"I don't know what's going on. But I feel she's gonna tell us," I said in response to Siv and Brim's pointed stares.
The bunnygirl stopped jumping and hopped closer, the wide smile not leaving her face as she stared at me intensely. "You're going to save us. I saw it."
My new companions bristled, having finally identified who Shea was and what she represented.
Siv's tone became decidedly more hostile. "Oh… what else did you see?"
A tinge of red creeped into the bunny's cheeks and she could no longer maintain eye contact with me. "I saw that…he… you… take me as a lover."
We all heard it, me, Yue, Siv and Brim. Even the rabbitmen far behind Shea no longer peeking from behind the walls of their homes heard it, judging from their worried reactions.
I shut down any wandering thoughts before they could even form. "Not happening. Ever. Go and get your father little girl. The adults need to have a talk."
She looked like I'd just struck her with a hammer. "B-but… I saw i—"
"Your father," I cut her off in a sterner voice, "...now."
On the verge of tears, Shea ran off and I put my hands back in my pockets, following the path she took with measured steps.
"Rick. I don't know what you're planning, but these Haulia... they broke the law. That girl is cursed. Our people can't use magic, but she can. You'l—"
"I'm gonna stop you right there. I don't care. What your elders and your people think about the girl and her clan doesn't concern me. They are the ones I've chosen, and I'm not going to change my mind. If that bothers you, then please leave. There will be no hard feelings."
I felt both beastmen stop in their tracks, but I kept walking with Yue like nothing had happened. We should've gone over this before we even arrived here, but I let the excitement at pacifying the elders and getting Brim on board distract me.
Sighing, I came to a stop and shook my head. I should've come clean to them way before this. I still could, seeing as there was no time than the present and the inability of anyone in this forest to pose a threat to me.
Looking to my side to find a curious Yue, I resolved myself to be more like her, more free and unrestrained. I turned around just in time to see Siv lurch forward, as though she didn't want me to see her hesitation.
Brim followed suit, a slight struggle in expression, and all four of us met in the middle.
"Look, I'll give it to you straight," I said, starting with Siv, "you said you want to be strong?"
She nodded with visibly less enthusiasm, and I turned to Brim. "And do you still want to be the greatest craftsman ever?"
He gave me a stiff nod.
"I can give you these things, but that will make you like the girl," I ignored their stunned expressions. "You will be able to use magic, just like humans. Frankly, I thought you already knew this …I apologize. That's my fault for assuming."
The two bewildered beastmen alternated their gazes between each other, Yue, and myself while they processed this new information. Personally, I didn't see what the fuss was all about. It's either they wanted the opportunity or not.
"It's simple. Staying means you agree to gaining magic. Leaving means you're free to return to your lives as they were. So what'll be? Curse or no curse? Magic or no magic."
Brims seemed offended by the simplification. "Ye! It's not that simple. Don't ye—"
"It actually is simple. The question is power, and the answer is yes or no. You guys are making me talk too much. Lemme just say this: I learned something about humans long ago, and I realised recently it applies to not just us, but every group made up of intelligent and wise creatures.
The world as you see it and live it came about because somebody or some people wanted it that way. You beastmen can't use magic and are considered by most as nothing but animals because somebody, with the right amount of power, decided they wanted it to be so.
Your elders decided that a little girl born not only able to use magic but see the future as well, is nothing but a curse, and made sure you and everyone of your people takes it as fact. Pray tell how you think they did that?
Imagine if they'd had done the opposite and hailed her as an oracle and a second coming of your goddess. Would you think this way about a child whose only crime is existing? It seems you know the answer to that.
The point I'm making is, people like the emperor of the Hoelscher Empire, people like the church, and someone like the god they serve, get to decide how the world is because not only can they actually enforce it, they are willing to do so.
So what DO YOU WANT?" I say even louder and alternate my gaze between the stunlocked beastmen. "Right now as you are, think of what you want the most. Imagine the kind of world you want to live in and tell me if you have the power and the will to make it happen.
If you have your answer then it's time to make a choice. Either you want the world you imagined or you don't."
Done with my piece, I crossed my arms before my partly bare chest and stared at the speechless and struggling beastmen.
This was good. I was glad this came up, because the choices they made here would show how far they were willing to go. Considering my main target was a god, they had to be willing to go pretty far.
To absolutely no one's surprise, Siv was the first to speak up, shouting as though she wanted to convince herself and not me.
I felt for her. Her job as a patrol squad captain made her an almost officer of the law. Accepting the magic I offered was like a police officer committing the worst crime imaginable or a highly decorated soldier committing treason.
"I'll do it!" she yelled with a sharp rise of her voice and eyelids, immediately coming to the realisation of how loud she'd been. Her searching look turned into one of relief when I gave her a simple, sharp nod.
All eyes then fell on Brim naturally, though the dwarf didn't seem the least bit phased by the pressure or the attention. He shook his head and looked at me squarely. "Anyone ever tell ye ye could talk the rust of a blade?"
His question, and the chuckle I gave afterwards, sucked the tension right out of the situation.
"Ha.. my mom complained all the time. She could never say no to me."
"Aye, sounds like a smart lady… Alright. Ye convinced me. I'll take the damn magic. Ye happy now?"
Just like the response to Siv, I just laughed and nodded before turning around. Shea's father Cam was supposed to meet us ha—ooff.
A gray haired missile slammed into me, bawling her eyes out and holding on to me for dear life. I looked up from the strangely colored crown to find an older rabbitman with dark blue hair, a thin lanky build, and a goatee.
His squinted eyes gazed at me with gratitude, and I instantly knew that was Cam. He must've gotten here with Shea and heard the part where I spoke about her plight. At least, that's what the snotty rabbit was telling me with her tears.
"There, there…" I patted her gently on the head and let her cry for a bit. I might've been harsh with her earlier but that was intended to kill any ideas and fantasies she had concerning the two of us.
That approach could not be applied to this situation.
After bawling her eyes out for a few good minutes, the young girl actually had the decency to look sheepish at the mess she left behind. I flashed her a small smile to show it was okay and clenched my hand, but Yue beat me to it.
Without a word, she waved her arm in a circular arc and summoned a ball of clear water. Each of the nearby beastmen grew saucers for eyes at the display, probably due to my earlier speech.
My devoted girlfriend controlled the glob of water and slid over my open chest and abdomen, sucking up the drying tears and snot with mastery and precision only someone of her caliber could manage.
When she flicked her hand and discarded the mucky water with a splash, I gave her a nod and a smile. "Thanks."
She returned the nod and gave me her characteristic murmur, and I moved forward to greet Cam afterwards, confirming that he was indeed Shea's dad upon shaking hands with the man.
Instead of giving in to the wishes of the elders and everyone else, he'd kept his daughter safe and alive all these years. It took balls to do what he did—standing up against the whole world—and that made him worthy of respect.
"Is there anywhere we can talk? Or is this place fine?"
"Anywhere is fine boss. We are one family," he gestured to his nearby tribe members, "Whatever you say to me, you can say to them. Though, if I'm not being too presumptuous, what is your name?"
He called me boss. Smart man. I liked smart people. Though I didn't fail to notice how forgetting to introduce myself definitely wasn't smart-like.
"I'm Rick. That's my lover, Yue, and those two are Siv and Brim."
"Ahh… boss Rick," he nodded and gave the others a brief glance. "We welcome you all to our humble tribe."
"Thank you for having us," I nodded, looking across the group of rabbits before returning to their leader, "Let's get on to business. What exactly did your daughter tell you about… what she saw?" I said and shifted my gaze to the rabbitgirl in question, making her squirm under my deadpan gaze.
Cam looked at her then at me. "Ehh… it's basically what she told you boss. She said you saved not just us but all the beastmen. As for the… other… thing, we didn't take it much seriously."
"Hmm…" I nodded a few times, "...good. That's good. Saving you guys… I won't say for certain my plans will bring that future to pass. But what I'm going to give you will certainly make it possible."
"Is it… what you said… you'll give…" Cam omitted the "them" while shifting his eyes over to Siv and Brim.
"One and the same. At the end of the day, my goal here is to make you strong. What you'll accomplish with that strength is up to you. So, Cam, do we have a deal?"
"Y-yes boss."
"Good," I nodded. "First things first, single out those who are willing. A word of warning though. The training will be hard and cruel. Make sure the volunteers understand that. I will not be lenient with anyone. Bring me the list of people when you're done."
"Y-yes, lord Rick."
I frowned at the "Lord," but the sneaky rabbit rushed away too fast.
"Tch…" shaking my head, I focused on what to do next. The Haulia had been acquired, now it was time to prepare for the training I spoke about. For that, we needed grounds, weapons and a few other things.
"Siv," I turned to the tigerwoman, "I want you to find a place large and clear enough for a lot of people to do all sorts of activities. Wait, are there even places like that here?"
Seemingly lost in thought, the beastwoman answered,"...Yeah… the Verden crystals keep the fog out around the villages, even the abandoned ones. I'm sure I can find one. Though it may be far."
"Why are some of the villages abandoned?" I asked without missing a beat, and the double grimaces I got in addition to my brain finally catching up told me all I needed to know.
"The slavers…"
"...Yes," Siv said through gritted teeth, though I got the sense that just these few words had strengthened her and Brim's resolve even more. Great mistake then.
"Babe," I turned to Yue. "...go with her. I don't want the search to take too long. Please."
'No encouraging her,' I sent over secretly.
"Mmm…" she nodded and walked up to me, replying to my message with a desire. Lowering my head, I met her lips with mine and caught her by the waist, her arms going around my neck.
Transferring the urge to direct my grasp lower into my hold on her hips, I pulled her into me and deepened the kiss, enjoying the sense of lightening I felt in my mind and body.
We pulled away after less than a minute, both of our lips reddened and glistening. The grumpy dwarf, blushing tigress, and lively rabbits all went ignored.
Yue licked her top and bottom lips and turned away, an air disk silently manifesting beneath her and hoisting her up. The golden construct widened until she stood on just a small portion of it, after which her content gaze fell on a red-faced Siv. "Get on tiger."
Said tiger glanced at me then back at Yue, her booted right foot coming up and pressing firmly on the disc. Her other foot followed soon after and she stood on the construct fully, her whole body taut and arms spread out as though on a tightrope.
Being the feline therianthrope she was though, she adjusted and found her balance soon enough, her long tail contributing immensely to the effort. Soon they were off, vanishing into the thick fog at the edge of the Haulia village.
"Let's start," I said to Brim and triggered the green portal of the Treasure Trove, catching the Status Plate that fell out with my left hand while stretching the right toward him. "Take my hand."
He looked away from the disappearing portal to the plate and then my outstretched hand, reaching up and grasping it strongly. "Ye need to shake my hand to give me the magic?"
"Yes and no."
He didn't look too pleased at that.
"It's not important. Pay attention. I'm going to give you the magic now, but we need to lay down some rules.
One, you can't tell anyone about this, at least not without my permission. We have to keep things secret for now.
Two, you'll be working for me, so I expect you to follow orders. We'll have to sit down and come to a proper agreement but this will do for now.
And don't worry, any orders I give you will be related to crafting, magic or what I promised you. There'll be no weird stuff. Are we clear?"
"Yeah yeah… I get it. Ye know ye're awfully accommodating fer'a human."
Unwilling to acknowledge the last part and the centuries of baggage behind it, I went ahead and activated one of my powers, giving him the thing all beastmen dreaded having.
Feeling This: Well, as it turns out, the system empowering the people around is not something completely inherent to the world itself. Being able to work even in other worlds or with beings from outside with no problem, as it's connected with many others in some way. While you might not understand the system in its entirety, you still have the power to share it with others. Individually, you can choose and grant someone access to this world's system. They will gain the ability to use magic, as well as quickly increase their stats, learn skills under the right circumstances, and possibly reach their full potential. Because it's you who it's granting this, they will also gain a 'job' as well, although which one will be dependent on their own talents.
His only outward reaction was a furrow in his thick, caterpillar brows, though his next words confirmed everything. "I'm… feeling, something…"
"Here," I held the Status Plate out to him, "...put a drop of blood in the corner there. Should confirm what you're feeling."
He dug his hand into a small satchel by his waist and came up with a small knife. He pricked his callused finger with a quick jab and pressed his finger against the spot I pointed out.
The plate changed into a brown, earthy color and lit up with writing, that alone serving as confirmation that there were now two beastmen capable of using magic.
Brim stared at the plate long and hard, turning it over a few times before stopping on the screen, his face scrunched in thought. "Ye understand this stuff? What do all these blasted numbers mean?"
"Lemme see…" I said and grabbed the plate as he passed it over.
[spoiler=Brim-Stats]
Impressive numbers.
Even though the sight of "Synergist" and "Transmute" made me want to do the jig, I couldn't help but marvel at his attributes, his strength and defense most importantly.
Whether it was some weird coincidence or not, humans were the weakest race in Tortus (stats wise), most of the fit ones having a maximum of 100 to 200 points in some or all attributes. This was doubly so for those with classes.
When it came to demons and beastmen however, the averages were 300 to 600 points, with the former race having an even more unfair advantage of being magic capable—even more than humans—on top.
In some twisted and inadequate form of balance though, their lifespans remained within the realm of normal and their ability to procreate sharply declined. They were the least populous race in all of Tortus.
Beastmen didn't share this weakness nor the lifespan one, with elves like Ulfric being able to live for centuries.
Dwarfs too, I guessed, looking over at a waiting Brim.
I handed his Status Plate back to him and carefully considered the ramifications of what I'd done and wanted to do.
By giving Brim magic, I had inadvertently started the creation of the actual most powerful race in this world. When the time came and every living beastman became magic capable, the balance of power in the world would undoubtedly shift.
Did I really have to go through with this? Brim, Siv, and a select few would be enough for my needs. I didn't need to go so far as to affect the world on such a large scale.
As soon as this thought crossed my mind though, I laughed, earning a frown and a few mumbles from the source of my current deliberation.
Wasn't I the one who just gave a speech on how those with power and the will to use it shaped the world according to how they liked? Why was I fretting now? I just needed to consider if a world with the beastmen at the top suited me.
The answer was a straight and resounding yes.
If this was the demons, I would abandon my plan without a second thought. Ehit had his hooks so deep in them I suspected it had bled into their genetics.
However, beastmen never left their forest willingly. They were self-sufficient and partially secured within its confines. Conquest simply wasn't their way of life. Surviving, was.
Uplifting them would not only net me their ironclad loyalty, but also an entire race of uber powerful people willing to go to hell and back for me.
Numerous powerful people on my side? That was a world I definitely did want to pass up.
Smirking to myself, I gazed down at Brim who now stood with his short arms akimbo and hastily apologized, offering to explain what the numbers beside his attributes represented.
Right after that came the moment of truth, the sole reason I'd gone through all these hoops.
"This… transmute is it? 'Sposed t' let me make stuff without tools or a forge?"
"Yeah, but you need a special magic circle or the ability to manipulate your own mana."
"So you gon' teach me the circle thing?"
"No. I'll do you one better," I said and summoned a clear jar with a piece of cooked meat. "I'm going to give you the ability to manipulate your own mana."
Brim directed a frown at the jar while I forced it open. "...the hell is that?"
"Monster meat. Now open up," I said and dangled over a small piece I'd torn from the bear meat.
"Are ye crazy?! Them is poisono—ugk"
Too fast for the raging dwarf to react, I flicked the tiny morsel straight down his throat and clamped down his mouth to stop him from spitting it out.
Reverse cursed energy flowed into him unbidden and I stared into his wide eyes with a calm expression. "Trust me."
The tight grip he had on my hands loosened and I responded in kind, unclasping my own from around his mouth and placing it firmly on his shoulder. "I can heal, remember?"
His protests died in his throat as a grunt took their place.
More strength went into my grip and turned my hand into an unmoving clamp, something that allowed me to keep the tortured dwarf upright despite his swims in and out of consciousness.
Obviously, I kept a close eye on him for any mishaps and instead found surprises. For one, he didn't suffer for very long, and two, perhaps the most glaring of all differences, was that his hair was still black.
I confirmed that his eyes also remained the same when he reopened them and stared at me in reproach. Come to think of it, his height didn't change either.
Did monster meat not work on beastmen?
Ignoring the panting and sweating dwarf, I bent down and grabbed his Status Plate, and my eyes narrowed at the changes. He'd gotten the Mana Manipulation skill, which was a huge relief, but that was it.
He didn't get Iron Stomach nor the bear's wind slash abilities like Yue did, and his attribute increases were paltry compared to what she and I gained from the magic pot enhanced meat.
Probably due to her class and race, Yue got less physical boosts than I did, but in return she obtained almost twice the magical upgrades.
Brim and—if this trend continued—beastmen, it seemed, were incompatible with the monsters. The only thing I could come up with as an explanation was the presence of non-human DNA already present within them.
It was truly something to see fully realised tropes in this magical, fantastical world. Humans were known across almost all mediums to be the weakest in terms of innate abilities and talents.
But when it came to adaptability, we were the undisputed masters. We could become anything.
Accepting the slight setback for what it was—unexpected but not damaging—I handed Brim's Status Plate to him and another thing as well, he caught both and looked at me, the anger from before fading as confusion took its place.
"A rock? What in the hell am I s'posed to do with this?"
"Can you feel your magic?"
He nodded and frowned in concentration. "It's there… like some pool of blasted mu—"his eyes widened, "oh… I can move it now."
My next words failed to pass as the smart dwarf focused on the rock. I watched it intently and broke out into an ear splitting grin when he began to squeeze and mold it like clay.
"I see you've used Transmute."
"Aye… tis… amazing. I don't need no tools or heat. Everything can be shaped with me own hands."
"Yes, my friend. But this is just the tip of the iceberg."
A hunger I hadn't seen since I met him lit up in Brim's eyes, and I knew then and there that I had him for life.
Before we could go any further, a rush of cool air hit us and the ladies returned, Siv leaping off the disc before Yue lowered herself completely, her "praise me" eyes fixed squarely on me.
"We found one, but it's about an hour's walk from here."
"Perfect," I nodded, turning when I saw a dash of blue hair in the corner of my vision. "Cam? How many volunteered?" I asked, somehow aware of the answer from the sea of rabbit ears behind him and the hopeful eyes watching me intently.
"Boss… we all want strength if you'll give it to us," he replied, almost fearful I'd get angry.
When I told him to ask for volunteers, I was expecting a handful of adults including the chieftain himself. Children had been subconsciously excluded.
However, many of the eyes staring at belonged to people considered too young for what I had planned. At least… they were back on earth.
This was something I thought I'd gotten used to.
With an entire empire of people looking to capture and sell them galavanting around—none of whom cared if their target was a child mind you, was it really necessary to exclude the children?
No. The answer came all too easily. Precisely because they were children is what made it pertinent that they possessed the ability to fight back against those who would see them in chains.
This wasn't earth, so I had better stop looking at things through that lens. At least not at everything.
"Alright. But first, I want to know how old the youngest is."
"Ahh…" Cam looked back and quickly found a boy, the latter shrinking away from sight. "Our youngest member is 10 this year." He looked back at me, "Is that a problem boss?"
"...." I closed my eyes and sighed. "It's not. Let's get going."
"R-Rick…"
"Hmm?" I turned to look at Siv, who was standing beside Brim, the latter wielding a tiny hammer made of stone.
"Don't worry. There's enough for everyone," I said and climbed aboard Yue's disc while beckoning her and Brim to join us. Soon all four of us stood on Yue's construct, even though Siv had to help her friend stay steady.
"Babe…"
"Mmm…"
"The training grounds please."
Yue began to move and I looked down at the crowd of rabbitmen, instructor mode activating.
"What are you waiting for?!" I shouted, sending a massive, collective jolt through them.
"Hurry up and follow us! Your training starts now. Your goal is to reach the training area with us. If even one person gets left behind, all of you will give me 10,000 pushups each. Now move!"
The rabbitmen hurriedly broke into quick sprints and agile jumps, every one of them catching up and keeping up with us easily.
"Babe, how fast can you move this?" I asked, getting an answer that made me smile.
'Full speed ahead.'
.
.
.
.
The rabbits did not, in fact, reach the training ground at the same time as us.
They lagged behind for quite a fair bit, arriving with expressions that conveyed the certainty of how they just fucked they were.
They saw where my hand was pointed upon an arrival, a space large enough to fit all 60 of them and then some, cleared up for their very own use.
My cold gaze and simple directive was enough for them to get the message.
They arranged themselves haphazardly and went parallel to the ground, each man, woman and child giving me the 20,000 pushups I asked for (the extra 10,000 came for their messy arrangement and positioning).
While they worked their bodies to death, I gave Siv her class in the meantime and put her to work immediately, having her venture back and forth into the mist to capture as many monsters as possible.
Her class didn't come as a huge surprise, but I didn't expect it either. The ability I used to grant her and Brim access to this world's system decided their jobs based on their personalities, skills, and talents.
It also passed these insights on to me during the bestowing process, and Heavy Knight suited Siv somewhat perfectly. She was essentially a knight and tank rolled into one. Not just a warrior, but also a protector.
Just like Brim, her attributes were crazy impressive, her skills even more so. Yet, when I looked at them, thoughts of how she fit into my plans and the future kept coming up.
I mean, Yue and I didn't need help in conquering the rest of the labyrinths, and her desire to be strong had been fulfilled. She just needed a bit of training to realise her unlocked potential, and I knew she was no stranger to hard training.
Simply put, the only way she'd come with us was if I was willing to return her advances. There was no other reason for her to join us otherwise. Speaking on that topic, Yue and I very much needed to have a talk.
Thankfully, we'd have some time once I was done with "orientation." For now though, I had some rabbits to break and rebuild.
Yue sent over word that she and Siv had finished the preparations I asked them to make. I sent back word of immense thanks and focused on the sweating and groaning rabbitmen around me.
Beastmen were truly impressive. Even these rabbits that only knew how to run away and hadn't fought a single day in their lives breezed through the first few 100 push ups like it was nothing. And this included the kids.
Ignoring the multiple pleading looks being sent my way, I maneuvered out of the sweat pit and stood before them with my arms crossed behind me.
"Up!"
Having learned their lesson in taking too long to obey, the rabbits shot up at the speed of light, their bodies trembling like leaves in a storm but staying upright.
My hand came up and a cyan portal appeared below it, unleashing a rain of black blades that clanged against each and the ground.
Dismissing the Treasure Trove's effect, I gestured to the pile of Azantium shortswords I had Brim make in the last hour and then at the rows of monsters buried up to their necks.
"Each one of you grab a sword," I said, and the rabbits complied, most of them swallowing visibly as comprehension lit up in their timid minds.
"You see the monsters gathered there? Cut off their heads. All of them."
"B-bos—"
"Silence! Did I ask you to speak?!" I yelled at Cam.
"No sir," the older man said, almost crying. I still wouldn't let him off easy though. This was the entire point. "I didn't hear you!"
"No, boss!"
"Thought so," I said and moved my gaze away, darting it across the struggling faces of the others.
"I want every single one of you to single out a monster and cut off its head. When you're done, go over there…" I pointed to a field of brightly colored and evenly spaced flowers "...and step on a flower and crush it."
If the decapitation order brought them to the verge of tears, the flower one tipped them over. Streams began to flow freely from most of their eyes, even the adults, and the sight made me more assured of what I was doing and what I was about to say.
"Imagine the monsters and the flowers are the slavers of the empire. They want to take you away from your family and sell you to an owner who'll use you as a toy for whatever he or she pleases.
The only way you can avoid such a fate and truly become free is by killing the slaver. If you can't even do this," I gestured to the beasts and the flowers, "then we'll end everything here. I'll find another tribe and give them my attention."
That seemed to snap them out of their delusional funk.