Reincarnation of the magicless Pinoy
From zero to hero
"No Magic?,No Problem!"
Encounter 21 : Courage!
TThe forest was quiet for a moment too long. Even the wind seemed to hesitate. Rolien felt it first—a ripple through the mana around them, like something immense holding its breath. He raised his jawbreaker arm, steel plates glinting faintly, the faint hum of the shock field resonating as it came alive.
"Asher Hawks, eyes up!" Rolien barked. The team shifted without hesitation.
Tessa took point, twin swords gleaming faintly.
Ren crouched low, bow already drawn, scanning the treeline.
Brag loomed just behind them, greatsword resting on his shoulder, shield slung but ready.
Pete stayed closer to Solis, staff trembling slightly, lips already moving as he murmured a spell.
Solis stood calm, unreadable, tapping his staff to the ground as arcs of mana spiraled around his hand.
The system's interface flickered before their eyes:
[System Notification]
Warning: Hostile presence detected.
Species: Mutated Mana Beasts – Direwolf Variant "Fangstalkers."
Estimated Pack Count: 15.
Mission Rank: A-Rank.
Primary Objective: Survive and eliminate hostile forces.
Reward: 3,500 Credits / Rare Core Fragment.
The growls came first—low, feral, layered with something unnatural. The woods shivered, branches bending as shadows moved. Then they appeared. The Fangstalkers burst from the underbrush, black fur laced with glowing crimson veins, their maws lined with jagged teeth dripping greenish saliva.
"Formation!" Tessa's command cut through the air.
Rolien stepped forward, his Jawbreaker Arm locking into combat mode. "Shock field—online."
Ren's voice was steady as he drew. "Movement—twelve o'clock, spreading fast."
Brag grinned behind his shield. "Let them come."
Pete swallowed hard but didn't falter. Sparks danced at the tip of his staff as his first barrier spell began to form.
Solis planted his staff, runes spinning around him, frost misting off his breath though the night was warm.
The pack hit like a wave.
Ren's first arrow sang through the air, piercing a Fangstalker's glowing eye. It dropped mid-leap. Before its body hit the dirt, another arrow was already flying.
Brag met the second with his shield, the impact echoing like steel against steel. His greatsword came down hard, splitting bone and forcing the beast back.
Pete's hands shook, but his chant held. A burst of fire scattered three more, the heat enough to disrupt their rush.
Solis moved like a shadow, staff sweeping wide. A chain of lightning leapt from his hand, arcing through two beasts, their howls short and sharp.
Rolien was the hammer. Calm, controlled, unstoppable. He slammed his Jawbreaker Arm into the earth—
BOOM.
The shock field erupted, a dome of crackling energy snapping outward. The closest beasts seized and convulsed, their charge broken.
"Push them back!" Tessa spun her blades in a crossing arc, carving deep into a throat.
Ren loosed three shots in rapid succession, pinning targets that tried to circle wide.
Brag roared, shield-bashing one so hard its skull gave way, then cleaving another in half.
Pete forced out another chant, this one ending in a fireball. It burst in the center of the pack, scattering smoking bodies.
Solis followed with a wave of frost, freezing another mid-lunge.
Rolien was already moving again. His arm smashed a Fangstalker's jaw apart, teeth and blood scattering. A second shock pulse lit the field, dropping anything that dared close.
The alpha came last, larger and meaner, veins glowing brighter than the rest. It tore through its own dying packmates, lunging for Pete.
Rolien surged forward, gears screaming as the Jawbreaker wound to full power. "Not today."
CRACK.
Steel met skull. Bone shattered. The alpha hit the ground, twitched once, and went still.
Silence followed. Only the smell of ozone and burnt earth lingered.
Tessa lowered her blades, scanning the trees. "Clear. Hawks, regroup."
Rolien flexed his fingers, the Jawbreaker cooling with a faint hiss. "Next time," he said dryly, "maybe more than thirty seconds of warning."
Brag laughed. Ren just smirked. Pete exhaled hard, leaning against a tree, sweat sliding down his face.
"That was insane," he muttered, trying for humor but sounding winded.
Brag chuckled, wiping his blade. "You kept your head. Not bad."
Solis was already examining the alpha, calm as ever. "Overcharged with mana," he murmured. "This wasn't random."
Ren's gaze swept the treeline, arrow nocked. "Something's watching. Or driving them."
Tessa's eyes hardened. "Then this isn't over. Everyone, top off mana, check wounds. Five minutes and we move."
Rolien rolled his shoulder, the Jawbreaker humming as it cooled. "Still running hot. Make it quick."
The Hawks moved with practiced speed—Ren climbing for a vantage, Brag planting himself as a wall, Solis weaving protective wards. Pete sat cross-legged, eyes closed, whispering the words of a refill chant.
Then came the sound—a heavy branch snapping in the distance.
Ren's bow came up instantly. "Something bigger."
Tessa didn't hesitate. "Formation. Pete, Solis, center. Brag, shield. Ren, eyes wide. Rolien—"
"I've got point."
The hum of the shock field rose again.
forest floor trembled as a new notification flashed across Rolien's vision, the system's cold text cutting through the tension:
[System Notification]
Primary Objective Update: First phase complete.
Next Phase: Locate the Lure and reach the Ancient Volcano to synthesize the cure.
Time Remaining: 13 hours.
[New Side Quest Unlocked]
Target: Rock Drake – Class: Earth/Elemental Variant.
Level: 50.
Objective: Eliminate the threat.
Rolien's jaw tightened. "Figures they'd throw this in our path," he muttered.
Solis's voice was low but edged with irritation. "Damn it. Someone's forcing this. That thing isn't natural."
Rolien's head snapped to Ren. "Take Tessa and Pete, find the lure and get moving. We'll stall this monster."
Ren didn't argue, just nodded sharply. Tessa gave one glance at the clearing, then back to Rolien. "Don't die."
Pete, pale and gripping his staff tight, hesitated. "Do I really have to—"
"Brat, go," Solis cut in, voice flat but carrying weight. "With them, you're safer. Out here, you'll just get crushed. Steady yourself—things only get harder from here."
Pete swallowed, then nodded quickly. "O-okay. Be careful, guys." He darted after Ren and Tessa, disappearing into the underbrush.
Rolien rolled his shoulders, the Jawbreaker Arm humming louder, plates shifting into attack mode. "Alright, Brag, Solis. Eyes sharp. This thing's no ordinary beast."
"Got it!" they both barked back.
The ground split as the Rock Drake emerged, a hulking mass of stone-plated muscle. Its scales looked like jagged cliffs, glowing faintly with veins of molten light. Each step cracked the soil, sending small rocks tumbling. When it opened its maw, the sound was like grinding boulders, and a wave of heat rolled out.
Rolien didn't wait. He dashed forward, a blur of steel and grit, weaving low and fast as the Drake's massive claw came down like a falling tree. The impact cratered the earth where he'd been.
"Jawbreaker—Hammer Strike, level three!"
His arm whirred, gears locking. The punch slammed into the beast's side with a thunderclap, the shockwave rippling across its plated hide. Shards of stone chipped off, but the Drake barely flinched, its head whipping toward him with a roar.
"Left flank!" Solis called. His staff slammed into the ground, runes spiraling outward. Jagged spires of earth erupted, hemming the Drake in and forcing its weight to shift. He wasn't trying to trap it—just unbalance it.
"Open!"
Brag charged in, shield raised. The Drake's tail lashed like a whip, but Brag met it head-on, bracing with raw strength. The collision rattled his bones, but he held, boots carving deep furrows in the soil. "Hit it now!"
Rolien didn't waste the opening. He darted in again, this time running up Brag's shield as the tank angled it, turning his bulk into a launchpad. The Drake's jaws snapped toward him, but he twisted midair, the Jawbreaker Arm glowing white-hot.
The punch landed under its jaw, a brutal uppercut that snapped the creature's head back and sent cracks spiderwebbing across its stone-plated throat.
"Not enough," Solis muttered, his free hand weaving. A circle of shimmering energy flared, then hardened into spears of earth. "Pierce!"
The spears shot forward, hammering into the Drake's front legs, staggering it further.
The beast responded with fury. The ground shook violently, chunks of rock tearing free as the Drake slammed its claws down. Shards exploded outward like shrapnel.
"Cover!" Brag threw his shield wide, crouching. Rolien dove behind him, the fragments pinging harmlessly off the steel barrier.
Solis's voice cut through the chaos. "It's trying to corral us—watch the tail!"
Too late. The Drake's tail swept in a wide arc, smashing trees like twigs. Rolien rolled, dirt spraying, but Brag caught the brunt, grunting as the force sent him skidding back several feet.
"Still here!" he barked, setting his feet again.
Rolien spat dust, eyes narrowing. "We break the plates first. Solis, keep its legs locked. Brag, give me every opening you can."
"You've got it."
The three moved as one. Solis shifted his magic to raw force, each strike breaking chunks from the creature's armor. Brag intercepted claws and tail with shield and blade, absorbing blow after blow. Rolien was the spear, weaving between attacks, each strike of the Jawbreaker cracking the Drake's shell.
It roared again, angrier now, the glow in its veins brightening to near-molten orange. The earth trembled harder—this was no simple fight.
Rolien grinned despite himself. "Alright, big guy. Let's see what you've really got."
Rolien didn't hesitate. The drake's roar rattled the mountainside, its wings throwing up chunks of stone and debris as it circled for another strike. Rolien twisted his shoulder, the metallic click of his arm locking into place echoing sharply.
"Item box—replace. Punchline."
The standard Jawbreaker arm detached with a hiss of steam and vanished into the glowing circle of his item box. A heavier, more vicious-looking gauntlet materialized, the Punchline locking onto his arm with a deep thud. The forearm was bulkier, reinforced with thrusters along the sides and claw-like fingers designed for grip.
The drake dove, jaws wide. Rolien leaned forward like a sprinter at the start line. Then he launched. The Punchline's thrusters flared, hurling him forward with a burst of raw force. He slammed into the drake's side before it could bite, the gauntlet pistoning like a cannon and blasting a shockwave against the beast's armored scales. The impact spun him midair, but he used that momentum, detaching the arm mid-spin.
The gauntlet shot forward like a rocket, chain whipping behind it. It latched onto the drake's neck, the claws digging deep, sparks bursting as metal met scale. Rolien yanked the chain, pulling himself toward the beast with impossible speed.
The drake bucked, wings flaring, but Rolien was already moving. He reeled himself in, flipping onto its back, Punchline returning to his arm with a magnetic snap. "Not done yet." Another burst from the thrusters propelled him along its spine. He hammered the arm down into each ridge of scale, using each strike as both attack and foothold.
When the drake tried to twist and throw him off, he detached the Punchline again, letting it fly forward and embed itself in a rock wall. The chain locked, giving him an anchor as he swung wide, skimming over the beast's snapping jaws. Mid-swing, he reattached the gauntlet and fired it point-blank into its eye. The explosion shook the air, black smoke curling around them.
The drake screamed, rearing back, but Rolien was already prepping the next shot. "Come on," he muttered, gripping the Punchline's handle as the thrusters charged, ready for another round.
Rolien's boots dug trenches into the rocky ground as he swung the Punchline arm in a wide arc, the mechanical gauntlet hissing with compressed power. The drake roared back, wings flaring, its talons raking against the shattered stone like knives.
"Solis, now! Light him up!" Rolien barked, not taking his eyes off the beast. His voice cut through the chaos like steel.
Solis was already moving, his staff raised high. "On it!" he snapped, a swirl of arcane symbols circling the crystal tip. The air shimmered before a barrage of radiant bolts screamed toward the drake's flank, forcing the creature to twist away with an enraged bellow.
"Brag, cut him off!" Rolien's shout was sharp.
The tank answered with a guttural laugh, slamming his shield into place as he charged. His heavy frame was a wall of steel, crashing against the drake's hind leg with brutal force, throwing its balance just enough for Rolien to seize the opening.
"Perfect—keep him pinned!" Rolien's Punchline gauntlet spun once, gears clacking like teeth. With a thunderous whirr, it launched off his arm, trailing sparks and a coiled cable. The fist slammed into the drake's shoulder with a booming crack, clamping down like a steel trap.
The beast screeched, trying to wrench free, but Rolien was already moving. He yanked the cable, vaulted forward like a blur, and planted both boots against the drake's hide, using its own weight to springboard himself over its head.
"Stay with me!" he shouted, the wind ripping past his ears.
Solis's next volley exploded against the drake's wing joints, driving the beast lower, while Brag roared, hacking at its tail to keep it grounded. Rolien spun midair, landing hard, his gauntlet reattaching with a loud clang.
"Push harder! Don't let up!" Rolien snapped, his voice rough but steady. The tension in the air was alive—one wrong move and they'd all be dragon food.
Rolien's voice cut through the chaos like a whip. "Solis! Cover me! Brag, keep its head down!"
The drake let out a bone-rattling roar, its scales glinting like steel as it swept its claws toward them. Rolien twisted his torso, his Punchline arm propelling him sideways with a blast of compressed force. Sparks spat off the ground where he landed, boots grinding against the stone.
"On it!" Solis raised his staff, his voice sharp with urgency. A ring of sigils flared to life around his hands, launching bolts of searing azure fire that lanced into the drake's flank. The beast staggered, more out of annoyance than pain, but its head jerked toward the source.
"Now, Brag!" Rolien barked.
The tank didn't hesitate. Brag charged forward like a battering ram, shield raised high. The impact of his shield bash cracked against the drake's lower jaw, forcing its snout upward. The beast reeled, its throat vibrating with a frustrated hiss.
Rolien used that opening. He launched the Punchline like a rocket—its chain hissing out as it coiled through the air. The gauntlet spun like a buzz saw, slamming into the drake's neck with a crunch of metal on scale. The fist latched on, claws digging in, and Rolien yanked. The force dragged his whole body forward, closing the gap in a blur.
The drake swung wildly, but Rolien vaulted over its talons, his momentum aided by another explosive burst from the Punchline. He landed on the beast's back, crouched low, his teeth bared in a feral grin.
"Keep the pressure! Don't let it breathe!"
Solis was already moving, his second volley of magic raining down like meteors. Brag kept hammering at its forelimbs, giving Rolien the precious seconds he needed.
The drake twisted, spine rippling under him, but Rolien drove his gauntlet into the thick plates at its nape. "Jawbreaker Punchline—detonate!"
The fist roared to life, gears whirring and heat vents glowing red. Then it blasted off the drake's back like a miniature warhead. The explosion rippled through its body, a shockwave throwing up dirt and smoke.
The beast screamed, the sound a mix of fury and pain, stumbling under its own weight.
Rolien's eyes narrowed as the drake's screech rattled the battlefield. The beast's scales shimmered with a faint glow, and then a sharp chime echoed in his head—
[System Notification: Warning! The Lesser Drake has entered Rage Mode. All stats are doubled.]
"Damn it," Rolien muttered, sweat beading at his temple. The creature's movements were suddenly faster, heavier, each step cracking the stone beneath. Its maw opened, revealing streams of heat shimmering in its throat.
"Solis, I need support now!" Rolien barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Brag, get ready to intercept its charge!"
At his words, Solis began chanting, his hands weaving glowing runes as he prepared a layered barrier. Brag slammed his shield into the ground, bracing himself, the great sword resting across his shoulder as he roared back, "Come at me, beast!"
Rolien's arm hummed with energy as Hollowveil Force surged through his body. His muscles tightened, his speed and power spiking in an instant. He launched forward, each step a blur, closing the distance before the drake could fully unleash its fury. His jawbreaker arm swung wide, its force amplified, aiming to shatter through the beast's guard before it could strike.
Ren crouched low, his sharp eyes scanning the dense undergrowth. Tessa moved beside him, blades drawn and ready, her expression focused but calm. Pete trailed a few steps behind, staff gripped tightly in sweaty hands, clearly uneasy but trying to keep up.
"Rolien said the lure should be somewhere near this ridge," Ren murmured, his voice low. "Keep your eyes open."
Tessa gave a quick nod. "We'll find it. He wouldn't send us here if it wasn't important."
Pete swallowed hard, glancing nervously around. "What exactly are we looking for? Some kind of bait?"
"Something that can draw that drake out," Ren said, scanning the shadows between the trees. "Rolien's betting on us to find it fast. The longer we take, the more dangerous it gets out there."
Tessa's tone was steady but firm. "Then we move. Stay sharp and don't fall behind."
Pete let out a shaky breath. "Easy for you to say…"
But he followed, because they all knew Rolien didn't give orders lightly.
forest was unnervingly quiet, their boots crunching over twigs as they followed Rolien's order. Every shadow seemed alive, every gust of wind carrying a threat. Ren's eyes darted around, his bow half drawn. Pete kept muttering incantations under his breath, his fingers glowing faintly as the air around them grew sharper, quicker.
Then it came—a blur slicing past them, a sharp whistle of air splitting the silence. A tree trunk behind them cracked and splintered.
"Something's here," Ren hissed, spinning toward the movement.
Another blur. Then a third.
Tessa's grip tightened on her dual swords. "Rowan was right… we're close to the lure." She threw a nod at Pete and Ren. "Stay sharp."
The answer came with the sound of feet hitting dirt. Four figures dropped from the branches ahead, landing in perfect sync. Black cloth wrapped around their bodies like second skin, steel glinting in their hands, masks hiding their faces.
"You're not passing us!" one of them barked, his voice cold and sharp.
Then they moved.
The assassins charged like arrows loosed from a bow, two coming straight for Tessa and Brag, another darting to flank Ren, while the last slipped low, aiming for Pete.
"Buffs now!" Tessa shouted.
Pete slammed his staff into the ground. A wave of blue light rippled outward—Tessa and Brag felt a rush of speed, their movements sharpening, while Ren's arrows gleamed with a faint glow. The assassins faltered for a split second as their limbs grew sluggish under Pete's debuff, but they didn't stop.
Steel clashed.
Tessa spun, catching two blades with her twin swords, sparks flying as she twisted her body and kicked the nearest assassin back. Brag roared, his greatsword crashing down like a hammer, forcing one opponent to roll away.
Ren fired rapid shots, each arrow finding its mark, slowing one assassin's advance with precise strikes to the legs and arms.
Pete wasn't just hiding—he was in motion, staff whirling. Between quick chants, he fired bursts of force to disrupt their rhythm. "Speed boost, keep moving! Attack debuff on them—hit harder!"
But the assassins were trained. One vaulted over Brag's shield, spinning midair to slash at his exposed side. Another blurred toward Pete, blades flashing.
Tessa intercepted, crossing her swords just in time. "Not today!"
The fight was fast and vicious. Every second was a storm of blades, spells, and grit.
And one of the mask man notice their movements slowed . And turn his head to Pete that at mid cast of a spell." Tch , eliminate the mage first!"
" Got it!" Another mask man shouted and dash towards Pete . That got startled and step back Ren shouted his name "Pete run!"
Pete's hands trembled as he dropped his staff, the familiar weight thudding against the cracked stone floor. The mask-wearing man tilted his head, a mocking laugh echoing through the cavern.
"A mage dropping his staff? What's next, boy—gonna throw rocks at me?"
Pete didn't answer. Instead, he reached for the short sword strapped to his back—a weapon he'd barely shown anyone. The steel hissed as it left the scabbard, and he set his feet the way Rolien had drilled into him a hundred times during training.
The mask man lunged, blade cutting the air in a vicious arc. Pete sidestepped, tighter than he ever had in training, the feint already forming in his mind. Rolien's voice echoed in his memory: Don't meet strength with strength. Make him see what you want him to see.
Their blades clashed. Sparks spat. The man grinned under his mask, amused by the "mage's" clumsy courage—until Pete shifted. A half-turn, a misstep that wasn't a misstep, and his sword darted like a striking snake.
Rolien's saber feint—clean, sharp, perfect. The masked man's guard opened for just a heartbeat. It was enough.
Pete's blade punched through leather and into flesh. The man staggered back, clutching his side, then dropped.
Pete froze for a moment, staring at the blood on his blade. "I… I did it…"
The victory was short-lived.
A rush of movement—a shadow cutting across the wall. Another masked man, faster, meaner, already mid-sprint, dagger aimed at Pete's ribs. There was no time to raise his sword.
The scene snapped to black.
To be continued.