Speed Is King

“What? Mind-link? What is that? What’s happening?” Elliot asked Hawk in surprise.

[Mind-Link is an innate skill of high level beasts. Winter had initiated a Mink-Link request to Jennifer Musk. If she is willing, she would be able to speak to Winter telepathically.]

“Wow. This day is truly full of surprises. Good surprises! Jennifer, Winter wants to form a Mind-Link with you. It means that you can communicate telepathically with her. Are you willing?” Elliot asked his sister.

“Really?” Jennifer’s eyes grew wide with surprise and a growing sense of excitement and joy. “Willing! I am willing!” She said quickly.

Immediately, she felt the sense of connection with Winter which she felt earlier start to solidify. After a few seconds, she felt something breakthrough.

“It is done.” Winter said softly, her voice appearing in Jennifer’s head again.

“Hey Winter.” Jennifer said to her in wonder.

“Little Mistress. Would you like to sit on my back?” Winter asked.

“Yes! Yes please! Can my sister come with me?” Jennifer’s eyes shined with excitement. Her wish really came true. She got a giant wolf as her personal mount!

“Of course. Come on up.” Winter lowered her head even further until her snout touched the ground.

“Jess! Let’s go!” Jennifer cried excitedly.

“En! Let’s goooo!” Jessical was no less excited than Jennifer!

“I guess this is as good a time as any to continue our journey.” Elliot said to the group. “Winter, do you have our next target?”

“Yes Master. Our next target is an extremely dangerous beast. It is evil and very cunning. We need to be very careful. I have suffered even more under his sneak attacks than I have under Brock’s clumsy and rather straightforward attacks.” Winter said seriously.

“HEY! Who are you calling clumsy!” Brock roared angrily.

“You. Duh, who else?” Winter replied coolly.

“HEY! YOU-“

“Enough both of you. You guys have a truce, remember?” Elliot interrupted. “Brock, let me up.”

“She started it!” Brock grumbled and lowered his head down so Elliot could climb up.

“So? You don’t have to continue it.” Elliot said. “Winter, be nice. Come now, two of you. We have to be serious. Our lives are at stake here!”

Brock sighed and Winter nodded dutifully.

“Truce.” Winter said. “I apologize for my words.”

“Fine. No offence taken. I suppose my attacks are rather straightforward. Who has the energy to sneak around anyway?” Brock snorted.

“That’s great, guys. Really great. See? It isn’t so hard to be best friends with each other, right?” Elliot beamed at the both of them.

Both of them couldn’t bring themselves to agree to Elliot’s claim of “best friends”. Bears and Wolves are not known for being liars.

“Anyway, so where to? And what beast are we dealing with here?” Elliot asked Winter.

“Beyond that mountain range, there is a huge, dormant volcano..” Winter pointed at a distant peak with her snout.

“Dormant volcano?” Brock turned around to face Winter in alarm. “Don’t tell me you’re referring to the Great Mountain Sage Which Rivals The Heavens?”

“PFFFFT!” Elliot choked with laughter. “What sort of beast calls himself the Great Mountain Sage Which Rivals The Heavens?”

“The kind that truly is a sage and truly has the power to rival the heavens.” Winter replied seriously.

“Hahahaha- Oh, you’re serious.” Elliot said.

Winter nodded.

“Really?” Elliot asked doubtfully. “What beast are we talking about here?”

“A monkey.” Brock rumbled in his deep voice.

“A monkey?!” Elliot’s eyes grew wide and his lips began to curl into a smile.

“Yes. A reckless, vainglorious, flamboyant, but damn powerful monkey with an entire tribe of similarly reckless, vainglorious and flamboyant monkeys!” Brock shuddered as he recalled some bad memories with the monkey tribe.

“Well! If it’s just a monkey, then I dare say I won’t have any trouble taming him! HA HA HA!” Elliot laughed loudly and confidently.

Brock glanced at Winter and both shared a worried look.

“I concur.” Winter replied.

For once, they were in complete agreement.

“Hey! I am not crazy. I have a very strong affinity with monkeys. Enough talking though! Let’s go get that Mountain Sage Whatever! How long will it take to reach his territory?” Elliot asked Winter.

“If we run through the night, we should be able to reach his territory by mid morning.” Winter replied. “It’s right at the base of the largest dormant volcano in the region.”

“Oka- Wait a minute. Did you say largest dormant volcano?” Elliot frowned.

“Yes indeed. The monkeys control the volcano and the forest around it. Do you know that place, Master?” Winter asked doubtfully.

“I’ve never been there, but I have heard of it.” Elliot replied as his mind raced to remember the details.

“Almost all of California would become the territory of the Armored Kaijins. And didn’t the Black Viper Mercenary group say that they found the Armored Kaijins’ lair at the base of the largest dormant mountain in California? The Armored Kaijins must have immediately attacked the Great Sage’s forces and used them as food to breed.” Elliot immediately deduced.

“And if I can get the Great Sage to evacuate, then I would effectively deny the Armored Kaijins a huge amount of food, and delay their breeding by at least a few weeks! California would be spared from the insane first week of chaos!” Elliot’s eyes shined with excitement.

“Let’s do it. Let’s tame the Great Sage and ALL of his monkeys!” Elliot declared.

Elliot glanced at his sisters who were happily talking to each other while sitting on Winter’s broad back.

“They can sleep on my back.” Winter said in understanding. “I will be sure to run smoothly so they can have a good rest.”

Elliot nodded. “Alright, let’s go. Girls, put on your jackets and make sure you’re warm. We will be making a long and difficult trek tonight.”

And with that, A giant bear, a giant wolf and twenty wolves still healthy enough to run set off at a brisk pace towards The Great Mountain Sage Which Rivals The Heavens’ lair.

Author’s Note:

Hey guys! WPC 242 is over. Thank you all so much for all your votes and helping Speed Is King place first in Powerstone Ranking! I appreciate all your support, please continue to support me all the way until I rank first in web! Haha ????