《Arsenal》 The Day the floor disappeared Skylar contemplated the idea of death. If there was ever a decent time for it, this seemed to fit the bill, she thought, grimly amused. Three Days Earlier Entering the knife shop, Skylar Newsome couldn''t help but ponder her late mother''s likely disapproval of her peculiar hobby. Imagining her mother''s penchant for frilly dresses and flowers, Skylar smirked inwardly. There was no denying it: her interests wouldn''t have won any favor with her mom. But that was just how it was. With a growing grin, she strode toward the counter. "Gunther! You got my package?" she called out to the burly man behind the counter, startling both him and the customer he was assisting. "I do, Sky, though you can see I''m helping someone?" Gunther replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "Oh? They can take a look at my stuff too; it''s pretty cool," Skylar retorted. Reaching beneath his counter¡ªa task not easily managed at his height of 6''4"¡ªGunther retrieved a case. "What the heck is that?" the other customer asked, taken aback by both the size and weight of the case. "That, my friend, is the 7-piece Red Mayhem knife collection. It''s been on backorder for over a year," Skylar declared, her eyes sparkling as she opened the case. Inside, seven knives of various shapes and sizes gleamed. "I see... I think I''ll come back later!" the newbie declared, practically fleeing out the door. "How many times are you going to scare off potential clients?" Gunther exclaimed. "Who cares? You made a big commission on this order anyway. Besides, don''t you want to see what these bad boys can do?" Skylar quipped as she turned to head to the back of the shop, where the tactical gym awaited. Skylar was well aware that she was an ''odd bird'', as her late father had once called her. Standing at 5''9", she was a lithe athlete with dark hair and eyes that many had described as unsettling. From as far back as she could remember, she''d been a fan of action novels and tactical warfare. She''d shed tears when American Assassin didn''t get a sequel, and her college degree was in Film and Media Studies¡ªan excuse, essentially, to watch as many action films as she could. She had fallen in love with knife fighting over the last half-decade, following her parents'' passing, which left a void that visceral combat readily filled. The few friends she had didn''t quite understand her; Gunther was the only one who got her. As a retired bodyguard, he had the experience and know-how to train her to take a hit and give as good as she got. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! In the tactical gym, Skylar opened the case again, her arms shaking with excitement, and began to pull out her new pride and joy. First, the M48 Liberator Trench Knife, including its spiked knuckle buster handle. Next, the Honshu Spartan Sword¡ªa wickedly sharp short sword perfect for her mid-range reach. Then, the M48 Cyclone and Push Knife¡ªtwisted daggers designed to decimate opponents at close range. "Isn''t that enough?" Gunther grunted, clearly growing impatient with Skylar''s slow display. "Not even close!" she exclaimed, pulling out the next blade. This time, the Tactical Kama, styled like a short reaper¡¯s scythe. "Saved the best for last," Skylar murmured, pulling out her two favorite weapons¡ªthe karambit and the axe. Holding the karambit in a reverse grip, she brandished the axe in the other hand and assumed a crouched fighting pose. Skylar grinned, excited to finally train with the weapons she''d been eyeing for a year. Film Studies wasn¡¯t the most lucrative degree in the world, after all. "Yeah, yeah, okay. Let me grab the practice gear¡ªwe won¡¯t be using these to fight!" Gunther exclaimed. As he turned, ignoring Skylar''s good-natured complaints, the floor began to shake. "Whoa," Skylar exclaimed, quickly repackaging her blades. "What''s going on?" "No clue, kid. Let''s go find out," Gunter replied, leading the way to the door. But just as he stepped outside, the floor disappeared beneath them. "SKYE!" Gunther yelled, reaching back, but she knew she was too far. "See ya, Gunther!" she yelled, "It was fun!" Summon Initializing... Traveling... Traveling... System Assigning Class... ERROR ERROR ERROR Summon includes non-organic material - removing¡­ "No!" Skylar yelled, fighting against the monstrous force trying to rip the case away from her. "If I''m going to die, I''m doing it with my stuff!" Summon attached to non-organic material... ERROR ERROR System creating solution¡­ "Solution? What solut¡ª" Skylar''s scream was cut short by soul-rending pain that wracked her body. She felt as if she were on fire, every ion vibrating as she fell through the portal. Then, all at once, it stopped. New (Unique) class created: Arsenal. The System welcomes you to Zephyria. Hello. You are useless. Goodbye. ¡°She seems weak.¡± ¡°They all do when they arrive, Father. At least that¡¯s what the legends say.¡± As Skylar awoke, she became aware of a conversation occurring in front of her. Rubbing her eyes, she couldn''t be sure if she was seeing correctly. Flanking an elderly king on each side were a pair of twin girls her age¡ªpitch-black hair and shining purple eyes marked them all as family. ¡°Who the hell is this old fart? Are you guys from the Shining?¡± Skylar joked about the odd twins in front of her to quell her panic. ¡°Where the hell is this?¡± ¡°It matters not for you,¡± remarked the man, a frown spreading as he spoke. ¡°Be blessed¡ªyou have been summoned to Zephyria, a world of magic and monsters. We have need of your power. We are trapped in a war against the demon horde, foul creatures from below. My name is¡ª¡± ¡°Wait, summoned? Like isekai-style?¡± Skylar interrupted, enthralled despite her initial fear. ¡°Silence!¡± screamed the king. ¡°I am Noxis, King of Landria, and these two,¡± he gestured at the twins, ¡°are Solaria and Nixia, my daughters.¡± Skylar frowned, unsure of what to say. She studied the king, noting the intelligent gleam in his eyes despite his advanced age. A crown of shifting colors sat on his head, and the clearly well-made clothes on all three nobles spoke to their clear wealth. This clearly isn¡¯t a dream, Skylar thought. The pain had been all too real to pretend otherwise. I¡¯ll make a decision once I learn more, Skylar thought. As she rose to her feet, she felt herself locked in place. ¡°You guys gonna let me out?¡± she exclaimed, fighting with all her force to escape, but the king simply smiled a cruel smile. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°We need your power, hero,¡± Noxis said mockingly, ¡°but not you. I¡¯d be a fool to allow you to gain the power spoken of in our legends. What you have now is enough for me to win this war. Nixia, draw the power from her core.¡± ¡°As you wish, Father,¡± Nixia replied, extending a slender hand toward Skylar and the magic circle beneath her feet. As her spell was completed, she looked at her hand, confused. ¡°There¡¯s no magic there, father!¡± she exclaimed, clearly shocked. Serves you right! Skylar thought, continuing to struggle to no avail. And what do they mean by my core? As the King and Nixia squabbled in the background, Skylar stopped her struggles and took a deep breath. Meditation had been a huge part of her life since her parents¡¯ passing, and she fell into old habits now. She could feel something at her center, something that was a new part of her. It thrummed in time with her heartbeat, and then¡ª Soulspace Unlocked! As she read those words, she opened her eyes to the throne room, just in time to hear the king declare, ¡°If she has no magic, she has no utility to us. Begone.¡± With a flick of his wrist, Skylar felt herself thrown backward towards the wall. Just before impact, a portal opened, and she tumbled to the ground, spitting grass out of her mouth. As she scrambled to her feet, a new message gave her pause: Welcome to the Forest of the Damned (S-Rank). You are advised to leave as quickly as possible. ¡°Shit.¡± Skylar Season! Rabbit Season! Skylar''s instincts kicked in when the System''s warning urged her to leave¡ªa clear signal things were taking a turn for the worse. "I''ve got to find some shelter, fast," she thought, realizing the danger of remaining exposed. Scanning her surroundings, she spotted a clearing in the distance and began to jog toward it, hoping for a vantage point to scout for a safe spot to spend the night. However, she barely managed five steps before encountering her first obstacle: a monster. Damned Rabbit Lvl 7 Damned Rabbits, the weakest denizens of the Forest of the Damned, usually roam in packs. Even a solitary can pose a threat. Skylar abruptly halted and dove behind the nearest tree, hoping to evade the creature''s notice. It wasn''t fear, per se¡ªit was just a rabbit, albeit one with a menacing horn. It was more the uncertainty of what she could do. Status, Skylar thought, hoping for some insight. Skylar Newsome Class: Arsenal Level: 1 Health: 100/100 Mana: N/A Dexterity: 17 Strength: 11 Speed: 19 Mind: 14 Health, Strength, and Speed seemed self-evident; Skylar felt quicker and stronger than ever, suggesting above-average stats. Dexterity posed a bit of a puzzle¡ªdid it measure how nimble she was? As for Mind, she figured it wasn''t a concern without any mana at her disposal. Unique Class: Arsenal Become one with your weapons. Your blades become your strength, and grow as you do. Users are restricted from active magic use. Grants +10 health, +2 strength, + 3 dexterity, +1 speed, +2 mind per level. Active Skills Return to Sender Overdrive Passive Skills Flow of Battle Soul Weapons Aura of the Challenger Weapons? What - ah. But before she could fully comprehend, the rabbit darted around the tree, closing in on her with alarming speed. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. -65 HP Skylar screamed, instinctively grabbing the rabbit and hurling it away. I''m in trouble¡ª65 is practically all my health! And I doubt I''ll revive if I die! She narrowly dodged another horned attack, earning a gash on her side. The rabbit, its red eyes gleaming, prepared to strike again as Skylar, wincing from the pain, brought all her focus to bare. The rabbit pounced. Skylar thrust her hand forward, defiantly yelling. Then, silence enveloped the forest. Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! You are now level 6. The rabbit slumped off her short sword, and Skylar released a tense breath. "Weapons, huh?" she mused, shaking black blood from her Honshu. "Good thing I held onto that case." All seven blades resonated within her soul space, urging to be wielded. She returned the short sword, glancing at her updated status as it melded back into her soul. Skylar Newsome Class: Arsenal Level: 6 Health: 160/160 Mana: N/A Dexterity: 32 Strength: 21 Speed: 24 Mind: 24 "Let''s see about these skills." Active Skills Return to Sender Call your weapons back to you¡ªdistance scales with Mind stat. Overdrive Slow your perception of time, allowing you to strategize. Duration scales with Dexterity/Mind. Passive Skills Flow of Battle You are the flowing river in chaos. Perceive the opponent''s moves before they take them. Soul Weapons Your blades are a part of you. They cannot be broken or damaged. Summon them from your core anytime. Trench Knife Spartan Sword 5/100 Essence Cyclone Knife Push Knife Tactical Kama Axe Karambit Each kill gives essence. Become unstoppable. Evolutions vary depending on tasks completed and enemies defeated. Aura of the Challenger In a world of magic, you are the magicless. Emit an aura that makes the less perceptive underestimate your strength. Make them regret it. "Looks like Flow of Battle saved me back there¡ªthe rabbit practically impaled itself," Skylar remarked. "That''ll be useful. And those level-ups healed me, although my clothes weren''t as lucky." She prodded at her healed thigh, the blood stain drying on her training pants. "Let''s see what''s up with that clearing." Branching Out and Taking Flight Skylar grabbed the rabbit and crouched down, blending into the shadows. Her dark eyes scanned the landscape as she approached the clearing and the lone tree within it. Looking around, Skylar saw nothing stopping her from approaching, so she decided to analyze the tree. Tree It''s a tree. Smartass Analyze. Skylar ran over, using her enhanced strength and speed to leap into the branches of the tree. Leaning against its trunk, she sighed, allowing herself to center and relax for the first time in a day. ¡°So, it¡¯s pretty clear I¡¯m on another planet. Not sure if there¡¯s a way to get home, and not sure if I¡¯d want to, to be honest. The only person I¡¯d miss is Gunther. First things first, I have to get strong enough to get out of this forest and find out more about this world. That fogey king can¡¯t be the only authority figure on this rock.¡± Skylar opened her eyes, examining the forest in more detail. It appeared endless; smaller trees dotted the landscape, with a river running diagonally to her left. In the distance, she could barely see a mountain range and resolved to move in that direction potentially. I need to figure out how to cook this rabbit, Skylar thought. I could find a cave upstream from that river. As Skylar began to slide down the branch she was on, she heard a keening cry and felt a searing pain in her back. ¨C80 HP Spinning as she fell, Skylar saw a pitch-black eagle land on her branch, screeching at her. Summoning her trench knife, Skylar hurled it at the eagle, using the momentum to spin back toward the ground and kick off the tree¡¯s trunk. She rolled to a stop, ignoring the lancing pain in her back and glancing up at the bird that had dodged her knife. Shadowclaw Level 9 Shadowclaws are extremely aggressive sky hunters; with razor-sharp vision and claws, they lord dominion over their portion of the skies. The Shadowclaw screeched at Skylar again and launched itself towards her, claws outstretched. Skylar jumped back, surprised again by its speed, but couldn''t move out of the way in time. She received a slash across her arms and forehead as she blocked her face. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¨C30 HP As blood began to leak into her eyes, Skylar activated her first active skill: Return to Sender! From the branch it was stuck in, her knife shimmered and appeared in her hand like it was always there. ¡°Alright, you overgrown chicken, let¡¯s do this,¡± Skylar remarked, holding down her rising anxiety at her low health. Looping her fingers into her trench knife¡¯s knuckles, Skylar summoned her karambit for the first time. Wickedly curved, the karambit was built for close-range combat and speed¡ªexactly what she needed in this fight. The eagle looped back for a third attack, and Skylar used her second active skill: Overdrive. Suddenly, it was as if the eagle was moving in slow motion. Skylar realized it wasn¡¯t moving slow¡ªher reactions and thoughts were moving at twice the previous pace. She smirked and hurled the trench knife again. As the eagle unleashed its claws, the knife impacted the joint above one claw and severed it. The eagle screeched in pain, its wings fluttering in surprise. As it approached, off-balance, Skylar followed up with a sidestep and downward slash with her karambit. The eagle crashed to the ground, its wing severed. Deactivating the skill and reabsorbing both weapons, Skylar walked over to the Shadowclaw, wiping the blood from her face. A single downward slash from her summoned short sword ended its life. Level Up! Level Up! You are now level 8. Skylar Newsome Class: Arsenal Level: 8 Health: 180/180 Mana: 0/0 Dexterity: 38 Strength: 25 Speed: 26 Mind: 28 Trench Knife Spartan Sword 10/100 Essence Cyclone Knife Push Knife Tactical Kama Axe Karambit Looks like I only get essence for the weapon I kill them with. Interesting, Skylar mused. It also seems like dexterity and mind will be a big deal for me. I¡¯ve never been that nimble or accurate with my throws, dodges, or flips before. Skylar grinned, her hunger forgotten. Her eyes shined in the afternoon light as a hunger for battle and progression bloomed in her soul. Time for the training montage. They dont bite, I swear! Skylar sat by the fire, eyeing the Shadowclaw leg hungrily as it turned on the spit. Another day had passed, and she had carefully made her way through the forest; it was teeming with high-level monsters that kept her battle high in check. She had found a cave near the river as and managed to lure a lone Shadowclaw again before nightfall. I got really lucky not to get swamped by a bunch of Level 15s, Skylar thought. But this forest doesn¡¯t seem that strong, actually - I wonder why it¡¯s rated an S-Rank? Pushing those thoughts aside, Skylar pulled the leg off the spit and bit in, wincing as the juices burned her tongue. The flavor was irresistible, so she pressed on. As Skylar chewed on her food, she began to formulate a plan of action. It seems like my skills and class are really focused on speed and dexterity, less so on pure strength. I have to be careful not to get overwhelmed or attacked by something way too high in level. Although, it does seem like my knives are able to cause a lot of damage to creatures regardless of level, Skylar thought, resummoning the Tomahawk she had used to cut some branches for her fire. The axe, with its blade and piercing opposite end, gleamed in the fire¡¯s glow. I should have some pretty decent versatility, Skylar thought, returning the blade to her soulspace. If I¡¯m smart about it, I can get pretty darn strong in this forest. Skylar froze as a howl rang out from the dark trees surrounding the cave. She eyed the woods cautiously as glowing yellow eyes marked the arrival of a wolf pack. Nyx, Level 16 Nyx, Level 16 Nyx, Level 16 Nyx, Level 16 Nyx, Level 16 Nyx Junior Alpha, Level 18 Pack Hunters, Nyx use their superior agility and speed to overwhelm opponents. The evolved Alphas possess heightened intelligence, acting as generals for the warrior caste. Black as midnight, the wolves stalked toward the fire, eyeing Skylar¡¯s food hungrily. The junior alpha let out a bark, and two of the smaller wolves grabbed the carcass and dragged it toward the forest. Should¡¯ve gotten rid of that, Skylar grimaced, hoping the wolves wouldn¡¯t explore the cave in front of them. She had entered as they stalked out of the forest, and it was only big enough to keep her hidden. If they found her, she¡¯d be swarmed. As if reading her thoughts, the junior alpha sniffed the air and turned its head toward the cave with a low growl. As one, the wolves dashed toward the cave. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Skylar activated Overdrive and ran toward the cave mouth, materializing and throwing her trench knife as she did so. As she reached the mouth, the wolves dodged the knife and came to a cautious halt. Can I fight this many? Skylar wondered, and as if they had heard her,, they attacked. Recalling her knife with Return to Sender, Skylar swiped at the first wolf, slashing at its outstretched paw. Before she could follow up, she was smashed to the ground by a second wolf, and a third bit her hand, crushing her bones in its sharp teeth. -45HP Skylar screamed as she felt the bones in her hand crack and break. Swinging around, she summoned her Push Knife and stabbed down into the skull of the wolf crushing her hand. She pulled her mangled hand out of the now-dead wolf¡¯s mouth and reversed her swing toward the wolf that had knocked her over. It dodged back, baring its teeth again. Skylar scrambled to her feet, cradling her ruined hand to her body. Where is my healing?! Skylar thought, realizing shakily that she had never healed in battle, only after. I¡¯m screwed, Skylar thought, as the five remaining wolves began to close in, the one whose leg she had slashed lagging behind. It was at this moment that Flow of Battle made its true power known. It wasn¡¯t just for guiding her hand or making her attacks more steady - Skylar knew immediately what she had to do to survive. It was unlikely, but it was her only sliver of hope in the encroaching darkness of death. Overdrive! Time slowed. In a single breath, Skylar recalled her short sword and threw her trench knife at the lagging wolf. Surprised, the wolf dodged - directly into the fire that was still burning. It panicked, barking at its companions, and Skylar struck. She called her short sword, slashing down at the distracted lead Nyx. The blade gleamed in the fire¡¯s shadow and carved through the skull of the wolf. Ducking under another attack, Skylar threw herself toward the forest in the small window that had been created. The Alpha barked, and the remaining wolves darted after her. The hunt was on. And so, I ran. Fast like Fear. Skylar hadn''t truly felt fear since her parents died and she realized she was all alone in the world. She had overcome that somehow, and she hadn''t been truly afraid since. Not until today, as she fled blindly through the night, barely dodging trees and the snapping bites of the wolves on her heels. As Skylar dodged around another tree, her mangled hand burning, she reviewed what Flow of Battle had told her. If she had stayed around the fire, she would have died¡ªshe wasn''t built for prolonged battles against multiple stronger opponents. She was a dexterity and speed-based fighter who excelled in one-on-one battles. Facing multiple opponents as fast and agile as she was would guarantee a loss. So Skylar decided to flee. She ducked under branches, leaped over boulders, her stamina slowly flagging from the lack of rest or sleep over the past day. Determined, she pressed on - pushing past the burning in her legs and fire in her lungs. I can¡¯t get stronger dead, that''s for sure, Skylar thought, grimacing as the Junior Alpha Nyx slashed at her leg. She stumbled, rolled over, and got back to her feet in one smooth motion, continuing her forward momentum. Almost there, she thought, recalling the cliff face she had seen earlier in the day as she dodged around another trunk. Climbing up would be difficult, but it might be the only way to survive. As she burst out of the forest, the dark cliff in sight, the wolves emerged behind her, barking and snarling at her heels. The Junior Alpha leaped at her back, but Skylar activated Overdrive - and dived to the side. Rolling to a stop, she leaped at the cliff wall and grabbed the nearest handhold. The four wolves scrambled towards her as she climbed, screaming internally at the use of her ruined hand. The pain was all-encompassing, but with an iron grip on her will, Skylar continued to climb towards the ridge above her. Just before she reached the ridge, however, Skylar felt a powerful jaw lock onto her ankle, shattering the bone within. Agonizing pain ripped through her as the Nyx, dangling in the air, pulled downward with all its strength. Her grip slipping, Skylar kicked out with her other leg, her heel impacting the Nyx with a crack. As it fell back, keening, Skylar pulled herself up on the ridge, her bloody hand feeling like a foreign appendage with its growing numbness. She knelt, cradling her ruined hand, her mangled foot hanging limply from her broken ankle. Hair cascaded around her face, her eyes boring into the wolves growling and snapping at her from below. The Alpha growled, and they stalked back into the forest, but not before the Junior Alpha looked back at Skylar, its intelligent eyes promising future violence. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "Yeah, buddy, this definitely isn''t over," Skylar growled, murder in her gaze. "I¡¯m gonna make this forest my bitch." Level Up! Level Up! You are now Level 10. Class Arsenal Level 8 Health 200/200 Mana 0/0 Dexterity 44 Strength 29 Speed 28 Mind 32 Trench Knife Spartan Sword 15/100 Essence Cyclone Knife Push Knife 5/100 Tactical Kama Axe Essence Karambit Guess the System knows when a battle is over? Good to know¡­ Skylar thought, flexing her now healed hand and foot. My speed is lagging a bit¡ªI need to be the fastest moving to avoid getting jumped like that again. Maybe I can buff it somehow? Skylar ruminated as she pushed herself to her feet. She looked around and noticed for the first time a path leading to a crack in the cliff. "That¡¯s not ominous at all, Skylar thought, deciding to investigate first thing in the morning. As she leaned back against the cliff, sliding to a seat, she reflected on the craziness that had been her life over the past 48 hours. It''s only been two days, huh? It''s been wild. But this feels¡­complete, somehow? I¡¯ve never felt so at peace as when I¡¯ve been fighting for my life. Maybe this is who I was always meant to be. With that thought, Skylar drifted off to sleep. Big mis-snakes The sun hitting Skylar''s face roused her from her slumber. She stretched, refreshed, and slid out from her overhang. Her eyes fixed on the path that had intrigued her the night before. I need to get stronger, Skylar thought, her fist tightening. I won''t be afraid again. She strode down the path, the cliff walls narrowing as she descended. At the bottom, she peered into the darkness of a cave carved into the mountainface. [Unique Instance] Burrow of the Abyssal Asp Recommended Level: 25-30, Group of 3 Legends tell of Shadewind, the Abyssal Asp. One of the three Kings of the Forest of the Dead, Shadewind sired thousands. He rules over the Burrow, buried deep within the mountain. Skylar stilled. "This will probably get me killed," she thought, a feral grin growing on her face as she strode forward. But maybe it won''t. And when I get back, those wolves are mincemeat. As she crossed the cave''s threshold, she summoned her short sword and karambit, dual-wielding them for the first time. I want to see what happens when that EXP hits 100, she thought, determined to use her short sword for kills in the cave. She knelt, creeping forward as the tunnel led deeper down. Emerging into the first cavern, she saw varying branches of tunnels surrounding an open space. In the center, curled in on itself, was a snake¡ªbut no garden snake. At least 10 feet long, its purple scales shimmered in the dusky cave. As Skylar stood, the snake''s eyes snapped open, creasing menacingly as its tongue flitted through the air. Analyze. Cobra of the Depths Level 18 Solo hunters, the Cobras are offspring of the Abyssal Asp. Each utilizes brutalizing poison that can kill in minutes, along with their abnormally strong grasp. Few escape the attention of their deadly gaze. "Same level as that leader wolf¡ªbut it''s alone this time. Let''s see what we can do." With that, Skylar dashed towards the snake, reversing her grip on the karambit. The Cobra hissed in response, launching itself at her, its jaws impossibly wide, revealing razor-sharp fangs dripping black ichor. Skylar activated Overdrive, pushing to her left just before reaching the Cobra''s awaiting jaws. Slashing out with her karambit, she ran the dagger across the snake''s side, carving a gash down its length. She spun as the Cobra hissed, turning its head towards her and slowly slithering around, trying to get to her back. I do decent damage¡ªgood, Skylar thought, eyeing the cut she had made, watching blood seep into the sandy floor. Let''s finish this. She threw the karambit at the charging Cobra, smiling as it hit a fang with an audible crack. Skylar watched the fang fall, piercing the inside of the Cobra''s mouth. It hissed again in surprise and fear, desperately shaking its head in an attempt to dislodge the fang. But it was too late. Its movements slowed until its thrashing finally ended. Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! You are now Level 13. Class Arsenal Level 13 Health 230/230 Mana 0/0 If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.Dexterity 53 Strength 35 Speed 31 Mind 38 Trench Knife Spartan Sword 15/100 Cyclone Knife Push Knife 5/100 Tactical Kama Axe Essence Karambit 5/100 Let''s keep moving. The Cobras of the Depths had never known fear. They had been challenged before, sure¡ªbut mainly by other creatures of the Forest. They were more powerful than most, and those that weren''t stayed away due to fear of retribution from the Abyssal Asp. But over the next 12 hours, they learned what being afraid truly meant. They heard angered and agonized hisses from their brethren ring out, only to be cut short. They slithered into their holes, eyes wide as a dark-haired incarnation of death swept through the first five floors. Skylar pushed her hair out of her eyes, dark blood staining her fingers from pulling her short sword out of the latest Cobra''s slitted eye. She reviewed her status, pleased with her progress. Skylar Newsome Class Arsenal Level 17 Health 270/270 Mana 0/0 Dexterity 65 Strength 43 Speed 35 Mind 46 Trench Knife Spartan Sword 45/100 Cyclone Knife Push Knife 5/100 Tactical Kama Axe Essence Karambit 5/100 There weren''t that many snakes on each level, but they weren''t much of a challenge either way. What''s going on with this ''S-Rank'' forest? Skylar thought, eyes narrowing as she spotted something out of place. "A door, here?" she remarked, brandishing her short sword as she approached. She analyzed it, breathing a sigh of relief at the response. Halfway Point (Safe Room) The halfway point safe room is a 6 hour reprieve from the dangers of the Instance. Once time is up, it will disappear. Use it wisely. Skylar pushed the door open, revealing a spartan room with a bed, a basin of water on a table, and a small desk. As she closed the door behind her, a thump on the desk drew her attention. A book had appeared¡ªone that wasn''t there before. She strode over, picking it up and reading the cover. Journal of the Otherworlder "Were you like me?" Skylar asked, pulling out the chair to read. "I can spare an hour to read what you have to say." She opened the book to the first page, settling in. If you''re anything like me, you''re probably screwed. So I''ll tell you what I know about this world before you go. The Same Day, in The Demon Kingdom In a palace not dissimilar to the one Skylar had been tossed from, a young man rubbed his green eyes and pushed his golden hair from his face. The war was going... poorly, to put it mildly, as all his generals and strategists had been telling him. They needed something to change the chessboard¡ªa new knight. "Or maybe a king," he murmured, once again reviewing how he had gotten to this point. Was he up for the task? Or was the self-doubt and judgment what made him worthy, as his love told him every night before bed? He wasn''t sure. But he knew he had to push forward, for the sake of all the people in the city below. At that moment, his office door blew open, and his Chief Advisor ran in, tripping over her papers. "Maxine? What''s going on? What''s the hurry?" the king remarked, moving to help her up. "Artie! It''s happened!" Maxine exclaimed, pushing her red hair from her face, revealing her half-demon features. "You know it''s Arthur in the castle, Max," the King said, unable to keep a smirk off his face at the antics of his longtime friend. "Whatever! Who cares? It''s happened! Noxis has summoned another Hero!" "That sounds like a problem, Max¡ªhe''ll just take their power, and we won''t be able to overcome that," Arthur said, leaning back against his desk. "We''ll have to recall the forward strike¡ª" "Just listen, Artie! Our spy told us there was no power transfer! The summons had no magic!" "What?" Arthur exclaimed, a smile lighting his lips for what felt like the first time in months. "He did what he usually does with the summons after?" he asked, and Maxine nodded vigorously. Arthur stood, walking around his desk and grabbing his blade. "Let''s go see if we can find that Hero." Updates Hi folks! Long time no see. Real life kind of spent the last 6 months kicking my ass and I am just now making out of the back end of that. That means more Arsenal, soon! Ideally want to rebuild my backlog over the next couple of weeks and get up to twice a week chapters. Our snarky, stabby friend will soon make her return. In addition, some other good news! While I was applying to 500 jobs a day, I got a few other ideas that I had rattling around my head and I want to know what you guys want to read next. I''ve included a poll here with some ideas I''ve had, let me know what you''d like to read most. They will all be worked on - but the most feedback one is what you''d likely see first. Thats it!Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.