God Rising: Battle Of Atela 75 Oopsies Xd Do Not Unlock This Chapter

"What you're saying is that someone locked up my powers?" 

Ludovic shrugged, "Just a guess. I learnt something about that from my Father's research." 

"What was the research about?"

Ludovic wasn't sure if he should let him know too much about the things his father kept covered up. Especially because he was a Livingston descendant.

"Please tell me. I really want to build my strength and be able to use my magic."

Ludovic turned around, "Hm" He stroked his chin "Well—" He stressed on the word before telling him the condition he had to meet "Look forward, you'll see a mountain, and a dead tree at the pinnacle." 

Darren tilted his head and could perceive what the wolfman was pointing. A dominating mountain that soared upward as if determined to kiss Walhalla and challenge the sky. 

"I can see it…"

"Go to the top and come back...Alive." 

"W-what?" the mention of the word 'alive' frightened Darren. It implied going up there could kill him.

"You want to be strong, go to the top, get a twig and bring it to the bar. You have before midnight to do so. Fail your task and forget about ever being strong. Well, see yah" He wasn't a beastkid, Ludovic didn't want to treat him like one.  

Darren clenched his fists and gave what might be his last look at Ludovic's home. Then he switched his gaze to the green mountain. 

He walked through the courtyard stables and pa.s.sed the pecking chickens, making way for the forest paths leading to the high rock.

There was no trace of civilisation in the wilderness apart from a worn out path that snaked through the blanket of gra.s.s.  He thought minimal about the wet mud that adhered to his boots, the brutal breeze, hard leaves and mossy obstacles. He thought more on the distance he had to cover in order to reach the top.

Darren lifted his eyes to the sky, touched his fingers to his lips and offered a kiss heaven-bound. Maybe it might not be so hard as it looks. Just another regular mountain the same as all the others, just one boot hold, one handhold at a time - no more, no less. 

He wrapped his fingers around the first cold rocky outcrop, his fingers making firm contact. His mind only had room for victory and the next movement for each limb. As the breeze blew around his disheveled hair, he continued advising himself to not surrender, yet the farther he got, the more it was difficult to climb with his bare hands. 

Part way up, the cloud prevented him from seeing the peak. He cast his right eye to see how much progress he'd made since noon, and he could no longer see the clear river below. He looked up again, anxious to get to the top,, and claim the twig that was his motivation.

He didn't want to think too much of the total distance to a summit, so he wouldn't stress too much on why he hadn't reached the peak. He followed his theory of one step at a time until he's eventually done.

More time pa.s.sed, and his fingers already ached, and his nails had split a lot from the contact with the hard surface. He didn't know how long he could hold on, but he forced himself to keep moving because tumbling to his death was certainly not a decent alternative

As he finally reached the summit, his eyes opened wide, and he regained composure. The beauty and the thinness of the air overtook his senses. It was so beautiful. He allowed his eyes to trace the sinking sun, and the distant hills towering above the horizon. His sense of awe enhanced, and a smile came to his face as he remembered his childhood. 

Vincent and his friends had hiked so many times, but they never allowed him because they claimed he was too weak and useless. They'd already crowned Vincent the king of the mountain, and he had the authority to pick who would and who would not go with him. 

But that day, atop the rocky surface, Darren raised his arms in triumph. "King of the Mountain" was one t.i.tle he loved the most as a beastkid and now was the "king" of the highest mountain he'd ever seen. 

"I did it," He whispered to himself, his purple lips curved upward in gaiety. "I really did it. I am on top of the world!" The climb to the peak had been a long one. Faltering over rocks and slipping on pebbles, but it was worth it. He doubted himself while climbing, but the beastman blood coursing in his veins proved there's still hope for him, and his hidden potential would soon be unlocked.

A thirst for more experience and the joy of achieving goals awakened in his heart and flowed out to every point in his body, making him want to run straight into the embrace of what the future had in store for him. 

He glanced back down the rocky trail he'd climbed and realised it might be too early to celebrate. He turned his attention to the tree standing mute and enjoying the view from its place at the top. 

He placed his hand against the ancient bark, and his eyes rested on the chaotic patterns. He pulled out a small twig, then positioned himself to climb down. 

The harsh evening wind whips around him, and he barely could hold on to the rocks. He inhaled to calm himself and made sure he didn't panic too much. "c.r.a.p." He clawed the rocks after he slipped, but it wasn't good enough. For a full half-minute he went downward at a speed that constricted his throat so he could hardly draw breath.

His perception of time distorted, everything was a dark haze, and he braced himself for the pain coming. The impact made his bones move in a way that it shouldn't. Without looking, he could tell there was blood seeping from skin that was smooth before he started his task. At the moment, it was just him, and the sky above, the sky that seemed to swallow him whole.

He was tempted to close his eyes and surrender. His body hurt too much to move, his clothes were torn, his skin dirty, red and weeping. "I'm a dire wolf of the Livingston household… I am stronger than this" He forced himself back on his feet, clutching his broken arm, and dragging his worn out legs.

He moved away from the mountains and followed the dirt path leading to town. He pa.s.sed by what looked like white cattle grazing in the shadows, then he came across a stream he had to pa.s.s to get to the other side.

He braced his feet, attempting to guard against the inevitable rolling in random directions, but his ankles tumbled left and right regardless. His boots were soaked, and so were his eyes. He refused to let the tears run, he'd keep them in there no matter what.

"Oh, look who's shown up…" Ludovic was surprised Darren made it. And from his present state, it seemed like he fell. The Prince moved towards the older wolf and plopped the twig on the table.

"Tell me...please" He winced as he took a seat. 

"You did well, young lad. Now drink up" He put the twig into a cup full of water, and with the fire from his fingertips, he heated it until it was bubbling hot.

"Don't blow, drink it at once." 

Darren couldn't imagine the pain he'd get from a hot liquid tasting like a burned out twig. It would burn his throat and tongue, but he didn't have much of a choice. There were a lot of things he wanted to learn and know. He couldn't let go of a chance, no matter what he had to pa.s.s through.

Ludovic watched him drink it all, and soon his body stopped aching and his wounds closed up. It didn't burn while drinking it, maybe it was like the pearl of the fountain, it wasn't to cause pain; it was to relieve people of it.

"You were lucky you survived the fall, and you should be happy because you didn't only survive, but it also spared you time." Ludovic called over a young girl, and she bowed once she got close to the table, before dropping a jug full of pomace wine.

When the Liquid settled to Darren's cupid lips, the ale burned on the way down and he spluttered like a child. Everyone had their eyes on the masked bestman after his little display, and to make up for his foolishness, he downed the rest in one-go and asked for another. 

"This isn't a place to look soft. It could get you in a whole world of trouble." Ludovic advised before closing his eyes to dwell on the flavour of the amber fluid settling in his mouth.

"I'll reward you more. Pick any girl, a maximum of two, and go to the room around the corner." 

"W-what?" Darren's face was closed to revealing how sensitive and flushed he could get by the mention of things.

"What's Wrong?" Ludovic narrowed his brows, and he grimaced once he realised the reason for Darren's whimsical response to s.e.x.

"You're a VIRGIN?!!" he made sure the last words were loud enough for everyone to hear, and Darren could already hear the m.u.f.fled laughter of some beastmen behind him.

"Please keep your voice down." 

"BUT YOU'RE A VIRGIN!!!" 

"Fine...fine...I'll pick…"

"But that still makes you a—" 

"Please don't." 

"Virgin" He whispered before he winked. 

Part II

Darren gazed at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. He remembered everything that happened the night before. His cheeks burned with embarra.s.sment. He was too stunned, flushed and hesitant to do much at first. But the moment the girls noted the impressive hard line in his pants, they dropped to their knees, reached out with s.h.i.+very fingers to feel him and the evidence of his appeal under their fingertips, and the taste of it as well.

His fingers played through their short hair, one blonde, and the other brown. He tucked it behind their ears, stroked the sides of their face tenderly as they drove their lips down to the very base of him. His eyes drifted shut while they kept on lapping their tongue and sucking him. 

They took turns, straddled him, sank down on him slowly. The touch of their lips painted insistent swirls on his body, and they clutched at his lush, black hair. They bobbed their hips eagerly, and a streamy gush of pleasure filled their lower body. And now, they were living the aftermath.

He inspected the girls that were still fast asleep. He felt guilty because he remembered Artemis, but the blonde beside him had no similarities whatsoever. She was the opposite, but still reminded him too much of the rude slave. 

He wondered how she was, where she was, If someone was doing the same thing to her. "Why should I care?" He shook his head.

"She doesn't merit my consideration or the most diminutive of my concerns." He murmured.

He got up, covered the girls, then left the room.

"Looks who's no longer a VIRGIN!" Ludovic waited outside for him the whole time. Darren waved a hand, "Morning." He knew what he would ask, so he answered before he'd speak, "It was good."

"Huh?" Ludovic c.o.c.ked his head "What a boring expression."

"I'd prefer to do this with someone I love." 

"Tch" He turned his head to the side "Stop acting like a preteen, enjoy life, enjoy women. Who cares about love?" He rolled his eyes, "Is there someone you love?" 

"Someone I love…" Artemis crossed his mind, and he smirked, "No. But there is someone I detest." 

Ludovic put his arm around Darren's shoulder and the two of them moved out, "Ladies, s.e.x and Ale are part of our tradition. Forget about love, focus more on the sinful desires."

The two beastmen returned to the house, and Darren refreshed himself. 

"Hey, big guy" Jukel tapped Darren's leg, and the prince looked down at the little fox boy.

"Yes?"

"Uncle Ludovic said you should meet him at the secret base. Whatever that is. Goodbye" He waved before Darren could ask questions about what the secret base was. He pondered for a minute until he understood what the kit meant. He scurried to the courtyard for the next segment of his training.

"Oh, h.e.l.lo" Ludovic was surprised at how fast he got to their so-called base. "You really want to be strong. I like your guts." 

"About... the... secret of the magic lock, sir" He rested on his knees as he panted. He didn't get the chance to ask him properly, but now they were alone, it was a perfect opportunity.

Ludovic moved to a sword bounded by a black leather, then tossed it at Darren. "I'll answer your questions. Right now, focus on getting stronger." 

He wanted to protest, but he forced his mouth short. 

"As I thought, you don't know how to hold a sword properly. You'll have a firm hold on the sword by gripping it this way, and it would make it difficult for your opponent to knock it out of your hand." Ludovic hefted his own sword, and Darren copied his pose. His feet were splayed at right angles, and he faced his hips towards Darren. The lad noted every detail and move the older wolf made.

"There are eight angles of attack. Simple movements, but complex for beginners. It's best if you practice it whenever you're not at the bar." 

He called each movement, as he swung his sword with ease, and Darren tried to keep up with his pace.

Straight down from the top,

Straight up from the bottom, 

Diagonally down to the left, 

Diagonally down to the right, 

Diagonally up from the left, 

Diagonally up from the right, 

Left and right strikes horizontally.

They did it three times, and Darren could already feel his muscles ache. Never had it thought of how hard it was. They'd started at noon, and so much time had pa.s.sed since they started the melee practice. 

Darren sat on a warm rock to rest, Lodovic finally allowed him to.

Amazed by how the older wolf still looked active despite the long training, the prince stared at him, admiring and wis.h.i.+ng he'd also be that way. And he'd also rub it in Artemis's face (that's if he ever sees her again)

"Ludovic." 

He raised a brow at the sudden mention of his name "Nani?" 

"You asked me if there's someone I love, and I answered. So what about you? Your brother's married and has beastkids, did you ever love someone?" 

"Nice question" He clicked his fingers, and a grin spread across his face 

"Let's have a little talk, like buddies or comrades." He leaned against the rock and stabbed the sword into the ground, "When I was still a cub, I moved here because of some reasons a.s.sociated with the decisions of the Alchemy Legion."

"Was your father part of the Alchemy Legion?" His question was uncalled for, and it was clear by Ludovic's sudden silence, he wasn't going to answer because he hated when someone disturbs his story telling.

"I'm sorry" Darren apologized "Please carry on."

"You're not aware of my distaste for interruptions, but I'll let it go. Repeat the same mistake, and you wouldn't like what follows," His voice went to a threatening tone, and Darren took full note of what to do and what to never do.

"Now where was I? Oh, about my love life. After I left the wolf domain, I settled here with my bro and my deceased mother. You see, my mother had been with my brother and I, unlike my father that was busy with his private affairs. He barely came to visit, and even if he did, he wouldn't talk to us, he'd come home to screw my mom, then leave for months. My brother and I tried our best to support my mother financially, so we came up with an idea of a bar."

A sweat formed on Darren's temple. He asked about his love life, but he got his life story instead.

"When we turned fifteen, my brother and I started off as masked thieves of the night, and we made sure words were never told our mother. We used the money we got from pick pocketing and robbing to start up a bar. All we had at first was a plank of wood suspended between two oil drums in the same area it is today. As you can see, it's a big success, and at a young age, we were already making our momma happy. We grew older, and that's when my first love came to town. She was just eighteen, and the most astonis.h.i.+ng I'd ever met." As he talked he remembered when he first contacted her eyes. They were a deep pool of restless gold, and it was a mirror of her soul within.

"Her father was a tailor. I reaped my clothes apart just to see her. She'd run errands for her dad, help take my measurements, and would hold her head high despite her financial situation. Her b.o.o.bs" He moved his hands "Those b.o.o.bs were beautiful, but it's bad for me to talk about her that way now."

Darren wondered why, but he didn't want to ask. Surely, Ludovic would tell him. 

"We got closer, and closer, and it felt as if I had a special place in her heart. My brother too was also telling me about a girl he liked, and how close they were. Never have we thought of falling in love, but it happened, and we were happy. The day I finally confessed, bought flowers, and headed to her home to ask for her hand in marriage, someone beat me to it. And it was no one other than my brother. Lucky enough, my presence wasn't detected, I can't imagine the embarra.s.sment I'd have faced."

"Then that means…" Darren couldn't help but contribute to the story.

"Yes, Maria was my first love," What a plot twist.

A chilly wind pa.s.sed them by, and their hair moved to the direction of the pressure.

"They both got married without knowing about my s.h.i.+tty feelings. Believe me, I was hurt for days, jealous, and full of regrets, but there was nothing I could do. I love my brother, and my mom, they were all I had. All that was left to do was accept the turns of things, and my t.i.tle as her brother-in-law." 

"I can relate…" 

"Hm," Ludovic stroked his chin "What did Sir Vincent do to you this time?" 

"I once loved to, but she didn't have the same feelings like I did. She was sleeping with my brother…"

"Maybe she didn't want to be with a VIRGIN, before you'd both be asking each other how to have s.e.x  on your wedding night, or call your parents to show you how to do it."

Darren sighed, "I envy him."

"It's normal. But, you're young, and there are a lot of girls out there, move on from whoever the chick is."

"Why didn't you move on then?" 

"I didn't want to love again, but I liked the idea of settling down, and having a pack of cubs running around the house. My brother brought up questions about the girl I always talked about, and I always told him she didn't belong to me anymore. In fact, she never did. So I will die a lonely man, but my brother's sons will preserve our family name for generations to come."

"Is it too late to find love, Mr Ludovic?"

"Beats me. I haven't thought much about it until now. I actually liked our conversation. If I had a son, I'd be giving him life advice like this one." He got up, did a brief stretch before heading for the town roads.

 "It's almost time to go to the bar. I'll see you there." Darren waved back at Ludovic and watched him leave, then he switched his gaze to the sword, "With time, I'll be better. With time, I'll prove to everyone I can be a good swordsman like my brother…"

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