeled each other like beasts.
But with every second, Chief’s core crumbled. Time was running out.
“Aaaaaaaaah!” he roared, his tattoos glowing as whirlwinds of grey aura spiraled around his arms. Each strike dented Rhino’s body.
For the first time since his creation, Rhino felt pain. But he didn’t care. His only thought was to deliver bodies to his master.
Chief burned more mana, more life. His attacks grew stronger, forcing Rhino back.
Then Rhino shone with a blinding silver light. He inhaled deeply, drawing in air and ambient mana. His arms glowed with silver-red veins as he extended them.
Chief struck again, but Rhino clapped his hands with full force.
BOOOOM!
A thunderclap echoed. The impact obliterated Chief’s arms. He was hurled backward like a rag doll, his body broken, his core gone.
He smiled as life slipped away.
“At least I managed to hurt you, you son of a who…”
He died before finishing the sentence.
Rhino stood, his chest dented, and his mana nearly depleted. He walked to the broken corpse, lifted it over his shoulder, grabbed the fallen hammer, and turned toward the grey monsters waiting at the edge of the village.
“Urgh. Urgh,” he grunted.
The monsters shivered and began pulling carts filled with containers and cages.
Their mission was complete.
***
In the village of Frontier, Kran sat alone at the table in his shed, deep in thought.
What if I can help somehow? I could stay far away and only step in if I get the chance. I’m not stupid enough to run in and die…
He was afraid, afraid of Eira dying. He knew he was useless in a fight, but still, he hoped there was something, anything he could do to help. He’d stay on the outskirts, only act if it was truly necessary.
Slap!
He smacked both cheeks with his hands.
Am I really going to do this? I’m insane. No… better to stay home. Don’t make things worse.
He sighed and stood up.
Let’s check on Mother and Lisa. Maybe that’ll help me think of something else.
Kran walked slowly through the village, his thoughts swirling. It was a crazy idea. A suicide mission, really. But something deep inside urged him on. If Eira was in danger, he had to try. Even if it was just a little, he had to help.
He hadn’t known Eira for long, but he felt a deep connection to her. She was different. Special. Maybe, just maybe, if he could save her, she’d see him differently, too.
He sighed again and followed the river path to Harrietta’s cottage.
Lisa sat on a bench by the water, petting a small fire spirit.
“Hey Lisa, where’s Mother?” Kran asked, puzzled.
“Oh, Aunt’s cleaning the house. It’s really messy in there,” Lisa giggled, her blue dress shimmering in the sunlight.
Kran sat beside her with a sigh.
“You like that spirit, huh?” he asked, reaching out to pet the fiery creature.
It hissed and spat a small flame at his hand.
“Ouch!” he yelped, pulling back.
“Haha! Sparky hates you,” Lisa teased. “I love this kitty. I hope I get a spirit too someday!”
She rubbed the fire spirit against her cheek. It purred, its flames dimming under her touch.
“Did you already test your mana affinity? How old are you, anyway?” Kran asked.
“I’m eight! I’m a big girl now, Brother Kai said so!” she beamed.
“Father tested me when we were at home,” she added, her smile fading slightly. “I don’t really remember what it was… but it was shiny.”
“Oh, I see. You should ask Mother to test you again. You know how much she loves anything to do with magic,” Kran said with a smile. “Come on, let’s go check on her. She might get lost under all that mess.”
He led Lisa and the fire spirit inside.
Harrietta was waving a broom at the ceiling, trying to clear out cobwebs and dust.
“Let me help you, you crazy woman,” Kran muttered with a smirk.
Together, Kran and Lisa helped Harrietta clean the house and prepare a spare room for Lisa, Kran’s old room, which he’d left behind years ago when he moved out to live on his own.
“There you go, Lisa. Take care of her, and don’t let her do any crazy research while you’re here,” Kran said, ruffling her hair.
Harrietta scoffed and waved him off. “You’re welcome for lunch or dinner anytime, you know that, son!” she called after him.
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he replied, waving as he walked away.
Back in his shed, Kran stood still for a moment.
I’ve decided. I’m going.
If Lisa can smile through her pain, then I can do my best, too. I’ll help however I can.
He packed his bag, strapped on the new short sword Kai had given him, and slipped out of the village through his secret passage.
He mounted one of the Moa birds and rode off, slowly following the faint trail of Eira’s mana in the air.
He was a scout. A tracker. And the traces were still fresh.?
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Stuck in a roguelike where dying resets everything? How many times can you die before you stop pretending it's just a game?
It's a flippin roguelike.
What to expect:
- gallows humour
- strong multi-dimensional characters
- vicious rodents of unusual size
- slow grindy but satisfying growth
- an adorable companion
- real world stakes