The Sixth Age
We'll be pausing again after this one, as I give other stories some love.
But we will be back.
Enjoy this once you hit that part of the chapter.
Espresso Patronum - Primus, Arcathis
"Strike and storm, clash and cry, one will win and one will die! Flames will rise, sparks will flyyyyy! And in the ennnnnd…fair Rose did cryyyyyy!" Florian's audience chanted 'Hair!' a final time, and then applauded.
The Monk and the Wolf was doing alright, but everyone wanted the epic ballad about Drake clearing the Wallow and then slaying a Demon Lord on the same day.
The problem for Florian, was that ballads took time, and effort, to compose, order, write, re-order, edit again, and then finally sing, and then match that singing to an appropriately jaunty tune on his lute. More than once he'd wished for a spell or technology that could just make songs for him, which he would then shamelessly sing covers of and claim credit for.
As Florian slung his Arc Lute and took a seat at the cafe before his next set, his favorite little source of gossip came padding up beside him. "Hey Florian. Still on Skalos, huh? Seems like an Age ago, that fight. Not a few weeks. How's the ballad coming?"
Florian gave the racoon girl his brightest fake smile. She was, technically, right. He had yet to create a new composition in this newest latest age. "Lavata. Always a pleasure. The ballad is a work in progress. It has to be epic enough to match the…gravitas of the events in question. I'm not going to rush it. It's not like anyone is going to forget them any time soon."
The raccoon girl nodded, and then her masked eyes narrowed playfully at the Bard. "Perhaps you need more material in the meantime. Have you heard? Your Monk Muse has taken a Disciple."
Florian sat up, eyes widening. He smelled potential. "A Disciple, you say?"
Lavata nodded. "A Siminid by the name of Wu Kong. Drake is paying his way at the Academy. He's been assigned to Class Eight."
Florian chuckled. "Of course he has…hmmm. Our Monk…and a
Monkey…" A sly grin grew across Florian's face. "Ohh, this one may stretch the delicate boundaries of racial sensitivity…but I'll make it so fucking catchy, nobody cares!"
Lavata grinned at his reaction. "You do you, Florian. Your fans await your next composition. Play your cards right, and they may have you perform the Everfeast again."
The Bard's eyes widened, and Lavata was satisfied. The seeds were planted. She bid Florian farewell, and then exited the cafe, bending the perception of the denizens of Primus to not notice her as she ducked into an alley, and changed forms. The alleyway started glowing gold. Radiant locks expanded out from the bound black raccoon hair, and her face became the aesthetic perfection that humanoids appreciated looking at.
Laurelin chuckled, and patted her growing belly. "Chaos sewn, little one. Who shall we inspire next?" She closed her eyes, and listened for an answer amidst the amusement of her growing daughter's primordial thoughts. She was hungry, wanted pizza, of course, but she also seemed to sense that her brother, one of them anyway, was heading for Eldarheim. Since he rarely arrived these days
without her favorite pizza, she wanted to go home, eat, and nap. Mom obliged her.
The Palace of the Gods - Eldarheim
Drake Long soared slowly, compared to Falkor's speed, over the long stretch of ocean between Eldarheim, and Arcathis. These waters were apparently the only ones on the planet that weren't infested with monsters. Some fishermen, elves going by their data, waved up at him as he flew overhead. He waved back, and then paused.
There was a shadow in the water, heading straight toward them. His eyes focused, and he grimaced. Level fifty, an elite tier monster, and it even had a name. Greatmaw, the Devourer. To Drake, it looked like a Great White Shark, but several magnitudes larger. The fishermen made noises of confusion as Drake began charging a Kamehameha seemingly at them, after flying down and aiming.
There was no time for warning. As the massive shark boldly leapt out of the water and came down on the fisherelves, it's furious eyes shifted to Drake. And widened.
"HAAAAAAH!"
The beam of Ki lanced above the fishing vessel, and Drake's aim was true. It hammered the massive shark's gaping toothy maw and exploded. Drake's eyes widened as the crit did massive damage to its health. Greatmaw fell smoldering back into the ocean, and Drake flew around the ship, watching for that shadow again.
But the monster did not resurface. Drake's eyes narrowed. A monster running wasn't unheard of, but it was rare. They usually fought until killed, or at least, that's what he'd been told they did. Greatmaw, it seemed, knew he was outclassed when a single attack nearly lowered him past half health.
"You have our thanks…Hero." One of the elves said in surprise as he saw Drake's class. "We thought you were aiming at us for a moment there."
Drake chuckled. "Nah, I would never. I saw the Monster's shadow, and acted. My apologies if you were scared."
The other elf muttered, "Adventurers have a habit of catching innocents in their spells. But that…was no spell. It wasn't Magic, I'm certain of that."
Drake nodded with an awkward chuckle. "Yeeaa, my Class uses…a different kind of energy. Anyways. You gentlemen should head back to land, I think. It may try to attack again after I leave. I'll shadow you until you're near the shore. I think your ship moves about as fast as I fly."
It was about ten minutes to Eldarheim's southern shore, and Drake waved again once the fisherelves were in safe waters. He left reporting the incident to them, and flew onward to Eldarheim.
As he approached the massive castle fortress and landed in what he regarded as the God's backyard, he found Laurelin sitting outside, a table before her with an open seat, and just enough space for the pizza he'd brought. Laurelin was somehow even more radiant, and her stomach was significantly larger. Apparently baby Gods took a lot less time to grow. They also hit adulthood in a matter of years too, but life experience was everything.
Drake set down the pizza, an extra cheesy affair, loaded with vegetables that weren't green. He'd never seen carrots on pizza, but when shaved into strips and paired with peppers and that weird, light, healthy cheese the elves preferred, it was actually quite good. There were of course a few pepperonis as well as very tiny meat chunks. The Goddess had ordered a perfectly balanced blend of delicious and healthy.
"Thank you, Drake. The little one was craving this. I expected Lyria though, with how busy you've been."
The Monk shrugged, and joined her at the table. "I just hit HR fifty, and I had some questions for you. I'm pretty sure the girls have studying to do. They only took a break to help me, and break up the monotony."
Laurelin giggled lightly. "Ahh yes, your exploits on Aolai. I may have told Florian about them." Drake rolled his eyes. Of course she had. "Interesting place, Aolai. It just appeared one day in the far eastern ocean. Complete with Monkeys. The one who created it was like me, a defender of Life, and I raised their kind up like Arcadia's other species at their request. Wu Kong is the first to travel all the way to Primus, and survive the journey. After his predecessors failed, we assigned the Monster Hunters to aid them if they ever called for help."
Drake nodded as the Goddess exposited, but he would deal with one mystery at a time. "As interesting as randomly apparating islands are, I had another mystery for you. Specifically, mine. I'm not able to access the notification system, since I don't know this body's date of birth. Which got me wondering…since the day I arrived doesn't seem to work."
Laurelin nodded. "I see. And I suppose if I simply unlocked said system, you'd persist with your questions?"
Drake nodded, and Laurelin sighed. "Very well. It
is quite a sad story. But I understand wanting to know the origins of one's own body. And it
is yours, Drake. Make no mistake about that."
With a deep sigh, and three bites of pizza, Laurelin finished chewing, and began.
"I first had the idea to…in your parlance, 'Properly Isekai someone' who could aid our world quite a number of years ago. Finding a vessel though…proved difficult. The vegetative states and the diseases that cause them on your Earth are quite rare on Arcadia. As are most illnesses in general. The body had to be intact, but lack a conscious mind, and this took quite some time to discover before finally, one day, I found Drake. His surname was different, as was…essentially everything else about him. He had a hard life…and as a result, contracted an incurable immune-system disease caused by a virus transmitted from Monster blood."
Laurelin frowned for probably the first time since Drake had met her. "I…don't like what I had to do next…but our Hero needed a body. At the last microsecond of his life, I took his consciousness into Eldarheim, in a place of honor, until he desires to reincarnate. Then, I preserved his body, kept it functioning, purged it of Monster taint, and cycled in fresh blood. I also reset his age to a slightly lower one, changed his face, hair, everything. I used my power to rewrite your vessel at the cellular level while maintaining its life. Even the…what did your people call it…the DNA is different. Completely."
Drake furrowed his brow, as he remembered how genes worked. "I had to get this hair from
somewhere. Do you know where? Or did you just…randomly create a suitable replacement… because Life Goddess?"
Laurelin paused in her nomming, and laughed, genuinely. "
Because Life Goddess! Oh my sweet, summer Monk. No. You are right, even my magic can't ignore something that important to a body. I used my own DNA. And, eventually and with great reluctance, Galdurath's. Your Boon called for durability, and that was what convinced Galdurath to donate as well. I think he has come to not regret it, though. You've impressed him, so far."
Drake was more caught up in that reveal. "Hold on, wait, are you saying I'm…some sort of…Demi God?"
Laurelin chuckled, and looked at her belly. "If it sees like a God, and it's as tough as a God, and it's related to a God, how is it not also a God? A good question, little one. Your brother here is still, at his core, a High Human. For now, anyway." Laurelin winked at him. "Level one hundred is a trip."
Drake sighed, deeply. That was enough for today.
He didn't even question that she was speaking to and for her baby, he honestly would've been surprised if, she, apparently, couldn't speak even while forming. The way he understood it, she grew smarter by the second. Galdurath had, very proudly, shown him her growing stats, and he'd made pictures of them, showing their progression. It really put his own growth in perspective.
For a mortal, he was reasonably boosted by the system. A God's stats, apparently, just kept going up, and up, and up, apparently forever. The longer she lived, the more powerful the little one would be. "Speaking of trips, I should be making mine. I'm
so slow without Falkor. Even bending the air only does so much. I wish I could make my robe faster."
Laurelin giggled, mouth full of pizza. "'ave oo ried puttnng Mmagic in et?"
Drake narrowed his eyes at the giggling Goddess. She had that same tone the 'try turning it off then on again' people had.
But in fairness, that typically helped fix most issues.
He stood up, brushed off his cloak, which he'd shifted back to the original white and gold trim, and then floated into the air with the flight ability it provided. He tried focusing his magic into it. Green, celestial sigils flashed across the entire outfit, and he realized that, apparently, items could hold magic in them for a slight boost to their effects. If one kept them charged. Upon checking his other items, this was not something all of them had, but Prismrend was similar. Though it seemed more like a short boost than a permanent one, for his weapon.
The robe, in this instance, worked with magic like cars had with gasoline. Except there was no engine, just Laurelin's magic, as she'd apparently made the clothes herself with speed that once again humbled even his Omnicrafting. Nothing he could make was as useful as what he'd been given. It burned about half of his magic power, but he fully charged his robe, and then aimed upwards.
There was a loud boom, and then Drake shot skyward like a white Monk missile as he rocketed through the sky, and started doing tricks. As he landed, having completely burned through the reserve of mana for scientific reasons, he filled it again, and then looked at Laurelin. His fabulous hair was blown back from the wind, and though a normal human, even a High Human, should've torn their skin off at those speeds, Drake had managed to bend the air to avoid that. Mostly. There were a few small thin cuts on his face.
"I'm gonna need to borrow your Omniforge." He said, smirking. "If I'm flying back at those speeds." Laurelin waved him off, now wholly focused on her meal.
Class Eight - Galdurian Arc Warden Academy, Primus
"Alright young ones, this is our newest and last addition to our Class. Introduce yourself."
Instructor Elowir gestured at Wu Kong, who looked out at the eleven uninterested faces. Ten, he noted, as a blonde and rather beautiful foxkin girl seemed to be staring intently at him. His sight magic wasn't super high level yet, so all he could tell was that her class was Soul Mender. From what he'd learned so far at the Academy, they were quite rare.
"Heya." Wu Kong waved casually. "I'm Wu Kong. The only other Monk on Arcadia, apparently. Nice to meet you all."
Elowir squinted at his students. "Let's see, you can sit…"
At that moment, Wu Kong noticed the blonde fox girl gesturing with one of her nine tails to the girl beside her. "Make room, Cala dear." Her eyes shifted back to Wu Kong as she spoke louder, while the well dressed auburn haired High Elf moved to an empty seat in the back row. "Instructorrr…there's a free seat here."
Elowir shrugged. "That works. Take your seat next to Ahri, young Wu Kong." The ancient sentient tree man ahemmed, and started droning on about something Wu Kong didn't hear.
As soon as his Siminid rear was in his seat, Ahri had him spellbound, as she mumbled lowly to him, "Welcome, Wu Kong…I think we're going to have a
lot of fun together…" She winked and then turned back to Elowir just in time for the ancient Druid's eyes to land on him.
"Wu Kong. Why don't you address the Class and go first, since you're new here." Elowir gestured to the front of the class, and Wu Kong shuffled up.
"Erm…sorry sir, what are we doing exactly?" He tried speaking low, but of course, every single one of his classmates heard him. Most laughed, while the tan human in white and red robes to the left of his seat pinched his brow. He had a serious air to him, stern, strict,
holy. Wu Kong disliked him immediately.
"You are telling your classmates what role you play in a party, and any particular skills that they should be aware of." Elowir answered aloud, and then he leaned close to the monkey's ear, "I know Miss Ahri is quite enchanting…but do
try to focus."
"Right, yes sir, sorry sir." He stood up straight like he was speaking to Drake. "I'm a Monk of the Path of the Burning Soul. The first to walk it, so…I don't really know much about my skills yet. I don't have very many. Let's see what else…Monks are close range melee strikers, and our fists are classified as Magic Weapons once our level is high enough. Master Drake confirmed that he can and has punched ghostly Monsters, so even without my staff I can still be useful."
Throughout his spiel, Wu Kong noted Ahri's eyes didn't leave him for a second. She raised a hand, and he nodded for her to go ahead with her question. "You said your Soul burns? Tell me, what sets it alight?"
Wu Kong swallowed, and refrained from trying to flirt and say 'you'. He had a feeling he was being toyed with. Maybe. She was hard to read. "Uhh, well, apparently, when my emotions get intense enough, I can use them to make my Ki into fire. Radiant fire, specifically. Master Long compared it to being a Paladin. But with fists, and almost no armor."
The bald man with religious vibes in the same row spoke next. "Hold on, you're a Melee Class, but you wear no armor? Do you have ranged attacks?"
Wu Kong shrugged. "Drake does. I do not. Yet. So yea, until we learn Ki techniques, Monks are pretty squishy frontline fighters."
The bald man looked at Elowir in disbelief. "You can't be serious. He's going to die. Him and every other Monk. Their Grandmaster might be fine, because he's the God's favorite, but the rest? They'll be chewed up by Monsters on Tharvoss in melee combat."
Wu Kong bristled, but Elowir held up a hand before he could retort. "It sounds like young Kaien desires a demonstration. Let's see…Borge!" The boar man also in the front row on Ahri's right, perked up. "How about we all head outside, and you and your new teammate can demonstrate his abilities for the Class to see first hand. Do try not to compare him to Drake Long. He's…a unique case. But this will be an important chance to show us all what Monks can do, Wu Kong." One of the academy's bells tolled, signaling the end of the period. "Eat your lunches and then rendezvous outside on the practice field!"
Wu Kong gathered his things with a sigh, and walked slowly to the cafeteria, after changing into his Gi and grabbing his staff. Two figures were awaiting him as he approached, and he sensed trouble. One was Ahri, beautiful, tails shifting idly behind her. The other was a man with a face Wu Kong kind of immediately, and inexplicably, wanted to punch. Then, he noted the high quality light armor, the artifact tier lute, and the unmistakable charm that accompanied people with high Charisma stats. A Bard. Finally.
Wu Kong stood a little taller, and headed for them. Ahri spoke first. "I was going to have you sit with me, Wu Kong…but it seems Florian the Fantastic has some questions for you first. You've been here what, a few days and already the campus's most celebrated Bard wants you in his song?"
"It's the first I'm hearing of it…" Wu Kong said, before focusing on the Bard.
Florian bowed. "Greetings and salutations my most muscular Monkey Monk! If you'll indulge me, I need a few questions answered accurately, by you, for my next composition. Won't take five minutes. Do you mind?"
Wu Kong puffed out his chest. "Not at all! Is this about the Rakshaza? I see my deeds of strength precede me! Ask your questions…Florian was it? I shall answer! As we get our food."
Within minutes, they were sitting at a small table that struggled to fit three. Wu Kong clocked Drake, clocking him and the Bard, and the world's first Monk full facepalmed, before murmuring something to Rose. The rest of Class Seven seemed amused by Drake's issue, whatever it was, and Rose pat his shoulder comfortingly.
Florian's questions were simple. What exactly did he do in the initial fight? How'd he compare to the others? What made him split the party and chase the Rakshaza alone? What was his journey to Primus like? Why did he still wear the tiger demon's pelt?
"It's a reminder." Wu Kong said to the latest question. "A reminder of how strong I am in that enraged state. Strong enough to rip the hide clean off a much higher level Demon in one motion. Master Long says great power comes with great responsibility…but I didn't really understand that until I felt it. If I can't control that rage…I'll just endanger my friends."
"Fan…tastic." Florian said with that charming smile as his magic quill scribbled
furiously with Wu Kong's answer. "And…now that you're the Monkey King, what is it you desire?"
Wu Kong shrugged. "Fun. Friends. A genuine Arcadian Academy experience. I want to learn all I can here, grow strong enough to survive Tharvoss…then…I don't know. I might disappear for a few years and solo hunt Elite Monsters. Build a reputation. Save some villages."
"Excellent. You have my thanks, noble Wu Kong. Miss Ahri." Florian bowed to both of them. "Until we meet again!"
"Wait! When can I hear the song?" Wu Kong shouted at the Bard as he literally pranced away, with actually quite remarkable distance per prance.
"Oh, you'll be among the first to hear it! I promise! Farewell!" Florian shouted, as he leapt gracefully out of the cafeteria.
Wu Kong turned back to Ahri, to find her sitting quite a bit closer. He tried to remember his breathing techniques as his heart suddenly sped up rather quick. Her eyes had him snared, her scent was intoxicating, and he almost missed what she said. "A level seventy Demon? Really? I know the others weakened it first…but that's not unlike your Master, and the Malblin Tyrant."
Wu Kong projected bravado, even though internally, he was close to breaking down and losing his cool. "Apparently it was a bit more potentially fatal in Drake's case…but yea, we are having a similar arc." Finally alone, and in private, he felt confident enough to add, "He met a beautiful blonde on his first day, too. One who changed his life."
Ahri's tails swished hypnotically. "Oh? I hear those two have sex all the time. Is that what you intend for us? Going to whisk me away to your Master's Leisure Sphere and have some…fun?" One of her pink tipped tails brushed along his face, and he belatedly noticed it was glittering due to tiny pink crystals that seemed embedded in her fur. "You did tell Florian that was what you wanted."
Wu Kong focused his mind, sensing rightly, in that moment, that this was where he would make or break whatever was forming between himself and the fox girl. He also realized that he looked far less eligible as a bachelor by admitting he was staying in Drake's sphere, and couldn't afford a place of his own yet. So, he pivoted. "Not that I don't want to…" He stated clearly, "But a woman like you probably wouldn't do that just after meeting me…"
"Oh? And why wouldn't I do that, Monkey King? You're quite handsome, well muscled…and part of a Class that's going to change our world, at the rate you're going. What if joining you in your Master's Leisure palace is
exactly what I desire?"
Wu Kong gulped. He really couldn't read her, and she had seemingly figured that out. Mercifully, praise the Gods, the bell tolled at that moment, signaling their lunch was over. "Heheh…to be continued, Ahri. I should head outside for that martial demonstration we're having…for some reason."
Ahri leaned back from the Monkey King, and chuckled. "I guess you really weren't paying the Instructor any attention earlier." For some reason, that made her smile and her tails swished happily. "There's going to be a ranking tournament soon for the First Years…think of it as…a way for talented Academy students to show off for the movers and shakers of Primus. Big businesses always need Arc Wardens, and every year they send headhunters to watch these matches, and the ones for the upperclassmen. Obviously, your Master is the one everyone is watching…some even expect him to win."
Wu Kong blinked. "But…he's higher level than most of Year One. How is that fair? Everyone who raided the Wallow is quite a lot stronger. Not to mention better geared now."
Ahri nodded, as they walked. "The Ternion Tournament has two phases. First, each Academy ranks their First Years, then we take the highest ranked Classes in each school's first year, and have them battle together against the others in a two on two on two Battle Royale. The team of the last people standing wins. To ensure fairness, levels are nullified during tournament matches. Your skills, gear, and personal experience are the keys to winning."
Wu Kong's tail swished, and then curled in anticipation. "So you're saying…I could face Drake, and we'd finally be on even ground…more or less."
Ahri chuckled. "Careful. That desire might make you
combust." She split from him then, and Wu Kong realized they'd made it to the practice field right behind the academy's main building. The front courtyard was currently filled with throngs of seemingly endless students clamoring for pizza, but those who had acquired their cheesy treat were already heading for the practice field, apparently just because there was a crowd around it.
Borge was already waiting, leaning on…the weirdest weapon Wu Kong had ever seen. It had nine prongs, each glowing with a different color of energy that Wu Kong assumed correlated to a different kind of magic. Borge was also fully armored in heavy orichalcum plate armor. For a level twenty five, he was rather well geared, something Wu Kong noticed was quite common at the academy. Low levels, but gear that usually required years of farming to acquire. Rich families didn't skimp, even on low level adventurer gear, and having decent gear, or not, easily displayed to everyone else who was swimming in Gil and nepotism, and who was not. By comparison, Wu Kong practically looked like a pauper in his level one Gi wielding his admittedly good, but still quite low level staff.
Borge laughed as Wu Kong took his spot. "I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt…you
are Drake Long's Disciple after all, but…you might as well wear paper. It would be just as effective in melee as that cloth. And what's with the pelt? Skin a Tigrid did you?"
Wu Kong didn't rise to the bait, but his eyebrow twitched. "No. I defeated a level seventy Rakshaza Raja, a Demon Tigrid, and ripped its pelt off with my bare hands when I defeated it." He fell into his Dragon Stance. "And now, I will defeat you, as well."
Borge snorted, his hot breath steaming in the cold autumn air. "You have no chance, Monkey!"
Wu Kong smirked, and gestured for Borge to bring it. "Come on then, Pigsy."
With a roar, Borge charged forward, but speed was now one thing Wu Kong had in abundance. His ankles flared with wisps of cloud and he stuck his tongue out, taunting the pig man as he zipped by. Confused as Wu Kong seemed to disappear, Borge slowed to a stop, looked around, then finally turned, to find the monkey smirking, arms crossed and leaning on his staff, planted in the ground some twenty feet away. "You know they started the fight, right?"
Snarling, Borge charged again, rake raised high as its shape shifted, and the prongs all lit with flame. A trio of Scorching Rays shot from the magic rake as it once more became properly rake shaped, but Wu Kong dodged each ray, his irritating monkey laugh building with each miss.
"Come on, Pigsy! Try melee! I won't last two seconds, right?"
"Coward! You just ran from me!" Borge roared back.
Wu Kong smirked. "I won't, this time. Monkey King's promise."
Borge charged forward again, and this time, so did Wu Kong. His expression turned serious as he dodged the first two rake swings, only to catch the third with his staff. "HAH!" Borge roared, "You're mine!" He brought the rake around down onto the ground, only to find Wu Kong was no longer trapped by it.
He was instead several feet in the air, rotating, building momentum. "MOUNTAIN CRUSHING BLOW!" Wu Kong shouted, as his Master had taught him. Apparently shouting Monk skills made them stronger, though Drake had been holding back a laugh when he'd said that, so Wu Kong doubted it was true, if his Master wanted to start a trend, who was he to stop him?
The staff came down hard on Borge, knocking him prone, and giving advantageous positioning to Wu Kong's stunning Dragon Palm, and follow up Flurry of Blows. When his attacks ended, Wu Kong flipped away, and Borge stood up, laughing darkly. "Looks like we found the Monk's weakness…" He snorted, and the dust around him parted. "Heavy Armor! RRRAH!"
His rake glowed with brown energy as he brought it over his head and into the field, shaking the surroundings and causing a massive surge of dirt and stone to rapidly head for Wu Kong through the ground. "Nimbus!" Wu Kong shouted, and the wisps around his feet formed into his trusty cloud as they brought him safely out of danger. Irritatingly, Pigsy was right. His punches, even doing radiant and fire damage, were laughable when they hit orichalcum heavy plate armor. He could rage, but he didn't want to lose control.
Thankfully, Drake
had told him what to do when his opponent's armor was simply too much for one's fist, and even one's weapon. Focus on the joints, the weakest part of any armor set, no matter how well crafted, and keep hitting them with flame aspected fists. Luckily, thanks to his studies which were just interesting enough for him to actually learn, he knew orichalcum was naturally resistant to fire, elements, pretty much everything, except radiant damage. The most well-refined orichalcum could withstand radiant as well, but it did not resist it, and that was the chink in the armor Wu Kong had to use.
Nimbus brought him around, shifting back to his 'boots', and propelling him across the field as a crimson monkey blur. Borge barely had time to react, and not before Wu Kong had focused a Flurry of Blows on his underarms. The boar kept his arms down, circling as the faster monkey zipped around him, but Wu Kong knew his button by now. He stopped in place, and wiggled his jiggly monkey posterior in the boarkin's face. "Come on Pigsy! Hit me already!"
Borge raised his rake, and Wu Kong was a blur again, as he took the bait. The Dragon Palm, now off cooldown, struck first, followed by multiple flurries of golden flame punches. Finally, as the barrage ended, Wu Kong saw the plate give, if only a little. It would be enough.
Borge was more careful about his underarms then, and his porky muscles kept Wu Kong from hitting them again as the fight continued. He was turning it into a contest of stamina between them, who would tire first, and dodge or strike carelessly. Borge was confident though, any tank could outlast a damage dealer. Wu Kong was feeling the strain, but Drake had fought him longer than this. Much longer. He was nowhere near his limit. Thus it was more boredom and irritation that made him want to end things. In his experience, long fights got boring when they devolved into contests like this. Thus, he changed strategies.
His speed got him inside Borge's guard, and once Wu Kong was in his space, his musky, monkey body was all over Borge, who was not prepared for that. He flailed uselessly. "Ahg! Wha- fucking Monkey! Get off m- WOAH!"
The crowd watched in awe as the tank's own weight was used to roll him through the air, and smash prone into the ground. Dazed from that, Borge realized too late that one of the monkey's powerful kicks had knocked one of his thicc arms upwards, exposing the spot in his armor that had started to buckle to Wu Kong's blows. His boar eyes widened, as he saw the monkey's palm, literally burning with power. Once again, for some reason, he called out the skill's name.
"BURNING….FINGER!" Wu Kong struck true, crushing the top left side of Borge's plate, but before the dazed fighter could even react, the monkey's other burning limb struck where the first had. "HEAT END!"
An explosion of flame sent Borge rolling across the field, smoking. Slowly though, he started getting up again. Wu Kong tried to get Elowir to call the match, but apparently as long as Borge was conscious, and willing, the match would continue. Irritated, Wu Kong stomped over towards the smoldering boar man. "Stay down, Pigsy. Know when you're roasted."
Borge snarled, and lunged with his facial tusks towards Wu Kong, but the monkey had raised his fingers to his mouth, curled them into a circle, and then focused his newest technique, one Drake had finally been able to pass on, once Wu Kong became one with fire. Firebending.
A torrent of flames washed over Borge, his health points fell, and he went unconscious. Class Eight's healers stepped in immediately, as Wu Kong ceased the flames, and the duel was classified as over by the system.
Ahri sashayed over to the victorious fighting monkey once Borge was conscious again. "As impressive as your Master. As I knew you would be. It seems like
something managed to light your soul aflame. You were positively burning in that battle…"
Wu Kong's brow furrowed slightly, as he saw the look in Ahri's eyes. He was done being toyed with, and what little Drake had shared on
le romance had advised him to be open and honest. So he was. "Hey, Ahri, do you want to go to the Everfeast with me tonight?"
It seemed their peers on the sidelines heard him, as a few of them had reactions. None was more priceless than Ahri's though. Her tails floofed in surprise, but she had a pleased smile. "I would, Wu Kong. If I know Florian, he'll have a song ready for tonight…and I'd bet Gil you'll be in it." Her tails brushed his chin as she sauntered past him. "I'll meet you by Papa Falkor's an hour after the last bell."
As Ahri headed for the girl's dorms, Elowir spoke up. "I think we're all satisfied by that display, Wu Kong. Now then, get to your next classes. Just tell them old Elowir held you all up again." The students of Class Eight groaned, but accepted his words. It was not uncommon for those assigned to Elowir's homeroom to be late for their lessons, but he'd done this for so long, so often, that verbal confirmation was enough for most Instructors to let it slide.
As Wu Kong embraced his first day of proper classes, that gorgeous and now conspicuously absent fox girl was not far from his mind. His Master, who had watched his duel with pizza in hand, was also impressed. His disciple had left an imprint on the student psyche; Monks were legit, viable even against heavy armor, his one worry was that future Monks wouldn't have his or Wu Kong's speed. He made a mental note to make teaching Step of the Wind a mandatory first skill to learn. It was an encounter power, but its cooldown was short enough that it could often be used multiple times in a fight.
He'd also noted another flaw for future students. Without enhanced speed, even Step of the Wind would only do so much. Monks were, technically, capable of wearing up to leather armor and still had access to their skills. Even Drake had fitted runite plates into his robes, sewing them in via his Omnicrafting, and raising the defenses his robe provided. Not everyone would have access to runite though, lightweight and second in durability to orichalcum, it was still used primarily for heavy armor making.
No, his Monks would need something they could gather themselves, which was fairly common, and that meant leather. Drake spent the rest of the day, until the Everfeast kicked off, reading up on how Class based armor sets actually worked, only to discover that, apparently, it was the Grandmasters who were, historically, responsible for designating what kind of armor was best suited for their followers. Mages had stuck with the same arcane-infused robes as Galdurath. Monster Hunters varied armor types based on weapons. Melee classes typically went for heavy plate or half plate, while everyone else was medium or lower.
Drake decided that he would make their sets personally, once he could trust that they were worthy disciples. More than that, he would tailor them to the path each Monk chose, with a beginner, middle rank, and high tier set for each path. It would take time and materials, but as an Omnicrafter he could create the blueprints for what he needed, match the sets to the appropriate paths Monks could take, and make the required materials something that they had to gather. By the time the day was turning to orange, Arcadia's equivalent of a sunset, his first tiers of each path were saved, and he was quite satisfied. He passed them on to Galdurath, who praised him for embracing his Grandmaster duties so seriously, and then reminded him to have fun.
Several Hours Later…
The streets of Primus were
pulsing with people. Species of all kinds and variations mixed together in a joyful throng of celebration. For Florian, it was an inconvenience. He'd barely been able to study for his final exams of his final year, busy as he was with his song compositions. He wasn't really worried about grades though. He just needed to graduate, and that would be credit enough, along with his songs. His latest work, despite being crafted inside of two days, was turning out as desired: racially insensitive, yet absurdly catchy.
"Ohhh the Monk and the Monkey…" He hummed to himself, as he entered the backstage of the Everfeast's main performance area. Situated in the exact center of Primus, and not all that far from the academy, it hosted the yearly celebratory events, and had done so for millennia. It was no secret that the Gods themselves frequented that space, and as such, it had gained a kind of holiness to it, as it was considered both sacred, but free to party on, during festivities.
Laurelin was just finishing her speech, before taking her regular seat beside her husband at their own table, elevated and adjacent to the stage. "Eradication is never something I've sought, in answer to our Monster problem. Despite what my own Priesthood says, I have never and will never give up on those souls who were corrupted into Monster forms by my son. But this is a new Age…and Eradication can come in many forms. As we enter what will undoubtedly be turbulent times, remember what we've taught you: the Arc Wardens are your protectors, but they are also your warriors. Their attacks can be large, and quite dangerous. If you see Monsters, get as far away from them as you can, and your defenders will eliminate them. If you can't run, then hide, somewhere with cover, and hold there until the fighting stops. Our Adventurers
will find you."
Someone from the crowd shouted, their voice amplified by magic. "And what if they don't? What if the Monsters win?"
Galdurath spoke next, something he rarely did at what was classically his wife's festival, but this was an historic moment in Arcadia's history. The first commoner-to-God interface since a Demon Lord manifested in the supposedly impenetrable heart of Arcadian society. Their people needed guidance from both of them. "Find a weapon. Muster what spells and defenses you can…and make them pay for every inch while understanding two things: you will be Avenged, and your souls will have a place of Honor in Eldarheim. Your Arc Wardens are not infallible. They will fail to arrive in time, or lose, because it has been Ages since the Monsters have actively fought us. Many of you will perish in this Age. More than once. But I promise you…this will be the end of this threat to our paradise. One way or another, this will be the last Age of Arcadia tainted by Demons and Monsters!"
The crowd roared in approval, and the Gods took their seats as the stage's curtains were drawn. Magitech instruments were being set up, with an obvious space for Florian.
Florian smirked, as he saw the two Monks, waiting as asked. They were in almost identical black and finely Omnicrafted clothes, and were a rather striking pair. Florian was even more sure of his choice of song now. "There you are. Thank you for coming, my Monkly friends. I'm going to need you both up top on the scaffolding to either side of the stage. All you have to do, is…vibe, and react naturally to the lyrics. Do that, and I'm sure we'll all have a great time. Oh…and change into your combat gear. You especially, Drake. People love your robe. They're dying to know who made it."
Drake smirked at Florian. He'd expected something like this, but as the Bard asked, so he obliged. "Laurelin made it." He said, as if that was a completely normal answer.
Florian just shook his head. "Of course she did. Go on now. Up!"
As the Monks took their places, roars filled the backstage, mostly for Drake, but Wu Kong had also set the city abuzz, mostly on the academy's grounds, but gossip traveled fast in the world's largest city, and Wu Kong was just an interesting monkey in general.
"Ladies…and gentlemaaaan!" Florian's voice filled the air as the cheers finally lessened. "For this start of my favorite Holiday, I've been asked to sing something new, to you, the fine people of Primus!" More cheering followed, and Florian continued, "Without further ado, I give you….The Monk…and the Monkey!"
(Which y'all can enjoy by hitting the link at the top.)
"Ooooohhhhhh!
From the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit heee came…
A Siminid bold, with a heart the saaame!
Head held high, through mist and flaaame,
Bound for Primus to stake his claaaiiiimm!
Drake and Wu Kong shared a look, as they both simultaneously started nodding along to the beat.
Through Primus's streets and the Tower's glow,
He sought the Monk they'd all come to knooow!
He bowed low and said with a grin,
"Please teach me, Master, I'm all iiiin!"
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkey, striiike as one!
One seeks calm, the other stuns!
Peace and Chaos! Fist and Flame!
Arcadia will never be the saaame!
The two Monks shared a look, and nodded. Florian was singing alongside several magically animated instruments, and even floating magic mouths who were handling the chorus. But now, the crowd knew it too.
They whisper tales of the Monk's strange ways…
Of chores and trials through endless daaays!
Yet through it all, the Monkey stayyed,
And proved in the end his training payyyed!
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkeyyyy!
They smell kinda funkyyy!
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkeyyyy!
Burning bright for all to seeee!
Hearing that line, both Monks not so subtly sniffed their gear. Drake's smelled like Rose, who true to her namesake smelled similar to roses. White ones specifically. Wu Kong however, made a face, and nodded. His Gi did indeed smell a bit funky after training and fighting in it. The crowd ate their reactions up with laughter, as Florian continued.
A flash of light and the world turned stiiill!
Home again, by his Master's wiiill!
But smoke rose high, where old friends died...
And fire burned in the Monkey's eyes!
The Leonid's shield, the Maiden's light!
All were awed by their Mage's miiight!
The Monk unleashed his beams of Ki!
And the Monkey cried, "What about meeee!?"
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkeyyyy!
They smell kinda funkyyy!
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkeyyyy!
Burning bright for all to seeee!
As Florian hit that final note, Wu Kong, whose brow had twitched through the past few verses, suddenly became engulfed in flame. It was a costly skill, one that burned magic, and technically wasn't classified as a skill by the system. He was just igniting his Ki completely, all at once, and maintaining the flames with his magic. But he did burn brightly. Once more, the crowd roared in approval as Florian continued.
The Rakshaza's roar shook his mountain hooome!
From fruit bearing tree, to hidden stone…
Wounded, outmatched, the foul knave fled!
But the Monkey wanted to bash him on his heaaaad!
"Wait!" Drake cried as he dashed ahead,
"If you split the party, you'll soon be deaaad!"
Drake doubled over in laughter. He had a new appreciation for Florian's talents. He was directly quoting what Drake had told him, as well as what the others had said about the initial fight with the Rakshaza. But Wu Kong was still seemingly the focus, as the song was about the Monk, and the monkey. Genius.
A name to the clouds our Monkey roared!
Down from above, the Nimbus soooaared!
He sped away at the speed of light,
Determined to finally end this fiiiight!
Wu Kong took that as a cue to leap into the air on the Nimbus, and the crowd whooped. He beat his chest, and screeched, which oddly enough flowed well into Florian's next lines.
Ooo! Ooo! AH! AH! Hear him cry!
Smoke and sorrow in the skyyy!
Ooo! Ooo! AH! AH! Monkey King Riiiise!
WU KONG roars and Demons diiie!
Wu Kong landed again, and flexed for the crowd, who were all about his antics. Drake just watched, grooving in place as the beat shifted, and a legend was born before his eyes.
In a cavern of ancient stone…
Wu Kong faced the fiend alone,
The Demon turned, its courage gone,
But the Monkey raged till the beast was doooone!
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkey, striiike as one!
One seeks caaalm, the other stuns!
Peace and Chaos! Fist and Flame!
Arcadiaaa will never be the saaame!
This time, both Monks simultaneously Crane Kicked in time to the chorus, followed by Drake bowing in the traditional Kung Fu style, while Wu Kong activated his Dragon Palm on empty air. As the crowd whooped and cheered their antics on, Florian shifted the tone again.
Upon his waist he wears the pelt…
A reminder of the rage he feeelt!
The beast was slain, the day was won!
Now the Monkey King desires fuuun!
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkeyyyy!
They smell kinda funkyyy!
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkeyyyy!
Burning bright for all to seeeeEEEEE!
Ohhh, the Monk and the Monkey, striiike as one!
One seeks caaalm, the other stuns!
Peace and Chaos, Fist and Flame!
Arcadiaaa will never beee… the saaaame!"
Both Drake and Wu Kong started shining through the last two verses, Wu Kong with his flames and firebending, and Drake with his Godsight, and Light cantrip that, until this moment, he'd never bothered to use.
The crowd went insane, for lack of a better word. It seemed like the entire city was screaming for an encore. Florian did the
Monk and the Wolf, but as soon as it was over, Wu Kong hyped them into chanting, 'MON-KEY! MON-KEY! MON-KEY!' and Florian relented.
This time, the Monks were ready for their part, they made a show of pointing at each other when the matter of their smell came up, did various martial poses when they literally struck as one. It was almost terrifying hearing what had to be the entire city chanting the 'oo oo ah ah' along with Wu Kong.
Drake remained composed throughout, both because that was his role, and that was just how he was. For most of Primus, this was their first time seeing the mysterious Hero turned Pizza Baron in the flesh. It was also the first time anyone really noticed Wu Kong, and of course, by the final chorus he was jiggling his giant monkey ass when it came time to 'stun' the crowd.
Florian went hard on the final line, and once again, the crowds went wild. He quickly disappeared before they made him do another encore. Drake simply jumped off the scaffolding, prompting a scream or two of alarm, but he made a show of suddenly flying at the last second by making his robe flare. He let his Godsight flare up, bowed again with his fist to his open palm, and then exited the stage.
Not to be outdone, Wu Kong activated the Nimbus and flew around the crowd, ultimately landing by Rose, Ahri, and what looked like Classes Seven and Eight standing around them.
Backstage, a very tired, magically drained, and hoarse Florian was getting some healing and magic renewal from the waiting staff. "I have to say…I like this song a lot better than the first one Florian."
Florian waved the attendants away, and bowed with faux modesty. "I aim to please. Your ballad will be even More epic. Once I finish it."
Drake nodded. He'd heard rumors Florian had been cooking another song about him, but in fairness to the Bard, it wasn't like he could just ignore Drake's feats. "If you need any more from me, just let me know. I love an accurate Bard ballad."
Florian took him up on that immediately. "Your early history. Nobody has
Anything on you, your home town, or how you grew up. It's honestly the biggest roadblock I've hit. Can't have a ballad without an introduction."
Drake nodded. "I have a feeling this party will be moving to my Leisure Sphere later. Come on by, we'll get you something for your throat and…I'll tell you the whole truth of it. And it's
vitally important that we get across the Truth, Florian. This song, like my deeds, will echo across the ages. I'll make sure of it."
