Chapter 4 — First Blood
As Mat had tempered Ren to expect, they weren’t immediately swarmed as they entered.
“Disappointed?” Mat asked as Ren stood there without a single sign of monsters.
Kicking a metal chunk, Ren sighed. “Yeah… Kinda?”
“We’ll see how you feel after your first real fight.” Shia chuckled.
“Hey, I’ve been in fights!” Ren protested, running up beside Mat.
“Fights or Scuffles?” Mat waved his hand. “I’m inclined to believe the latter.”
As conversation died down Ren still found himself jumping at every shadow for the next hour, just waiting for a monster to show up- to prove himself.
And as his guard relaxed Shia and Cato let him take the lead for several turns. Without a map they really couldn’t navigate without just meandering anyways.
He jumped around a corner, as if expecting a monster to suddenly jump out. When none did he stood back up, proud at himself for being ready-
A horrible screeching noise had him immediately swivel as he manifested his dagger from his sheath as the claw of refuse metal clashed against the tough steel of Roderick, barely pushing back the abomination.
Leaping back as its maw nearly closed around his abdomen, Ren turned to the Silver Wings for help, to see all three of them off to the side—spectating.
“You got this, Ren!” Shia encouraged as she grew brambles around the chamber, isolating the fight.
“If we need to step in then we’re turning right back around and outta here.” Mat clarified.
Fuck, no pressure at all guys! He complained as he threw himself to the side just as the monster barreled past him.
Picking himself up, he kept his eyes on the amalgamation of scrap metal that was vaguely in the shape of a wolf, currently reeling from the impact with the wall.
It shook as it turned to Ren with a visibly dented nose that was shifted to fill out its muzzle once more.
Perhaps if he were to go all matador-style and continue his evasion it would eventually scrap itself into a harmless heap of metal?... No, that was too idealistic.
Instead, Ren took to observing the movements of the monster, finding it to be rather simplistic, throwing itself at him and trying to bite and chomp at him. Its limbs and body would bend over backwards just to bite or claw at him.
It might’ve even caught him off guard if he just jumped into trying to cut it down to shreds. Really, the fact it looked like a wolf was rather deceiving as its ‘anatomy’ was merely a suggestion to it.
But that doesn’t solve the real problem. He lamented as it threw itself at him again and he landed a large gash on its side as he slid past its charge.
No, the real problem was that troublesome shifting it did as the gash was subsumed into its body and replaced with new corroded metal. Leaving it entirely unaffected by what would've been a devastating blow.
Perhaps actually using my essence instead of going at it like an unawakened would help. Ren considered, opening up scramble to begin pulling in Ether as he continued his evasion of the scrap wolf.
It seemed to be adapting as it started adding extensions to try to catch Ren on his near dodges, succeeding in nicking him before he adjusted.
But it did lead to him being pushed back before he let go of Scramble, getting something exactly like he was looking for, as his blade glowed with blazing energy as the random ability flooded into Roderick.
Pulling back the blade, he gave a finishing pierce as the wolf charged—and pivoted over him, entirely evading his attack.
As the blade discharged a blast of fiery energy, Ren panicked as he swiveled to try to get the scrap wolf back in his line of sight—!
Remember how he was being pushed back…? Behind Ren was a wall of the chamber, a wall the Scrap Wolf had absolutely no problems clawing into and bounding back at Ren’s exposed flank as its ugly maw went for his head.
In desperation, he shoved Roderick towards the wolf, miraculously wedging it between its maw, piercing through its false snout and jamming the jaw of the beast open.
Not to say he entirely saved himself as the claw of the scrap beast dug into his shoulder, rending flesh down to the bone, tearing off a good chunk as he threw it off of him, finding himself now up against the wall.
AGHRH FUCK OWWWW! Ren screamed internally, gripping at the wound as his left arm hung uselessly by his side.
Barely rolling out of the way as the scrap wolf leaped and tried the exact same trick, he landed on his bad shoulder and winced as the monster held the advantage as it was entirely unharmed, meanwhile Ren had suffered a grievous injury.
Sure he’d basically cut it’s maw in half when he threw it, but even that was swiftly replaced with new metal.
Barely dodging again, he managed to land a critical hit against the monster as he cut at the very joint between body and limb, severing one of the beast’s front limbs.
Taking the opportunity, he kicked away the scrap as it watched it tumble across the rough metal floor of the chamber.
Having a moment of respite as the wolf regenerated its limb from scratch, he looked over at one of the many large metal stalagmite-like spikes of the dungeon.
His eyes narrowed at it as he cut it at the base with Roderick and it vanished into a spatial distortion.
With the front leg of the scrap wolf replaced with a new cobbled together leg, its legs gripped into the ground as Ren focused only on it, his world reducing to just this exchange.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Both Ren and the Wolf charged at each other, Ren crouching down as if going for a slide, a move the scrap wolf read as its form shifted lower, ready to catch him out.
Yet Ren didn’t drop his body to the ground in a slide—No, he used it to spring himself up in a jump, up and over the wolf. Meanwhile Roderick was wrapped in twisted space as it was swapped with the metal spike he’d grabbed a moment earlier.
Ren had noticed earlier its body was rather soft and brittle. It didn’t take much to break it. Like say shoving a spike directly through it’s torso, piercing it into the ground beneath it, pinning the monster with all of his weight behind it.
The scrap construct began to struggle, trying to shift its form out away from the spike, shifting its mass towards its head—Ren cut off its head, no no, shifting towards its front limbs—Two slashes of Roderick relieved the construct of them. Perhaps out of its legs or tail…? No, not that either as Ren cut off both as the construct’s survival instincts were pushed into overdrive.
In a last bid for survival it ejected its core, sending it tumbling across the floor, using what little scrap mass it launched with itself to cobble together two small claws, dragging itself across the ground in desperation. Its remaining scrap shivering as Roderick pierced its core, a final reaching grasp clambering to the ground as all that was left was inanimate scrap.
Ren stood by the spike, arm outstretched having thrown Roderick to catch the fleeing monster, a heavy sigh escaping him as adrenaline ran dry.
He looked up to the ceiling, raising his remaining arm. “RAHGHHHhhhh!” His guttural scream of both victory and pain resounded through the chamber as he collapsed to his knees, clutching his shoulder.
Shia rushed in as soon as Cato let go of her shoulder, crouching beside Ren. “Oh my god, Ren, Show me your shoulder NOW!”
Not really having the energy to resist, he winced as he removed his hand from his raw shoulder. Shia immediately placed both of her hands on it. “I’m sorry, this is going to hurt.” Shia warned, as a green light spread from her palms.
She wasn’t wrong as Ren barely held back a scream as the feeling of rubbery flesh knitting itself together was far from painless, leaving him gasping as she stepped back. Leaving him to look at his shoulder in disbelief.
Why is it green… an errant thought immediately escaped as he stared at the plant-like flesh of his shoulder.
“It’ll recover in a few days, don’t worry me like that Ren…” She chastised, pouting and refusing to look him in the eyes. Ren caught himself smiling, covering his face.
Mat clapped, getting Ren and Shia’s attention. “Ahem, not to spoil the mood, but we’re still in a dungeon.”
“Ah! Right, we were going to do post battle analysis.” Shia remembered, hitting her palm.
“Yes, and we’ll talk as we move.” Mat nodded. “Ren, you’re able to move, right? Or should we carry you on out of here?” He offered.
Ren stood up, patting himself down. “Yeah, yeah, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.” He teased.
“Good.” Mat gave a slight smile.
Ren stayed in the middle of the group as they moved ahead, Mat taking the lead as Shia came up beside him.
“So, uh, let’s do this like Mat does. What do you think you did wrong?” Shia leaned over as she asked.
“I got hit.” Ren guessed, closing his eyes in thought. “Though, again, if we’re doing this Mat style then that’s not the answer, is it?”
“Well- yes? But no? Ugh, yes, getting hit was bad!” Shia pouted. “It was to the bone Ren, that was terrifying to watch. I almost jumped in the moment you were hurt, but Cato held me back.” She recounted.
“But you patched it up just fine.” He countered, putting his hand to the plant-like patch on his shoulder that was entirely functionable as his shoulder.
“You are not taking another grievous injury Ren.” She poked the plant patch. “This isn’t free. It cost me a hefty sum of Ether, and it’s actively draining yours. You just don’t notice because you’re new to all of this.”
His eyes widened as he immediately felt inwards and tried sensing his ether, finding her words to ring true as the ethereal presence of his arm was diminished past his shoulder.
“Oh shit.” He muttered, grasping his hand, turning to Shia. “Does… that mean I’m weaker in my left due to the patch?”
“Ah. No, it doesn’t. Quantity doesn’t affect the natural boosting property of ether.” Shia dismissed, waving her hand. “Mat’s going to teach you more about that later, back to analysis.” She refocused.
“...So, getting hit was bad?” Ren prompted
“Yes! So, you got hit because you entirely let down your guard to attack. Don’t do that.” Shia scolded him. “You also got yourself put up against a wall, limiting your options. You have to protect yourself better than that.” Shia tutted.
“...That seems a bit generic?” Ren pointed out.
“Wha-er, well maybe…” Shia admitted. “I’m not really the best strategist. Nor am I a brawler like Cato.” She frowned. “I can’t really comment on your ether usage aside from the fact you missed your essence ability. Quintessences barely drain anything.”
Shia backed up a bit. “I, er, don’t really have much else to say. I’m not a physical fighter.” She turned over to Cato. “You should probably continue from here.”
“M’kay.” Cato nodded, strutting up beside Ren. “You were too occupied by your special attack you took your eye off your prey. Bad. Don’t do that.”
“Yeah…” Ren scratched his head, being unable to refute how preoccupied he’d been with scramble.
“Your fighting spirit was admirable.” She suddenly complimented. “Any dimmer I’d have let Shia intervene.”
“Oh uh… thanks?” Ren was happy taking whatever he could get from the taciturn beastkin.
“Technique was amateur. Good for someone with no experience, but still entirely amateur.” Cato immediately struck him back down.
“Hey, my cuts went through…” Ren raised in his defense.
“Through corroded scrap.” Cato shook her head. “Should’ve cut the core in one decisive slash.”
“To be fair, you guys never told me it had a core.” Ren frowned.
“Still your problem.” Cato shrugged as she decided it was her turn to step back.
Mat up ahead raised a hand, and the whole party came to a halt. “We’ll set up camp for today.” He announced as Shia and Cato began unpacking the camping supplies Shia’s golem carried.
Ren looked around and saw it was a decent area. The raw metal chamber had two entrances, easy enough to watch yet still gave the option of retreat.
He raised a hand as he questioned Mat. “Uh, excuse me, isn’t it a bit early to turn in for today? It’s only been a few hours.” He argued.
Matt turned to him, a sly grin on his face. “Now that’s a question you should answer. Why would we stop early as you’d call it?”
Ren rolled his eyes at another quiz from Mat. “I assume it’s hard to find spots? Or you have something else planned?” He guessed while expecting a follow up question to get Mat’s true point across.
“Guessed it in one, even if only vaguely.” Mat surprised Ren as he turned to him. “Shia actually spoiled it, y’know?” he revealed, raising his arm. “Now, watch closely, this is what I'll be teaching you. Oh, and dodge."
The presence of Mat's fist flooded over Ren, his instincts screaming at him to FUCKING DODGE! as he did just that, throwing himself to the side.
Mat swung, barely missing Ren by a hair's breadth and striking the wall behind him.
Crashing into the ground, Ren rolled around to look at Mat. "Gaia's green earth..."—he looked over at the shattered metal of the dungeon's wall—"that... would've killed me!"
"Yeah." Mat nodded, not disagreeing with Ren's assessment.
Mat grinned. "That is Etheric Amplification."
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