Mag Beast Leveling

Otto Dhananog lost that thought in his head. As a low-ranking Guardian, he was assigned to wander the outskirts of the city, looking for signs of Mag Beast activity.

The creatures had been getting bolder in the past few weeks, and Vincent's superiors were on high alert.

Though the sun shone bright, he had donned his tattered leather armor his sword felt comfortably heavy at his hip.

It was a pathetic defense against the monsters that prowled in the dark, but it was all he possessed.

Vincent always wanted to be a great Guardian, to protect the city from the Mag Beasts that wanted to devour this place.

But up to that point, he had seen little action and even less success.

Vincent caught a glimpse of a cloud of dust coming up from the wreckage of a castle around the corner.

His heart raced, and he neared the entry, hand already on the hilt of his sword.

He had heard tales of this place some said that a mighty Mag Beast roamed the halls, hunting for unwary adventurers.

Vincent braced himself and walked in.

He mumbled under his breath, grabbing a scarf to cover his mouth before venturing deeper into the dank halls of the castle.

His eyes were adjusting to the dim light as he walked cautiously.

Then there was a loud roar through the halls, and Vincent went cold.

The sword leapt from his side, slicing through the darkness like an old friend.

A huge thing appeared, its form a writhing mass of scales and claws. It was a Goremaw, one of the most feared Mag Beasts to this day.

He rushed forward, chopping his sword in wide sweeps.

But, however brave he was, Vincent knew he could not fight this beast alone. He required something else something that would allow him to gain an advantage against these Hellish beasts.

It was almost as if destiny had smiled upon him, for amongst the forgotten relics, Vincent discovered a set of ancient ruins that held the key to answers he desperately sought.

The creature was closing in for the kill when all of a sudden...

Vincent could feel it: an energy like nothing he had ever experienced before two worlds crashing into each other inside him.

"Vira," an angelic voice inside him said.

And then there was white all around.

When the white light dissipated around him, he was back in the ruins but the scene had changed.

The Goremaw was still there, a waiting maw, gaping and poised to strike.

But Vincent felt... changed.

And then he looked down at his hands and saw not only that they were glowing with a weird and faint, blue light.

He still felt the Jay he had felt moments before running through his veins, and he was aware that he had a new strength inside.

The Goremaw attacked, and Vincent raised his hands reflexively.

To his amazement, a surge of energy erupted from his palms and hit the creature with extreme force. The Goremaw staggered back, allowing Vincent to strike.

Reassured, Vincent hurled himself at the creature, blade flashing in the gloom. But as he struggled, he began to sense that his movements were no longer entirely his own. Or, rather, something else was in charge of him, making his arms and legs move with a precision and power he had not previously believed possible.

The fight was fierce but brief. But Vincent was free of the creature, and with the power of the Wyrm now, he was able to kill the Goremaw, delivering the killing blow.

As the beast faded away, Vincent fell onto one knee, gasping for air.

He glanced at his hands again, and the glow was gone.

But for now he could still sense it, a presence inside himself that was apparently biding its time.

"Vira," he whispered again, recalling the voice from earlier.

Then, all at once, he heard the visions in his mind of ancient lands and things he had never encountered in his life before.

He envisioned a world where humans and Mag Beasts lived together peacefully, and another where they were forever at war with one another.

But as soon as they start, the visions wave and fade away, leaving Vincent dizzy and confused.

Just as he was trying to process his experience, he was snapped out of his thoughts by a flickering form next to him: a girl, or rather, a woman, mostly of elementals, formed and swarmed around her like autumn leaves in a gentle gust.

Ape, you have been chosen," she said, "to wield my power."

Staring at the mysterious being that introduced itself as Vira, Vincent didn't know what to say or if to even trust her.

Vincent's mind was spinning with questions as he gazed at Vira.

Who was this enigmatic entity? What did she mean by "chosen"? And what power was she referring to?

The quintessence of her is now almost shifting and flowing by the very elements themselves, grating on the nerves that made it impossible for Vincent to even concentrate upon any one part of Vira.

Her eyes were steady and calm, yet they held an unnerving intensity, looking directly at him.

You have been made meat from my stream, my retribution," she said again, absently like a summer wind.

I am a primordial Mag Beast, one of the oldest and strongest of my ilk, and as all such beasts, I am not easily forgotten.

And you are the secret ingredient, Vincent Fuske, the key to unlocking my true potential.

Vincent's eyes widened, working to process the meaning of what Vira had just said. He had long known that Mag Beasts were indeed wondrous beasts but had never heard of a Mag Beast that could bestow its power upon a human.

"How?" he finally asked, his voice just above a whisper.

"How can I wield your power?"

Vira shifted forms once more, extending a hand of swirling air and water.

She placed her hand on Vincent's forehead, and images bombarded him.

At that moment he envisioned himself melting with Vira, and a strong shiver ran down his back.

He watched as they battled on their side, side by side, slaughtering the Mag Beasts with a cruelty and efficiency reminiscent of the best members of The Order.

He was inspired.

The images faded with as much intensity as they came on, and Vincent was left reeling.

Emphasizing the word 'merging': "What do you mean by merging?" the answer Vira gave him, struggling to process what he had just witnessed.

Vira knew her form stabilized a little when she looked at him calmly.

"Our forms become one when we merge," she said. You have the power of my power. Together, we are stronger than we could ever know apart."

Vincent's mind spun at the implications of what Vira had said.

He had been raised to see Mag Beasts only as the monsters to be fought and slain. And yet now… now they might just be the key to his own survival.

Regular Guy: Okaay, Niko, vikkel.

I guess not everyone can be a genius like you! Vira: Aww, how sweet! All this attention, you make me feel like a rock star! Hadir: Laughs.

"What's the point of this for you, exactly?" Vincent asked warily, unsure whether to trust this mystical being.

Vira looked at him calmly before replying in measured tones.

She stated simply, though cryptically, that "I gain my freedom from who I am right now.

"Freedom from what?"

Her eyes just flitted away into space.

"My prison"

Then she heard peals of thunder nearby growing quite loud, well indicating some great beast was nearing.