Tower of Fate - Chapter 17: A Bird of Prey (Patreon)

Running felt amazing. I had so much pent-up energy and speed that I caught up with Sebastian and Rebecca in less than a minute. Both of them pretended to be nonchalant about it, but I could tell they were relieved that I’d come.

After a while, they paused to catch their breath while I waited. A few seconds later, Hugo caught up with us, huffing and puffing. I shook my head. Before we’d leveled up, he’d had no problem keeping up with me.

“How many points did you put into dexterity or constitution?” I asked him.

Hugo cocked his head to the side, puzzled. “I’m a magic build. Why would I waste the points?”

“Because by the time you catch up to a fight, it’ll already be over. Seriously, you’ve got to be able to keep up with me. What are your stats, anyway?”

[Lucas requesting stat view of companion Hugo? Y/N]

Well, that’s convenient. I said yes but when nothing happened, I asked, “did you get the prompt?”

“Look, it’s not a big deal. I just got carried away,” he replied, sounding nervous.

“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Hugo sighed and selected yes in order to let me see his stats.

[Access granted to companion’s stat page]

Suddenly there was an option in the stats menu that just said Hugo’s status. I selected it.

Name: Hugo

Race: Corvus (Class F)

Class: Psychopomp Level 7

Currency: 195 coins

Strength: 5

Vitality: 15

Intelligence: 110

Constitution: 10

Dexterity: 35

Perception: 20

Willpower: 62

Free points remaining: 0

My eyes widened when I saw his stats. Keeping my voice neutral, I said, “yeah, you might have put your foot on the gas there a bit with intelligence. But what’s up with willpower?”

“When I collected Norris, I could feel him fighting me. It felt like a battle of wills. With higher willpower, I should have easier time harvesting souls.”

I couldn’t help but wince at the phrasing. Plus, I also couldn’t tell if he was just quoting the System or just leaning into the edginess himself. “Could you make that sound less creepy? Something like, ‘I use magic to create an echo of the person who was.’”

“Pftt. Lame,” muttered Hugo dismissively before flying ahead.

God damn it. I didn’t even get a proper chance to tell him to put points in dexterity and constitution next time. If I’m going to have a companion, then he needs to be able to keep up with me.

I let the other two party members run ahead of me as well so that I could cover the rear. With my speed and Hugo in front, I should be prepared incase there’s trouble.

Rebecca and Sebastian eventually stopped and crouched behind some trees. There was a large clearing just past them and I crept up to join them. Neither of them said anything, but their body language was tense. I looked out and saw what troubled them.

The final three members of the party stood in a circle, back-to-back in the middle of the large open patch of dirt. Although I guess with only three of them, it was more of a triangle. But that’s beside the point. All of them were bloodied, bruised, and exhausted. There was no sign of what had attacked them, but judging by the way the three of them were staring up at the sky, I’d guess it was a flying creature. The four of us looked up too, but couldn’t see anything. Maybe they’d fought off whatever it was?

“What should we do?” asked Rebecca, hoping that I would take charge with the perfect answer.

We would lose the light relatively soon once the sun had finished setting. At that point, anyone without a night vision ability would be screwed. We had to get to the group and convince them to move towards the trees. It would provide some cover and slow down any large flying creatures that might be around. But that meant going out into the open.

“Hugo, stay here unless I call for you,” I said.

“But…”

“It’ll be safer for both of us. If there’s trouble, you can use Norris.”

“Fine,” he sulked.

I drew my katana and looked at the other two, who hadn’t moved. “Well? Are you coming? I doubt that wand can hit anything further away than fifty feet and that axe certainly can’t.”

Rebecca pursed her lips and Sebastian looked away.

“Or I could just leave the party and walk away?” I offered amicably.

Sebastian stood up and tightened his grip on his axe. “Bastard,” he spat. “Fine, I’ll go.”

Rebecca got up and frowned. “You know you don’t have to talk to us like that.”

“Did you forget we’re strangers?” I asked her. “I met you people twenty minutes ago and now I’m here doing you another favor.”

I started walking out into the open before she could respond. Better to just get this over with. Their footsteps followed behind me a moment later.

I made it halfway across to the group when Elijah, who had the sword and shield, noticed me and yelled, “no! Get back!”

I stopped and readied myself.

Nothing happened.

I took a tentative step while looking around. Still nothing.

Okay, this is getting silly. I kept walking until I reached the group, who all appeared amazed that I’d made it to them without being harmed. I waited until Sebastian and Rebecca worked up the nerve to follow me. It would just be easier if they did the talking.

“Thank god, you guys are okay,” said Rebecca.

The large Samoan, Hemi, squinted up at the sky. “Is it over?” he asked the other two, who all looked wary.

“What is it?” asked Sebastian, his eyes alight with an eagerness for more points.

Elijah lowered his battered shield. “Maybe it got bored with us or saw easier prey. We should move before it comes back.”

Hemi was about to take a step when Stephanie screeched, “nobody move!”

Everybody froze. Her hands were shaking as she held the bow. It was pointed up towards the sky, but there was only one arrow left in her quiver.

I decided to enter party chat.

[Lucas Hudson to Hugo: You see anything?]

[Hugo: I thought you wanted me to stay back?]

[Lucas Hudson: Yeah, stay back. Not stay out of it altogether. Can you see a bird?]

[Hugo: Not from this angle. I’ll try and get a better look.]

[Lucas Hudson: Wait!]

And he’s already gone.

I watched the small, dark shape of his body fly up into the air. He rose higher and higher. I followed as best as I could with my heightened senses, but even with them, he was just a small blur.

Suddenly, a large shadow flickered above the clouds near Hugo’s position.

[Lucas Hudson: Hugo! It’s above you. Get out of there!]

A red and brown bird twice the size of an eagle flew through the clouds. Hugo dove, but the other bird was faster. It caught Hugo in its massive talons and sank its claws in. Hugo screamed as the giant eagle tore into him while flying down towards us. It stopped twenty feet off of the ground and dropped the wounded crow right in front of us. The eagle then hovered there by flapping its wings like it was taunting us.

“Somebody shoot it!” I shouted, frustrated that it was out of melee range.

Amazingly, only Stephanie, previously the most cowardly one of the bunch, lined up a shot with her bow and fired her last arrow.

The eagle closed its wings and dove just long enough for the arrow to sail harmlessly over it. The bird then snapped its wings back open and glided in a wide circle. Part of me hoped it would just leave, but instead it turned pointed itself right at the group. As it flew towards us, Hemi shouted, “cover yourselves!”

The bird flapped its wings and several stray feathers shot straight towards us like missiles. I shielded my face and felt a double stinging pain as two feathers stabbed into my arm. They stayed lodged there as I waited for the bird to pass. The eagle cawed triumphantly and then disappeared back up into the clouds.

*Beast Identified* [Iron Spike Eagle (common)] Level 12 – These nasty birds of prey can be found at higher altitudes targeting weaker animals for food or pleasure. They’re core weapon that they’re famously known for are their sharp feathers that they launch and impale targets with.

I looked down and tore one of the feathers out. The tip was razor sharp, and the stalk was rock hard. A prompt came up.

[Loot? Y/N]

I said yes.

*Item Acquired* [Reinforced Keratin Spiked Feather] – Commonly found on stronger bird creatures. These feathers are both armor and weapon for bird of prey who have learned to shoot their targets from a distance. Kinda useless if you aren’t a bird, but hey, tape enough of them to your body and maybe it’ll think you’re its cousin or something. (Current state: Perfect)

I ripped the feather out of my arm and stored it in my inventory before checking on the others. Most of them had fared better than me. Rebecca had shared Elijah’s shield while Hemi had some golden magical barrier set up that Sebastian had hidden behind. I frowned and realized that somebody was missing.

Stephanie lay on the ground, gasping for breath. A feather had stabbed her in the throat. She was bleeding heavily and choking at the same time. Her eyes were watering and if she could spare the oxygen, I’m sure she’d be screaming.

Hemi was aghast at her state. “What do we do?”

No one said anything.

“Come on. Healing magic? A potion? A medical kit?!” He shouted that last one but from our expressions he knew that it was too late.

Stephanie’s choked gasps got quieter until she bled out and became still for the last time.

All of us looked away and tried to put her out of our minds.

“What are our options?” I asked, returning to the danger at hand. “Magic?”

Hemi shook his head. “That last barrier drained me. I’m out.”

I looked at Elijah whose shield had turned into a pincushion that was moments away from falling apart. I doubted it would survive another attack. I turned to Rebecca. “What about that attack you used on the squirrels?”

“My magic missile?” she asked. “Leveling up replenished my magic, but it’s a weak spell. It only killed the squirrels because we were on the same level. This thing is too strong for it. I’m only a level six.”

I grimaced. I had a knife that I could throw, but I’d only get one shot with it and my knife throwing ability still wasn’t very high. One thing was for sure, we couldn’t stay out here in the open. We needed cover.

I was about to go over my plan when the eagle broke through the clouds and dive-bombed towards us.