The Bloodforged Kin

Chapter 233 - 227: Maisy - Arcane Power and Abominable Cold

An icy blast like nothing any of them had ever experienced exploded out of the monster, and Maisy's moment was now. She leapt into it, pushing all of her will into Arcane Sheen, her coat's magical defensive skill. She willed - no, demanded - that it respond to her need, and she felt the paths it could take coalesce into the one she needed. As the icy blast hit her she felt it evolve and dismissed the notification immediately. There was no time for that nonsense.

She weathered the storm, her feet freezing to the ground and her coat going brittle with the cold. Even so, she felt at her newly evolved skill and growled in excitement. She began to pull, and the magic of the attack began to flow into her. The ice in her fur crackled then broke away as each strand began to emit shadows that were darker than anything this world could produce. The darkness was straight from the void, and darkness was her ally. She pulled harder, sucking in all the magic she could feel. Behind her a cone of safety began to form as the magic found an impassable barrier that was Maisy.

The magic flowed through her and she realized something else she could do with it. She channeled it into her claws and the magic that empowered them. The snowman had unwittingly given her a portion of its strength and it was time for her to return it.

Her new upgrade, Reflective Aura, treated the attack like a magical assault and sent 20% of it back at the snowman. The cold of the ice attack was imbued by the deepest depths of the ever-frigid void, and a blue-black column of energy slammed into the snowman's chest, rocking it backwards, its eyes wide with surprise at the ice that was covering its chest.

She slashed and a Spatial Rift opened between them. Maisy vaulted into it, appearing in front of its face. Ethereal Claw - now Void Claws of the Rift - slashed over and over, every 10th strike causing a rift that frayed the reality around the creature's face. Flesh parted under her magical claws and the edges of the wounds unraveled as they were sucked into the void. In seconds she'd landed over 100 strikes and its face was a mess of muscle tissue and bone.

She opened another rift and leapt into the shadows of the trees to activate Shadow Pounce, the upgraded skill now allowing her to repeatedly land surprise ambush attacks now that it couldn't see her. With each pounce she had a 30% chance to induce fear and confusion, further limiting its mobility. She was a blur that appeared, struck, disappeared, only to come again from another direction. Her attacks were wild and unpredictable, each landing where the monster least expected, each further driving it to insanity as the fear continued to accumulate in its soul.

The evolution of Void Claws of the Rift had given her a new ability, Reality Tear. Each attack gave her a 15% chance to tear rifts in the reality of whatever she was attacking, making them vulnerable to the next attacks. Maisy had landed more than enough strikes for the effect to take hold, and the snowman was reeling in place, barely able to keep its feet.

She watched from the shadows, waiting for it to stop swaying.

"One more attack, then send the bears and the stags." She didn't wait for a reply, passing through the void one more time.

Void Claws rent the air between where she appeared and the beast. The air itself split as they cut through, their void-enhanced sharpness carving reality itself. Where reality could be slain, a flesh-and-blood creature stood no chance. Maisy landed behind her strikes, feeling its blood coat her in thick sprays as she flew through it. She landed and was a tornado of claws, tearing its throat and head apart as she did.

She felt the impact of the Radiant Stags' beams tear into the open wounds she'd carved through its body. Close behind she heard the roar of the bears as they plunged massive claws into the wounds, ripping muscle and tendons out in great gouts. She leapt to the ground, not stepping through the void this time, and turned to watch the visceral dismemberment, bestial and right. It shook the ground as it fell and her people flooded from the trees in a wave of teeth and claws. If there had been any animals in the woods they would have fled the sound of pure, unadulterated savagery that filled the night air.

Maisy slumped onto her pile of furs, finally pulling up the newly-evolved skill for examination.

Skill Name: Celestial Arcane Ward

Type: Defensive Skill

Level: 1

New Description: Your radiant fur has become a nearly impenetrable layer of celestial energy. At this level it no longer merely deflects magic; it absorbs the magical essence itself, using it to empower your attacks or strengthen your defenses. The arcane ward grants you a permanent bonus to Charisma, reflecting the mystic allure of your energy.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

New Effect:

Energy Absorption

: Absorbs 50% of all magical damage taken, which can be used to power your next physical or magical attack.

Reflective Aura

: Now deflects lower-level magical projectiles back at their caster with a 30% chance of success.

Charisma Bonus

: Increases your Charisma stat by +5 permanently.

Arcane Shield:

Absorbs 5% of incoming physical damage and redirects it as arcane energy, empowering your next attack.

She purred in pleasure, content.

"Mistress."

Maisy stifled an irritated hiss. "Yes, Solstice?"

"This was not a good fight."

Now she did let her irritation show. Solstice stepped outside of claw range when he saw her tail flip. "We are victorious, therefore it was a good fight."

"We can not survive many more fights like this. It took too heavy a toll. We did not fight with the tactics that would have seen our herd survive."

"Solstice, we survived! We are here!"

"How many? How many did not survive?"

Maisy checked her interface and saw that he was right. They'd lost roughly 25% of their numbers. She huffed it away. "We lost mostly the weak. Scamperers, owls, Bloodthorn Vines. The strong have survived and will grow stronger because of it. Already I see that many have grown in power and levels. Do you not see the same?"

Solstice was quiet for some time. She was unsure if he was reviewing the status of his herd or if he was contemplating his response. She gave him time - cats were patient.

"We have - all have grown in power, this is true. But the strength of the herd is the strength of all, and the strength of numbers. We do not survive on the antlers of the few who are strong, we survive when we are many."

Maisy scoffed, letting him feel it. "If all have grown stronger, then the herd is stronger. MY people are stronger. I will not raise kittens, this world has no place for them. All must become strong, even if that means the weak must die."

His pause was longer this time. "Not all are hunters, Mistress. Many do not grow stronger by tooth and claw. We must provide safety for all, even those that you would consider weak."

"That I would consider weak? Does not The System define who is weak? Has that not always been the way?"

"Those you would consider weak are only so based on your understanding of the world, Huntress."

She did not miss his use of that title or its significance. "Solstice, all must be strong. Those who do not fight must be forced to grow stronger in other ways. I do not say that all must fight - the Shadow Fawn are an example of this. But even so, all must grow stronger or die. This has always been the way of the world, and it is even more so now."

Solstice's tone was quiet, reverent. "This is not the way of the herd, Mistress. I know it is your way, and the way of many, but the Kingdom is made of all types of animals. Many fight, this is true, but as many as there are who fight, there are just as many who survive and find strength in other ways. I am not saying that we should not grow stronger - we must! I only say that there are more ways to grow than fighting, and we must do all we can to protect those who can't."

Maisy sighed. She was tired of this conversation, tired of the day - she just wanted to sleep and Solstice was interrupting that. "What do you suggest?"

His pause was long as he considered his words. She expected them, but let him speak them anyway. "We must fight smarter. The herd knows how to survive danger, and it is not always through battle - at least not for all."

Maisy's tail swished lazily. "Fine, I hear your words and understand. Do what you must. I need to sleep."

Solstice turned, but paused, looking back over his broad shoulder at her. "Mistress, I only ask that you heed my council in the future. More 'victories' like today will spell doom for us all."

Maisy laid her head on her paws, closing her eyes. "I will listen, Solstice - as the situation permits."

He huffed but knew he'd get no more than that from her. He moved away on silent hooves. The pack leaders of the other species were waiting for him - waiting to hear how his conversation went. His antlers dimmed in the night as he walked to their meeting space, emotions warring within him.

In her rush to slumber Maisy didn't think to check on the status of her domain. If she had, she may not have slept so easily.

Domain resident count: 73%

Territory controlled: 82%

Loyalty: 84%