NOVEL FROG 24: Fresh Air
Kai emerged from darkness into the sky island two days later. He was expecting clear skies, grass, and fresh air. Instead, he found himself wedged between two cliffs, standing at the bottom of the dark ravine he’d literally passed through when he fell from the sky weeks ago. Looking behind him, he examined what he’d just stepped through, it looked like a tear in the fabric of reality. Did it lead deeper into Earth or another planet entirely? While curious he had other problems to deal with. Learning what he’d just been inside, while important, was not at the top of his list. Kai cracked his neck and checked the timer on the trial.
Sovereign’s Odyssey
Trial 1: The Strength to Survive
Objectives: Place within the top 3000.
Your position: ?/521,908 with ? trial tokens.
Bonus tokens: E-Soul, Level 40, Slay 50 humanoids, Conquer incursion.
Time left: 17 of 30 days.
Failure: No protection at the reaping.
Reward: Title, Disciple Candidate, plus variable bonus rewards.
He had 17 days left to achieve as many bonus tokens as possible and place in the top 3000. He decided to remain focused on leveling up plus improving his soul for now. Kai looked skyward; sunlight pierced the dark ravine which was scattered with floating obsidian boulders he had not noticed before. Bubbles of water jiggled near them, popping like thunder when they touched the large boulders. It reminded him of some of the aspects of the Sage’s he’d encountered deep within the grotto. Kai supposed it was perhaps a subtle clue as to what might be within.
Kai bounced up and down on the balls of his feet to warm up before he launched himself into the air. This shouldn’t be too hard, decrease. He ascended the ravine by jumping between boulders and the sides of the ravine, he rocketed out the top after a few minutes.
Kai soared through the air and smiled when sunlight embraced him like an old friend. His knees buckled as his calloused feet kissed the soft woodland grass. He stretched his arms, enjoying the caress of a gentle breeze on his skin. He listened to birds chittering. His quivering lips tasted moisture in the no longer stale air. A tear escaped down his cheek. I made it.
A panicked squeak broke him from his reverie.
Bursting out the underbrush, he saw a fox with hawk-like wings. In its jaws was a humanoid creature half his height, some kind of raccoon with black and white fur — wearing farmer’s clothes.
As the fox glided—bolted past Kai, he noticed the limp creature in its maw clung to a burlap sack with white knuckles as mushrooms tumbled from it.
Noticing Kai, its eyes blossomed into saucers of hope.
“Help!” the creature yelped.
Kai stood there, dumbfounded. A talking raccoon had just yelled at him for help. He let out a strangled laugh, releasing pent-up tension and frayed nerves. Kai’s legs were pounding through the thick and rich pine woodlands before he could process the situation. He had other priorities but at the same time he couldn’t just let an anima—someone who’d asked for help die.
My morals or Apex explorer trait is going to get me killed.
Yup yup.