Matriarch of Monsters

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Monster Categories



After adopting little Trouler into their group the new trio continued deeper into the cave. "So are we thinkin' that the new guy is the monster of this den?" Mo suggested gesturing to their new furred companion. Alix shook her head.

"No. The monster living here is way bigger than little Trouler. Though it is strange that a red as young as him is here all alone." Mo eyed Alix inquisitively

"Why would it be strange?" Alix rolled her eyes. "He's quite young and needs protection. You know, from predators?" Mo nodded as he realized the silliness of his question.

"Right. These types of beast are weak young. I guess not every one can be as independent as me!" Alix ignored Mo's bragging focusing on her surroundings. As they went deeper into the cave she started to notice strange marks on the walls.

There were random craters in the wall not seemingly formed by the tools used by the ex-workers of this place. It almost seemed like someone was using the wall as some sort of punching bag.

"What type of creature is here?" It was times like these that made Alix wish she paid more attention during Winston's classes. Then she may be able to understand a bit more about the habits of different monsters so she could at least get an inkling of an idea as to what she was moments away from meeting.

Monster categories were developed by warriors and mages alike in an attempt to keep people at least partially informed on the dangers of the creatures. The categories are: Beast, Firma, Imitation, Cryptid, Nightmare, and Cataclysm. Each category is separated by the number of mana organs that the monster possesses.

Beasts, like wolves or fish, have no mana organs while Cataclysms, like dragons, have five. This makes each category far more dangerous than the last as the monsters become more intelligent as they obtain more mana organs. Each category also had specific traits that made it possible to tell them apart from the others with very specific exceptions.

Alix is hoping that she at most has to deal with an Imitation monster as they are the lowest category that tends to obtain a Monster Den. Anything higher than that well...

Let's just hope it doesn't come to that.

Eventually, the trio arrive at a large opening at the end of the long mine. If the "Boss Monster" ,as adventurers put it, were to show up anywhere it would be here.

"Alright. Trouler you stay over here while Mo and I go deal with whatever it is that we need to deal with." Trouler snorted in understanding. "I expect you to actually fight with me this time, Mo."

Mo nodded resolutely. "I would never let ya fight anything alone, Lexi!" Alix frowned at the fish as she pointed to her previous injuries. Mo waved his fin dismissively. "Those don't count. I knew that you'd be fine those times. Now lets go!" Mo lifted himself out of the fish bowl and floated next to Alix.

Alix glared at the fish before they entered the opening. Once they were inside they noticed just how large the area on the other side was. 'They must have found something around here." Alix assumed.

'What do ya think-"

'No time to ponder! Our opponent has appeared!" Mo followed Alix's gaze and spotted the opponent in question. Alix had gotten lucky. It was an Imitation class monster! Specifically an ogre. You see the telling feature of the Imitation category is in the name.

They are monsters that imitated the mortal races. Ogres being modeled after orcs specifically. The creature was sitting comfortably against the wall with a large handmade club resting next to it. 'I think it might be asleep?" Mo's voice rang in Alix's head.

'You may be correct in that assumption. We should take advantage of this." Alix pointed at the ogre's club. 'First, I will take the club and hit the monster with it as hard as I can. While I do that you use Sharp Typhoon to try to decapitate it." Mo began to prepare the technique without any hesitation.

Alix nodded and approached the resting monster. She successfully arrived at the monster's side without awakening it and grabbed the club. It would probably have been quite heavy had she not used her Lis. So it felt as light as a twig to Alix. She turned to see if Mo was ready to which the fish nodded.

Alix reared back as far as she could before swinging the club at the Ogre's face as hard as she could. The club smashed into its face pushing it into a newly formed wall indention. The once sleeping beast awoke in a daze as it desperately tried to get up, still not understanding the danger it was in.

It did not have enough time gain its bearings as only a second later a buzzsaw made of dark water flew forward cutting into it. The ogre roared in pain, now completely awake. It tried to grab the strange weapon digging into its neck. Its hands caught the saw and managed to rip it off. Alix shrugged.

'Well that didn't work." She swung the club at the monster again pushing it back into the wall. 'Mo, we need to be in sync. Now lets hit it with a follow up!"

"You got it Captain!" Mo kept his distance and prepared another technique while Alix swung the club again. This time it did not hit its mark as the ogre caught its weapon just as it was about it hit.

Alix casted, "Omnia Smash." on the club splintering it slightly before she retreated. Mo shot forth a high pressured stream of water but it was blocked by the ogres club.

Mo didn't let up as he fired two more Lightless Streams that the ogre also defended against as it finally stood from the ground. The ogre looked between the fish and girl for a moment before charging toward the girl.

She had hit him with his own club after all. Alix fired out two Omnia Fausts but they didn't even make the ogre flinch. It swung its club wildly at Alix. She nimbly dodge the club with each swing whistling past her. Mo circled behind the creature and sent another Sharp Typhoon forward.

Sensing something amiss the ogre grabbed its club with two hands and swung behind itself diverting the attack with an attack of its own. To its surprise the saw suddenly turned in the air and flew at it again. The ogre tried to swing at it again but was interrupted by a heavy hit to its back as it had made the mistake of turning its back to Alix.

Alix held both of her hands together and fired her own Lightless Stream from them throwing the ogre off balance and allowing Mo's attack to hit the same spot as earlier. The Ogre roared in pain.

"Just go DOWN!" Alix jumped into the air and double drop kicked her opponent in the back pushing it further into the water saw and finally lobbing it's head cleanly off. 

The body of the monster collapsed to the ground and the head fell into Alix's ever capable hands. Alix breathed heavily trying to catch her breath.

"That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be."


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