My life began the same as the rest of my kind, one moment everything was dark and the next we were standing in front of others. Sometimes there would be more than 10 that awoke at the same time, but usually there was only 5 at a time. Some awoke in safety and others found their life snuffed out before they could take even a single step. Killed by the creature that hunts us, the creature we are trapped with, the Drake.
Our only defense against the massive creature was the power and strength we were able to attain from the System. By training and performing tasks we could level up to grow stronger and gain different abilities such as "Inspect" "Wind-Step" and many others. Though it seemed Inspect was a rare Skill among our species, the Aermions.
Using this Skill was what allowed me to level up much faster than the rest of my people as I gained experience anytime I inspected something. Only the the gain lowered after each repeat inspect on the same object and no longer gave xp after 100 inspects. Something I found out through constant testing in trying to level up as much as possible.
Things like trees and grass all counted as one object unless they were a different species. Though there was only two types of trees and grass in our world. However with people they were distinct enough that I could inspect each person individually and still gain experience. Though I limited it after 70 inspects as that's when the xp gain wasn't as valuable as trying to help them grow stronger or to preserve the peace. As it also allowed me to see whether someone was lying, as well as mental state and alignment.
Even though our whole goal as a species was to defeat the Drake that preyed upon us, occasionally we would get… "detrimental" people that could jeopardize our entire species and they needed to be dealt with. Thankfully this didn't happen often as the majority of the Arrivers were good people. Today was the day of a new set of Arrivers, as they always arrived once a week.
Since we had lost 20 people in the last Drake attack it was likely that we would gain 10 new members, though sometimes we would get lucky and get more than we lost.
"Elder Kahan, the preparations are ready for the Arrivers." The soft voice of my assistant Meera came from behind me. Turning I saw her walking towards me. For some reason that we weren't sure of, females of the Aermions tended to be taller but slimmer than the males. Where as we were shorter but stronger. I had been a special case where I was the same height as the females, but kept the physique of the males.
Besides physical characteristics we weren't sure what the significance of "Males" and "Females" were only that the System categorized us as such.
"Very good Meera. Say, you're nearly at the age of being named as an Elder as well aren't you? Perhaps it's time we gave you a leadership position." I responded as she passed me a tablet that contained the current record of our people. Of course this information could be kept and sent through the system, but if the holder of the record perished then it would be lost. As such the Elders of my Elders had come up with writing on tablets to make sure that our civilization never had to restart from scratch.
"Yes, Kahan. Next week will be the 10th anniversary of my Arrival. Your own Arrival anniversary is quickly approaching as well, isn't it? As for the leadership position, well I'm content with my current position." She smiled warmly at me as I nodded. It was true, my own 13th Arrival anniversary was only a month after hers. I was currently the oldest member of our people and was subsequently made leader of our people.
"Don't remind me. I'm getting closer to being the same age Elder Turio had been, I can't believe it's almost been 14 years since I Arrived here. Anyways, everything seems to be in order. Get this to Elder Lilia, everything from the Fallen should be repaired and ready to be redistributed to the Arrivers." I said, passing back the tablet.
"Of course, Elder Kahan." She gave replied, quickly hurrying off. I Inspected her as she left.
[Meera- Female Aermion
Level- 35
Age- 9 years, 11 months, 30 days old
Hair-Black
Eyes-Green
Skin-Brown
Height-6 foot 4 inches
Mental State- Happy, Filled with Anticipation, Anxious.
Alignment- Good
Stats and Skills ->
Deciding not to look at her stats now, I pull up my own page in the System.
[Kahan- Male Aermion
Level- 73
Age- 12 years, 10 months, 30 days old
Hair- Dark Blonde
Eyes- Grey
Skin- White
Height- 6 foot 4 inches
Mental State- Anxious, worried, on edge, resolved, content
Alignment- Neutral Good
Stats and Skills ->
Stats
Strength- 90/100
Dexterity- 75/100
Vitality- 95/100
Magic- 10/100
Intelligence- 80/100
Soul- 99/100
Skills
Inspect-9/10
Wind Step-7/10
+20 more]
Despite the descriptions the System provides for the Skill and Stats, there was still many questions I had about it all. I had 10 Magic yet I still didn't know how it utilize it. The description says that it pulls from the mysteries of the world to empower my abilities, and that at a certain level I'll be able to wield these mysteries myself. Though I had yet found a way to reliably raise it besides putting the stats points into it from the 5 I get at each level up.
It had started at 1/100 and at first I was putting 1 point into it level up, but while I was seeing immediate effects from the others I was not seeing any gain from Magic. Soul was a different story, it raised itself entirely on its on its own. I couldn't figure out exactly what did, and I could add points to it, but it felt like a waste to put points into it when I needed things like Strength and Vitality to survive against the Drake.
"Elder Kahan, it's starting!" Meera's voice called out and I turned my gaze to the sky. When Arrivers come the sky moves and ropes lower them to the ground. The light that brightens the world blinds as I squint through it, trying to count the number dropping. I get to ten before I can't bare the light any longer and have to close them. Sweat begins beading across my skin as the heat rises, the light's heat no longer shielded by the sky.
The new Arrivers were almost to the ground when we heard it, no, rather we felt it first. It started as a slow but steady thud like a calm heartbeat. The thump reverberated through the dirt, and the sound that frightened every Aermion.
"Skraaaaaaaah!" The piercing screech of the Drake echoed off the Walls of the world.
"Hurry! Cut them down and run for the tunnels." I called out trying to break through the hysteria of my people. Usually we had more time, but sometimes the Drake was wide awake when the Arrival happened. We wouldn't have much time if we didn't hurry.
I hurried over to help cut them down, men and women not much different from me were dangling, eyes closed as they were still Sleeping. Each with the normal size for their gender, the women being 6 foot and above and the men standing several inches shorter at around 5 foot 5. It seems I'm still the only outlier, but it is what it is.
As soon as I cut down the man in front of me his eyes shot open and I instinctually Inspected him.
[Brent- Male Aermion
Level- 1
Age- 0 years, 0 months, 1 days old
Hair- Red
Eyes- Blue
Skin- White
Height- 5 foot 5 inches]
"Brent! I'm Elder Kahan, quickly follow me if you want to live!" I yelled and after his eyes widened briefly he nodded and stuck close to me. Live. The one thing all Aermions instinctively know from Arrival. We all want to live despite it feeling like we Arrive here just to be food for the Drake.
We are enclosed by high walls that are topped by the sky. A sky so high that the arrows we make can't reach it. Walls so impenetrable our weapons can't even scratch it. We can't even dig too deep as there is an impenetrable bottom just 30 feet below the surface. Just us, the Aermions, and the massive Drake that hunts us our whole lives. Why must it be like this?
"Skraaaaaah!" The call came again, much closer this time.
"Meera! Has everyone been cut down?" I looked and found my assistant and she shook her head with a worried expression.
"No, Elder Kahan. One of them got caught in the branches of the tree and hasn't Awoken yet!" I looked to where she pointed and indeed there was woman wrapped in the limbs of the tree.
"Meera, guide the rest of our people to safety. I'll retrieve the Arriver and meet you all there." I said and began to run.
"But, Kahan! Wait! Someone else should do it!" She called out but I didn't turn back.
"I'm the fastest and strongest, anyone else wouldn't get them before the Drake got here. Now do as I say! Make sure we don't lose any of our people!" I yelled back, pounding my feet into the dirt.
*Wind Step*
[Host's steps become as fast as the wind. Speed increased by half for 5 minutes]
I don't even feel the ground beneath my feet anymore as I activate my Skill. Nearing the tree I trigger another Skill:
*Leap of the Wind*
[Light as the Wind. Host jumps higher and farther. *Boosted when combined with Wind Step]
When my foot left the ground I could feel the wind rushing around me as I leapt. Reaching the Arriver that had been caught in the tree a staggering 40 feet off the ground. As I cut the rope that bound her, she opened her eyes as I Inspected her.
[Sera- Female Aermion
Level- 1
Age- 0 years, 0 months, 1 days old
Hair- White
Eyes- White
Skin- White
Height- 7 Foot
Mental State- Terrified, Confused, Distressed
Alignment- Holy Good]
I couldn't believe my eyes as during my nearly 13 years I had never seen an Aermion that looked like Sera. She was several inches taller than any of the female Aermions I had seen before and none of them had ever been so pale, hair and eyes combined. Not to mention the Holy Good alignment.
"Sera, my name is Elder Kahan. Don't be afraid, I'll make sure you get to safety." Her bright white eyes stared back at me but she didn't speak, just nodding nervously as her grip around me tightened.
*Wind Fall*
Fall safely from any height like a leaf falling from a tree.
I stepped off the limb we were on and Sera's mouth shot open and she clutched me even tighter as she let out a silent scream. We sunk to the ground quickly, but when we landed it felt no different that just jumping in place. Though just as I set her on the ground the tree we had just been on exploded into shards of wood it was replaced by the Drake.
I quickly sent Sera a message through the system of how to find safety with the rest of the group.
"Sera, run quickly and look for Meera. She will help you." She stepped shakily looking back at me and the Drake before finally turning and running. I looked up at the massive Drake, taking out the wooden sword that I had at my waist. It was made carefully and meticulously by our best wood craftsmen from the strongest tree could find. Its edge had been honed from many days of filing and sharpening, hardening the edge in fire.
[Drake- Lower Drake
Title- Scourge of the Aermions
Level- 100/100
Age- 200 years, 7 months, 15 days old
Scales- Red
Eyes-Red
Height- 40 Feet 7 inches
Mental State- Hungry, Excited, Ready to Ascend, Playful
Alignment- Good
Target is of a Higher Order, Stats and Skills cannot be shown]
"How?! No matter how many times I Inspect you I still can't understand how you have a Good Alignment! Even I have a Neutral Good and I havent killed nearly as many people as you, and they had only been Evil aligned people!" I shouted in frustration at the Drake even though we couldn't understand each other it tilted its head in confusion before its lips twisted into what I could only assume was a smile.
"Skraahkekeke." It uttered in a way that sounded like a laugh before raising its front right leg and lashing out at me. I still had Wind Step active for 2 more minutes and I easily leapt out of the way of the swipe. I had long been faster than the Drake, now all I had to do was lead it away from my people. I back pedaled and ran in a direction away from them, but the Drake didn't follow me.
It paused and sniffed at the air and its eyes locked on the direction everyone had ran. That same smile spread across its face and it began running in that direction.
"No!" I yelled and took off after it. It had never ignored a free meal before, had it become smarter since hitting level 100? Why is it Ready to Ascend? What does that mean? I had to dodge and maneuver around falling trees that the Drake knocked over as it ran for my people.
I was running along side it and it just smiled at me as it watched me out of the corner of its eye. It was taking pleasure in my panic. I began spamming Inspect on any and everything trying to reach my next level. Anything that could help me fight this monster. Then finally!
[Ding! Kahan has leveled up!
73->74
5 Stat Points available for distribution!
Stats raised by level up through training!
Strength- 90->93/100
Dexterity- 75->77/100
Vitality- 95->99/100
Magic- 10->11/100
Intelligence- 80->82/100
Soul- 99->100/100
Soul has reached level 100! Ascension available!
First Aermion to reach Soul 100!
Award: 3 Skill points!]
It was a lot to take in, but I had to ignore it for now. Though if I got an award for maxing out my Soul then what about the others? I put 1 point into Vitality to max it out.
[Vitality has reached 100!
First Aermion to reach 100 Vitality!
Award: 3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point!]
Nice! That gives me enough points to max out my Strength stat. I had used 1 out of the 5 I got from leveling up to max out vitality and now I gained 3 more!
[Strength has reached 100!
First Aermion to reach 100 Strength!
Award: 3 Stat points and 1 Skill point
Current points total
Stat: 3
Skill: 5
Achievement Notice!
First being in this "World" to reach 100 in three different Stats!
Award: Title: Stronger than you should be!
Effect: When fighting an opponent of a higher level, order or being, Stats are increased by Half for 24 hours. Cooldown 1 month.]
I couldn't believe my eyes at the effect the title gave me. And I was the first being in this world to reach 100 in 3 different Stats? Does that mean I'm stronger than the Drake now? No perhaps not, the System had said it was of a higher order than me so maybe the stats effect is differently.
Either way I'll put the rest of my Stat points into Dexterity to bring it to 80. As for the 5 Skill points, I wonder if I get anything by maxing out a Skill? Put 1 point in Inspect and let's see.
[Info! Skill: Inspect requires 3 Skill points to be raised to 10! This is due to its Rarity! Due you wish to contribute 2 more points to raise it?]
Three points! In all of my 13 years and 74 levels I had never gained any Skill points before and they still require 3 to level up 1 skill to max?! Though it did say that it was due to the Skill rarity….
"Yes." Surely if it's rare enough to require 3 points then it should be worth it.
[Inspect has reached 10! Skill will Ascend to Observe! Rarity raised from AA->AAA!
Observe keeps all the abilities of Inspect!
Can now Inspect beings within 1 Order of the Host!
Read the movements of objects and beings!
Identify patterns and hidden secrets easier!
Learn new Skills by Observing others!
Skill will be set to 1/20
Host now knows that Skill can be Ranked up! Observe your other Skills to learn more about Ranking them up!
You have 2 Skill points remaining, how would you like to use them?]
Can I put them toward Observer?
[Notice! On Skills of AAA Rank and higher, the amount of Skill points required is 10 for each level! Host as insufficient Skill points!]
Then put both into Wind Strike.
[Skill Windstrike has reached 8!
Power increased!
Cooldown decreased from 15 seconds->7 seconds! ]
Very well. It's time to protect my people then…