Origin ARS 3 (Origin A.R.S.) (11 page)

+ 2 Ability Points

Items Acquired

Mithril Scales [
large
] [
Rare
]

Blue Fang of the Deep X 1 [
Rare
]

Shark Meat X 60

Shark Fin

<<< * >>>

Scott stared at the battle report for a moment and then nodded. “So, it wasn’t even level thirty? What was with that background music?”

He could not understand the purpose of that. Had the game world decided that it wanted to give him a heart attack? The only thing that made sense to him was the thought that the monster was highly resistant to physical damage. A pure fighter would have had no chance at all if they were on a similar level. A mage with no physical skills or weapons abilities might have had the same issue since only synchronicity and a thrown spear had worked to take down the beast. Of course, a mage might have had a long range lightning spell.

The lucky sorcerer swam toward shore once more. He had managed to defeat a powerful monster and learned a valuable lesson about hunting alone. Don’t do it in the ocean, if you’re far from shore.

Once he made it back to shore he pulled out the items that he had just acquired then nearly collapsed from the joy of it all.

<<<
Item
>>>

Blue Fang of the Deep
[
Rare
]

The fang of a mithril shark holds great destructive power. It can tear through almost anything.

If you use the Blue Fang of the Deep you can learn the
Primal Magic:
Blue Water Fang.
It is only available to certain aquatic denizens, summoners, sorcerers, and ninja masters.

Would you like to learn this spell?
Yes | No

<<< * >>>

“Sorcerer’s can learn it? Hell Yes! I’ll take a free spell!” said the sorcerer.

Scott clicked on the yes option. A brilliant light flared up around him followed by columns of water. The light and water began to dance in a tight spiral around the man. When the dancing lights and water faded a new message appeared.

<<<
Message
>>>

You have awakened to the primordial power of water. You may now develop your skills accordingly.

You have learned the
Primal Magic:
Blue Water Fang

You have gained the magical patterns for flowing water, tearing water, and piercing water.

Your skill information has been updated.

<<< * >>>

“The hell? Magical patterns?” Scott opened up his status screen and noted that nothing seemed to have changed other than a bit of experience from the shark he had slain. He opened up his skill menu and blinked.

<<<
Skill
>>>

Primal Magic

Utilize primordial magic directly after experiencing it with your body. Use your innate understanding of the natural forces to create unique new abilities after facing powerful opponents.

<<< * >>>

“What does that mean? Will I learn monster magic if they hit me with it? Maybe Rhea will know...” Scott closed down the primal magic listing then looked at the spell he had just obtained.

<<<
Spell
>>>

[
Primal
]
Blue Water Fang
[LV. 0]-[
Force I
] Mana 1[0/100]

Using your connection to the element of water, create a piercing fang of water that tears through those who oppose you.

Elemental water spell, you have a 5% chance to engulf and asphyxiate opponents.

<<< * >>>

“I wonder what’s different between that spell and the water spell that I can get normally.” Scott still had not acquired all of his basic spells yet due to upgrading his stats, and trying to boost up Ero’s abilities.

Scott turned toward the ocean and thrust out his hand. He thought about the spell, and envisioned something simple as the linking idea. He chose water spraying from a fire hose. “Blue Water Fang!”

Small spiraling columns of water rose up around him then danced in a smooth circle while they flowed upward to a single point above his head. When all of the water had merged together inside the ball a spinning spear of water shot forward toward the sea.

It was a fancy looking effect, but other than its appearance Scott was not impressed. It only had a force of one and used a single point of mana. It could not do that much damage, right?

He tried to cast the spell again, but found out that it actually had a
cool down
period of one minute. “Seriously? I have to wait a full minute between casts for a spell that weak? I can spam
burn
...”

Was there something that he was missing? When another minute passed he tried the spell again. The same thing happened. He was confused by the way the spell was designed. It made no sense for a spell that weak to have a cool down effect.

He tried it a third time, but noticed that the water seemed to flow for a longer period of time if he held onto the image of the fire hose.

“Was I imagining it...?” asked Scott to the empty beach. It was possible that he had. However, it was also possible that he had hit on the true power of that spell.

Scott waited till the cool down period ended and then cast the spell again. This time he concentrated on the image of the fire hose for as long as he could. The water continued to flow for nearly a full minute before a much larger spear of water shot forward.

“It’s a spell that can be charged for greater effect!” Scott’s eyes widened. He felt like dancing.

He decided to check his spell again. He grinned at what he found. Instead of three casts out of one hundred, the skill showed nine out of one hundred. Charging it longer counted as multiple uses!

He checked his status and his happy moment quickly faded. His mana had been nearly depleted in the process. Charging it obviously required more than one mana per extra charge. If anything it felt like each additional charge must have cost double compared to the one before.

The cool down period had also increased, it seemed. He had taken a short time to check his information and there was still over a minute left before he could use the spell again.

Scott waited until the waiting period ended then tried the spell again. This time he focused for the pulsing sensation that he had felt before. Once he felt the pulse three times he released his concentration and the large spear of water lanced out with whirling destructive force.

He checked his status then nodded. He had been right. Charging it three additional times caused the spell to require fifteen mana. Scott could not verify it, but he suspected that the additional charges increased the spell force each time. The spell had a debilitating cost, but he was curious to see what would happen when he developed it a bit.

At the moment he could charge it an additional seven times at full mana. After he gained another level he might possibly be able to do it eight times. The destructive force could only be equal to his burn spell at best, at the moment. However, it could be leveled-up. Would the mana cost go down like before? Would something else happen? Scott definitely wanted to find out.

He went back to the tent and checked on Rhea. She still slept soundly. She would probably be back within the next two or three hours. If he rested for a short time then used the tent’s bonus healing effect, he might be able to reach one hundred casts before she returns.

Scott stretched out on his bedroll and closed his eyes. A short nap sounded like a good idea, either way.

It was a beautiful day. The pond rippled beneath the feet of happy little insects buzzing about. A fish would occasionally hop out of the water, do a backflip, and splash down again. The shore of the picturesque pond was occupied by a man who sorely needed this sort of time to himself.

Scott reared his arm back and then casted his fishing line forward into the water. On the ground next to him was a plastic cooler with several happily smiling fish that seemed all too eager to be eaten.

The man sighed in contentment. He had not been fishing in this manner in a while. The sun blazed high above, the pond waited tranquilly just below, and the fish were biting. It soothed his spirit in a way few things might.

All good things come to an end, however. When the end came it was not with a bang, but with a soft feminine giggle.

Scott looked around the area while he tried to see who was giggling. A low, dangerous, sounding background tune started to play. It was a somber song intermixed with creepy discordant tones.

A soft whisper emanated from his left. He whipped his head to the side to try and find the culprit. He saw no one, but the creepy nature of the moment increased when a beach ball slowly bounced into the area and then rolled to a stop at his feet.

“The hell...” The hair on the back of his neck stood up. Something very wrong was happening here.

A sweet and familiar voice softly sang out, “La... la-
la
, la-
laaa
...
la
.”

“Ero! Is that you?” cried Scott.

The background music suddenly began to play eerily familiar song lyrics. Scott shuddered in response. What was the girl playing at?

~One...
two
... Ero’s coming for
You
...~

“Shit! Ero, this isn’t funny...” said Scott. He was seriously creeped out right now.

A soft skittering sound caught his attention. A feminine giggle echoed behind him. He whirled around, but no one was there.

~ Three...
Four
... You’ll cry for
more
...~

Scott’s eyes widened. What exactly did the weird little fairy mean by that? “Ero, come out here!”

~Five..
Six
... When she shakes her
hips
...~

The sorcerer backed away from the pond. Maybe it was not Ero after all? Maybe some random monster had come for him. It would be best to try and reach a safer location.

Scott turned to walk away but tentacles sprouted up from the ground and formed into a squirming wall. His anus involuntarily clenched at the sight. That was certainly no longer a direction that he wished to use in an escape!

~Seven...
eight
... You’re gonna stay up
late
...~

The sorcerer turned around and around in slow, frightened, circles. He watched as a wall of tentacles rose up then moved rapidly to surround the area. He was trapped!

~Nine...
ten
... You’ll cry out again and
again
...~

“Ero... Stop this...” said Scott. What was with this weird vibe!

A dark, seductive, chuckle echoed through the area. Scott’s attention was drawn to the pond. From beneath the water rose an incredible sight. A beautiful blond woman with perfectly proportioned features rose upward in a steady and radiant manner. Light shined all around her. It accentuated her curvature and beautiful smile to great effect.

The woman wore a clinging while gown that was plastered to her body due to the way the water had soaked into it. It clung to her curves and was shear to the extent that it left little to the imagination, but what it did not show was well worth imagining!

It took Scott a moment to realize that the vision of loveliness was someone who he knew quite well. “E-Ero?”

The fairy placed a finger to her beautiful pink lips then gently drew the bottom one down. She gazed upon him with a look that was both tender and seductive at the same time.

Ero did not speak. Instead she raised her hand gently and then motioned for him to come forward.

Scott resisted the urge, but he was drawn closer by some inexplicable force that pulled him along the sand of the pond shore. “Ero... what?”

When he reached the edge of the water she smiled prettily. “Welcome to my beautiful nightmare...Scott.”

“What are you doing...? What was this about?” asked Scott. He could not tear his eyes from the vision before him. Who knew that Ero would provide such an impressive sight if she wore clothes?

She glided across the water, massive wings of light buzzed at her back. “You.”

“Me?” asked Scott. He swallowed hard. What was she doing to him? Why couldn’t he look away?

Ero slid to a stop at the edge of the water. She was a hair’s breadth away from him, as people sometimes say. In truth, she was close enough that a gentle breeze would have pushed them together.

“Yes, I am doing you.” she replied softly.

Scott blinked then managed to lean back slightly. “Ero, that’s not funny...”

“Am I laughing?” she said, a sweet smile upon her lips.

“We...Don’t do this...” said Scott, as though he had no strength to resist anything that she did.

She leaned forward slightly and gently rubbed the tip of her nose against his. “Do what, Scott?”

“This...”

“Mmm... say it, Scott. Say, what this is...” said Ero before slipping forward and pressing him down onto the bank of the pond with gentle, but firm pressure. The sorcerer tried to resist, but he was practically powerless.

“Ero... Stop...” Scott tried to push at her but it was like his limbs refused to work. He had almost no strength remaining.

She was atop him now. She straddled his waist and arched her back slightly. Her sensual curves were displayed for him to see. “Go ahead... Tell me that you don’t want this.... Tell me that you don’t
need
me as much as I need you...”

“Need...” said Scott. He managed to look away from the absurdly erotic vision before him. He felt his strength return. If he did not gaze upon her splendor, so to speak, he would not lose his will.

She purred softly at him then slid her hands along his chest. Ero cocked her hips to the side and her breasts swayed with the movement. She poked out her bottom lip and then spoke in a cute and condescending manner. “What does my big strong, Scott, need?”

“I... I need...” said Scott.

Ero swiveled her hips slightly then said, “What do you need. Please tell me...”

Scott whimpered out, “I need an adult...”

The fairy laughed seductively then slid her body down atop him. She breathed out a soft, warm, breath against his ear. It was like the sigh of a woman who had just acquired something she had always longed for, a soft and erotic sigh. “
I’m
an adult.”

The sorcerer began to pant for air. There was a crushing pressure on his heart and mind that made it impossible to think straight, hard to breathe. However, he did manage to gasp out, “I need a less
adult
, adult...”

Ero kissed him on the ear and the man felt like his body had caught on fire. He panted heavily, and tried to find the strength to fight back against her intense pressure. What was with the force she exuded? It was like he was hopelessly outclassed by her.

Something happened, however. Scott had a strange thought. When did the tiny fairy gain the ability to be so big, anyway? Where was Rhea? Why weren’t they at the beach? The pressure slowly lifted as more thoughts about the surreal nature of the dream began to surface within his mind.

The fairy sensed that her control on the situation had started to ebb. She sighed softly. “Stop fighting me...”

She kissed him softly on the chin then nuzzled his ear with her nose. “Accept this... Everything is alright...”

The overly excited fairy pressed her body hotly against the struggling man and refused to let him catch his breath. She continually assaulted him with sweet words and tender kisses to keep him under her control.

Sadly, for her, it did not work. Scott began to realize what was going on. Once he realized that it was a dream, his strength returned in accordance to his true will.

He sat up, and forced the girl upward at the same time. She ended up sitting on his lap with her thighs wrapped around him.

“Ero... You’ve had your fun, please stop.” said Scott.

She wrapped him in her arms and sighed. Her seductive aura faded quickly. She puffed out her cheeks and then pouted. “Don’t wanna.”

“We agreed that we’d have a talk with Rhea before anything like this happened, if it ever did...” said Scott.

Ero looked at him then leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips. Scott immediately felt his strength draining away once more. However, she did not press the issue further.

The fairy girl released his lips and then sighed. “I love Rhea, Scott. She already means a lot to me. She’s sweet and beautiful, and you two make a wonderful couple.”

“Ero...” said Scott.

“But you mean everything to me. We’ve gone through a lot, and we’ve shared many of our innermost secrets.” Ero started to shake a little then held him tighter.

Scott instinctively slid his arms around her, and the full-sized fairy started to cry a little. The sorcerer nuzzled her cheek and she returned his simple affection with earnest.

“I know I mean a lot to you Ero. I care for you as well.”

The fairy trembled gently in his arms. “You don’t mean a lot to me Scott.”

“What...?” asked the man. She had said that in such a timid way that he had almost missed it.

“You don’t mean a lot to me. You mean
everything
to me. I wouldn’t even be here without you...” said the girl.

A sudden spike of fear lanced through the man’s body. That had sounded strange and dangerous. “Ero, what... What are you talking about?”

She sniffled a bit then kissed him on the ear. The fairy leaned back a little so she could look him in the eyes. “I was alone for many years, Scott. I was trapped all alone in my grotto.”

“Yeah... It must have been awful. I’m sorry.”

She kissed him gently then smiled. “Yes, it was. Day after day, year after year, I spent them alone in that place. It was my home, but I could never leave it.”

“I’m not sure I could have handled that.” said Scott.

She nodded then placed her forehead against his. Ero sighed gently then started to cry once more. “I was done, Scott.”

The spike of fear returned. Scott asked, “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t mumble. I said I was done. I was on the verge of simply ending things.” said the girl.

“Are... Ero were you going to end your life...?” asked Scott.

She did not speak. Instead, she nodded her head gently. Her hot, sad, tears fell faster.

“Ero...” said Scott. What could he say to that? The sweet and perky girl he knew had spent so much time alone that she had become suicidal! She always acted so happy and full of life... He had never known that she had felt this way.

She suddenly lunged forward with all of her might and forced him to the ground once more. She looked into his eyes with a terrified, yet strangely happy expression. “But you came for me! I had come close to ending it a few times. When I had lost all hope, you came for me.”

He looked into her tear-stained eyes and saw a girl who was broken. She was not going out of her way to be cute and perky. She was currently raw and trembling. She shook with the force of her emotional dissonance. She was a girl who had nearly given up on hope and then found it again so suddenly that she could barely believe it had happened.

“You were lonely too, Scott. I knew it the moment I saw you. When we bonded I could see your memories, feel your heart. I... I was lost the moment I met you.” said the girl. Her eyes pleaded with him to accept what she had said, to accept her earnest and sincere feelings.

Scott did not know what to say. He was never good with emotional issues and relationships. Instead, he wrapped his arms around the crying girl once more and held her tightly.

Neither spoke for a moment. They continued to hold each other in that strange, yet beautiful, dream.

Eventually, Scott spoke, “I am so glad that I met you, Ero.”

She trembled a little and then kissed him softly on the side of the face. She could not speak any longer. She was a complete emotional wreck. All she could do was lash out with sweet kisses and hold him tight for fear that he would disappear and she would be alone again.

“I can’t foresee the future. I don’t know what we will be to each other. But I promise that I will always be with you, Ero.”

“A-always...” she said it softly, innocently. She sounded like a small child who had heard someone tell her the first promise that she had ever heard.

Scott held her tightly. “Yes. You’ll never be truly alone, again.”