When Vara saw that everyone was in position, she gave the signal to start the mission.
Immediately, the rustling of bushes shattered the forest's silence. The beast's ears perked up, and its head turned toward the sound. It rose to its feet and pounced at the bushes, only to let out a piercing roar after discovering there was nothing there. Its powerful voice sent shivers down the spines of the Fays.
Lira acted first. She cast a binding spell, her hands weaving intricate symbols in the air. Thick vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around the beast's legs. The creature stumbled but quickly regained its balance. It growled, fixing its gaze on Lira before charging toward her. Another set of vines shot up from the ground, attempting to ensnare its legs again. But it was to no avail. The beast was now directly in front of Lira, ready to devour her whole, when a half-meter-thick rock slammed into its back. It whimpered in pain and leaped aside as another rock hurtled toward it. The creature redirected its attention to Nex, who stood on a tree branch.
Seeing the beast leap toward him, Nex's eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively leaped from the branch. The creature crashed into the tree with tremendous force, splintering the trunk and sending shards of wood flying in all directions. It landed on the ground with a thud, shaking the earth beneath it. Sensing a buildup of pure energy, the beast turned its fierce gaze toward Elys, who was conjuring a net made of pure energy. Elys focused intently, and with a quick flick of her wrist, hurled the net toward the creature. The net soared through the air, expanding as it approached, aimed to ensnare the beast entirely.
The net held. It wrapped around the beast's body, causing it to tumble to the ground. The creature thrashed and roared, its powerful legs kicking out in a desperate attempt to escape. But the combined efforts of Lira and Elys kept it pinned, the net crackling with energy as it held firm against the beast's strength.
"Die!" Vara shouted, her fist charged with magical energy, ready to deliver the final blow. The combined magic of the net, the vines, and her own power crackled in the air, thickening the tension.
As she swung her fist toward the beast, a bright light erupted, illuminating the entire clearing as her attack connected. The force of her blow reverberated through the ground, echoing throughout the forest as the C+ Grade Beast finally fell silent, its growls fading into nothingness.
Everyone gathered around the beast's body. A blinding light wrapped around it, and within seconds, it vanished.
Back in Moirai, Richard was strolling again through the bustling Nest, his eyes surveying the structures rapidly taking shape. Gartha, Zalis, and Amisar followed close behind. The familiar sounds of wooden hammers striking timber and the Fays' chatter filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere. Each building symbolized the hard work and dedication of his residents, and a sense of pride swelled within him. The paths were still natural soil, but proper roads were planned for the coming days, once they identified the best materials for long-term durability.
As he walked, Richard noted the progress on several critical projects. The smithy, where tools and weapons will be crafted, was nearly complete, its sturdy wooden walls promising a secure workspace. Nearby, the Medicine Shop was taking shape to equip residents for handling injuries and ailments during their adventures and daily activities. Not far from it, the Tailor Shop was being built to provide garments and armor.
In the heart of the Nest, the Village Square was being established. This central area would allow Fays to gather and view important announcements. Richard already envisioned it as a lively hub of discussion and idea exchange.
He paused to observe a group of Fays clearing a training ground surrounded by trees, where they would practice combat skills and hone magical abilities. He still needed to find a suitable trainer or commander to lead Moirai's soldiers.
Continuing further north to the base of the volcano, Richard saw the first few pillars of the Nest Castle. This would be his and Vara's official residence and the site for important meetings. It was planned to be larger than any other structure in the Nest and was currently built from wood, though upgrades were in the works.
To the west of the Nest Castle lay the residential area. Ten small houses, each designed to house three Fays, were under construction. For now, the plan was to accommodate ten Fays each night. Richard estimated this arrangement would suffice for another two nights until enough houses were ready to meet the growing demand.
It was at that moment that Richard received a system notification.
System Notification: Beast Defeated!
Beast: Horned Grimfel (C+ Grade)
Location: North-East Territory, Forest Outskirts
Victory Summary:
Vara and her team have successfully subdued and slain the Horned Grimfel. The beast's threat to the Nest has been neutralized, and all participating Fays have returned safely.
Loots Collected:
Beast Horn(Rare Material) - Can be used to craft powerful weapons or armor. Known to enhance durability and physical resistance in crafted gear.
Grimfel Hide (Enhanced Protection Material) - A sturdy hide with natural resilience. Can be fashioned into lightweight armor or enchanted for additional protection.
Essence Core(C+ Grade) - Contains raw energy from the beast, useful for enhancing Fays or charging powerful artifacts.
Fay Skill Gem(Rare Drop) - The beast's energy has crystallized into a skill gem. This gem contains the skill "Roar of the Grimfel", a powerful ability to momentarily intimidate foes and reduce their attack accuracy.
Experience and Growth Gains:
Vara:+500 XP
Kael, Elys, Lira, Nex: +250 XP each, enhanced agility, and control over magical abilities.
Richard Madwen (Fay Nest Master): +50 XP
Nest Notification:
Moral Boost: All Nest inhabitants are inspired by the successful hunt, improving productivity for the next 8 hours.
Security Update: Forest Outskirts are now safer, lowering the chance of hostile encounters in this region by 2%.
Note: The medium iron deposit can now be accessed and mined by your Fays. It will provide a steady supply of iron for future building and crafting needs.
Richard took five minutes to fully analyze the system notification. He finally had materials to craft weapons and armors. There was also the Essence Core of the beast. Above all, he had obtained a Fay Skill Gem—a rare drop. With this hunt, Moirai's defense and offense as a whole had been upgraded by an entire level. He could now issue higher-level missions to his Fays. Richard smiled from ear to ear; Permonium had given him an incredible welcome gift.
In addition, he now had a medium-sized iron deposit. This provided a substantial guarantee that he could continue developing the Nest for the coming months. The morale boost from this success was a tremendous boon, accelerating the construction of the Nest significantly.
Learning about the hostility of his area, Richard now had a clearer understanding of how dangerous his surroundings were. This also hinted that there might be no other Nests in the region—a mixed blessing. It was advantageous because he had sole claim over the vast territory, with all its resources belonging solely to him. However, it was also a curse due to the ongoing beast tide in Permonium. This phenomenon tended to occur more frequently in untouched areas like his. The main challenge now was a race between his Nest's development and the arrival of the beast tide.
Setting his worries aside after finishing his inspection of the Nest, Richard, along with the three Fays, returned to sit under the shade of the large tree. He waited for a full thirty minutes before Vara, the Fay Queen, returned with Kael, Elys, Lira, and Nex, bringing all four materials dropped by the Horned Grimfel.
Eager to inspect the materials, Richard first examined the horn, deciding it would make a fine dagger. Unfortunately, the Nest currently lacked a blacksmith, so it would be stored for now. The hide, on the other hand, was ideal for crafting two sets of leather armor. He planned to give one set to Vara and reserve the other for the future commander of his Fay soldiers. Richard instructed Amisar to take the hide to the tailor, ensuring it would be finished and ready for use as soon as possible. Next, he inspected the Beast's Essence Core in his hand, recalling its various uses. Currently, he didn't possess any artifacts, so the best use of the core was to enhance a Fay's attributes. Finally, he held the Fay Skill Gem, containing a potent skill: "Roar of the Grimfel."
Richard looked at the four Fays behind Vara. He opened their stats interface.
Name: Kael Norreathem
Level: 0 (250/1,000)
Grade Level: Yellow
Age: 4 hours, and 12 minutes
Loyalty: 88/100Physical
Physical Stats: (Scales with Level)
Intelligence: 18
Strength: 15
Constitution: 20
Agility: 25
Skills:
Sound Distraction: [Kael can create sounds to lure enemies away, effectively drawing the attention of beasts or foes.] (Cooldown: 15 seconds)
Effect: Distracts enemies for 5 seconds, allowing allies to reposition or prepare for an attack.
Agile Leap: [Temporarily increases his agility, allowing him to dodge attacks and reposition quickly.] (Cooldown: 30 seconds)
Effect: Increases Agility by 10 points for 10 seconds, reducing the chance of being hit by enemy attacks.
Illusionary Echo: [Creates multiple sound illusions, confusing enemies about his true location.] (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
Effect: Creates three sound illusions for 15 seconds, each drawing enemy attention and reducing the chances of being targeted by 50%.
Name: Elys Norreathem
Level: 0 (250/1,000)
Grade Level: Yellow
Age: 4 hours, and 12 minutes
Loyalty: 85/100
Physical Stats: (Scales with Level)
Intelligence: 22
Strength: 12
Constitution: 18
Agility: 20
Skills:
Energy Net: [Conjures a net made of pure energy that binds and immobilizes enemies.] (Cooldown: 45 seconds)
Effect: Immobilizes an enemy for 6 seconds; affected enemies cannot move or attack while bound.
Arcane Shield: [Creates a protective barrier that absorbs a percentage of incoming damage for a limited time.] (Cooldown: 90 seconds)
Effect: Absorbs 30% of incoming damage for 10 seconds; can be cast on self or an ally.
Mana Surge: [Temporarily increases mana regeneration for nearby allies.] (Cooldown: 120 seconds)
Effect: Increases mana regeneration by 50% for 20 seconds; affects all allies within a 30-meter radius.
Name: Lira Norreathem
Level: 0 (250/1,000)
Grade Level: Yellow
Age: 4 hours, and 12 minutes
Loyalty: 87/100
Physical Stats: (Scales with Level)
Intelligence: 20
Strength: 14
Constitution: 22
Agility: 19
Skills:
Binding Vines: [Casts a spell to summon vines that ensnare and immobilize enemies.] (Cooldown: 40 seconds)
Effect: Immobilizes one target for 8 seconds; the target is unable to attack or move.
Nature's Embrace: [Temporarily heals an ally or herself over time, restoring health gradually.] (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
Effect: Restores 5% of the target's maximum health over 10 seconds.
Entangle: [Causes an area to become difficult terrain, slowing enemies that pass through.] (Cooldown: 50 seconds)
Effect: Enemies in the area (10-meter radius) are slowed by 30% for 10 seconds.
Name: Nex Norreathem
Level: 0 (250/1,000)
Grade Level: Yellow
Age: 4 hours, and 12 minutes
Loyalty: 87/100
Physical Stats: (Scales with Level)
Intelligence: 15
Strength: 20
Constitution: 22
Agility: 28
Skills:
Rock Throw: [Hurls large rocks at enemies, dealing physical damage and potentially stunning them.] (Cooldown: 25 seconds)
Effect: Deals 30 physical damage and has a 20% chance to stun the target for 2 seconds.
Tree Climb: [Enables Nex to climb trees and gain a vantage point, increasing his range for ranged attacks.] (Cooldown: 10 seconds)
Effect: Increases ranged attack range by 50% for the next attack; allows for a better positioning advantage.
Camouflage: [Temporarily blends into the environment, making him harder to detect by enemies.] (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
Effect: Increases evasion by 20% for 10 seconds; Nex cannot be targeted by ranged attacks during this time.
Richard stared wide-eyed at the four Fays. Their stats and skills weren't just impressive—they were top-notch! They were equal to the stats of the best Fays he'd seen bragged about on forums by other Fay Masters. Even his parents would have treasured such Fays. And now, he had four of them! Any one of them could become a commander or a trainer. It seemed he was blessed with an abundant number of talented Fays. Of course, that was only fitting—after all, their Master was the most talented one in all of Permonium's history! Naturally, it should be this way.
With Kael's existing skills, he was the best candidate for the "Roar of the Grimfel." Richard didn't hesitate and immediately gave Kael the Fay Skill Gem, which he accepted with joy. The Essence Core was given to Lira, as her skill Nature's Embrace would benefit from the enhancement, making her especially useful in long-term battles. She also had strong support skills that would be invaluable. Finally, the leather armor was gifted to Elys, ensuring she wouldn't feel left out among her two companions.
As the sun began to set, a scout covered in mud approached the group, catching his breath as he walk.
"Master Richard, our Fay Queen," he began, bowing respectfully, "I've found a suitable arable area about ten kilometers to the south. However, it's within the territory of a wolf pack. I counted thirty of them, but there could be more—some might have been out hunting in the woods."