He Who Fights with Monsters, #1
He Who Fights with Monsters
by Shirtaloon
Contents
75. Progress
Overview
Over breakfast, the team dissects the sanguine horror’s origins and how it could be bound as a familiar, confirming Jason’s summoned version shares traits but differs from bonded familiars. Farrah retains a key tome outside Anisa’s claim. Later, at Jory’s expanding clinic, Jason refines his martial style, learns to shift forms mid-fight, briefly tags Rufus, and commits to forging every opening into a trap—marking real progress under harsh instruction.
Summary
Jason brings breakfast to Farrah, Gary, Rufus, and Clive, prompting discussion of the sanguine horror and Jason’s familiar. Farrah explains the horror can be manufactured, then starved to iron rank and bonded using a blood essence with an apocalypse stone for high reliability. They contrast bonded and summoned familiars, noting survival differences and Jason’s relief that his can retreat into his body.
They consider vulnerabilities: the horror’s early weaknesses to salt and fire fade by higher ranks. Farrah reveals she kept a detailed tome from outside the manor, avoiding Anisa’s claim, and Clive wants to study it. Their banter underscores lingering distrust of Anisa despite her Purity affiliation.
At Jory’s clinic yard—crowded by renovation materials for an expansion—they train. Brief updates surface: Rufus prepares an academy–Geller venture; Farrah takes Magic Society work; Gary gains acclaim for crafted gear. Weights highlight Jason’s physical gap, so he turns to clinic patients before returning for sparring.
Jason outlines progress with the Way of the Reaper: the true strength lies in transitioning between its five forms mid-fight. In a bout, Rufus easily dominates until Jason baits an opening, shunts through Rufus, and lands an elbow. Rufus unleashes full speed, floors Jason, and forces a choice. After healing, Jason commits to mastering the style by transforming all openings into traps, earning Rufus’s approval and a mandate for hard work.
Who Appears
- Jason AsanoProtagonist; analyzes his familiar and martial art, spars Rufus, lands a rare hit, is beaten, commits to turning openings into traps.
- Rufus RemoreMentor; evaluates sanguine horror risks, trains Jason harshly, briefly uses full strength, pushes Jason toward disciplined mastery.
- Farrah MerriweatherMage; explains sanguine horror creation and growth, kept a crucial tome outside Anisa’s claim.
- Clive StandishScholar; probes familiar mechanics and essence-stone combinations, eager to study Farrah’s book.
- Gary GellerCraftsman-warrior; trains with the team, comments on Jason’s progress, enjoys rising success selling crafted gear.
- Jory TillmanHealer; clinic undergoing expansion; works with Jason treating patients during training break.