Chapter 42: He needs help

He ran as fast as he physically could, darting past trees, taking corners and leaping over fallen trees without breaking his pace as he went deeper and deeper into the forest.

The scream sounded again. “Somebody Help us!!” Louder, he was getting closer. He forced even more Arkana into his legs, pushing himself even harder than he'd already been doing till he burst into a clearing. He skidded to a sudden stop and stared forward, broken ground, arrow ridden soil and in his direct line of sight, the back of a tall black beast and in front of it was a boy that looked to be around 12 years old swinging a stick wildly at a the beast as it continued to approach him while tightly holding unto a wounded unconscious man that seemed to be in his very early twenties. He turned his attention back to the beast just as the system notification popped into his view.

\[Level 1 : Black limbed Dweller\]

Level one, he thanked the stars. As confident as he was in his own strength, anything higher than a level one would be to much for him to handle, not to say that beating this one was going to be an easy feat, it simply meant that if he planned well enough he'd be able to secure victory. He took in a deep breath and calmed his frantically beating heart, he needed to think of a way to win without putting his own life at risk. His eyes glanced around for anything that may be able to give him an edge till he locked eyes with the boy. Time froze as Maerik stared and took in the state of the boy, the panic in the boys watering eyes, the way his open mouth quivered, The fear that shook his body, He heard the words one last time.

“Help..Me.”

No longer did his hesitant mind have control over his own body as he retrieved a stone, poured his Arkana into it and threw it at the beast, the projectile hit and it turned to him, the wide smile on its monstrous mouth lessened as it turned back to the boy as if bored by the mere prospect of Maerik.

He gritted his teeth in annoyance because its disinterest in him was simple, He was suppressing his Arkana, making him feel irrelevant compared to the free flowing state of the Arkana belonging to the unconscious man. He could release his and get it's attention but that would also mean sending out a calling signal to every beast in the area which would in the end up doing more harm than helping, his only other option would be to fight it head on and hope it was on the weaker side of level one beast.

He rushed forward hoping to end it in one swift attack but immediately he focused Arkana into his fist it immediately turned to face him. It swung its long hand down, the path made unpredictable due to its unusually flexible limb.

Maerik grunted. “Interested in me now huh?” he slid down and the attack missed by mere inches, he recovered and was back on his feet rushing forward he leaped into the air and dodged the swipe by its second hand but without a second spared, it immediately took advantage of his uncontrolled state and opened its large mouth.

“Fuck.” Maerik hissed as he caught a glimpse of the boy tightly holding onto the man's body, he couldn't fail. Angling himself so he'd fall flat, then turning and throwing an Arkana filled punch into the air, the force of impact pushed him back far enough that he would be able to avoid its mouth but he'd forgotten to take into account it's arm, only remembering when it's palm wrapped around his leg and threw him into the ground.

\[-10 HP\]

Air was forced out of his lungs as it lifted him again and tossed him into a tree, he broke through it, bouncing on the rough ground till he reached the bed of arrows. The ache was profound as he tried to stand to his feet using the weak support of an arrow's body, but before he could even lift himself, the dweller pulled him toward itself and once again opened its large mouth but Maerik didn't struggle, he allowed it's quick pull till he was close enough then without a second of hesitation he forced an arrow into its left eye, A scream ruptured out of it, deafening and oddly familiar as it let Maerik go. He landed and pushed himself up, adrenaline pumping through his veins but as his gaze met it, He froze and did nothing but watch as a mix of tears and blood streamed down its face, its cries continued but it sounded nothing like the cries of wounded beast, if sounded….like…. A cHiLD. Maerik didn't move, just continued to stare at the crying beast with one question ruling over his mind. “Why?” Just as if its tears had an off switch it immediately stopped and threw its hand at Maerik. He reacted, but not nearly fast enough, the world slowed as he watched the black limb come closer and closer toward him until—Dravy appeared and with a spinning maneuver sliced through its hand but didn't stop, he dragged the blade through the back of its neck, over and around pouring his Arkana into the metal till it cracked and the beast head flew of its body, Dravy landed just as the beast's body dropped with an empty thud. Chest heaving, breath ragged as he offered Maerik a hand and helped him to his feet.

“You really need to start carrying a weapon sir.” Dravy scolded, offering one of his blood stained blades but

“Weapons are—I don't need one.” Maerik rejected despite proving just the opposite a few seconds ago. He walked past him, crossed over the lifeless beast and walked to the boy, He crouched down to his level and smiled softly.

“What's your name?” He asked softly.

“Peter.” The boy sniffled.

“Well—”

“He needs help.” Peter interrupted, his eyes wide with a different kind of panic. “Rylan needs help.”

“Ry..Lan.”