TJ had lost less than 100 HP as a coatl, and wasn't concerned with being healed immediately. That was less than 10% of his total, so he would heal completely in less than an hour, and once he stopped using Divine Transformation, there weren't even any visible wounds. How exactly that worked, he didn't know. The concept of HP versus what he still considered to be "real life" was strange. If he got poked in the toe enough, could it kill him? What about if he pinched someone? How exactly did HP work?
HP serves as an abstraction of the damage one suffers. The greater the pool of HP, the more resistant to damage one becomes, and beyond the Gold (III) tier of Divinity, it is possible for a Participant to reconstruct much of their body through the recovery of HP, even recovering from what would have been a mortal wound to those below that tier of Divinity. Within and before the Gold (III) tier of Divinity, mortal wounds are much easier to strike, though any increase in Vitality, Toughness, and Endurance will heighten the durability and resilience of the mortal's body.
If that was the case, then no, pinching someone again and again wouldn't kill them, barring it being their carotid artery or their throat. TJ refocused on their continued hunt. He'd insisted on taking at least one of the corpses with them, given its viability as food as well as the intrinsic value of the pelt. He could feel how impressive these Tezcatlipoca-blessed hides would be, especially after learning that Tezcatlipoca was the Aztec god of jaguars, darkness, and a whole lot more. When he'd asked, the System gave much more information than that, but he realized that, while the System had tons of interesting things to learn, it didn't truly affect him at this time. Instead, he needed to keep focusing on the hunt. He could feel that Neophyte 9 level closing in, and after that, the level 10 Skill selection. He had to admit that hearing Sarah's attributes compared to his though he had, across Class, Occupation, and Race, a cumulative 27 levels while Sarah had a mere 19 shook him.
More and more, TJ realized that as a Neophyte, his place wasn't necessarily to fill the place of another Zealot, because they would swiftly outpace his Strength, even through Divine Transformation. Nor was he to be an Acolyte or Disciple, given his lack of Skills to do so. Thus, what could he do? What was he supposed to be beyond a mediocre approximation of any of the other Classes? His attributes were too well-spread, the focus of them being Vitality, Endurance, and Toughness. His Willpower was over 50, and what did it do, except for give him a couple more minutes transformed?
He continued to listen to any hints from the wind about what might be around them, but he internally asked the System, "What is the niche of a Neophyte compared to the rest of the Classes? I'm starting to feel like the more levels we gain, the weaker I'll be in comparison to the rest."
The typical path of each of the Classes towards the Divine Throne is as follows:
The Zealot carves, smashes, and consumes the obstacles in their path, violence and overwhelming power accompanying their every step. For each Trial they face, they use the might of their fists to prove their worthiness to ascend.
The Acolyte views, plans, and follows the paths less followed, following wisdom and a connection with the world itself. For each Trial they face, they use the alacrity of their feet and minds to prove their worthiness to ascend.
The Disciple heals, guides, and advises others to carry them forward on their path, a firm determination to help carrying them on their path. For each Trial they face, they elevate others to accompany them to prove their worthiness to ascend.
The Neophyte enhances, survives, and carves new routes through the path established by their Bloodline's origin, their focus entirely on the ascension of their Divinity. For each Trial they face, they rely upon their own steadfast willpower and elevated vitality to prove their worthiness to ascend.
TJ's knee-jerk reaction to that was to get frustrated or even angry. Instead, though, he read through each Class's focus, what their intent was, what their path was. True, the System itself was saying that the Class was built to make it through suffering, that he was granted Toughness, Vitality, and Endurance in spades so that he could survive what was thrown at him. The Class's focus wasn't to be a peerless fighter like the Zealot or a marksman and hunter like the Acolyte. It surely wasn't to be a healing Disciple, so instead, their focus was to survive on the path laid ahead while enhancing that of those who came before.
Kukulkan had been a god when he'd died or been destroyed or whatever. A lowercase "g" god, but still, at the IX tier of Divinity, extremely close to getting all the way to the Divine Throne. His path was nearly perfect, so TJ's role as a Neophyte of his Path was to study where Kukulkan had succeeded and failed, to follow in his prosperity and avoid his failures. The Class was focused on ensuring he could survive long enough to learn those things and thus create his own path.
Beyond that, the statement that he was supposed to "focus entirely on the ascension of his Divinity" was interesting. There wasn't some sort of an experience boost that he received for his Class, at least, as far as he knew. That would be pure foolishness, if it were the case. Instead, was it referencing what the attributes increased for the Class? Would he face different Trials regarding it?
The sound of javelinas crashing through the brush interrupted his musing. There would be time for introspection, and the middle of a hunt wasn't it. With a hiss, TJ activated Divine Transformation and readied himself for battle. The beasts squealed and TJ put himself in the front as he said, "I'm doing fine on HP. Sarah, stay by Rebekkah for now. If we're both on the front and something attacks her, we'll be SOL."
He didn't wait for a response as he spent 100 MP on preparing a scythe of wind to cut into the javelina's ankles. Sarah didn't approach, heeding his command. TJ waited for the beasts, their squealing and thundering coming closer and closer. He desperately wanted to send the blade formed of wind forward to cut as many of them to pieces as possible preemptively, but that would be stupid and wasteful. His adrenaline demanded that he pump more and more of his MP into the Skill, but he refused. He only needed to slow or stop that front line. That would slow those behind them, and he would trust in what the System said his Class was for–surviving.
The deep shadows cast by the trees overhead seemed to shake with the monsters' approach. TJ held and condensed the blade to be even thinner. A sapling was knocked over by the charge. TJ refused to pump more MP into the Skill, but still he honed this opening attack. The first javelina appeared, screaming its squealing cry. At least a dozen followed behind it, a horde of the beasts desperately charging to kill the humans. Before TJ sent his opening salvo, he Appraised the front line of five javelinas.
Javelina, 6
Javelina, 6
Javelina, 7
Javelina, 7
Javelina, 6
All of them were over level 5. TJ cursed under his breath, unsure of what they might have gained from this benchmark. Even so, this was the exact moment he'd prepared his Skill for, and he sent the winds scything at the pigs' front feet. With a howl and a scream, the wind whipped into their ready and waiting legs. The front line screamed in agony, their feet giving way under them. They tumbled to the ground and those behind them suddenly glowed with a silver light. Under the influence of the silver glow, the five fallen of the squadron were trampled to death, TJ receiving the death notifications and experience as the silver glow faded markedly.
Then, though they were not nearly as slowed as he'd expected or hoped, TJ threw himself at the javelinas, uncaring for their wickedly curling tusks, merely avoiding being trampled underfoot. He snapped wildly at whatever he could reach, his tail wrapping around one and pulling it into another. Tusks gored deep into one's eye, and TJ, seeing a javelina's eye explode in gore, reminded him to keep his own free from the range of the crazed beasts. His goal wasn't to kill them here. The first five had been enough of that. For now, it was to protect the much more exposed people behind him. As such, TJ's focus was entirely on distracting, slowing, and blinding the javelinas as best as he could manage.
He thrashed, pulling as many of the javelinas off course as he could, but as they glowed with silver again. Though their glow was obviously reduced from before, their Skill or ability pushed TJ off and as he bounced against the ground behind them, the dozen remaining javelinas continued their charge. With a hiss, TJ lunged and was able to catch the flank of the rearmost javelina in his jaws. His long sharp fangs pierced through its hide and blood filled his mouth. It squealed again and kicked at his face. TJ didn't care, instead pulling himself on top of the beast. There, he watched as Sarah and Rebekkah dodged one way and Zig and Farid the other.
They'd build up a good head of steam, and the javelinas attempted to turn their charge and follow the dodging hunters. They couldn't, and several stunned themselves as they charged headlong into several foot-thick trees. Pine needles fell from the trees as Farid and Zig released attacks. The pigs screamed in rage as their charge was thwarted, each little squad glowing with the weakest silver yet as they attempted to run over their enemies. TJ's "steed" followed those pursuing Rebekkah and Sarah, but as its faint silver glow appeared, it was insufficient to push him off.
While TJ tried to do something while conserving his MP in this probably not as dangerous situation, Sarah pushed Rebekkah behind her and brandished her shield. With a wordless roar, Sarah activated a Skill. The javelinas trying to skirt around her and hit her flanks or Rebekkah were instead drawn to her shield, which flared with a divine power. Three pairs of tusks smashed into her, trying to launch her into the air. Either through skill or Skill, Sarah remained on her feet, grunting in strain. She didn't try to strike back, instead ensuring she and Rebekkah were safe.
TJ hauled himself forward, wrapping around two javelina necks as the Flamekeeper reached a hand forward and bestowed a flame on the Zealot's hatchet. Then, with a flaming weapon and fury in her eyes, Sarah struck. With each swing of the superheated ax, a javelina fell. Even if not dead, they were out of commission, and not ten seconds later, the flames faded from the hatchet. Six javelinas were down, skulls split or spines severed. Looking at Zig and Farid, though they hadn't yet killed the whole of their half of the squadron of javelinas, they were making good progress. Only three remained, and they were bleeding from several wounds as the two Acolytes split up and harried them from both directions. Then, with a final arrow and throw of a javelin, there was a single javelina left. It turned, squealing in terror, but it was too late.
Sarah's hatchet flew through the air and buried itself in the javelina's neck. It fell with a squealing groan, and then, there were seventeen dead javelina corpses in the area. TJ began to relax and release Divine Transformation. That was when Zig screamed while pulling her bow to full draw, "Look out above you!"