《Twoen》 Prologue Often I''ve become attached to VRMMORPG''s and relunctanly sever my attachements in order to pursue the next upcoming game on the horizon. However Twoen is said to be endless if I could believe anything anyones been talking about the past few days and with that in mind I must enter the game guns blazing. I can''t let my brothers have any breathing room. Skills were generated as you do certain tasks anything from walking to skydiving from a dragon. There were base stats given to every character and hidden stats unlocked as you play. Multiple races were available to start from the classic fantasy to races to many others created by developers or some randomly generated by the A.I. responsible for the game. Classes were also available and although there were a vast amount of them the A.I. does a wonderful job of keeping them balanced. Aside from basic information like this much of the world is shrouded in mystery. For example things like world lore or information on geography were not found in the forums. It was also unknown if this game featured any divine beings or gods that governed the world. Aside from this general information advertised through game ads online apparently everything is found in the game. We weren''t planning on using the forums anywho. The timer in our wide gaming room slowly ticked down. Our VR capsules were all open yet we did not enter. No this wasn''t the start of the game but it would be for us. It''s been a day since stores have been out of stock after the initial hectic buyout. My brother got his hands on 3 copies a day after the game already started despite having left the very same day it was released. I glanced at said brother now. He was tall and gave the impression of a somewhat lanky individual even when his muscles were in clear view. His hair was thin and down but brushed to the side under a beige hat with a flower design under the bill. He was in pajama''s though we were still at home after all. He pushed up his glasses in the classic anime fashion to attempt to get a chuckle from me. I kept my face stoic, it was an ongoing game ever since we started watchin anime; we tried to make each other laugh with stupid immitations and mock acting from popular media. In this case I won but his attempt was weak which we both knew which lessened the victory to a great extent. He wasn''t even trying.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. I nodded to him. "Derjar" I said in acknowledgment. My face deadpan something uncharacteristic of me. "Cojab" My older brother replied. His face was deadpan something uncharacteristic of him. I turned to my left to complete my mocking of every serious scene ever made. My youngest brother though poorest in years looked exactly like my older brother. He had the same hair with the same style. His build was similar but unlike my tall brother he was average for his age and therefore didn''t seem as lanky as Derjar. He also wore glasses in the same style as my older brother. He was not one to be trifled with his skill in gaming is equal to ours despite being 3 years my junior and 5 years Derjar''s. Often we talk about the monster we have created. "Nojas" I grunted in acknowledgement, still serious. He pushed up his glasses and turned his head with a humph. Like some kind of anime girl thats mad with me. Really? Both of them aren''t even trying today. Normally when one of them does succeed we''d all start laughing uncontrollably. Of course we don''t stop since our main objective is to kill the other person with laughter. Needless to say it gets out of hand. Nojas is usually the one facepalming at the antics of his older brothers so the fact that he''s playing along speaks to the anticipation we''re all feeling. I jumped a bit as the timer ended. I saw my older brother jump sideways into his capsule with finger guns shooting me and Nojas. He landed sitting up on the soft interior of the Varas Capsule made from Non-concussive Instant Memory Foam or NIMF he probably didn''t even feel anything as he landed. He blew out the smoke from his finger guns giving us a grin and lied down flat and supine. I entered my capsule as well diving with a twist to land on my back. I could only assume Nojas wasn''t far behind or ahead. The sound of three VC''s could be heard closing with a barely audible hiss. In pitch blackness I reflected on the rules we created for Twoen as various mechanical sensors and brainwave detectors positioned themselves over, on and around my body. Following that, the capsule flooded with a metallic breathable liquid thinner than water that would provide sustenance and manage waste via nanobots. The rules were simple: 1. We start at the same time. 2. No online forums. 3. Best the other two in every way conceivable. Chapter 1 - Character Creation and a Challenge
Welcome to Character Creation
The character creation notification blinked bright and blue. As I pondered how I wanted to approach the type of character I want, I decided the best course of action would be to study what I can change from the very beginning. After all character creation can often dictate the way you play for the rest of the game depending on what customization is available.
Who are you?
Hmm it''s addressing me? A game mechanic perhaps. "A name...." I breathed. My character name would dictate how others view me. Of course a simple name like "John" could have any number of connotations in the gameworld or Twoen I should say. Then you could look at any other name with an "XXX" in front or behind it and instantly they''re written off as an inexperienced, naiive 13 year old. Of course i''ve come across this very same problem a multitude of times. Simply choosing one of my old ones won''t work. As an unspoken rule similar to never taking the urinal directly beside a pissing man when there are clearly many empty, my brothers and I never and I mean NEVER choose the same name twice. The reason being it''s no fun when I know exactly who Derjar or Nojas is in game. As an added rule we alter our appearances ever so slightly, just enough to not be recognizable by the other two at a glance. However I''ve already picked out a name beforehand in order to get a head start. "Cobb" I said. It''s a spin on my dad''s name.
Welcome to Twoen Cobb. What are you?
Ok this is actually pretty cool. Suspiciously the dialogue isn''t what I expected of a typical VRMMORPG and it''s surprising that I find the way the blue boxes address me to be especially cool. I note the strangeness and move on. I haven''t become the near best at every game I''ve ever played to be beffuddled by strange blue boxes. Note the strangeness, not a threat, probably some game feature. What followed was a huge list of races. It spanned down from something called a "Aaaaaol". It seemed I was on page one of "A" races. I focused on the "Aaaaaol".
Aaaaaol The Aaaaaol are an elusive and playful people, they are known to reside in Tree Caves in the Great Forest however they are nomadic and move between the trees. Other than Tree Cave settlements their other hideouts are unknown and well hidden. Their average height is the same as Humans but the range in which they come varies as high as the shortest of the Tyou to as short as the Gnomes. Sleek bodies are complimented by transparent feathers and taut muscles. Cat-like eyes watch everything you do with friendly humour or deadly intent. Their natural inclination is to be friends with whoever can catch them. Though that may seem like an evolutionary failure it is made up for in their unparalled reaction time and quick speed. With intelligence to match their speed it is impossible to catch one and thus no one has called an Aaaaaol a friend in a long time.
"Holy Jesus Christ! This fucking detail what the hell?!" I yelled. What stood in front of me was an Aaaaaol of human height and he looked a lot like me. A character mirror. Cool beans. I walked up to my Aaaaaol self and brought our forearms together. Even at this distance I could barely make out the outline of transparent feathers. I flicked my eyes to my Aaaaaol self''s. Cat-like and without a doubt it seemed like I was being examined with mirth. This was especially disconcerting because I knew for a fact I wasn''t making any sort of expression similar to that. I wrote it off as a feature of the race and humans perception of their cat-like eyes. I waved mirror Cobb and he dispersed into grey mist. I decided to look up the Tyou. I went to the search bar on the list located at the top and typed in "Tyou".
Tyou A race of enormous people that live only in the harshest environs. They can be found in the coldest colds and hottest hots. The shortest of these people ever recorded was 9 meters tall. It''s not uncommon for a Tyou to lend a helping hand to travelers crossing the Light Freeze or the deserts of Ari. Their muscles and bones are far more evolved than in any other humanoid race able to support a body of 2 tons or more. However the morality between the Tyou differ as much as Humans. Where one can protect the "little people" for free. One may destroy whole caravans on a whim eating the "little people" as they go. Hulking figures can often be seen in the hazy heat of Ari or the the heavy blizzards of the Light Freeze. Those are the Tyou.
"Amazing. There must be thousands of cultures waiting to be discovered in Twoen!" I exclaimed as I browsed through the races. With this level of detail for each race? I counted hundreds! Hundreds! On the first page of the first letter! Jesus Christ with that kind of detail what does the governing A.I. of this game packing? Does this mean that a population for each of these races exist in the game? Is it possible for the A.I. to manage something so complex? How often do these cultures intermingle? Are they isolated or united? Impossible this level of detail piques my interest yet at the same time I make sure to keep my expectations low. "This game won''t keep my attention for a week." I sighed. "Just like every other game." I knew the initial hype and im experiencing the symptoms right now. One of the reasons I don''t check the forums of games I play is because I get dissapointed with the game everytime I check. This way when I actually get into the game everything is a surprise and it keeps my attention for at least a little while. It''s sad really the things I do to milk every game of it''s entertainment value. Still the number of races is simply astounding. I browsed many races and read their little excerpts provided by the prompts for a good 10 minutes. At this point I had found the advanced search function which I played around with. There were many boxes of which I could tick and a search bar for specific keywords to be on the look out for. I ticked humanoid and looked through the hundreds of options trying to figure out what I wanted. Derjar would definitely opt for a character that worked up close and personal. Nojas would go for something that could take out opponents without their knowledge. Of course a basic warrior and assassin would just limit them both. Likewise they knew something as simple as a Mage would only limit my potential. But classes were found in Twoen not in character creation and even then to think that only basic classes were available was naiive and stupid. There would be something for me as there would for both of them. I ticked the "Magical" box, wanting something magically inclined. I also ticked "Physical Body" which is self explanatory. Among my 10 minutes browsing I came across various races that weren''t physical. I had a headache the first time I tried to control a body that wasn''t solid and so I vowed never again.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Jjerg The Jjerg are often referred to as crystal people. Contrary to popular belief their crystal hair is soft to the touch. Their gem-like eyes are completely organic as is everything else about them. Their skin color can range from the bright color of gems to a normal beige. The founder of the current major Jjerg city established his house in a crystal cave as a joke. However many Jjerg liked the beauty of the place and moved in. A Jjerg can easily blend in with a Human populace save for those three things, even more so if their skin matches Humans. Their odd appearance has nothing to do with the earth or anything similar. An outsider would not know the true purpose of these qualities but elders have confirmed their knowledge of its purpose. Nonetheless these people have an innate gift with magic that though rarely awoken and with great effort when done, is blinding in its brilliance.
Kersooth The Kersooth were originally demon spawn from another dimension. When an invasion from a different dimension caught Twoen unguarded all the races banded together. The most annoying and numerous were the Kersoo, they were the small fry and least evolved of all the demonic things that ravaged Twoen. Many methods were devised to stop their advance. The small red people, had large horns, sharp and shockingly white teeth, and an habit of moving. When the greatest magical minds of the time reversed their demonic infliction, there were multiple accounts of perfect white smiles on soothed faces. The mass turning event was coined the Soothing. Hence the Kersooth whose bright red skin dulled to a passable brown. They retain innate talent with fire and shadow.
Agaun The Aguan are a lizard race born on the water. Adorning their heads are 1-3 horns crowning the forehead. The face alters into a noticable hard beak used to peck fish out of the water. Covering them are dull blue scales used to camoflauge in the deepest depths of the ocean. They are master wayfinders on the sea and no other race holds a candle to the lizard men of the water. Emotions are hard to read on the face of an Agaun but they are there. Their facial structure deviates from a Human''s but they are capable of some facial movement reminiscent of human emotion. Years on the water develops a natural affinity for it ingrained into their DNA.
Human Humans have been gifted with the ability of endless potential. Nothing can hide their secrets from these inquisitve creatures for long. What they lack in physical prowess or magical affinity they make up for in an iron will and fiery determination found in almost all Humans. Their recent appearance was of no concern to many of the Elder Races. They were inspected for physicality and magic ability and finding none the Elder Races left them to their devices. What they did not expect was their unfathomable ingenuity and adaptablity.
"Yeah that''s right bitches. Don''t underestimate human ingenuity!" I talked to no one in particular. That being said choosing a human is boring. Don''t get me wrong I do have racial pride but still why play a game if not to get away from reality? There were many more races but I didn''t have the time to waste sitting here and carefully selecting our of hundreds of races. My brothers were probably already in the game! I chose Jjerg because its human-like yet not being so. Immediately a tan man about the age out 18 appeared in front of me. His gem hair was black like obsidian and his eyes were a shiny brown. His hair stood up by itself with no interference. I kept my weight and height the same, I added no muscle nor removed any fat, I changed the face however. I removed my dimples, made the jaw a tad sharper and I was pondering how I would change myself when I realized with this race I didnt really have to. I reverted my face to default and changed my skin to an emerald green and gave it a bit of transparency. If I stayed still I could see some muscles outlined in the legs and arms of my character mirror. Cool beans. With obsidian black hair and emerald green skin it didnt look as weird as I thought. Still something was missing. I looked into the eyes of mirror Cobb and realized I was looking at the problem, shiny brown eyes dont cut it. I replaced them with obsidian black eyes to match the hair. My god holy Jesus I looked fucking cool. Green and black made a good pair. I added some white sparkles in my eyes so it wouldn''t look too creepy or unsettling to others. "What am I?" I asked. "I am a Jjerg" I said.
So you are. And so it is.
With a jolt I was sucked into my character. Everything seemed normal except I felt.... harder? I breathed easier and felt lighter yet denser. My hair also never fell in my face anymore and stayed a messy spiky. Attaining this look without gel? A miracle. Looking around my eyes felt normal I was still in the grey emptiness of character creation.
Challenge Start As a new Player you are offered to enter the world of Twoen in unique and exciting ways. Every player is offered a Challenge Start when beginning the game. This is used to assimilate the character into the Twoen as opposed to simply appearing in a starting town. However these starts are not reccomended for beginner players or someone new to VRMMORPGs. If you succeed you will gain rewards based on the difficulty you complete. If not you will be punished accordingly based on difficulty. The higher the tier difficulty the better the rewards and harsher the punishment.
A way to skyrocket through the beginning levels of the game? Sign me up. I wouldn''t put it past Derjar and Nojas to use this to their advantage either. Sure Twoen''s got my attention the lore and worldbuilding apparent in JUST the character creation is astounding! But difficulty and realism? Probably not, hoping for that much from a single game is expecting too much. I''ve been looking for a game like that my whole life and because of that i''m very skilled. I could probably beat the highest tier difficulty myself. Speaking of which I swiped away the "Challenge Start" prompt.
Normal Random event is generated nearby a starting town or city. Complete the given quest to recieve rewards. Upon failure reputation with the town will be lowered and starting items and equipment will be denied.
Hard Random event is generated in an unprotected city. Complete the given quest to recieve rewards. Upon failure reputation with the unprotected city will be lowered, starting items and equipment will be denied, and a negative effect depending on the nature of the given quest.
Brutal Random event generated in unprotected, uncharted, monster territory. Complete the given quest to recieve rewards. No starting items or equipment. Upon failure map function and buddy system will be disabled for 1 year in game, heavy negative debuff for 1 year in game. Negative reputation to the three nearest starting towns. Become a natural enemy to all monsters in whatever zone you are spawned in for life.
Absolutely Insane Spawn in the heart of a monster lair in the middle of the Uncharted. Complete the given quest to recieve rewards. No starting items or equipment. No safe zones. Upon failure heavy permanent debuff to character, map function disabled until leaving the Uncharted, buddy system disabled until leaving the Uncharted. Achievement system disabled, Class Quests disabled, Race Quests disabled, etc until completion.
From what I gather there are starting towns or cities which are protected probably something similar to a newbie zone. Then there are towns or cites without those protections on them. Apparently choosing a Challenge Start will give you a random location to spawn to. I''m assuming that normally you choose your starting town and normally some starting items are given to you. Hmmm. Normally dying in the game brings you to a safe zone in which to revive. So although all the difficulties below "Absolutely Insane" are indeed difficult with enough time escape should be possible even in Brutal difficulty. The fact that "Absolutely Insane" has no safe zones likely means i''ll be resurrecting among hostiles everytime I die. Although since I don''t plan on dying so it shouldn''t really be a problem. There is no other way if I don''t take the risk and my brothers do then I''ll be hopelessly behind. My brothers are complete monsters when it comes to VRMMORPGs they are as confident in their skills as I am in mine.We may seem normal. But when it comes to gaming we are all abso-fucking-lutely insane. "Start" I said. With a stupid grin on my face. Chapter 2 - Geckos
You have chosen Jjerg as your race and as such gain: +10 INT +5 END +5 STR +5 WIS +10 MND New Stat: Magical Endurance (MND) Race Skill: Rock Camoflauge
Ok well it seems that you don''t get to see racial bonuses or anything game related to the race until you''ve actually joined the game. That makes sense otherwise people would never join the game instead they''d be going through every race available checking thier bonuses and race skill. Speaking of which it seems I unlocked a new stat in addition the basic ones. I''m guessing it''s inherent in all races that have a magical description if not then a good majority of them. Let me bring up my character sheet. The system sense my intent and...
Class: - Name: Cobb Title: -
HP: 100/100 Lvl: 1
MP: 100/100
SP: 100/100
STR: 15 CHR: 10
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 20
WIS: 15
LUK: 10
I was in a dark, dimlit cave. I spawned to the side of the cave on a pile of rocks. The cave room was huge with a high ceiling and stalacites hanging down from it some of which met the stalagmites reaching upwards. The stone was a dull greyish-blue from a rock I could not identify. I could see just fine and since the Jjerg don''t have any visual assistance this meant that I was clearly visible to whatever I was hearing walk down the far end of the tunnel. Luckily the rock formation in the middle of the room blocked my vision as well as whatever was making that damn whipping sound. As I was moving to position myself behind the pile of rocks I spawned on something flashed emerald green. Shit it was me. I froze looking around frantically and my body slowly assumed the color and texture of the surrounding rock. Trying to find a comfortable position I sat my ass down on the pile of rocks and waited for the whipping sound to pass.
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) When immobile and unmoving your body adapts to the surrounding rock. Your body will inherit the hardness and defensive capabilities of the rock it becomes. Sudden movemnts cancel the skill.
I sat still and stayed calm. The Jjerg survived along with the countless other inhabitants of Twoen somehow. I waited and trusted the skill. The hard, tired footfalls echoed throughout the cave room and bounced off each other the effect was eerie. The whip breaking the sound barrier cut off the echo abruptedly and then there were only footsteps. I was eager to view the monster that had the unfortunate luck to have me spawn in it''s lair. A muscular furred creature rounded the stone pillars in the middle of the room. It seemed bearlike and it was massive almost nearing half the height of the caveroom. It was bipedal and walked on two legs. Its muscles jiggled with every step and clear marks of war were riddled across its chest and face. A lair full of these might be a small problem I had to rethink my plan of action. That thing could probably bring this room down if you let him at the pillars long enough. The thing hasn''t seen me yet or maybe it has but my rock camo worked. I was fully focused on sitting when it fell onto its front paws in a small earthquake and sniffed. It slowly approached nose twitching. It was close enough that I could see that the wounds on it were fresh. I made a thoughful sound as I followed it''s wounds to its back where they seemed the most concentrated and deep. It''s ear twitched. Shit. I''m not sure if I smell like rock or not but shutting up was fully within my power. My muscles tensed as he sniffed close to my legs, ready to bolt for the opposite side of the room and leave the way they came. I shouldn''t have trusted this fucking skill. Im gonna die in lair filled with bear beasts.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. CRACK "RRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR" the gigantic bear humanoid gave the must guttural and pain filled moan I''ve ever heard. My eyes followed the whip as it coiled back into the hand of a gigantic.....gecko. What the hell. Why does it look so fucking stupid. Pfffftttt. I was about to crack up. It was a humanoid body covered in very small and numerous bright yellow, red and green scales. But the worst part, was its fucking face. It''s mouth was open and it''s head kept twitching around side to side. It looked like that one kid who tried to make a joke met with complete silence. His face literally screams "Get it? Get it?". It was so hilariously out of place that I almost gave away my rock camoflauge in order to bend forward and laugh my lungs out. It''s ok buddy I wouldv''e laughed at your joke. Come on tell it again. It snapped its idiot face toward me. I almost jerked in my makeshift rock seat. It was looking at Carl the bear thing not me thankfully. Suddenly it hissed and screeched and Carl still didnt move. It clicked its tounge and from further down the tunnel more geckos came running down the grey-blue cave. And I almost died they all jogged like normal human but their heads were out of proportion and completely like a gecko''s. And there mouths. Were. All. Open. It didn''t help that they some kind of tic to keep looking around. Suddenly they all closed their mouths. And it was eerily silent as the echoes of the past commotion slowly died against the cavern walls. They all reared their head back and threw it forward spitting out their tounge which latched onto Carl. They were about the same height as Carl was when he was standing. I''m about 5''10 and from what I could tell about half of Carl''s height. That means five 12 foot gecko''s just dragged my buddy Carl deeper into the cave and I don''t hear a single one of them instead I heard Carl''s fur being dragged against the rock. These fucks don''t make any sound? That''s not good. As the dragging sound died off I waited. What do I know about these geckos? Completely silent, pack hunting, and hierarchial. I could tell they have some kind of rank by the way four of them answered to the first one I saw. I knew they were completely silent because I heard nothing as they walked off. Pack hunting I infered from them bringing back Carl who could probably kill two or three of them from first glance. They didn''t seem to have many combat capablities, in fact the bright yellow one was using a whip which means they didn''t to get to where they are from just physical superiority. When they were looking around the cavern like fucking idiots it''s because they were trusting the instincts of a superior predator, Carl, and were trying to locate me. They don''t seem so stupid to me anymore. Goddammit they''re actually intelligent that makes this exponentionally harder. A lair full of these guys might present a different set of problems than a lair full of Carls. How smart are they I wonder. I tilted my head up to look at the ceiling. I noted every nook and cranny, every divot and deviation, every lump and chip. There! I saw you you motherfucker. There is without a doubt a fucking camoflauged gecko in here. These guys are smarter than I thought. They''re using a classic security and patrol trick. Leave the room but keep it under surveillance and then your prey will show itself. All you have to do it wait. If there isn''t any prey then you just feel fucking stupid after waiting 6 hours. Trust me i''ve been there. But im not a fucking idiot. Can this guy even kill me? Come the fuck down you idiot lizard gecko! Commence the waiting game. It only took 20 minutes for the gecko to uncamoflauge and jump down. Again this was done without a sound. I sat waiting for it to come across my pile of rocks. The rock I was current sitting on was about 5ft off the ground. The gecko was about 12ft and so as he rounded the stalagmite/stalacite formation in the middle of the room and left my vision I quickly broke camoflauge and got into a standing position. My camo reformed as he came into my vision yet again. He was inspecting every rock closely and leaning towards them to get a closer look. I reminded myself they are most likely physically weaker and steeled my body. He jerked and glanced at me. He must have memorized the rocks. Nonetheless he still approached and leaned in. He was big, like really big up close. You just don''t come across 12 ft anythings in real life or in any other games at least without being prepared. He opened his mouth and his head twitched as there was the sound of a rock falling from the other side of the room. Got ya bitch! I screamed internally as i propelled myself upward. First, cut communication. I punched it in the throat, hard. It tried chirping or clicking or whatever to call for help but it came out as a gurgling pop. Second, cut the air supply. I latched onto its neck and began to choke it. It fell backwards and I landed hard against the stone floor. A solid thump echoing across the cavern. It''s bright green arms flailed around wildly and it tried to grapple me off. It''s fingers were longer and sticky but in the end they were harmless. It''s legs were too long to do anything when I was this close to its body. It''s movements were slowly losing their vigor and its scales were losing their brightness. After it finally stilled I held the choke for 5 minutes. Good thing I did too because after 2 minutes its jerking returned with a desperation and craving for air that couldn''t be faked. It died for sure a few moments after. My first kill. Cool beans.
Quest: Kill the King, Queen, Leader or equivalent of the Geckan Lair. An intelligent species of Geckos that are found deep within the Uncharted. Their intelligence threatens the balance of the Uncharted and you have been tasked with putting an end to them. Bonus: Kill all Geckans present Rewards: Legendary Skill
Oh cool I was wondering when the random quest would show up. I guess in this case it got triggered by killing the Geckan. I wonder what would''ve happened if I killed Carl instead? Oh well it seems that i''ve managed to level up quite a bit. Chapter 3 - Arena
Level Up! x6
Title Gained:Prey Turned Predator Being hunted by a superior predator of 40+ levels and still prevailing. The Geckan was stalking you the second reinforcements came into the cave room to drag Carl off. Relying on your instincts and analysis of Geckan behavior you outsmarted the camoflauged Geckan and took its life for your own. Permanent Effects: +25 INT +25 WIS +20 AGI
Holy fuck that Geckan was 40 plus?! That would be mean these guys are packing intellect or some other stat since the Geckan I just killed was pathetically weak. But still... Damn this is a nice ass title. Permanent effects and a new stat? I wonder if Twoen has stats for everything? Jesus Christ that means these Geckans could be packing some other obscure and obtuse stat like.. like.. balance or something. Wait no that wouldn''t work since I fucked that Geckan up by toppling him. But still I know they''re smart but what else are they....Something to note and move on. Speaking of stats I looked up the new agility stat I gained.
New Stat: Agility (AGI) Agility dictates reaction time, speed, jump height, ability to turn corners, stopping and accelerating.
Interesting, looks like I''ll be able to access information on the stats through pure intent. As long as the information is available I should be able to pull it up. I willed the prompt away and checked the next blinking blue screen.
New Skill: Hunted Sense - Beginner 1 Knowing the feeling of being hunted by superior predators. Their presence and intent were ingrained into your memory. Your paranoia has developed into being able to tell when you are being watched.
What the fuck I wasn''t even that scared. I''m not a fucking pansy. Twoen thinks i''m some kind of prancing rainbow pony? Fuck you. And your mother. I''ve only gotten two skills so far so its hard to judge how exactly you earn them. For example this skill definitely came from earning "Prey turned Predator" title but what others way will reveal themselves? I can only assume skills are granted based on actions the system deems significant. I have to admit this will come in handy especially in the monster lair. I''ve got a quest to finish after all and if these fuckers can camoflauge then I need every advantage I can get. I focused and felt......absolutely without a doubt... nothing, hopefully this means i''m safe and not hopelessly inept. I glanced around the cavern I spawned in. Still greyish blue dull rock surrounded me. Even the pillar formation in the middle of the cavern seemed completely blue-grey. I walked over and noticed that I was a tad faster than I should''ve been. Actually my speed increased by such a small amount that that short walk to the pillar had me already accustomed to it. I ran my hand across the coarse rock and it came back wet. Yep. These formations don''t occur unless water is dripping somewhere. And where water is life follows, specifically those im tasked with eliminating. I had two options, to follow the faint trail of blood left by an unconcious Carl, or go deeper into the cavern to where the Geckans originally came from. If theres water nearby there''s either an underground river or im very close to the surface. I tilted my head and listened for water. I listened and listened and listened and listened and I couldn''t hear shit. That doesn''t mean there are fucking Geckans crawling around on the ceiling though. I still felt nothing and by this time have already blended into the wall so I felt secure. If I can''t hear and underground river echoing through the cave then i''m very close to the surface. When I glanced upward I could see where some water dripped down from the ceiling. Yup im under a river or some water source. I checked the way the Geckans left and noted that it tilted slightly upwards, confirming my theory. I checked my Character Sheet as I began my trek.
Class: - Name: Cobb Title: Prey Turned Predator +25 INT +25 WIS +20 AGI
HP: 210/210 Lvl: 7
MP:232/232
SP: 210/210
STR: 15 CHR: 10
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 45 AGI: 20
WIS: 40
LUK: 10 Stat Points: 35
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (57%) Hunted Sense - Beginner 1 (2%)
A level 40+ monster is bound to rack in the exp. But level 7 from a single kill? I heard it was insanely hard to level up in this game and you''d have to invest a large amount of time to reach even level 10. So 7 in one go?! I wasn''t expecting this big of a reward just from killing a single member of the lair. These guys seemed infinitely weaker than Carl but there more unknowns and that made them a problem. Apparently I gain 5 skill points per level. This game doesn''t seem to reward stats based on overcoming problems, so it doesn''t seem like your stats will be trainable unless theres some special means im missing. Of course you could see gaining titles as accomplishing a problem and being rewarded with stats. However the problem still remains that I have 35 Stat Points to use. I decided to hold onto my points for now, even though it seems like a huge number this is still the equivalent to a month or two of gaming. Still I want to become some type of magic user and although it would be smart to apply some points now I have no idea as how im going to deal damage. With that in mind I held onto the points. It looks like I gained HP, MP and SP dependent on my stats. Every 3 points in either STR, INT, or END increased the amount I gained per level respectively. STR dictated my physical strength, health, and damage. INT dictated my memorization, fact filing, and magical damage. END dictated my defense to physical damage, and efficiency in using stamina. After fighting the Geckan my stamina dropped to about half while my health took only a small hit from colliding with the floor. My mana was dangerously low due to waiting for so long in Rock Camoflauge. Speaking of which...
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) Lvl 9 Beginner When immobile and unmoving your body adapts to the surrounding rock. Your body will inherit the hardness and defensive capabilities of the rock it becomes. Sudden movement cancels the skill. Effects: +18% chance of going unnoticed +1.8s of lingering effects after skill cancel
Well that explained why my initial punch to the Geckan''s neck was so effective when I only have 15 strength. Damn 2 hours of staying still and only Beginner 9. Still I shouldn''t complain leveling skills took and immense amount of time from what i''ve heard. Apparently skill levels increase depending on the length for which you train them as well as the intensity. That means spending time in a high level area surrounded by level 30+ monsters sped up my training exponentially. Even with that im still on the first tier the skill. It seemed I gained 2% chance of going unnoticed for each level and .2 seconds of lingering effect. Im curious to see if anything happens when I reach the next tier my gaming instincts are screaming. As I was looking through the transparent screen I saw light ahead. I ended up in another cave room surprisingly unharmed. I was on alert as I saw nothing but because my Hunted Sense never gave me any warnings I trekked on. The room I was in had greenery crawling up the walls. At the end of the room there were stone handholds carved into the wal leading up to a crevice. From that same crevice light streamed into the cave and impacted the center of the room. I could see weeds and small plants growing out of the cracks in the walls and floor and a particular interesting one growing upside down from the ceiling. Curiously I walked up to the wall and stood still. My body slowly converted and faux vines crawled across my skin. It seems my skill would imitate the rocks as much as possible. I put my foot in the first divot and followed the Geckans up and through the crevice. Ahhhhh! Jeez that stings! Fuck its bright outside! My breathing sped up and my heart started beating. Something huge is watching me, something huge or something very, very dangerous. In addition to that I could feel the gazes of hundreds of Geckans flick to me. They looked at me and I looked at them as my eyes adjusted. Perhaps it was my mesmerizing gaze, the endless universe in the unfathomable black of my eyes, the barely visible white specks , or the unfiltered curiosity they seemed to portray. For some reason they did not move. I stood very, very still. My muscles tensed and I threw myself back into the crevice with explosive force. "FUCK FUCKING GECKOS!" I howled with the most emotion I could muster. I got myself five feet into the crevice until I felt something warm, sticky and muscular slap against my right foot. It jerked my momentum and I stopped flying forward. A second tounge grabbed my left foot and yanked me to the side making me flip midair to trace the toungues back to their owners.
Geckan Lvl - 45 Geckans have not been recorded or catalogued. They are unknown entites as far as the kingdoms are aware. From what you have gathered they are an intelligent species with many unknowns. What you do know is that they utilize teamwork and stealth. You''ve observed their skill with the whip and accuracy with their toungues and conclude they have some skill in precision. Their toungues are prehensile and strong enough to drag Carl around the cave floor. Recently you''ve been made aware that their tounges are also warm and sticky
New Skill: Inform - Beginner 1 Your inquisitive nature and problem solving attitude awards you with the inherent ability to know things. By focusing on an object or entity information is granted based upon the level of this skill. Learning new things and drawing conclusions will also develop this skill. The skill may even make connections you have not.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Effects: +Basic knowledge and personal conclusions provided.
I stared defiantly at the two Geckans ignoring the prompts and willing them away. My momentum stopped and I began to fall in an arc due to being attached to the tounges still. I kept up my glare up until I crashed headfirst into the cave wall. The body of a Jjerg could be heard dragging across a rock wall echoing down the cavern walls. I awoke some indeterminate time later to a pebble hitting me in the face. I was lying down stomach on a sandy floor and judging from the aches on my face and head as well as the assorted pebbles next to my face, whoever the fuck is doing that has been at it for some time. I spit out some sand and looked around before getting up. My skin shrugged off the light brown and resumed its emerald brilliance, my hair turned jet black and my eyes followed suit. There were 2 strangers sharing my cell with me. We were trapped - no caged - in what seemed to be a sandstone cage. My change caught the eye of the fellow sitting down by the wall. "Oh good I thought they threw an actual rock in here." The taller, toned guy said. His face was tan but it looked natural on him. His hair wanted to be black but was still a passable brown. He was wearing nothing just as I myself was. He seemed to be a normal human but I could be missing something crucial, after all there are countless races. There was a grace and comfortableness in his actions that spoke of a veteran gamer as he walked up to me. I was painfully aware of the angle of his dangle. He looked to be in his early 20''s and as he got closer it became more apparent. During this time he always took note of me and I only got a raised eyebrow from my appearance. He probably has been in game for a while. "Hey man. I got caught by those geckos awhile back." He said calmly. Oh well nothing to lose, we''re in this same situation anyway. To top it off he seems like a strong ally. "Yeah same. Haven''t even been in game for more than half a day and I''m already in jail." I sighed sadly. "This happens every fucking time." "Oh man thats hilarious! Hey you seem pretty capable what''s your name?" He chuckled. Suprisingly he isn''t looking down on me. Normally if a player had the vibe im getting from tan man over here he''d be more full of himself. When a player had that vibe and didn''t underestimate anyone? Dangerous. My respect rises. "Cobb" "JST" We shook. Contrary to popular belief gamers aren''t as socially inept as many people think. When you''re in a VR game time dilates to a 5:1 ratio. Five days in here is a day outside. I''ve been playing since I was 10 years old. And in those 8 years since I''ve been interacting and talking with people. Becoming one of the top in every game. Effectively I have 40 years worth of gaming under my belt. And none of those years were spent slacking, my brothers wouldn''t allow it. "Hey JST" I tested, saying each letter as he did. "Who''s the kid?" Our other cellmate looked to be around 5''7 in comparison to JST''s 6 feet. He was young, maybe 15 years old. His hair was bright blonde of short length yet thin so that it fell against his forehead. His hands and feet seemed to be built differently and upon closer examination looked to have extremely thin and seemingly hard hairs. Like I haven''t seen a spider before. I''ve played enough games to recognize characterstics of the most basic tropes. Some type of humanoid spider race? The hairs were called "setules" and ended in triangular tips that allowed spiders to climb up walls. Again, 40 years of gametime. "Says his name is Jones. LoneJones." JST answered. "He started half a day ago as well, same as us." "You both just started the game? What are you guys doing here?" I asked surprised. "Same reason you''re in the middle of the Uncharted?" Jones said. "We took the challenge start." "Damn what are the chances. What do you guys have to do for the challenge quest?" I asked "I''ve got to kill the Leader" "Kill the Queen" JST said. "Gotta kill the King" LoneJones said "Or the equivalent." We all finished silently. Damn we all have the same quest? If Twoen sends me a veteran player im gonna use him and if he sends me a 15 year old kid I guess he could tag along too. The spider child stood up from sitting with his back against the wall and approached us both. I could hear his septules detach from the wall with a slick peeling. "Party up." Jones said. We were all standing in a triangle facing each other, naked and sandy. His plan was sound we might as well do the quest together. "Alright i''ll make." JST said. "Hope you guys can lift your weight." He said with a discreet look to Jones. JST bolted for Jones and grappled him only to raise his eyebrows as his grapple was negated and countered. JST broke Jones'' grab and they gave each room. Jones taunted JST and he ran forward and unleashed a flurry of kicks and changing his style in a never ending dynamic. Jonas followed every martial art, from brazilian jiu-jistu to boxing. JST was matched. As they switched styles it was apparent one or the other was especially skilled in one but it didn''t matter as they moved on to the next. There were no words the conversation was attacking, defending, countering, dodging and reacting. I wasn''t a stranger to sparring and I watched them talk through their fists. Amazing, I only knew a handful of players that actually learn martial arts outside of the game. After a few long minutes they slowed down to my dissapointment. It was like watching a dance, listening to the banter of two lifelong friends, hearing the stories of old men, it was beautiful. "Alright man. ALRIGHT!" JST stopped a flying roundhouse kick inches from his face and absorbed the momentum by rolling backwards, sending sand flying upwards. "Holy cow. I only know a few people who can keep up with me." "I really wasn''t expecting to be matched right there." He grinned. "I was looking to put you in the dirt." He smiled. There''s no dirt here though. "Well im surrounded by sand so..." JST said. "Damn who taught you, kid?" He asked. Thank you. I was about to say but I didn''t want to mess up the moment. "My family taught each other." Jones said smugly. I wasn''t about to tell them I knew all those martial arts intimately maybe more depending on how much that display of their skills covered. After all im looking to be a magic user not roll around in the sand with my enemies.They were looking at me expectantly as if to prove my worth. After all that type of fighting is impressive to almost everyone. But when you''ve had sparring partners your whole life, meh. There was an invisible and intangible tension in the air and yet it felt thick nonetheless. They both assumed a subtle aggressive posture, one foot slightly back, arms loose, leaning slightly forward, eyes completely focused. The second I felt they were about to pounce on me I interrupted them. "Go ahead, try me." They hesitated not of fear, but curiosity. "If you both come at me I''ll have to start at my best and if do that one of us is bound to get hurt. Right now we need to prepare for whatever''s happening outside." I reasoned. It was getting louder out there which was saying something. After a few more moments. "I believe him, after all you''d have to truly believe in your skills to do the "Absolutely Insane" Challenge Start." Jones deduced with a slow nod. JST nodded and looked out of the thick sandstone bars. He accepted that fact and moved on assuming my skill to be true. Still slightly panting he said. "We''re in some type of arena take a look around. See the cages at the far end of the colliseum floor? I saw monsters get released from there and there." He pointed to a heavy looking wooden portcullis at the opposite end of the colliseum. "They all fought to the death before being cleared up." We were in a sand pit and patches of shade hit the arena floor in random patterns. I looked up and saw that we were cheap entertainment. Geckan''s lined makeshift wooden benches formed out of long tree trunks. Aside from loud clicking, gurgling and piercing shrieks there were no other sounds. There was no sound of bustling movement or the mass of bodies I was clearly seeing. Eerie. I noted that the random patches of shade came from a certain tree with extremely long branches and huge leaves that surpassed even the shade given to the stands from the more conservative trees. The entirety of the stands was protected from the sun by a thick green blanket. What possible reason could they have for this place?
Inform: Geckan Battle Arena The Geckan Battle Arena was created solely for violent entertainment. With intelligence comes boredom. Geckans gather monsters from the Uncharted and pit them against each other to the death. You and your cellmates have been paired based on appearance. Everything dies in the Arena. Rewards: +?????
Huh this is gonna be useful.I shrugged off the "Everything dies" part, if I have any chance of winning this thing it''s gonna be with these two. I wonder what the reward could be? "They''re fighting monsters? Any Geckans fighting? Or just other creatures?" I questioned. Though I already knew the answer, they wouldn''t take part in a physical competition judging from what I knew of them. Jones walked up to the bars. "As far as we''ve seen, no." His voice was soft but carried. "The gecko''s yappin again so get ready since it might be our turn. Punch me." He said suddenly. I took that as a chance to prove my worth. I didn''t hesitate and shot my first forward, throwing everything into that punch. Jones wide eyed, had only half a second to react. Even though he had asked for it his block came up too slowly. I stopped my fist directly in between his eyes. The perfect punch, every muscle perfectly used, in control the whole time, and most importantly, fast. Boxing was my go to. A flash of emerald green half a second long. "Did you get it?" Jones asked softly through the silence. Staring at my fist, he paused his blocking, yielding. His spider hairs were raised and slightly swaying, though he seemed calm I know I surprised him. I actually made his spidey senses tingle. Wait what''d he say? Did I get it? He was met with two confused black eyes. What''s he on about? "Maybe if I...." Slowly he moved his hand to tap mine out of the way, redirecting the force that would''ve been, rather than blocking. A testament to his technique even in a mock demonstration.
New Skill: Unarmed Combat - Beginner 1 Fighting with nothing on you but your own body is an art. The body is a weapon and with you can kill. As your skill is demonstrated this skill will develop. Effects: +3% increase in damage when no weapons equipped
"Woah. Yeah.....yeah I believe you bro. You''re good, that was some punch, I only know one guy who can snap one out like that." JST broke the silence. They must have gotten the skill when they gave each other room earlier when they fought. That would explain why they kept going, they were raising the skill or in this case demonstrating their prowess to the system. "It only adds the damage which means applying the damage is up to my actual skill in martial arts." I said. "That''s actually pretty cool." The clicking got louder and it was incessant. It was present when I first woke up but has only been getting louder. "Jesus Christ! Shut the fucking hell up!" I yelled out the cage. Shortly after the clicking stopped. A sound drew our attention opposite of our cage which judging from the sun was located in the south end of the circular clearing. Another portcullis directly opposite from us in the north end of the clearing was being slowly raised. Ok if the monsters were released from the cage over there at the west end to fight the creatures coming for the east then its definitely our turn. "It''s probably us guys let''s get ready. Finish up the party invites." I said. JST didn''t pause or zone out like what a regular player might do for half a second. A sign of a true veteran. Although the kid''s no slacker either, he''s probably just as dangerous. Seconds later I recieved the invite..
Party Invite by JST Current Members: LoneJones Accept/Decline
I accepted. Jones turned to me. "By the way what kind of playstyle you planning on?" He asked. "I''m trying to go for a unique magic class. You have any ideas on what you want?" I answered with a sigh "Something with high impact or something...." Jones trailed off. "Hopefully classes will let themselves be known. I want to get an up close class that isn''t too-" He was interrupted by the sound of our cage being opened from above. Grating sandstone is not a pleasant sound. Four geckos looked down at us. Their mouths were open in that stupid way. Eyes that were slightly too big on them made them look hilarious but I kept my cool. "God they look dumb." JST said. I looked at him and he had his mouth open, eyes wide and tounge sticking out like a retard. I bursted out laughing, I think I almost died. I glanced over to Jones with tears in my eyes and he was cracking up too. I don''t know what the Geckans were thinking when they saw us but they decided that was the moment to strike. They closed their mouths. With a toungue smacking sound four toungues lashed out to grab us. And instantly all three of us were hyperfocused. I sidestepped and pulled on the toungue of the Geckan farthest to the right. Unfortunately his friends had a good grip on him and his toungue retracted leaving him safe. Although two of them left to support the Geckan that I was pulling. When I glanced to my left Jones and JST had pulled the Geckan furthest to the left down into the cage. I gazed upwards as they dealt death to the straggler, watching their back in case the remaining Geckans made any other move. Ten or so Geckans came to support and soon enough we were pinned to the floor by a mass of pink flesh and dragged up and out of the cage.
New Skill: Hyperfocus - Beginner 1 Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily. Effects: +Perception of time slowed by 10%
We were hurled to the sandy ground in the middle of the Arena as the wooden portcullis opposite of us opened. "There''s one for each of us." JST whistled loudly being the first to look. "I hope there was training behind that punch." He gave me a brief look. I peered into the black tunnel to see three pairs of red eyes hovering in the blackness five feet of the ground. They moved in fluid zig zags and although they were not yet visible I got the impression of a powerful predator through Hunted Sense. "Three apex predators. Three veteran gamers." JST said through a small grin. "Don''t think I didn''t notice.. Not an ounce of fear, efficient and deadly. The presence you give off even while completely naked is astounding." He finished before looking forward again. Me and Jones stole a quick look at each other and finding nothing but the calm determined eyes of a veteran gamer we stalked forward. We weren''t ones to wait for our prey to come to us. Chapter 4 - Brothers ~JST POV~ I turned my head to look at Cobb and Jones stalking forward. They moved ahead with a practiced ease, swift and subtle. They left footprints in the fine sand, a light breeze would''ve rustled their clothes if they had any. They were no strangers to party tactics and although some games utilized different battle systems it seems Twoen aimed for something more raw. This would be a fight to the death won only with blood and sweat. The two of them moved to cover my flanks and understanding passed between us, I would handle the middle. Their muscles and mine responded to the minscule movement and tension in the lithe bodies of the huge cats in front of us. Their eyes retained their red glow even in the sun. I watched them with a hawk-like stare, still mirroring their movements. They were lithe, glowing red eyes, sleek black fur, wiry muscles yet a big frame. They stood at 4 feet shoulder height.
Round 1/5 of the Geckan Battle Arena Three Shade Panthers captured early in their lives. Though normally territorial these three are the last survivors of the original catch which numbered fifteen. Intelligent enough to realize the nature of the arena they have banded together in behavior never before seen in Shade Panthers. These three Shade Panthers are adults now and fan favorites too.
A shift in posture of the lead panther was met with slight lowering of my stance. He hissed and growled at me as his angle of attack was closed. It seemed Cobb was more straightforward with his opponent and with a streak of emerald and black they were upon each other. I decided to bait the panther and glance to Jones, activating Hyperfocus and feigning a half second of being distracted. In that half second Jones could be seen backing up into the colliseum wall. He looked like the epitome of a lost child. Or easy prey. What could he be thinking? The lead panther''s eyes widened. But his pupils sharpened. With a burst of sand he leaped forward with claws out. He crashed into the sand and seeing no blood he listened and relied on his instincts to point out his prey. I rolled into the panthers temporary blind spot coming up with knees slightly bent and arms slightly to the side, elbows bent. I could''ve pulled this manuever off without Hyperfocus but time slowing by 10% isn''t something to take for granted. I was up close againt the panthers muscular torso when I caught sight of his left ear twitch. Quickly I brought my knee into his ribs in a crushing display of force add to that 46% increase in damage from Unarmed Combat The panther yelped as its body was lifted upwards for a split second it backed off slowly towards a patch of shade, cat-like eyes flicking across my body in hesitation. As soon as its back paw touched the shade it smirked at me. And vanished. Shit. It''s a fucking Shade Panther and there''s shade everywhere. No wonder they reached adulthood in here. I glanced at Cobb who was in the middle of the arena. He could barely be seen in the cloud of dust that formed in his area. Though I still saw green in short bursts so I wrote him off as fine. The sounds of battle could clearly be heard within and occasional growling and yelping was audible. I took a deep breath and ran towards Jones. The branch of the tree above me was super long, its shadow extended all the way to the Arena wall. Very close to where Jones was fighting. I ran fast and unsurprisingly the lead panther emerged from the shadows behind LoneJones. I cupped my hands still sprinting, ready to use all my remaining breath to shout warning. It wasn''t needed. It might''ve been my imagination but as Jones and his panther circled each other, I could see Jones grin. His spider hairs were up. Both panthers lunged at him leaving Jones trapped against the Arena wall. One directly in front while the lead panther trapped him from behind. What happened next was nothing short of amazing. He crawled up the wall quickly utilzing his septules for an easy grip and while he could''ve stayed in safety, he went on the offensive. As soon as his original panther was mid leap he shot off the wall and using his momentum, grabbed the panther by the ear and surrounding fur, and snapped its neck. The panther''s body became limp, taut muscles became useless as its head lolled to far to one side. Its body impacted the grainy sand and dragged to a stop creating a small pile of sand at my feet as I walked up. It was a clean kill, no injuries on the panthers body at all, a clean severing of the spinal cord. "It doesn''t look like I''ll be getting out that way." He gestured to the Geckan Spearmen lining the Arena walls. They were probably experienced in handling monsters that could crawl up the walls or try to escape. It''s plausible the very first rows of the seating were exposed to the sunlight in order to contain the Shade Panthers. "Shit I didn''t even know you could do that." I said never taking my eyes off the lead panther who began to pace around in the shade. "It''s my race skill. An extra sense and I can climb very easily." He said. Trusting in my watch he was indifferent to the remaining panther on our side of the Arena. Instead he was gazing into the dust cloud catching emerald flashes. A brief ear splitting whine pierced the commotion in the stands, it came from the dust cloud in the middle of the arena. The leader flicked his eyes toward the dust cloud and howled. Confused I glanced toward the dispersing cloud to see the panther trapped in cage of spikes. Surprisingly it seemed fine, none of the spikes pierced the body save for the last one through its head. When I glanced around him I realized that none of the extremely long branches reached the middle of the arena. Did he lead the Shade Panther there on purpose away from the shade? Seeing its chance the lead panther roared and rushed us the sun shined on its teeth and claws. Jones noticed my demeanor and turned around as well. The panther was growling and his red eyes seemed full of hate which was understandable since we just killed his friends. Jones sidestepped to the right while I deflected his claws by slapping his paws. He headbutted me and my breath gave away. It grunted and snapped its mouth to the right. I could see gold hair through the panthers maw, Jones was busy. I was pushed into the shade behind me and grappled with the panthers front. His claws dug into my legs and and torso but the damage was managable thanks to my racial skill. I grappled his huge head, shifted my weight and threw him over my head utilizing the muscles of my whole body as well as the panthers own intertia. He landed in the shade and before he crashed onto his back he was absorbed into the shadow harmlessly. Well that wasn''t supposed to go down like that. I mean he wasn''t supposed to go down like that. He didn''t even go down how is that even fair. He emerged in the same spot upright. "We can''t fight him in the shade. It''s impossible." I said breathing heavily. Jones was studying my injuries and his eyes flicked to my face briefly. "No we can''t, we either keep chasing shadows or we bring this into the sun." He said looking away. Apparently satisfied of my condition.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! I inspected myself. Some of my scales were peeling off thanks to those claws. It looked like my skin was missing random patches here and there. I intentionally made my skin darker yet kept it in the human range so I could hide the outline of my scales, every secret is a weapon as they say. Even then that maneuver was dangerous and hard even with my added strength, if I didnt have the technique down it wouldn''t have been possible. I glanced around for something to use but there was none. I checked my status and turned on my notifications again since it seemed that the panther wasn''t gonna leave the shadows. "Keep an eye on the panther i''m gonna check my shit." I said as Cobb jogged up to me and Jones "I got it man. Check yours too." He nodded to Jones. Surprisingly he was holding a sandstone sword and by the looks of it, it was sharp. He turned to the panther and set his jet black eyes on it. Ugh i''m gonna call him Jenifurr from now on. Thinking of him as panther doesn''t give him enough respect.
Class: - Name: JST Title: -
HP: 143/320 Lvl: 18 Effects: Race Druman: +10 STR, +20 END,
MP:51/51
SP: 165/430
STR: 40 CHR: 10
END: 60
INT: 10
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points: 55
Hard Scales (Race Skill) (Passive) - Beginner 10 (88%) Unarmed Combat - Intermediate 5 (2%) Hyperfocus - Beginner 5 (23%)
Congratulations on reaching level 15! Upon reaching level 15 your skills are analyzed and a number of Classes are made available to you. Your performance in game is also taken into account and available Classes are tweaked to match your behavior or dominant playstyle. A class may grant you a variety of things, from passive effects, active skills, new quests, unique interactions with the inhabitants of Twoen and much much more! Unfortunately you have not gained five skills yet which are generally used to formulate a list of Classes for you. In addition because you have been only in game for 7 hours of gametime data on your behavior and playstyle is not yet sufficient to suggest any classes for you. Class leveling effects will apply for every level after 15 if applicable. Play longer or harder to generate more data and earn new skills for your class selection to pop up!
Unarmed Combat - Intermediate 5 (2%) Fighting with nothing on you but your own body is an art. Your body is a weapon and with it you can kill. Effects: + 46% increase in damage when no weapons equipped + 10% speed when attacking barehanded
I glanced at Jones and he seemed pretty happy which was understandable. Apparently he got the notice too. I get it it''s nice to see how our classes will be dictated and handed out. What''s especially reassuring is that we won''t lose out in any levels we gain without a class. It''s even more so when you realize that normally getting to this level through standard means is insanely difficult. The amount of progress we made in such a short time is attributed to the enviroment we began in. Normal people wouldn''t last. I dumped my stat points into STR and END as that''s gonna be the most immediate help. In addition I won''t be losing out since those two stats are most likely going to be crucial to my effectiveness as an upclose variant. I took a look at the Unarmed Combat and skill and noticed a new effect. The 10% speed must have come with reaching a new tier but since I only have one skill thats intermediate it''s too early to judge. I''ll have to ask the others later. With that in mind I took watch along with Jones who shifted his feet and shaded his eyes to peer into the shade. Even though it''s just shade Jennifur''s sleek fur blended shockingly well with the darkness. "Shit he''s hard to see. We''ll keep eyes on him Cobb go ahead." I said with a nod. I got into a comfortable stance and waited. "We''ll discuss what to do after." "Alright man." He formed a replica of a very familiar chair in sandstone as ethereal emerald converted to match the sword he held. Keep in mind we were still all naked so he looked like a human statue since the colors of his skin, hair and eyes dissappeared, being replaced with a light brown. Such control. And as I glanced at him my mind flashed to a glorious battlefield hundreds of thousands of players stretched across a great plain. Contavia Online. ~FLASHBACK~ To my right was a wizard of the highest order who layed waste to the battlefield, hundreds of players died under his wrathful magic, relentless meteors fell from the sky, raging fire engulfed the plains, forceful water protected our armies, and angry gusts of winds divided theirs. There was no hiding from his power, his control was unparalleled and even when a powerful enemy wizard gathered enough mana to threaten him, his magic was countered and extinguished. Still, his power was almost never matched. When his magical power was met with an equal power, he prevailed in skill every time. This was my brother, Cojab. But even he was still bound by the chains of the system. With great magic came great price. As his mana depleted his intensity waned, yet his control never faltered. A large war like this calls for the use of area of effect magic and that''s what he focused on, still the control he exerted over such wild magic as was astounding. But the price? He was unable to protect himself from the small fry that passed through with dumb luck or the ones strong enough to resist him. They were a threat my brothers health if they made it to him, a mage was inheritly frail, especially so without mana. This was the main reason that surrounding the hill we were positioned on were bodies. They weren''t killed by magic, they were cut by my blade. All of them. Nothing got close to my brother if was around. Even the most experienced swordsman that had the defensive capablities to resist my brothers magic was cut down, another body to the pile. Everything died by my hand, players, npcs, animal companions, golems, familiars, none got past. Earlier that day I drew a line that marked where nothing would pass me. Nothing did. "Sir! Your brother he got through!" One of the diviners relayed. "So he made it?" Cojab said, his voice carrying through wind magic. "What''d you expect?! We created that monster after all!" I yelled over my shoulder as I cut down yet another Paladin. That makes one hundred and thirty seven. One hundred thirty seven Paladins. Soon after the enemy army was in disarray. Knights and Warriors left formation. Healers were frantically focusing on the most damaged allies and overhealed. Archers haphazardly chose random targets. Beasts and summoned minions or familiars got in the way of the main force. It was a spectacle, in the next hour they only became more unorganized. It was if someone was killing their leading officers. One by one. ~END~ The intuition and forethought that Cobb demonstrated in leading the Shade Panther out of its element and the speed at which he grasped the magic system.The precision and deadliness that Jones showcased in his swift elimination of his panther. Only two people I knew could''ve pulled something off like that. I took a deep inhale. It was the first time since I started that there was a lull in action and no immediate danger. "Well, let''s get this over with then." I exhaled. "Brothers." I said finishing. They both smiled at me. Chapter 5 - Jennifur ~LoneJones POV~ "Brothers." He finished. I smiled at him. It was about time someone up and said it out loud. Typical brothers trying to act cool. If it wasn''t for the situation we were in I would have mentioned a while back. See when we all just happened to start the game at the same time AND took the hardest available Challenge Start, well let''s just say alarms went off in my head. But add to that being able to keep up with me in sparring? Yep that was definitely Derjar. When I asked Cobb to punch me it was only to confirm my hypothesis but the speed of his punch was just as surprising as every other time. There was no argument, these were my brothers. "Yeah? Realize that right now? Was it the sparring or the punch?" I baited him. It was obvious Derjar - no JST - didn''t know who we were up until a few moments ago. I was trying to get him to lie so I could call him out on it. His face watching me kill the first Shade Panther was evidence enough. If he knew it was me he wouldn''t have been surprised. "Huh, what? No bro." He chuckled. "Its the fucking chair!" He pointed to the sandstone chair Cobb sat on. "That''s the same fucking chair from his room!" He laughed. "Wait. Hold up. Who the heck are you guys?" Cobb asked dumbly. I facepalmed and dragged my hand down my face. This was just like him. Cobaj, master of magic, precision and control. The same guy who deduced the abilities of the Shade Panther''s just from the name alone. Who, in that short time he recieved the prompt, had already devised a plan of attack, luring the panther out into the center of the arena with the promise of weak prey effectively negating any advantage the panther had in the fight to begin with. His mind was like a sponge that absorbs everything. This same dude and he doesn''t realize how strikingly similar our skills are to his brothers. He spends so much time thinking, planning and going over every detail he doesn''t see the big picture. God, sometimes..I just can''t. "Dude its me? Nojas? 15 years old, 5''7, dark brown hair. Lives with you? Ring a bell ya dingus?" I said with a mocking grin. I wiggled my eyebrows too. "Oh." He leaned forward in his chair to look at both of us more closely. His speckled black eyes gazed at us until his eyebrows raised. "OH! Goddammit, hey guys." He said, getting mad at himself. The usual, getting mad at himself for overlooking something. He seemed to be wracking his brain for the relevant details, a variety of emotions flashed across his face, ranging from consternation to realization. His mouth was shaped in an O as he looked at us. ~Jennifur POV~ Of course Jennifur did not spend this time idling. He stalked his prey and noticing that his prey was distracted he decided to intervene. He submerged himself in shadow and circled his prey, they thought they were out of his range but they were sorely mistaken. Although the other two are dangerous the one with scales actually stopped him. He would be the first to go down if he had any chance of winning this hunt. His focus was entirely on the tall, brown scaled humanoid, his scales were clearly visible to his red cat-like eyes. His pupils narrows as he focused on him. He would use everything in his arsenal to take care of these threats, his lax attitude had cost him his arena partners. The prey in the arena was too easy of an hunt so much so that he had become careless. His instincts warned him off the second they stalked forward, fearless and unlike any other prey before them. He decided to call upon those instincts now. Lightly hissing, he stalked out of the shadows. Both the strong one and the fast one were communicating with the green one who seemed distracted. The strong one was to the left of the fast one. Jennifur lunged and with a deep roar, opened his maw and aimed for the warriors neck. Suddenly the green one regained alertness and gestured sharply, hard packed sand thumped Jennifur''s side throwing him off course slightly. He craned his head in order to still catch the scaled one''s neck in his jaws but was met with an athletic kick to the face. Jennifur noticed a flicker of golden yellow hair behind the kick that grinned at him, the fast one had kicked him in the face and pushed off, pulling the warrior out of reach in the process. His face followed the rest of the body as he flew to the side. The green one formed a huge ball of rock that the strong one threw. The sun was setting and the sandstone boulder cast a long shadow across the arena as is passed over the sun. Immediately he dived into the shadows. Leaving them no respite he attacked the the green one, only to be forced back by the strong one. His superior instincts gave him the advantage and allowed him to see moments where the strong one was vulnerable. But always, the fast one was there to deflect or discourage. It was exteremely irritating, the strong one made no effort to correct his movements, he relied on his pack with an absolute trust, a luxury Jennifur had lost. Any attempt to try something differently mid hunt had high chances of error, his trust in his pack member never gave Jennifur a chance to capitalize on that. Jennifur backed slowly into the shadows, yielding for now. This was not working, something must be done, they cannot take the lives of my pack for nothing. They will pay their weight in blood. He gave way to his animal instincts, leaving his tendencies from a comfortable life behind in the shadows. What was left was a predator designed to live in the Uncharted. And thrive. ~Cobb~ A howl could be heard from somewhere in the shadows. Jesus Christ when that thing moves in there I can barely keep track of him. "I''d make us walls but with the sun where it is the shadows would be too long. There''s no telling how the panther would use them." It would be easy with my new skill after all. I got it mid fight while reaching for the earth.
Earth Magic - Intermediate 7 Your innate sense for the Earth has awarded you with ability to manipulate it. Earth magic is the most practical of elemental magics. Earth Mages are sought out often for the pure utility they bring to the table. Unlike the other elemental magics Earth is solid and with the ability to manipulate something solid comes the ability to create. +51% effectiveness of offensive magic + 21% effectiveness of contructs of Earth
Every magic is different but after a few dozen or so VR games searching for a 6th sense becomes a routine check. However from the 54 or so VR games that i''ve played I have never felt magic like this. Most VR games go for the same type of sentiment, aiming for mysticism and abrstractness. Normally it''s a feeling thats hard to describe, it''s a ghost of a sense and it can be felt from any location and be felt differently each time. The magic in the ground i''m feeling from Twoen isn''t as hard to describe or mysterious as other games make magic out to be. I could FEEL the earth. It was beautiful in it''s simplicity and pleasant refreshment from what i''m used to.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Ok can we name the fucking panther? It''s been lasting in a fight with us for at least 40 minutes. US. It deserves a name." I said. Really though it shouldn''t have been a surprise since, assuming we share experience equally then were all level 20 or so. Meaning we were effectively 35 or so levels below the Shade Panther.
Inform Shade Panther - Level 58 Shade Panther''s are apex predators found in the Uncharted. From previous knowledge they are normally territorial, yet this one was leading others of it''s species. They are able to merge with the shadows when there is sufficient darkness.
"Well I definitely saw it''s penis. When you pulled me out of his reach it was like right there. So it''s definitely a guy." JST informed us. "Which kinda sucks cuz I already kinda named it." He muttered. "Why''d you have to go and have a penis Jennifur?" He whispered inaudibly. "Oh well whatever. What''d you name it we''ll use that." Jones said, scanning the darkness behind JST. He returned the favor. "Jennifur. That''s with a U so it''s like a pun. Get it? Because they have fur? I thought it up when I saw the sun reflecting off ones fur." No shame could be detected, nothing that indicated he knew he was an idiot. I''m never sure whether he has some comedic angle or he''s just a genuine idiot. "Dammit Derjar we don''t have time for this. Your''e acting like one of those fucking geckos. Jesus Christ." I massaged my forehead. Discreetly keeping an eye out behind me. "The howling stopped." Jones said quiet and sudden. His posture was light, his septules were gently raising. "Something''s different. Care." He warned. Abruptly a guttural howl echoed across the colliseum. A dark figure leaped out of the long shadows cast by the overhead trees. Every minute we wasted gave Jennifur the advantage. Something definitely was different, up till now we only ever saw Jennifur rise and fall into the shadows. Never did he outright leap from it. His eyes were crimson, a slight change in color that I did not let go unnoticed as soared toward me. Perhaps it indicated something? I noticed other things too. Oh he does have a penis. Should I....cut it off..? I gripped my sword and shivered, no, not even to my worst enemy. I felt a phantom ache. As he impacted me I absorbed his momentum with a loose wall of sand. I caught view of JST flying to the left, he must''ve gotten hit, hopefully those scales I spotted on him weren''t just for show. I rolled backwards, compacting the sand behind me and launched myself further back on a short pillar of sandstone. I sunk my feet into the sand and wasted no time in traveling to JST, leaning slightly forward I rode the sand to him, trusting Jones to handle that panther. As we are now he would last the longest. As I escaped I crouched and dipped my left hand into the sand and pulled out an identical gladius to my own. Our frontline wouldn''t be unarmed for this final battle.
Sandstone Gladius A temporary contruct. Created without attention to smaller details but it matters not. The control and precision poured into this blade gave it a sharp, honed edge that sandstone should not be able to achieve. What matters is that this blade can cut. Effects: Damage: 40-52 Time Remaining: 1:00:00
"Yo bro! Catch!" I flipped them both in my hands and caught them by the blade then tossed them up and towards JST. "Fresh out the oven!" "PLEASE. Tell me you did the cooking by the book!" He shouted over his shoulder. He caught them deftly by the handles without pause as he dashed forward. I circled around, still not used to making sharp turns. Jones was keeping busy with Jennifur he dodged, ducked, sidestepped and twirled. But it was apparent his stamina was getting low, he was slowing down. The speed was too much for Jones but just barely he managed to dodge each swipe or snap of the jaws earning only light scratches. The short seconds I watched the exchange seemed like minutes. At one point Jennifur led him through a series of dodges that forced his back towards the beast and yet he managed to avoid major damage as he deflected the incoming with a blind, hard right elbow. It earned him a deep red groove on his lower back but he lived. If he chose a different race he might not be with us right now. I could see his septules and they were working overtime. I formed two daggers made of sandstone just below the sand and popped them upwards into the air horizontally. I caught them by the handle as I passed and threw them forward into the panthers back. It interrupted an attack by making him flinch, but such a short time wasn''t enough to escape Jennifur''s reach, I don''t think the daggers pierced very deep either. He was upon Jones again and I wracked my brain for a way to save him some time. His gash in his lower back was affecting his movement, ducking became less frequent and deep gashes appeared regularly. Encouraged by the smell of blood Jennifur''s attacks intensified. "DERJAR THROW YOUR SWORD!" I yelled to him. He was 20 meters and closing but it wouldn''t be enough. With an impressive throw the sword spun hilt over blade before embedding itself into Jennifur''s shoulder. With a yelp his left foreleg buckled. Jones retreated as far as he as allowed, he took swift steps back. His chest pumped up and down in the fading sunlight. Not one to give up, Jennifur coiled his back legs and leaped high into the air. His arc was perfectly lined up and from my position it looked like Jones was in trouble. Jones had officially run dry, he was crawling away using what was left of his stamina. I had no idea what his health was at but it wouldn''t matter this leap could probably have killed him at full health. There was nothing I could do from here. I steeled my eyes and Hyperfocused. Never give up, always plan, there''s always an out. I can''t do that i''m not close enough. What if I...? Yeah, yeah that could work! I wasn''t sure what the time slow effect was at but everything slowed considerably. I quickly thought up a shield that would be suitable for throwing. I settled on a disc similar to to Captain America''s shield, gave it a handle, and started to form it. 8 meters. I split my focus to call JST. "DERJAR ONE MORE TIME, CATCH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. 6 meters. I gripped my feet with sand rotated myself, fast. As I felt I had built enough speed I propelled myself upward, still spinning I probably looked like a figure skater. At the same time I popped up the disc shield to level with me. I grabbed it with an outstreched hand as I spun, held it for the duration of two rotations before releasing it at a blinding speed. The shield shot past the panther as he reached the apex of his jump. I landed, dizzy but quickly refocused on my throw. 3 meters. My shield was incoming but it was too close to the ground and slightly ahead of schedule. JST dived forward and caught the shield''s edge in his right hand. The blunt force pounded against his palm and sent tan scales flying. He grimaced before masterfully changing his grip on the shield mid air. He landed in a roll as time sped up again. JST got his legs under himself as the huge panther came crashing down. He deflected the force of the panther''s left paw with his shield arm causing it to yelp as it''s shoulder muscles grinded with the embedded sword. He used the sandstone gladius he still had to stab into the heart of the beast. But he was too close and couldn''t get a good angle to pierce the thick hide. However he managed to keep it at bay. I arrived and quickly slid Jones off to the side and into the small remaining pocket of sunlight using a pile of sand. I positioned myself behind my older brother and took a basic boxing stance. Arms up, head low, shoulders hunched, eyes forward. "Back up." I said slowly. "Now!" I said abruptly. I caught Jennifur as he lunged forward jaw snapping. His teeth caught JST''s shield and after a few moments my brother disengaged and gave up the shield. Before he dropped the shield I swung my left arm upwards. A thick pillar of sandstone blasted upwards and collided with Jennifur''s jaw at a speed to match my uppercut. His teeth broke and shattered as his mouth shut closed on hard sandstone. His body was lifted into the air following his head upwards and I had a full view of his injuries, various deep cuts across his forelegs, superficial cuts all over, major bruising on his torsoe, a sword in the shoulder and two daggers in its back. I lowered my arms a tad and relaxed my neck, I looked at Jennifur straight in the eyes. As his head turned to face the heavens, Jennifur closed his eyes. Someone like Jennifur doesn''t need to suffer any longer. His friends were dead, it was then I realized he was fighting for the sake of fighting. There was nothing left for him, his lifelong friends were dead. It must''ve been years he spent in life and death situations with those other panthers, and bonds were the strongest when forged in the heat of combat, the struggle for life. Who could say what drove him to fight when there was nothing left? Perhaps it was a request to fight to his last breath by the other two? I snapped out a right hook in a deadly display of speed. A similiar pillar came out of the ground and curved to intercept Jennifur''s skull. There was no pain. Chapter 6 - Monsters ~LoneJones POV~ I fell backwards as Derjar arrived. He came out of his roll in perfect stance and absorbed the impact of the panthers body with his knees and perfect force distribution. I stared at my brother who stood in the fading light, sweat glistened off his scales, his muscles were straining, and sweat poured off his naked body. I can''t say how often this has happened, i''ve been in the same situation countless times. I looked over JST''s shoulder and caught the crimson eye of the panther. Without the sandstone disc JST was holding id''ve been dead right now. My older brother couldn''t save me alone this time around but I have two brothers after all. Though Cobaj''s throw was off but it was excusable since he specialized in magical precision and not the physical kind. In reality this kind of feat was split second, extremely fast, 40 meters from target, and only 1 meter off. It only took 2 seconds too. Still I could''ve had it aimed and ready by the time the first rotation ended, but i''ll cut him some slack the guy was my brother after all. I felt the sand move underneath as Cobb moved behind JST to offer support, his eyes never left the panther. As he was moving me I saw him relax himself, something uncharacteristic in his normal boxing stance. With a lightning quick one, two the panther died. All this time I was still being gently moved by the sand. I layed back on the undulating sand as I reversed direction and headed back to my brothers. With a start I suddenly realized how the sand had been hugging my body, I was being massaged? It actually helped my muscles but still. He was massaging me while controlling the pillars that took out the panther? Now you''re just showing off Cobaj. I checked the recent gains.
Class: - Name: LoneJones Title: The Fast One
HP: 27/173 Lvl: 22 Effects: Race Sperid: +30 AGI, +10 PER The Fast One: +50 AGI
MP:51/51
SP: 2/209
STR: 10 CHR: 10
END: 40 AGI: 130
INT: 10 PER:70
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points: 0
Sensitive Hairs (Race Skill) (Passive) - Advanced 1 (6%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 1 (4%) Unarmed Combat - Advanced 1 (1%) Evasion - Advanced 3 (2%)
I noticed my new title and quickly scanned through my prompts.
New Title: The Fast One Unbeknownst to you the Shade Panthur dubbed Jennifur had named you and your companions. You were recognized as the first of his prey to present a challenge and force him to try. He in return dubbed you The Fast one. Permanent Effects: +50 AGI
Fifty agility? Isn''t that equal to 10 levels? 10 levels is months in this game! According to my friend, a talkative beta tester, it took him months to reach level 10. Apparently stats could be granted through titles which was a new relevation. I''m not sure when this title came to effect but im glad for it anyhow. With that in mind I quickly used up my 20 remaining stat points. I used the other 85 earlier. I dumped points into perception, agility and endurance again. It was slight at first but as I added more points into perception I began to develop a kind of kinisthesis of bodies around me. If I stopped and took my time I could just faintly feel the location of things. Though it was a very vague like feeling and very innacurate. In addition all my other senses became more intense and vivid and I had to close my eyes. Immediately I used a quick method to center myself and opened my eyes. The world was sharper, louder, the sand was more rough and less fine, in short Twoen became more. Agility sped me up past what im normally capable of in real life, my reactions got quicker but improving past my natural reaction speed was proving to be difficult since it was already up there, my speed increased as well. Endurance was a given since I wanted to be able to last and increasing it let me gain more stamina faster. I ignored strength for now since i''m looking for a more unconventional means to deal damage and health wasn''t really needed since I didn''t plan on getting hit anyways. I looked for Unarmed Mastery to see the new effect that I surmised came from each tier, I had recently reached advanced and my gains slowed immensely. I can only assume that Advanced was a completely new level, my leveling in each of my advanced skills almost completely stopped.
Unarmed Combat - Advanced 1 (1%) Fighting with nothing on you but your own body is an art. The body is a weapon and with you can kill. Effects: +63% increase in damage when no weapons equipped +22% speed when attacking barehanded +.5% to chance of severe crippling effects
With this skill any strength I might need becomes less important. I''m hoping that my natural muscles will allow me to handle anything small that might be able to catch up with me while my speed would allow me to escape anything stronger. If I wasn''t strong enough to take something down then statistically every 200 hits would let me cripple it at the very least. Generally though I planned to evade.
Evasion - Advanced 3 (3%) If fighting is a dance then you and your opponent are dancers. But every now and then your partner is fucking ugly. You are smart enough to avoid who you do not want to dance with. Effects: +69% of air resistance ignored +39% less stamina consumed +6% more likely to slip into opponent blindspots
I smiled and chuckled lightly. Honestly, thinking of my adventures over the years and replacing every enemy I knew with an ugly dancer cracked me up. I actually rolled on the floor laughing. This surprised the sand around me as it tried to grip me again. I wiped tears out of my eyes as Cobb glared backwards to me, he was speaking with JST. I actually loved the description for this skill. I''m not sure who''s in charge but this is actually hilarious. Apparently this is the skill that allowed me to survive as long as I did at that intense speed. Without some points into my perception stat I don''t think I wouldve been able to keep track of my own body. The speed I was achieving just barely matched the Shade Panther, I remember feeling the power and speed of every swipe I nearly dodged. My hair was perpetually forced down and the hairs on my body were pushed down from the air displacement. I felt that I was cutting through the air but I thought that was an effect of the speed I was achieving, though thinking on it, it made more sense that I was utilizing the effect of a skill. I''m not really sure if I ever slipped into Jennifurs blind spot but maybe hiding behind JST counts? That''d be funny if that 6% actually contributed since technically he can''t see me when im behind my brother. Next I checked my racial skill since it was ultimately my saving grace.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Sensitive Hairs (Race Skill) - Advanced 1 (6%) The sensitive hairs found on the Sperid allow a heightened perception of ones surroundings. Reacting to changes in air pressure they are able to detect even slight movements. Because of this the Sperid are thought to have a 6th sense. Effects: +Sense changed in air pressure +Develop a sense of moving objects around you +Sense of specific shapes based on movement sharpens.
Interesting. This is the first skill that didn''t give me any numbers. Although I guess that makes sense in this case since I don''t have a base perception on air displacement. If I did then the system could probably just use that as a baseline and give me increasing perecentages. However I guess perception doesn''t affect my sense of bodily movements, instead my race skill did. I quickly looked up perception and found it only sharpened my senses but I still found it to be one of my favorites stats.
Round 2/5 of the Geckan Battle Arena Qrabiles are fast descendants of the Qrab. They are weak and extremely hard to kill, but what they lack in strength they make up for in sheer numbers. Lacking intellect Qrabiles opt for a predictable yet effective bull rush.
As I arrived my older brothers looked at me. One was a perfect emerald green, virtually unharmed, his eye''s were sparkling more than they already seemed to. The older of the two looked worse. His sword arm had claw marks running up of it. Scratches on his scales signified the attacks his natural armor had turned, while red lines that were absent of tan scales adorned his left side. Blood ran down his left side, highlighting the pattern of his scales. In contrast his right side only suffered superficial scratches and seemed an unbroken tan. "How''d you like the massage?" Cobb asked with a smug smile. Raising me up using his sand. So he WAS showing off.... "You trying to impress your dear little brother? When you didn''t even know who I was an hour ago?" I quipped. A frown dominated his face. Gotcha. "Focus on the next round bros. What the fuck is a Qrabile?" JST cut into our conversation, breathless. He was still panting hard as his stamina fought to regenerate. "Weeeeelllll" I said raising a finger. "they are fast descendants of the Qrab and are weak and extremely hard to kill BUT what they lack in strength they make up for in sheer numbers." I recited matter of factly, pushing up my imaginary glasses. "Lacking intellect they often opt for the predictable yet effective bull rush." I snorted. "I can fucking read bro." He said, peeved. A loud skittering could be heard from one of the portcullis tunnels. "They''re also really loud." I finished. "Why do you both do this same shit?" Cobb said rubbing his forehead. "JONES WATCH OUT" He yelled suddenly, pointing behind me. His eyes were large and body tensed, and I sensed his sand moving. Though I felt nothing there I trusted in my brother on instinct. I spun on my heels lightning quick and lowered my center of gravity wide-eyed and ready for whatever could scare my brother like that. A sand hand slapped me. "Stop being a fucking idiot." He said as his sand hand pointed at me sternly. ~Cobb POV~ Honestly, sometimes my brothers can be complete fucking idiots. The prime idiot was rubbing his face right over there. JST had the right idea, focus on the next round. I took a deep breath and sensed the earth outwards and as I exhaled I brought my earth sense inwards. I always found ways to sharpen my mind and focus using magic. I''ve come up with a variety of magical calming exercises and one of the ones that is the most easy is using magic in conjunction with a simple breathing exercise. Using magic to express emotion was also a good one. Magical cartharsis was surprisingly relaxing, of course you wanna do that kind of thing when there''s nothing around that could get destroyed or die. I zoned in on the portcullis that was making the rumbling noise and focused on it. It seemed more echoey? Which led me to believe the entities were still a ways from arriving. Suprisingly the portcullis didn''t raise. Hmmmm. It probably meant that the monster was small. There was no need to open the portcullis if they could just walk through. Well the smallest opening in the bottom is half a meter high. So the tallest these things can be is half a meter, unless of course they bend down under the bars or are extremely flexible. But then again, earlier the prompt said they were really hard to kill. That probably means they have some type of shell or defensive adaptation, therefore it''s likely that they aren''t flexible and simply fit through the hole in the bars. With that in mind I devised a sort of sand fort. I raised sandstone walls around us in a U shape with the curved pointed towards the portcullis in order to absorb the initial impact that I expected from a bull rush. I closed off our back end and began to run sand over the sandstone to fill in the cracks and hardened that into sandstone. "What are you up to?" The brother with a red hand mark on his face asked. Normally my brothers just trust me to plan for us, only giving them the details when necessary so as not to waste time. Despite that, he questioned me. I thought over the fact for a moment before attributing his lack of trust to the mark on his face. "If they have superior numbers we need a way to funnel them, none of us can handle a mob yet." I explained. He nodded, as he lowered himself. I formed him a perfect replica of his favorite chair from the house as he sat. His butt landed in the chair, it was a subtle apology on my part for slapping him earlier. He still deserved it though. "Take a seat, you''re beat up, bleeding and exhausted. Me and JST can handle this round im pretty sure." I reasoned. "Alright then, I think I will." He smiled recognizing the apology. That''s fucking annoying. Whatever. I continued on the contruction of my sand fort. The whole thing was really small compared to the size of the whole arena. It was 10 meters wide and 10 long. I reinforced the walls some more and closed off the ceiling. I thought about what next to do and on further contemplation I reopened the ceiling and decided to move Jones and the sand chair to the roof. He looked over his shoulder at me as he glided past. I positioned his chair on the side of the wall before lifting him up akin to an elevator. I opened up the ceiling a bit more and moved Jones'' chair to rest on the edge of the U''s curve. "Hey actually keep a lookout! I''m not sure how many of them there are and they might be able to pile up to there!" I shouted up to him. I made the structure about 10 meters high as well "Alright I''ll tell you if something happens!" He called back down. I formed a one handed war hammer that was about the length of JST''s arm out of sandstone. It had a 3 foot handle that ended in a cube that was longer than it was wide. I also used some sand to make a big tower shield for him. It was just a giant rectangle that''s sides curved around you.
Sandstone One-Handed Warhammer A temporary construct made of sandstone. The weapon is plain and hard, not much else is needed when it comes to hammers. Effects: Damage: 42-77 Time Remaining: 1:00:00
Sandstone Tower Shield A temporary construct made of sandstone. The shield is big and hard. When it comes stopping hordes of enemies nothing competes with a good Tower Shield. Effects: Defense: 13 Time Remaining: 59:57
Woah that''s new. Defense? I wonder if that just represents how well the shield blocks or is that a stat that gets added to character and buffs them up? I had no time to think as I heard Jones call down. "They''re here! They look like dogs but with no features, it looks like they have some type of plates on their bodies!" He yelled down. How could he see them? They''re still at least a hundered and twenty meters out! I shook it off and handed JST both the shield and hammer. He took them questioningly, releasing his left hand''s grip on the sandstone gladius, he dropped it behind him as he walked up to me. "A sword won''t work here. If they have armor it''s better to go for blunt damage since a blade won''t be piercing that armor of theirs." I clarified. He took the weapon in his right hand and the shield in his left. Oh yeah that''s right. He switches his shield and weapon hands to keep his technique sharp. I reflected on the amount of skill it requires to handle different weapons and shields. Normally you''re gonna use one hand for weapons while the other was used for shielding or another weapon. I attempted to incorporate weapon skills with magic but it didn''t work out. Of course I was better than almost everyone when I did learn but never better than him, I studied my brother. When it came to pure skill in weaponry I could never surpass him, only using magic or devising outlandish strategems and cunning planscould I beat him soundly. But often there is no time to think in a battle that lasts a few seconds. Leave it to Derjar to practice both weapons and shields in both hands. It doesn''t even end there since the guy has mastered like every single weapon and defensive equipment! AND to top it off he can switch hands and still be just as deadly! "Alright bro where do you want me?" He asked quickly hefting the tower shield on his left arm. He swung the hammer a in slow, but powerful windmill motion. "Stand at the curve of the U." I pointed to the front of the structure. "I''ll open it once their initial momentum dies out." I told him. JST took a classic stance that gave him a strong base as he planted the tower shield and gripped his hammer. I looked up to Jones glancing at the back of his head. The kid was just as crazy as my older brother, his reflexes were sharper than all of ours and what he lacked in skill when he faced Derjar he shored up with pure instinct. Whenever they fought with weapons it was a spectacle even after watching it hundreds of times. Derjar would cut the air, feign a left diagonal slash, pierce forward and a whole number of moves I could never completely keep up with. His sword followed perfect techniques and Nojas would dart in randomly, when it seemed he would be led into a trap he would twist away on pure reaction speed or intuition. Their spars could last an hour long if they don''t get bored but eventually Derjar wins out because of his superior stamina. Keep in mind that Nojas is a good amount of years younger than Derjar and the fact that he could keep up was astonishing even to us. My brothers and I are always in competition yet they always beat me in the physical aspect of things, not by much but still. I however excelled at magic, they couldn''t grasp the essence of magic not by lack of effort or anything. When it comes to magic, creativity, efficiency and a quick mind are your most useful resources. I have all of these in spades. My brothers were not dumb instead they just lacked the creative capacity and perspective to see unfolding situations in a different light. Magic was used as paint to alter the canvas that was a battle. The right color and a light hand can change the whole meaning of the piece. But the scariest part of my brothers was something i''ve realized a long time ago. Their skills were transferrable to the real world. Derjar would be just as skilled with weapons as JST. Nojas would have close to the same speed and reflexes of LoneJones. But me? You can''t bring magic outside. There was no magic in the real world. Chapter 7 - Comedy Gold ~Cobb POV~ "Seventy five meters and closing!" My brother yelled. Though JST didn''t voice acknowledgement I could see him rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck. I gave my younger brother a thumbs up. As I prepped for a tactic i''ve often used when fighting hordes I checked my flashing prompts. I focused on my status bars on the side of my vision and found my MP to be very low but my high wisdom worked against that. In addition my INT raised the cap of mana too so a low percentage for me was still quite high.
Class: - Name: Cobb Titles: Prey Turned Predator, The Green One
HP: 262/264 Lvl: 22 Effects: Race Jjerg: +10 INT, +5 END, +5 STR, +5 WIS, +10 MND Prey Turned Predator: +25 INT, +25 WIS, +20 AGI The Green One:+7 CHR, + Can color things under your magical control an emerald green
MP:90/309
SP: 210/210
STR: 15 CHR: 17
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 98 AGI:20
WIS: 97
LUK: 10 Stat Points: 105
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) Hunted Sense - Beginner 9 (50%) Inform - Intermediate 1 (2%) Hyperfocus - Intermediate 3 (32%) Earth Magic - Advanced 3 (60%)
Oooh a new title? I pulled up the relevant prompt.
New Title: The Green One Unbenknownst to you and your companions you have been dubbed The Green One. You were recognized as the first prey to meet the Shade Panthers in combat. However as Jennifur knew not what Earth Magic was he believed it came from one of your brothers. Only as you met his eyes did he realize you were the one responsible for the sandstone pillars yet he did not have time to rename you, though he recognized your influence on the earth. He had dubbed you The Green One for your otherworldly appearance. Permanent Effects: +7 CHR +Can color things under your magical control an Emerald Green
Charisma for being green? Alright I can dig it. But coloring my magic?! Fuck yes. I only chose green because it was my favorite color but to color my magic green? I''m actually living the dream this game is amazing! The A.I. running this game is an absolute genius! This title has to have been tailor made specifically for me and then fit into my interactions with Jennifur! AMAZING! I calmed myself down I got way too excited over the things that happened in game. I looked at the rest of my Character Sheet after saying a quick prayer to Jennifur. Looking at my 220 stat points I decided to dump half equally into intelligence and wisdom. Any later stats I needed would be improved with the leftover 105 stat points. My class notification earlier said I had needed five skills which I already do so I wondered what was missing? Surely I was fighting enough, aside from the lull in combat before fighting Jennifur my whole time spent here was in constant conflict. Even meeting my brothers in the cage I was never as relaxed as Jones apparently was the whole time. I took a moment to look at my skills and realized it was most likely because Rock Camoflauge wasn''t a skill that I earned because of my playstyle it was just given because I chose a Jjerg. If that''s the case then I need one more skill but for now I focused on the skills that I had. It''s understandable that my race skill didnt really rise since the only time I used it was in plain sight of Jennifur towards then end of the last round. Inform didn''t gain any new effects aside from being able to learn simple information that i''d probably be able to figure out myself if I spared a second or two. Now Hunted Sense was a bit different and I wondered why it didn''t raise? I know for a fact I felt all the Shade Panther''s eyes on me. Thinking back on it I never really did feel hunted or feared for my life that probably stemmed from the two other people in this arena. If that''s the case then raising this skill is gonna be hard, i''d have to actually be afraid of something hunting me to raise it and increase it''s effects. Hyperfocus also reached a new tier since I used it almost continuosly when dealing with my own Shade Panther one on one. Though it drained my stamina while using it my movement was minimal as my newly discovered Earth Magic at the time allowed me to control the fight and subdue the panther.
Hyperfocus - Intermediate 3 (32%) Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily. Effects: +Perception of time slowed by 22% +6% increase in muscle reaction
Earth Magic - Advanced 3 (60%) Your innate sense for the Earth has awarded you with ability to manipulate it. Earth magic is the most practical of elemental magics. Earth Mages are sought out often for the pure utility they bring to the table. Unlike the other elemental magics Earth is solid and with the ability to manipulate something solid comes the ability to create. +60% effectiveness of offensive magic +30% effectiveness of contructs of Earth +Earth attributed creatures are friendlier by 15%
Woah cool. Friendliness with all earth creatures? I''ll take it. I''m not sure what counts as earth attributed but i''m not sure if all monsters are even attributed to an element. Obviously Shade Panthers would probably fall under the dark element if there is one which i''m pretty sure there is since Twoen has been amazing thus far. From what Jones just yelled down earlier it doesn''t seem like the Qrabiles are leaning towards any element. Add to that the Geckans who don''t seem magically talented in any way, though I could be wrong, and it seems that elemental creatures are quite rare. In addition even if I did find a creature that favored a certain element, drawing on the only three types of monsters that I met it would seem that theres only about a 30% chance of meeting one. Now divide that 30% by however many elements Twoen has and the chance for meeting one lessens even further. Of course my calculations are based on only three monsters so my sample size isn''t large enough to make any reliable claims. But so far it''s looking like the advanced effect isn''t as helpful as I was originally thinking. Then again it did come from the Advanced tier and raising it up so easily only came from being surrounded by high leveled creatures and being who I am. Most people wouldn''t dream of reaching this level of the skill and because of that I''m hoping it''s actually more helpful than it seems. "Twenty meters." Jones said, his voice carried over the sound. Often my little brother would be the scout, and information gather, he had learned to convey information over the dull sounds years ago. While he provided the information I drew the conclusions. A few seconds passed and huge crash could be hear against our sand fort. "This sand castle is bomb Cobb." JST said to me. Small amounts of sand came loose from the cracks in the walls as the sound of bodies battered the walls.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Wait it actually is a sand castle. Why the fuck was I calling it a sand fort?! Mentally slapping myself I waited for twenty minutes, something akin to eternity in battle. I practiced my control of the sand as I waited, slow pulses of sand was sent through the floor. This was one of the ways I liked to practice control or get used to new magic system. I was inspired by watching a video of different sounds and their effects on water. The display of sand around me was reminiscent of water, it vibrated in pulses, shortening, elongating, undulating, speeding up and slowing down. Unlike the experiment however there was no sound though it seemed that there shouldv''e been such was the control of my magic, it seemed like real water. Although the wow factor was probably lessened by the fact I was manipulating something really fine and thin. I could still do the same thing with solid rock though. If only they knew how relaxing this is. They''d drop their weapons and find something you can''t find in real life. Keeping the sand vibrating, I breathed deep and exhaled slowly as I opened my eyes. My brothers were smirking at me. JST gave up his stance after five minutes of bodies still pounding against the wall, now he was leaning against the sand stone wall getting a massage. His tower shield and hammer lay on the floor not far away. "I guess I didn''t need you after all." His voice vibrated, his hair was vibrating rapidly as well. "AhHhHHhhHHHhHHhH" He sighed in staccato. I tried not to stare at his genitals we were still naked and they were flopping around vigorously. I distracted myself and made sure to keep my influence on my sand to a minimum, lower than my regeneration so my mana would rise. As it was now I was at around 70%, more than enough for this fight I think. "Ooooohhh yeahhh." I heard Jones murmur from up above.I gave them both an annoyed look before walking over beside JST. I gave Jones credit since I saw his eyes still watching the below horde and if anything important came up he wouldn''t hesitate to break our reverie. JST smirked knowingly at me, his breathing had long ago returned to his normal and the majority of his wounds closed. His scales though were regenerating slower and his major wounds were still in the process of healing, the blood never disappeared instead his left side was caked in dark brown. I glared at him as I tried leaning against the wall for myself. Am I in heaven? Oooohhhh lordy that''s good. My eyes rolled back in bliss as I made the wall hug me and my older brother, softening it in the process. I tried to ignore the feeling of my junk flopping around. A soft moan to my right was ignored. Of course I stopped pulsing the sand, after all this needed all my attention. I mean we are veteran gamers so we find the fun in everything even in the middle of combat. This continued on for another 30 minutes and I think I remember looking at JST to see he was softly snoring against the wall. I don''t really remember it very well since I fell asleep too. Unfortunately with an unspoken agreement Jones stayed awake and kept watch. Please don''t think lowly of your older brothers when you see our junk flapping in the wind. I woke up with a start as Jones was saying something. "-opped, they''re filling up a third of the arena." He was looking at JST before turning to look me in the eyes as he finished. I was very concious of my penis and balls as I peeled myself off the wall. JST was already up and stretching out his his muscles. He picked up his tower shield with his left hand and grabbed the war hammer from the floor, shaking the sand off of it. He assumed the same position he was at before. He was focused forward and facing the wall and nodded knowing I was watching. With a gesture a section of the wall slid down and JST was upon them. "Wake me up if you need me!" Jones waved down. I nodded and studied the Qrabiles. There was a dark blue ichor on the floor as I tried to study some that were appearing in the doorway. I saw the plates Jones mentioned, they were four-legged and besides the plates and their sharp teeth they seemed very straight forward. I tried to look for further details but I couldn''t get a specimen that lasted long enough, they were too busy exploding into ichor by my brother''s warmhammer. Goddammit Derjar. Why do you have to be so good at that. I used inform instead.
Inform Qrabile - Level 17 Weaker but faster descendants of Qrabs. They are covered in medium plate armor and are found in large numbers. Other than their natural armor and sharp teeth nothing indicates how these creatures could survive in the Uncharted. Until one sees them hunt. They come in neverending waves and their natural bodies let them deal signifcant blunt damage but without an initial charge they are weak. Still when you can''t even count the number of them it doesn''t matter.
I was correct in their size they were a little less than half a meter tall. Their legs were a fourth of that height, and they seemed sluggish yet their speed was unmistakable. I realized that my initial deduction on their appearance and adaptations were pretty accurate they only seemed useless because the plan I formulated negated all their advantages. Force distribution, blunt weaponry, and a funnel. Even though they were pretty short JST had no problems swinging low, the warhammer squashed two or three of the creatures before winding up for another blow. In that time he brought his tower shield up to keep them at bay before removing to make way for his warhammer, taking out four or five in the process. This process continued for an hour and I became extremely bored. JST was sweating but he was nowhere near tired. I sat down as I made myself a sand stool. I decided to think of another way to practice my magic and settled on recreating the scene of the battle. I created a mini U shaped structure out of sand but kept the ceiling open so I could see what im manipulating. From there I raised three inch tall sandmen and created a smaller version of the Geckan Battle Arena. I even created the Geckans in the stands and made them move, some standing, some leaning forward in their seats and most importantly most of them with their fucking mouths open. Next I flooded a third of the arena with mini sand Qrabiles and made them charge my mini sand castle. I decided to try and use The Green One''s effect and succesfully colored me and my brothers an emerald green. The emerald green sand sparkled brilliantly. I made Mini JST fight the Qrabiles in the front but it quickly became as boring as the real thing. Mini Jones gestured wildly to Mini Cobb and Mini Cobb closed the doorway of the Mini Sandcastle. They all climbed to the roof of their sandcastle and spotted a huge Qrabile in the middle of the horde it had to be a Qrab! Quickly they looked at each other and gave silent warcries. Mini Cobb propelled them directly into the horde. He formed weapons for JST and as he carved their way through the horde of sand Qrabile. Behind his older green brother Mini Cobb vailiantly threw waves of sand, absorbing the sand Qrabiles and representative of their death. A small green form of sand could be seen darting through sand Qrabiles and circling behind the Qrab with daggers in hand. As Mini JST arrived in front of the Qrab he was struck down to his knees, it fought completely differently from the usual Qrabiles. As he was adjusting to the new dynamic he was forced backwards and into Mini Cobb. Momentarily distracted, a stray Qrabile slammed into Mini Cobbs leg. It seemed like his leg was badly broken, sand bone could be seen sticking out. Still his focus was regained and he could be seen inhaling deeply, his mini chest rising slowly before falling. Suddenly huge waves of sand emitted from Mini Cobb and every Qrabile was wiped out. However the huge Qrab survived and came upon the two green older brothers in a fury. Mini Cobb took a few steps before fainting of apparent mana loss, he could be seen trying to create something before the partially formed sandstone reverted to sand and his head hit the sand. Mini JST could no longer retreat he took an inhuman leap for his size and slammed into the Qrab, he had gone on full offense. His strikes forced the Qrab back and cracks could be seen forming on its sand plates a particularly strong swing opened up plate on the Qrab''s neck. But an attack focused onto his unconcious brother forced Mini JST to take it with his shield and he was brought to his knees. He would not let his brother die today. Another powerful strike knocked his shield away and broke both the arms that were bracing it. Defiant he looked into the Qrab''s sandy eyes and arms limp, closed his eyes awaiting the finishing blow. With a silent howl the Qrab lifted his arm and fell sideways into the light brown sand, sending dust all around. As it cleared a small figure of green sand stood on the neck of the Qrabile with his dagger hand deep into the crack of his neckplates. With a twist he yanked his arm out, dripping sandy ichor, he walked to his brothers. "Woah im awesome! Dang you know how to captivate an audience." My brother said excitedly. In all likelihood, unable to sleep with the squelching sound of exploding Qrabiles he jumped down from the roof to see what I was doing. "That was me right?" He asked. "Huh. What?" Embarassed I quickly flattened the whole thing. My sand brothers, Qrab, Qrabiles, Geckans and their arena became flat sand. At the end there I kind got carried away. I made the Qrab like fifty meters high and I was focusing everything on controlling everything at once. I even needed to use Earth Magic to sense my creations as I couldn''t keep my eyes on everything. My cheeks were either red or purple i''m really not sure how Jjergs blush since I haven''t been damaged enough to bleed so I don''t know the color of my blood. "Yeah that was you. I got bored man what else was I suppose to do? I just made this whole situation and got carried away." I said cheeks reverting from whatever color they were. "Bro that was sick! Don''t you do all that random magical crap to calm yourself? You should do stuff like that it''s more entertaining than watching pulsing sand!" He eagerly suggested. I glared at him. Fuck you that took me so long to do right. "Probably not, that took all my focus just to maintain." I said sadly. It was actually really fun. "Awww." He whined. Did I really model Mini Jones after this whiney baby. Mini Jones will always be more manly than you Nojas, always. A flashing prompt drew my attention.
Class Notice! You have met the requirements to choose your Class! Significant actions and constant battle has given us enough data to suggest you your Classes! The minimum of five skills has just been met! Available Classes: Species Cataloguer Animator Enchanter Druid Geomancer Hunter
"Woah I can choose my class now!?" I yelled in surprise. "Wait you already have five skills what the heck?" He asked. "I only have four!" He said indignantly. "Racial skills don''t count." I said distracted with the choices. "That means I only have three! How''d you get so much?" He asked loudly. I looked at him straight in the eyes and dead serious. I looked around to make sure no one was looking and leaned forward. "Magic." I whispered. My hands followed a rainbow motion as I threw green sand into the air. Jones looked at me for a second before facepalming and wall running back up to the roof. He sat in his comfy sand chair and fumed. After he calmed down he looked back over his chair. "What was the skill anyway?" He yelled down to me. I blinked. I didn''t even check.
New Skill: Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%) Storytelling is used to captivate an audience, it is an art that though may seem mundane, not many people perfect. You have taken steps into the world of entertainment and have succeeded in eliciting from your audience what many people fail to, emotion. Effect: +6% more emotion from the audience
I laughed out loud. "What is it!?" He yelled getting annoyed. "Storytelling!" I smirked up at him. I howled with laughter as I pointed at him and slapped my knee. I even formed multiple sand hands to help me slap my knees. This was a defnite knee slapper. His face was the definition of comedy gold. Chapter 8 - Choices ~Cobb POV~ I checked how my older brother was faring at the opening I created. He seemed tired and was having slight trouble moving around because of all the blue guts covering him and the doorway. I raised a thick wall of sand and pushed back all the Qrabiles nearest to the door. They were pushed back thirty or so meters before I lost control of the sand and no more force was applied. I harshly ran sound over JST''s scales and scraped the dried blood and drying guts off of him all the while making sure I avoided his open wounds. That being done I turned my focus onto my class choices. "Thanks bro!" He called back. The Qrabiles were already closing in. Unfortunately I forgot that Qrabiles make for good charges luckily JST wasn''t a stranger to impact. He braced himself as he covered the doorway with his tower shield. The same old process repeated itself.
Species Cataloguer Your fast analysis of unknown entities allows you to survive and combat them. Most importantly it brings you a great understanding of various creatures, animals and monsters. Your survivablity and ability to gather insights upon many species make you a prime candidate for a Species Cataloguer. This class is renowned for bringing much knowledge to the table and their information is sought out and reliable. Four out of five of your initial skills facillitate information gathering and sensing nearby entities. Effects: +10 PER each level +10 END each level +ClassSkill: TraceSubject
Animator The Animator brings life to the inanimate. Your tendency to equip, plan, support and strategize for your teamates make this Class tailor made for your playstyle. With an unparalleled control of magic and unique ability to multifocus the Animator controls a variety of magical constructs to fight for him. An Animator needs an insight into life to achieve his magic and with your Storytelling you have unknowingly achieved the first of many insights. This Class is more aligned with your playstyle than that of your skills. Effects: +20 WIS each level + New Stat +Class Skill: Animate
Enchanter The Enchanter focuses on the improvement of his situation rather than altering them as they come. Enchanters pour their magic into their equipment and accessories to become unstoppable magical forces. Your evident knowledge of weapons and shields combined with your demonstrated knowledge of different damage types and effects on the enemy make this Class a primary candidate. The Enchanter plans and prepares beforehand for every possible contigency and although he focuses on himself his magic can be given to friends and allies as well. Your team-based strategems will be augmented further with various magical enchantments. Effects: +10 WIS each level +10 INT each level +Class Skill: Enchant
Druid The Druid often wanders throughout Twoen. Though he communes with nature and the earth his affinity is with all the elements. Druids are known to be protective over nature and when angered nature protects them. As they wander Twoen answering the calls of Gaia they form many bonds with the creatures of the forest. Your inherent talent with Earth Magic and respect given to an animal that was your enemy primarily account for this Class. The Druid never walks alone. Effects: +15 WIS each level +5 CHR each level + New Stat +Class Skill: Commune
Geomancer The Geomancer is the height of Earth Magic. Superior control over earth allows one of the strongest elements to be used with as much control as water. Your advanced mastery of Earth Magic and creativity found in only the minds of the greatest wizards make this Class a prime candidate. The Geomancer is always in control of the situation and your planning and strategy reflect the playstyle of the Geomancer''s. Effects: +20 INT +Class Effect: Upper Tiers of Earth Magic unlocked +Class Skill:Geomancy
Hunter The Hunter tracks down and kills for either money or glory. They often become bounty hunters for evil players or dangerous monsters, some even hunt other Hunters. They are often very strong but they are very few and most die out early in their career. If you meet a living Hunter beware as he is most likely very dangerous. This Class has stemmed from your efficient deductions and ability to root out various weaknesses in your opponents. In addition the "Absolutely Insanse" Challenge Start is attempted only by the mentally impaired, the immensely strong or both. Such is the way of the Hunter. Effects: +15 STR per levelIf you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. +15 END per level +Class Skill: The Hunt
Hmmmm. The choices were very interesting and it seems like each has their own set of advantages. Some of these classes like the Druid even unlock a whole new stat. The Geomancer has something called a Class Effect attached to it as well and apparently skills have Upper Tiers? From the looks of it each class has an average of an additional four levels worth of stat gain each level, twenty stat points each. However from what I can deduce each class is as balanced as possible so while the Geomancer has a Class Effect the Hunter gains more stats per level. As I wondered what appealed to me I read how each Class was chosen and suggested, it was amazingly accurate. My tendencies and actions were spot on and the choice appealed to different parts of me as well. Off the bat I crossed out the Hunter since I wasn''t planning on hunting monsters or seeking glory I only planned to be at the top. Next I marked off Enchanter and while it did appeal to the paranoid, strategizer in me I also felt that it might limit my potential to the amount of items I wear. In addition it wasn''t really what I wanted to play. Next I marked off the Druid, I loved nature and animals don''t get me wrong but relying on them? No thanks. That amount of trust I gave only to my brothers and myself. I also didn''t plan on taking orders from any God or Goddess in this world or mine, even if it was for the greater good. I wasn''t looking for justice I was trying to have fun. Then I took a moment to admire the Species Cataloguer it was such a unique class and many games probably didn''t have enough depth to even consider creating a class like this. The note was correct, I was very good at analyzing behavior and my skills probably did give me quite the advantage in the field. Still it wasn''t what I was looking for I wanted magic, fun, unique magic. And between the Geomancer and the Animator the Animator was the clear winner. Though the Geomancer seemed a very strong class, unlocked only because of my advanced earth manipulation, it was too straightforward. I would get bored of it very easily. Now the Animator seemed underrated given the bonuses from the other classes but it had the highest potential skill cap. I don''t think I''d ever get bored with this Class. The note was right, it was the most in line with my playstyle and I honestly believed I would have the most fun time playing it. I chose it.
You have chosen the Animator as your Class! As an Animator you gain: +20 WIS per level +Class Specific Stat: Enliven (ENL) +New Class Skill: Animate
The deed is done.
New Class Specific Stat: Enliven (ENL) Influences realism, personality and vivacity of your constructs. By being an Animator you bring many things to life , thereby unlocking a new resource, Squad Points.
That makes sense something needs to regulate how much I can control at one time, I''ll have to figure out the formula as I go. The fact that my constructs can have intelligence and personality is pretty cool too but could that lead to insubordination?
New Resource: Squad Points (SQP) Determines amount of summons, familiars, or constructs you can have active at one time. Stronger entities use more points to maintain while weaker entities use less. A Weak Skeleton may be worth 1 point while and Undead Dragon would be upwards of 7000 Squad Points.
At some point in this game someone could raise an Undead Dragon? Are you fucking kidding me?
New Class Skill: Animate - Level 1 (0%) Through various insights on the workings of life the Animator can breathe it into his constructs. Effects: +Can follow basic commands or preset orders
Before I tried my new flashy skill I confirmed that I still heard gooey squelching coming from my right and then checked my status.
Class: Animator Name: Cobb Titles: Prey Turned Predator, The Green One
HP: 264/268 Lvl: 23 Effects: Race Jjerg: +10 INT, +5 END, +5 STR, +5 WIS, +10 MND Prey Turned Predator: +25 INT, +25 WIS, +20 AGI The Green One:+7 CHR, + Can color things under your magical control an emerald green
MP:266/321 SQP: 110
SP: 200/210
STR: 15 CHR: 17
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 98 AGI:20
WIS: 237 ENL:110
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) Hunted Sense - Beginner 9 (50%) Inform - Intermediate 2 (2%) Hyperfocus - Intermediate 3 (32%) Earth Magic - Advanced 4 (67%) Animate (Class Skill) - Beginner 1 (0%)
My Wisdom got a huge boost from the class bonuses applying to every level after 15 and because of that my mana regeneration was moderately high. In total I gained 140 Wisdom after the class bonus applied. My mana which was rising from around 250 points started to rise significantly faster. I dumped the rest of my points into Enliven and brought it up to 110. It looked like my Squad Points relfected my Enliven stat. I recalled that kill Jennifur''s friends bumped us up to around level 18 from level 7. After killing Jennifur we raised our levels by 4 and then after around 2 hours of nonstop Qrabile experience we managed to level up to level 23. From what I could tell our leveling had started to plateau after 15. Right after most people would''ve got their classes. It made sense in a way after level 15 more bonuses applied to you after each level AND since even getting to level 10 was a chore it made sense that experience needed to level up increased exponentially. Even high level monsters that were levels ahead of us brought us up by 4 levels. In addition it only came as easy as it did for us because we chose the Challenge Start, without that the grind might''ve been more difficult and we would have had competition in the form of other players. In short I didn''t expect the levels to come easy at all after 20. It was time to try out Animate. First I conjured up a clone of JST, lifesize. I gave him a tower shield and a warhammer. I didn''t know how this would work so I worked in a pattern of scales. I completely copied how JST looked minus the man parts, I didn''t want those flopping around. I didn''t know what else to add but I wanted to have fun so I gave him a fancy tophat and colored it green. It was light brown copy of my tan older brother. I looked him up, I decided that instead of keeping him naked I would just dress him up in a fancy tuxedo and slacks. I colored his sand clothes emerald green to match his hat and looked at him a final time. He was the height of my brother, with the same face yet less defined. His scales were clearly visible but disappeared under his light green tuxedo. He had a green bowtie and a green tophat as well. I stood staring at him, he was still lifeless when I realized I had no idea how to use Animate. I had to achieve insights on life right? What did I want this construct for? I wanted him to fight and help JST and to do that he had to know how to use his weapons. In my head I pictured myself running through the forms and then sparring JST, from there I played JST and Jones sparring matches in my mind and focused on JST''s combos and Jones evasion. With that done I looked at my construct. Somehow, maybe the system prompted the feeling, maybe I had another insight, maybe it was magic, but I knew I had to name him. "Greenhat." I breathed. Gentle wisps of magic swirled slowly out of my mouth and into him. He blinked. Chapter 9 - Escape ~Cobb POV~ Focusing on the edge of my vision it looked like Greenhat used up almost 90% of my Squad Points. Deciding whether or not he could understand english I opted for a mental urging and verbal command. "Help JST." I pointed to my older brother covered in guts with intent. Greenhat was looking around in wonder before focusing on the doorway. His sandy demeanor changed and he seemed as serious as my brother gets albeit with less effect since he was wearing a green tophat and tux. He moved in beside JST and surprisingly instead of trying to squish into the opening he looked back at me for help. A second passed and I raised my eyebrows before widening the opening in our sandcastle. He stood shoulder to shoulder to JST and I felt a warm pride for my creation, his actions mirrored my brother and though they seemed less refined they worked. His blows were weaker but he was still taking out one or two Qrabiles per swing. JST noticed the opening widen and glanced to his right, he seemed angry for a split second before focusing forward again. ~JST POV~ I noticed the opening widen and wondered what Cobb was up to. I saw some green in my peripheral and became even more curious. I stole a glance to my right. I want a fucking tophat! What the hell?! You motherfucker. You think you can just show me up? Look better than me in a tophat? What the fuck is that tux? It''s ruffled, a disgrace. What the actuall hell Cobb what the fuck is this? I growled deeply before pushing forward out of safety. I threw my tower shield around destroying waves of Qrabiles with every swing. I kicked and punched when they got too close. "This! Mother! Fucker!" I accentuated each word with a swing of my hammer. Guts sprayed in gory cones across the already slick sand. A knee to a Qrabile that got under me. A forward kick when my hammer was occupied. A quick thrust with my shield to push more off. Two whole minutes of constant fighting to reach the center of the Qrabiles.I lost myself in battle. I screamed and yelled, lost to the fight, my movements were agressive, eratic, and unyielding. Faintly I could make out the sandcastle in the distance. A small figure on the roof had his head down and his hand in his face. He moved to jump down but Cobb stopped him and pointed somewhere in the horde. With a start I realized the Qrabiles were getting more effective, their numbers became small enough for them to start charging me again. I took hard blows to my legs. While blocking my front and smashing them midair helped they came from behind as well. They were mindless, not fearing death, not even knowing the concept. They knocked the back of my knees and I buckled to the floor. I could do nothing but focus on the dozen charging my front I gritted my teeth, planted my shield, and bent my knees. IfI let both sides on me I would die for sure. It never even occured to me to run. A dozen or so impacts into my tower shield and it broke. I smashed four of them before they dashed off again. My tower shield was crumbling and wouldn''t last any more so I tossed it to the side, its time was either expiring or I just broke it. Curiously during this time nothing striked me from the back and I glanced to my six as the remaining eight enemies began to accelerate towards me. The movement caused more sand and dust to kick up into the air. I found the back of a fancy sand man in a green hat. He was only holding 4 or 5 of them back which wasn''t very impressive, especially since he had a tower shield. Then he slipped a bit and my vision was drawn to the sand around him it was colored with enough dark blue ichor to come from 4 or 5 more opponents. Impressive sand man, impressive. Turning back around I ran forward, feet kicking up sand. My hammer met the first, I jumped to the side and dodged two more speeding bodies. The fourth was smashed flat into the ground. The fifth was evaded, the sixth was jumped over. The seventh and eighth were met by my hammer in a wide arc. I turned my body to see the four that escaped circling back around. They came close together and their speed was such that I wasn''t able to smash more than one on a single pass. Because of that it took 3 more passes to kill them all. The third pass I took out the last two at once. The sand man was killing it''s last Qrabile with a swing that looked pretty familiar. It was a perfect swing. Which is why it looked familiar, it was just like mine. I walked past the sand man and towards the sand castle. Real warriors don''t do what they do for acknowledgment, glory or anything. The fact he survived is proof enough for my respect and because of that I didn''t show any. It would be an insult. A ding rang in my mind and I wiped away the next round prompt. Cobb could worry about that. As I neared the end of the cloud of dust from the battle I saw that the sandcastle opening was now closed. It opened and we were permitted inside, to see both my brothers crouching near the center of the floor. I was about to fall back into the wall that still had the stamp of my body from the earlier massage in it but Cobb called me over. "JST get over here!" He beckoned. "There''s something you''re gonna want to see." He was studying the sand. I walked over skeptical, realizing just how gross I look. "Ugh this is fucking gross." I said wiping guts off and noticing the sand funneling downwards. "There''s a hole?" "I used a few feet of sand making all this shit. It looks like it thinned out here. I dont''t think I would ever have noticed." He gestured to me and the sand man. His eyes flicked to the drying ichor on me. Without a word sand came up to scrape me off roughly. This was only possible because of my scales otherwise my skin would probably have been flayed off. Cobb''s black eyes never left the draining sand. Cobb stood up knees cracking as the sand dispersed to the sides and a trap door was revealed. "Looks like we won''t be staying long guys." He grinned. "Help me out with this guys." He said as we gathered around. "Good the Arena was getting boring." I said. We pulled the trap door open and it flew open with surprising give as we applied enough force. It slammed into the sand and sent sand flying sideward. Because we were completely covered the Geckans would never know. "Finally something to do!" Jones backflipped into the darkness. "Weeeeeeeee!" He said as he dived through. Looking at Cobb his eye twitched. I chuckled and waited a few moment before hearing a exotic bird chirping from the darkness. It was one of our safety signals and we brought it from a very old VR game that wasn''t well known it had cool birds. I walked forward and fell through the portal. I landed on my feet and my knees absorbed the impact with a crack. Cobb followed shortly after, his arm was connected to a tendril of sand as it lowered him down the hole. Similar to myself Cobb''s fancy sandy buddy jumped through and squatted to disperse the force.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. From down here it was only a matter of time for our eyes to adjust. With an over the shoulder gesture by Cobb the trap door slammed shut. He found me looking at him. In reality I was trying to determine what he named his buddy and why he looked like me. I had to admit he definitely pulls off those fancy duds. "What? Sometimes it''s more fun to use my arms." He said defensively. "Hey if you''re not gonna name your buddy over there i''m gonna do it for you." I said, deciding on a name. "Actually I-" "Your name is Jeff." I declared, pointing at the sand man. "Get ready to see the world Jeff." I put my arm around him, careful not to touch his tophat, it looked expensive. "His name is Greenhat." Cobb said sharply. "Jeff." Jeff said trying his name."Jeff." He declared. "Greenhat! Your name is Greenhat!" Cobb said heatedly. "Go scout ahead Greenhat." He ordered to no avail. "Hey Jeff go ahead and help out Jones." And he walked off with a purpose. My brother pulled up his fist and with apparent effort did he finally force his hand down. As I turned around I caught sight of a sand fist dissolving. I walked forward there were no warning signals coming from my little brother and so it was safe. "Not today." I could just make out my brother whispering to himself. I noticed the sand around him pulsing in a calming effort. As my eyes adjusted to the tunnel we found ourselves in I didn''t have time to study it closer. The tunnel ended with metal bars running vertical across the passage. Jones was peering through the bars and watching a sleeping beast. Deep rumbling breaths came from a huge tiger that dominated the cage. "This is the only way through." He said. "Give me a dagger Cobb." "Make me a hammer too bro." I said fully intending to smash the bars down. "You''ll have to be quick then." Cobb was looking at us like we were idiots. Slowly he shifted the sandstone surrounding the bars into loose sand and caught the falling bars. The falling sand twirled into Jones palm in the form of a dagger. Swift and lightfooted he made his way to the tigers neck. He took a few moments before quickly severing the things spinal cord. With a slight jerk the animal stilled, its deep breaths ceased. That being done me, Jeff and Cobb made our way to the other end of the cage and looked out. What surrounded us were other cages and captured animals. These are probably the animals that the Geckans use to fight each other. The way in which we left must have been the intended way for the tiger to enter the arena. Yelps and whines filled the air and although it was loud it didn''t deafen. Poking my head out of the bars and looking into the adjacent cage I caught another tiger sleeping through the noise, it was covered in scars. It would make sense that the more veteran fighters knew the system and utilized their resting period to the fullest. Loose sand fell on my shoulders and I held onto the bars as they loosened. Silently I placed them in the sand behind me. I stepped out of the way and Jones slipped through the opening. The second dagger he held did not pass my notice. A half hour later an animal sound that had no business in these cages made itself heard. It was Jones, the coast was clear. I''m not sure how Jones avoided the animals gazes, but as we passed the cages the sounds of the captives increased. Yelps, roars, and growls, encompassed the complex. We kept moving upwards toward Jones signal, as we passed we had to step over a good amount of dead Geckans. The sound of the animals were deafening but as their handlers were dead nothing came. Cobb used his magic to move the bodies into the nearest cages, the animals left no trace. "Can''t have anyone knowing we were here." He stated walking forward. Behind him a body moved on its own into a cage. Ripping flesh could clearly be heard. Jones was standing near a very tall wooden door set into the sandstone when it opened. He reacted quickly reaching around the door and pulling the Geckan down by his arm. When his head came close enough his dagger found his neck. It was only when the body started to slide to the ground did I notice the additional dagger in his heart. The body was caught by fine sand and without a sound was sent to the nearest cage. The usual sounds could be heard. Outside was a dark forest, we were behind the colliseum, and we could see the structure through the canopy. As we peeked out further we found a path that led to a wooden structure in the distance. Backtracking a bit, the path connected to a trail that led into the Geckan Battle Arena. "Keep off the path." Jones'' voice was quiet. Teeming creatures could be heard in the forest leaves. The sounds of the jungle permeated the air. The structure seemed a good height taller than a Geckan and door roughly the size of the creatures was built into the side. We stepped off the path and watched the door closely as we moved in. Jones took position on a rock that jutted out of the forest floor. He was still decently concealed in the forest greenery. Minutes past and a Geckan approached from the main road. With a glance to the middle brother I relaxed my grip on my hammer and let the gecko past. Jones didn''t miss our exhange and then returned his focus on the structure. The Geckan entered the door and frantic noises could be heard from inside. Geckans started pouring out of the door, they counted over thirty by the time they were all out the door. They all ran towards the door to the cages. They must''ve realized we escaped. One Geckan was running further from the structure taking a path that lead farther into the woods. "Jones the runner!"Cobb yelled over the noise. With a rustle of leaves Jones was gone. "We don''t have the power to take thirty on!" He said. "We need to get out of here....." He trailed off in thought. "What''s wrong let''s go!" I said jogging through the bushes. "Wait, wait, WAIT!" He yelled to me. "I think we can do this!" He looked to Jeff with a sad expression and he dissolved into the wind. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" I screamed as I grabbed his sandy green tophat. It fell through my fingers as Jeff left the world to a better place. He was so young. "We''ll miss you Greenhat." My brother said in quick prayer. "HAVE YOU NO RESPECT? HIS NAME WAS JEFF YOU MONSTER!" I screamed at him. I raised my warhammer but it dissolved. Unfortunately the Geckans heard me and they had their mouths open like fucking retards. They scanned the dark forest, the sun was too low to give any reliable lighting. I gave Cobb the most disgusting look I could before steeling myself for battle but his focus was on the huge rock that jutted out of the floor. He raised a dirt copy of himself, colored it green and made it run across the path and into the woods opposite of us. Half of the Geckans were diverted as fifteen went for the direction of my voice. Suddenly a rough hissing came from behind me and I whirled around. The giant rock that Jones was perched on earlier was transformed. What was left was a gigantic boa. Its rock toungue flicked out in the air. It''s rock body twirled on itself, creating a rough scraping noise, it showed no apparent discomfort. "Discovery Channel pays off man." He said. "It knows only not to attack us, from there I''m letting nature take its course. Get out of the way." I moved to the side and as I left its vision it focused on the fifteen or so Geckans that were heading this way. Its rock body slid across the floor, ripping greenery apart with a deep rumbling. As the Geckans came within striking distance its body slithered out in astounding speed and encompassed all fifteen of them before constricting. With wide eyes I watched the Geckans, hopeless and without any help they died after some time. The giant snake was just starting to eat the first one when the rest of the warband came into sight. Its toungue flicked as it left the fifteen bodies as bait. It coiled itself into a rock before staying completely still. When the rest of the Geckans came into its range the boa repeated the same process. It missed one but that was quickly taken out with a flying sharp rock compliments of Cobb. Leaving the snake to its business Cobb decided that if that kept going around killing Geckans it was probably good for us. However he said with that in play he couldn''t animate anything anymore. "Let''s catch up with Jones. The Geckan was probably moving to warn a higher authority." Cobb said. "He''ll have something for us." Aside from the occasional nocturnal wildlife we had to deal with, nothing presented a major threat. We stayed off the trails but followed it to where we imagined was the Geckan Lair. I was equipped with a medium shield, it was U shaped with three points on the top and one on the bottom. In my right hand was a rock gladius. Fifteen minutes later the sun began to rise. Still it was too dark to see more than ten meters forward. As we were walking Cobb tripped over something. Looking down his eyes widened and let out a girly squeal. It was dead Geckan lying in its own blood. "It was heading for that." A quiet voice came from above. Jones was perched on the branch of a nearby tree. Through the bushes I could see a gigantic tree. It must have been upwards of a thousand meters high. If there wasn''t a small clearing in the canopy here. I wouldn''t have been able to see it. I let out a long whistle. Chapter 10 - Geckan Lair ~JST POV~ Peering through the canopy I strained my eyes to catch a good glimpse of the majesty of the gigantic tree. In the process I waved away my annoying blinking notifications before sighing and activating all of them.
Class: - Name: JST Title: The Strong One
HP: 320/320 Lvl: 24 Effects: Race Druman: +10 STR, +20 END, The Strong One: +50 STR
MP:51/51
SP: 165/430
STR: 145 CHR: 10
END: 90
INT: 10
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Hard Scales (Race Skill) (Passive) - Beginner 10 (88%) Hyperfocus - Intermediate 9 (23%) Combat Savant - Advanced 2 (5%) Breathing - Advanced 1 (0%) Overdrive - Beginner 2 (10%) Warrior Bond - Intermediate 5 (10%)
Before checking my new skills that generated somehow I used up my 85 Stat Points. 55 went into STR and 30 went into END. Thirty dead Geckans and only one level, it was something to dwell on. Of course I didn''t really participate but still I wonder how exactly leveling up works in Twoen. Maybe the leveling is just getting progressively harder? Opening up my skills I ignored Hyperfocus and Breathing as Hyperfocus just increased my muscle responsivness and slows my perception of time when I want while Breathing just lowers my stamina consumption. That was probably generated because of the special breathing technique i''ve grown accustomed to using when in combat for long periods of time. But what was Combat Savant?
New Skill: Combat Savant - Advanced 2 (5%) Various techniques and masteries you''ve acquired have combined into this skill. You have shown advanced mastery in unarmed combat, the martial arts, sword technique, hammer technique, and shield usage. Instead of granting individual skills they have been combined into this skill. In addition you have not shown any interest or reach for magic or stealth leading one to believe you thrive in combat. Effects: +44% effectiveness in battle +2.2x multiplier on STR and END
Holy moly jesus christ fucking fuck. Fuck. FUCK! This skill was born from my other skills? Skill could be assimiliated into a type of umbrella skill? It seems I had enough skills in the combat field and high enough level in all of them for them to combine into this Combat Savant skill. But 2.2x multiplier? I didn''t have to do anything especially extrenuating since the escape so it''s hard to say but I would probably be able to lift Jennifur since I added points into STR earlier. That 55 just became 110. I could probably fight close to forever since I have that Breathing technique as well. "Damn if only this tree wasn''t in the way the canopy would be clear!" I said in mock complaint, walking to a tree. "Right bros?" I said over my shoulder, hands on my hips. Jones looked down from the tree. "If you just climb it you could probably get a better view." "I can help you up." Cobb said. "What was that? Oh you want me to move it? OK!" I bent down and pulled, hard. Slowly the tree became uprooted with a deep ripping sound, Jones yelled some startling profanities as he absorbed his fall with a roll. "WHAT THE HELL DERJAR!" Cobb yelled, his jaw was perilously close to the floor. "JESUS FUCKING CHRIST." "OH! Sorry you still can''t see huh?" I threw the whole fucking tree 10 meters off to the side. It landed with a crash, a rustling of leaves and snapping of branches. Cobb and Jones both followed the tree with their heads and their jaws might''ve caught a fly or two. Cobb''s eye twitched. "Damn, now that is a tree." Their eyes followed mine and before long we were staring at the wonder in front of us. The huge Geckan tree lair was magnificent. While they were distracted I took some time to look at the rest of my skill. Combat Savant was definitely something i''d be using but I think its effects are passive anyway unless I activated it unknowingly. The next skill I looked at was Overdrive.
New Skill: Overdrive - Beginner 2 (10%) Caught in a whirlwind of emotions you have pushed your body to its maximum performance. Effects: +10% to all stats +Equal demerits for equal duration.
Well that explains why I was so tired when I returned to the sandcastle earlier. Thinking back to when I assaulted the Qrabiles I didn''t realize it but I was indeed going all out. That probably explains why the tower shield broke actually. I was feeling slightly exhausted afterwards as well and when I entered the trapdoor I didn''t stick the landing as well as I probably should have. At the time I overlooked it but it was this skill that generated for me instead. Actually I kinda feel tired right now? Wait I did just rip a tree right out of the ground. Silly me. I looked at Warrior Bond next.
New Skill: Warrior Bond - Intermediate 5 (10%)Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Forged in battle the Warrior Bond is a connection between allies, teamates and comrades, unspoken yet everpresent. Effects: +75% intuition of teamate planning or manuevers
Well, that was probably because of playing with my brothers. I''m usually the most adaptable one when it comes to our formation, following up on Cobb''s plans or timing certain manuevers with Jones. It makes sense that I developed the skill and feeling for when they''re up to something. The fact that a skill exists where it aids something that i''m already reliant upon is increasingly helpful. "Checking your skills? Did you get your class yet?" Jones asked bittersweetly. "If you have 5 skills minus your racial one you should''ve got a notice." Cobb added. In the corner of my vision there was a new prompt waiting to be opened. It wasn''t there before which means that it was waiting for me to inspect the rest of my skills before notifying me. Intriguing. .
Class Notice! You have met the requirements to choose your Class! Significant actions and constant battle has given us enough data to suggest you your Classes! The minimum of five skills has just been met! Available Classes: Duelist Survivalist Hunter Barabarian Gladiator Blademaster
What the fuck is this? Survivalist and Hunter? I''m not some nature loving treehugger fuck that. Crossing those off I was left with four choices. I looked at them in greater detail.
Duelist Excelling in one on one combat the Duelist is in his element in single combat. When his focus is solely on his enemy feats of incredible swordsmanship and combat are easily achieved. Three of five of your skills support this Class. Effects: +10 STR per level +10 END per level +50% damage in single combat +Class Skill: Duel
Barbarian Even consumed by rage your mind still works. A barbarian though often mistaken for mindless brutes of unstoppable force have potential for even more bloodshed. A mindless brute with unfocused power can be averted with a sound strategy. Now when a Barbarian can keep his cool in the heat of emotion? Danger, danger and death. Effects: +30 STR per level +Up to 100% increase in damage dependent on emotion +Class Skill: Berserk
Gladiator The Gladiator always fights for something. Driven and determined even hordes of enemies are no match for his iron will. Faced with enemies all around him the Gladiator is forced to wield everything as a weapon. In the face of adversity the Gladiator rises while most would fall. You know what you fight for and that makes you dangerous to those who oppose you. You have met hidden requisites for this Class involving fighting in an Arena. Effects: +10 STR per level +10 END per level +Class Skill: The Arena
Blademaster The weapons in your hand sing. Battle is an art and weapons are nothing but different brushes taken from a diverse pallette. Weapons are an extension of you even when they aren''t in your hand. Multiple masteries of weapons make this Class a suitable candidate. Effects: +15 STR per level +15 END per level +Class Skill: Art of the Blade
I thought about the situations i''m most likely to get into while playing this game. Frankly there doesn''t seem to be any situatons where single combat really happened. Duelist seemed like a cool class but in reality it''s not very realistic unless I planned to join player tournaments for money and i''m not interested in that. For those reasons Duelist didn''t make it into my consideration. Barbarian had an interesting mechanic with emotion but there was crucial problem to the effect besides the inherent unreliablity and unpredictableness of emotion. I''ve seen too much. The problem was i''ve seen too much in my years of gaming and I don''t see myself getting surprised by anything to the point where any intense emotions arise. Upon introspection I realize I get mad over random crap. I got mad over a tophat for gods sake. I still fucking am. How am I supposed to know if I look better in a tophat if Cobb fucking killed Jeff? I let out a sigh and thought on the Gladiator Class. The kind of shit I get involved with because of my brothers leads to a lot of big battles. It probably makes the most sense for me to choose it since it deals with hordes of people and challenges. Of course the Blademaster looked interesting for a while until I read the description. If thats what a Blademaster why do I need a Class for it when i''m already like that. In the end I chose the Gladiator Class since I tend to get into the thick of things thanks to Cobb and Jones. I remember this one... ahh nevermind that was embarrassing. Some memories should be stashed away forever.
You have chosen the Gladiator as your Class! As a Gladiator you gain: +10 STR +10 END +Class Skill: The Arena
New Skill: The Arena - Beginner 1 (0%) The Gladiator fights for a bigger dream. Fighting in an Arena has granted an awareness of your surroundings. Effects: +1 meter radius
I''m not exactly what changed after I read the prompt for The Arena but I was now inimately aware of everything with a meter of me. It was unsettling yet empowering all the same. Maybe Cobb feels the same way through his magic? I can see the appeal. Aside from that i''m pretty sure im broken now. I just gained 90 STR and END after the bonuses applied to every level after 15. Ok, not that big a deal BUT then you realize Combat Savant doubles that and now I just gained 198 of each after applying the 2.2x multiplier. This is crazy. I looked at a nearby tree almost twice the size of the tree that I ripped from Jones feet and that''s saying something. I figured that this forest suffered enough by my hand for the day and mercifully forced down the temptation. I wondered how much stronger the roots of that tree were than the one I killed, uh I mean uprooted, earlier. After a while I realized I could sense some thin roots settled into the ground a meter down. I guess that''s the benefit from being in my Arena. The benefits were amazing. If I could increase the radius I would be unstoppable so long as I lasted. With Combat Savant doubling my already high END I don''t think anything I''d enounter for a while would warrant all my stamina. Add to that Breathing and the depths of my stamina may never be tested. Even if someone could last as long as I could I doubt they could match my skill, meaning although they might have the energy it would be misdirected and inefficent, allowing me to dispatch them easily. Even knowing my own strengths it only takes a glance across the clearing to my two brothers to realize there are a lot of ways to kill people. It never helps to be cocky. I opened another blinking prompt.
New Title: The Strong One Unbenknownst to you a strong opponent had recognized your strength. Jennifur had dubbed you The Strong One. You were recognized as the first of his prey to fight back so valiantly in the Geckan Battle Arena. You were the first to show no fear and in his last moments, though angry it was something he had come to respect. Permanent Effects: +50 STR
Fucking Jennfifur why''d you have to go and have balls. My mind flashed to Jennifur''s junk swaying in the wind as he swiped and mangled the air where I had just been, my hair had been flying around but it didn''t detract from the sight. It was when I first acknowledged a worthy opponent. It had nothing to do with his penis or his testicles I don''t discriminate. "Fucker, had some balls to go and have balls." I mumbled. A single tear rolled down my face. "Are you crying dude?" Cobb asked. Not only was I crying but I was now painfully aware of my brothers balls. "N-no it''s a new skill. I-it came with my class." I lied unconvincingly. "They have a crybaby class?" Jones mocked. "What you get a sadness stat?" He puffed out his lower lip and wiped fake tears away. I noticed my brothers dick. "Fuck off you weiners." I said regaining composure. Oh god no why did I say that. Fuck, fuck, FUCK! "Did you really just call us weiners." Cobb said but it sounded more like a statement. He was on to me. My brother''s such a dick. SHIT, I mean he''s a bitch. Yeah, yeah a bitch. Female dogs don''t have dicks. Phew. "Are you really making fun of me? You do remember that I just ripped that fucking tree out of the ground, right?" I pointed 10 meters to the side, keeping my face completely neutral. It betrayed my inner turmoil. For some reason the errant thought of ripping a dick off of someone crossed my mind. I weeped inwardly. They hesitated and stopped the questions. My single tear finally rolled off my face. Chapter 11 - Encountering Patrols ~LoneJones POV~ Well both of my brother got their classes now. I''m still missing a skill for mine though.
Class: - Name: LoneJones Title: The Fast One
HP: 179/179 Lvl: 24 Effects: Race Sperid: +30 AGI, +10 PER The Fast One: +50 AGI
MP:51/51
SP: 230/235
STR: 10 CHR: 10
END: 40 AGI: 130
INT: 10 PER:70
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points: 10
Sensitive Hairs (Race Skill) (Passive) - Advanced 1 (6%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 1 (4%) Unarmed Combat - Advanced 1 (1%) Evasion - Advanced 3 (2%) Dagger Mastery - Intermediate 10 (17%)
Though I didn''t doubt Cobb in the first place, he was right, Sensitive Hairs didn''t count since it was a racial skill. As of now we were heading towards the Great Tree as we began to call it. With my increased perception I was able to locate many stealthed Geckans attached to the trunks of the trees as we moved through the greenery. Their dead lifeless bodies didn''t detract from the scenery as we continued onward. The jungle was beautiful. I found that increasing all of my senses was a blessing, I could immerse myself in the noise and I was able to detect new additions to the music as the sun rose. A bird never heard. Or a deer without fear. They all added to the symphony in a practiced ease, a routine everyday. Beautiful for everyone but a normal occurence to them. While Cobb likes to analyze and derive statistical data from evident observations, I tend to see things in color. That isn''t to say that either of us are completely void of the other perception but we definitely lean towards one. With that said, I have no idea what happens in JST''s head. I noted the way my intital skills were headed. It seemed like I was heading for some generic assassin build and I dreaded it. I needed something, something to spice things up or change how I deal with threats. Of course I didn''t expect to do anything but kill people silently and swiftly, I just wanted to do it differently. Sooner or later I was bound to get Dagger Mastery and of course it just increased my efficency with daggers. Still when a skill increased based on percentages when I was already at a masterful level, well, I become very dangerous. At the moment I got an increase of 66% efficency.
Dagger Mastery - Intermediate 10 (17%) When one wields the dagger, it shouldn''t be out in the open. If you see someone with a dagger walking around, his friend is probably behind you. Effects: +66% efficiency when wielding daggers
Although I don''t what efficency directly effects, it probably encompasses many things such as speed, damage, penetration, all of the things that a dagger has or the wielder does is most likely just improved. Obviously the skill was very generic, anyone could get it if they waved a small blade around. I was leading by a few meters while Cobb was in the back. JST had no way to percieve the Geckans unless he was within 1 meter or so he said. It was left to Cobb''s sense for the earth and my perception. After a few Geckans were exposed and JST had to deal with some that slipped by I questioned Cobb. "Did you miss some what happened?" "I can''t feel them in the trees, only the vibrations of the earth. If they''ve just been in waiting then they would never have to move until they needed to attack. Up until that point i''m blind to them." He responded. We were not shy to admit our weaknesses not in game nor in real life. We were brothers after all. "My new skill is amazing, I would have taken an nasty scratch if i didn''t sense them. I''m up to three meters now!" JST said excitingly. "Ok cool, you two stay close. Even my senses might miss one or two. Stay sharp." My voice carried over the light jungle noise. Soft light shined through the rustling canopy. There wasn''t any wind. "Fuck I need to pee." I added. Their change in demeanor might''ve gone unnoticed if I wasn''t their brother. My change in talking might''ve gone unnoticed as well if they weren''t my brothers too. I hated cussing. We moved forward and I crossed my hands behind my back. I probably seemed like a carefree child admiring the forest. Of course these new Geckans couldn''t know that I was responsible for the deaths of their whole chain of patrol. The two bigger people behind me seemed the more likely candidates. As of right now I was just a kid. I didn''t form any signs behind my back, a sign in itself, there were more than my fingers could count. Cobb moved to make small talk beside JST, well within three meters. I couldn''t rely on my hearing, they were dead silent in the trees, my eyes darting across the canopy would give us away, touch, smell and taste were useless here as well. I still had my hairs though, or septules as Cobb called them, whatever. My intital glance counted more than 10 and it was completely on accident. Anything more and they might suspect something, they were intelligent after all. My increased perception helped a lot when using Sensitive Hairs, they creeped through the canopy above us, three or so moving at a time. "I don''t think they can understand us." Cobb said in a tone that was carefree and happy, he laughed. "We''re probably fine to talk and plan as long as we seem unaware." He added with a smile. "So what the fuck are we gonna do bro?" My brother said shrugging his shoulders and smiling a little too wide. "Just talk normally it''s not like we''re strangers to danger. You''re just nervous cuz you suck at acting." I told JST. "Hey what the fuck dude." He said getting peeved. He blinked. "Oh I see what you mean. It''s just a normal life or death situation now. No pressure of acting. No audience that I can''t kill if I get too embarrassed." He said smiling, it wasn''t too wide this time. "Ugh I get that you guys need to act natural but please, please keep in mind there are Geckans right above us." Cobb said. Apparently they knew their racial name in English or whatever we''re speaking because right after he said that it was raining pink, muscular toungues. I guess their name was enough to suspect that we knew. It was probably that smile that blew our cover, dang it bro. I danced deftly as their toungues squished violently against the jungle floor. I cut chunks off of two in the instant that they began to retract. Loud hissing could be heard from the canopy as their toungues came back to them with renewed speed. I stuck two of my daggers into two seperate pink masses as they began to fly upward. Being as light as I am I was pulled upwards, my hair whipped backwards and I squinted against the wind, I noticed the toungues were retracting to two seperate places, they were at opposite angles. I pulled my daggers out with a wet squelch and slingshotted into the canopy. "WEEEEEEEEEEEEE" I screamed. I might''ve just indirectly announced my arrival. The green leaves barely slowed me but there were a lot of leaves. In the midst of the canopy pink toungues flew all around. I activated Hyperfocus and everything slowed down drastically. I twisted as two flew past, one under the elbow and another over my shoulder. At the same time a Geckan got behind me, it jumped to match my rising altitude, I finished my twist and realized these Geckans had claws. It swiped with its left and I had to dive backwards by pushing downward off the bottom of a tree branch, I passed in between the two moving masses I just evaded. I caught a branch and swung myself over, avoiding more pink. I landed on my feet, crouched low near a Geckan whose toungue was shot downward. It flicked its head up and began to suck its toungue back up as it noticed me. I managed to fight around its toungue before realizing the toungue was him too so I slashed at that as well, my sand daggers twirling across the mass rather than stabbing. I''d get pulled into its mouth if I stuck my dagger in there. My hairs told me I was surrounded as my opponent bled from the mouth. There was a pause as I straightened out, barely visible geckos were surrounding me as best they could. Sounds of battle could be heard from below and I caught my older brother pulling on toungues, dragging them to the forest floor. Noticing my attention shift the Geckans spit their flesh at me. Suprisingly, their angles were off and I was able to duck and weave through them. I killed a Geckan as I approached the perimeter of my supposed trap, opening the circle. The other Geckans were distracted with my brothers when I stole a backwards glance. I must''ve been moving pretty fast because my trappers were still retracting their toungues. It was then I figured out why their angles were off, they were trying to cut off my escape, while not hitting each other. Only by moving so fast and reacting inhumanly was I able to weave through the openings that appeared, realizing that if I missed my escape at any one of those times the toungues around me would''ve contracted and I would''ve been constricted or suffocated.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I spent the next few minutes clearing the trees and dodging toungues. Their tactics changed often, a testament to their intelligence, but never enough that pure reaction couldn''t compensate. They were leading to me to traps where camoflauged Geckans awaited or playing dead, toungues hanging out and everything. They tried coming at me from above and below. They tried to capture me with their toungues and sent addition Geckans to weave through them and stop my movement, fully intending to get captured themselves. They tried ambushing me with their toungues, though my hairs always detected that type of air pressure. In the end jumping through the green leaves, and twisting branches and twigs left me exhausted. I almost mistook a stray toungue for a branch and stepped on it. My stamina was down to almost 20%, reaching the 50% mark I stopped Hyperfocus and spent some time adjusting to the time change. It was hard. I had no idea if I spent more stamina in those frantic movements or using Hyperfocus, but I made my choice and stuck with it. My health amusingly only lowered when I dropped Hyperfocus and my random scurrying led me into sharp branches or twigs. Even then my health was very small, I was at 60% just from running into trees like an idiot. I peeked out of my hidey hole nestled in between two thick branches and a blanket of leaves. It''s only been maybe four minutes but their numbers seemed large, my brothers were still fighting from the sound of things. A glance through the leaves showed a dirt structure that im guessing Cobb took shelter in. JST was still fighting and didn''t even seem tired, but my heightened senses could see his nostrils flaring and chest breathing deep, though slight it was there. For now I felt my brothers were fine. I spent the next two minutes searching for stragglers. My heightened senses couldn''t place them most of the time, the only sense I could rely on was sight and even then their forms were obscured by the leaves. I relied on change in air pressure using my septules and Sensitive Hairs since luckily it wasn''t a windy day in the Uncharted. After going through a variety of patrol techniques, including pretending to leave, doubling back, or suddenly turning around I was confident they were all dead. The last Geckan was camoflauged under the majority of the canopy and after killing it I felt exhausted. My stamina was still at 20%, it didn''t lower while I hunted but it didn''t rise either. "Wait I need to get down somehow." My legs were dangling off the lowest branches in clear view of my brothers. Though they probably couldn''t hear me. "Are you good?" My older and greener brother called upwards with a cupped hand to his mouth. "Are you an idiot look at him, he''s only scratched." I could still hear JST even though he didn''t talk especially loud. "Our little brother is fucking scary." "I realize that you can probably hear us." Cobb said to a confused JST. "Tie a toungue to the branch and throw it down, you could probably get down that way. You''re way too high and out of my range." He said in a normal voice, he started piling the bodies, or his magic did, they all just seemed to drag themselves to the middle of where the battle took place. They had been fighting between multiple tree trunks, we weren''t on any clear cut trail after all. JST still looked confused until he got it. "Oh yeah forgot about that." JST picked up two of the 10 meter Geckans. Of course they''re probably really light. "Also i''m not scared of you. I just meant to like other people. To other people you''re probably scary, maybe." He added. I ignored JST and moved to do what Cobb suggested. I had completely forgot about how long their toungues were, they reached all the way down to the floor. It would probably work too since thats how I got up here in the first place. I reached a dead Geckan that I had previously already made sure was for sure dead. I reached into its mouth and dumped its toungue down to my brothers. It reached the forest floor and I wedged the body in between the crook of a tree and its branch. I really didn''t want to touch the slimy toungue so I jumped off the branch and stuck my dagger into it as I fell. Unfortunately they were really muscular so my dagger didn''t really slice well just using my weight. "Uggghh. Ewwwww." I said as I gingerly hugged the thing. I think I cried as I slipped down the toungue. As I slid down I realized that it was one of the very first toungues I cut, it was missing a chunk of flesh that I vividly remember removing. It was a metaphorical middle finger, a last curse and payback in its death. I sighed and approached my brothers. Hopefully they wouldn''t notice the tears hidden among the slick saliva. "There''s too many bodies in the canopy for me to just hide. They''re gonna know we''re here." Cobb stated. "FUUUCK GECKANS BROOOO!!!!!!" JST screamed at the top of his lungs. He ran fullspeed and dropkicked the thick trunk of tree that we were fighting under. Nine to twelve meter bodies fell from the jungle above as the tree shook violently, even the most thick of the branches were visibly vibrating. As I recall however I didn''t leave any bodies on the thicker branches, they were too open to fight on. That means that all the bodies of Geckans were left lightly resting on leaves or against thinner branches which were shaking furiously. What that culminated into was raining bodies of Geckans that came loose. When all was said and done a total of 22 bodies fell from the heavens. "Jesus bro how many did you kill up there?" JST said, as he flew feet forward against the tree again. It shook again and nothing came down. "Twenty-two I guess." I shrugged. "You could''ve probably done it too with that strength." Cobb shook his head. "Not in the canopy he couldn''t. Not unless they just came up to him or lined up single file ready for him to dropkick through all twenty-two of them." He laughed thinking of the image. "I guess you''re right." Inwardly I was smiling. I was trying to picture my brothers trading roles with me and the thought was reassuring, they couldn''t have pulled it off, not as they are. "-monster." I couldn''t really catch what JST whispered to Cobb. My green brother nodded sagely though. We added the 22 dead bodies to the large pile on the floor and counted 47 bodies. I counted them all before realizing we forgot the Geckan I tied to the branch and lodged into a crook of a branch. Cobb was about to start whatever he was magicking up. "Wait we need to get the last Geckan!" I called over to him before approaching the hanging toungue. I felt a change in air behind me but recognized the shape of the displacement. "Looks like laffy taffy." He whipped the tounged and sent a rolling force upward. He did it again and a body flipped out of the canopy and slammed down onto the forest floor. "Hey, hey, Cobb!" He yelled over. "Check this out." He added to me. "What''s up?" He looked over and the dirt structure he was dissolving stopped dissolving. JST was flicking the toungue of the Geckan and it started doing the worm, its six feet limbs were flopping around aimlessly. It was the most funny thing i''ve ever seen, I fell to the floor, my lungs hurt. I started rolling on the floor laughing. I was actually rofling. I turned over as my laughter was joined by my other brother, I already knew JST wouldn''t stop, laughing was just positive reninforcement. Rolls of force traveled through the toungue and kept flowing to the Geckan. Oh my god i''m going to die. We''re both gonna die here. Somebody..help. My laughter passed into the range where silent laughs and constant expelling of air made me look like a vibrating idiot. Tears of laughter and pain were rolling down my face, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I remembered the prompt for Hyperfocus "going from a state of joy to seriousness" or something along those lines. I activated it and it didn''t help. The Geckan was flopping around in slow motion and it made it even funnier. I was hit with the invisible force of comedy and a shudder of silent laughter rolled across my body. Worse, it was slowly doing the worm to Cobb''s location, I was full on crying now, "slowly doing the worm" meant extremely slowly in Hyperfocus. I stopped Hyperfocus actually fearing I might die of laughter. "Oh my god please stop..how...how are you even doing that." I cried through short, hilarious breaths. He was flicking the toungue and it was somehow moving AWAY from him and to Cobb. "Oh my gorsh what should I wear today Brittany?" He punctuated the flailing of limbs with a white girls accent. "Chad is gonna ravage me tonight baby!" The Geckan was flailing uncontrollably limbs flying everywhere and its mouth was open in that stupid way since its toungue was being used to puppet it. Somehow JST was sending ripples of force down its toungue that only moved its head, he made its mouth flop open with every word. Im actually gonna die. "FUCKING STOP OH MY FUCKING GOD IT HURTS!" Cobb bellowed in loud laughter. "WHATEVER YOU DO DON''T HYPERFOCUS!" I yelled to him. I think he did because he went into a fit of silent laughter, I could clearly see shining tears across his face. Weakly, I put my hand across my neck in a "cut it out" gesture in an attempt to save him. I was out of energy and realized my stamina was actually being finished off. Whenever JST finds something that makes us laugh he won''t stop until were dead. "I''m so exciiiiiiiiiiiited for tonight." The fucking Geckan, who apparently had a hot date named Chad started doing the worm again, the word "excited" was dragged along and matched the movement of the worm he managed to make it do the worm very slowly, how, I have no idea. I can only imagine what Cobb was going through in Hyperfocus. If I didn''t have enchanced hearing I might not have caught what Cobb whispered through tear filled eyes. "I''m going to die because of this fucking flopping dead body." He rumbled with silent, painful laughter. His body was jerking violently as shudders of comedy passed through him. "Hmm I wonder what to wear Brittany? Brittany? Wake up! Oh my god Brittany you always do this!" I have no idea what the heck was going on anymore. Somehow JST learned how the limbs were flopping around and got the arms to position themselves under its head before whacking Cobb to get his attention. He was shaking in what was either laughter or tears. I feel your pain brother. My smile had been forcing my eyes shut but still I could see and hear. For some reason even the way the air was displaced made me crack up. It was too much I was gonna pass out since my stamina was being exhausted. Before I did I saw the Geckan flop over to me. The amount of control and precision applied to such a stupid task was weakening. "Chad! Oh my god baby! What''s wrong?!" The white girls accent was too much, it was the final nail in the coffin. I passed out. And so somewhere deep in the Uncharted a large pile of dead Geckans could be found with the most probable killers being three humans surrounding them. Only one of them seemed to be concious though and from the looks of it he was desecrating the body of a Geckan. The others were lying in a puddle of tears. Chapter 12 - Rootin Tootin Roots ~Cobb''s POV~ I woke up groggily. I could feel dried tears on my face, my chest was sore and my abs were still in pain. With my low stamina my 100% was only a fraction of JST''s or Jones''. Feeling the earth I let the dirt consume the pile of Geckans, my eyes were still closed just in case JST wanted to try shit. I made sure to include the stray Geckan body off to the side. I made sure its tongue was completely buried. I checked by status bars, approximately 100% red, 15% blue which must''ve regenerated while I was knocked out, and 30% yellow. I was wondering why my stamina regenerated so quick but then I realized being unconcious probably counted as sleeping. I called up the Stamina window just in case. Information never hurts.
Stamina Used for all things physical, the yellow bar in your top left determines your energy left to use in any actions involving the body. Some skills require a drain on Stamina. You can regenerate Stamina while resting, sleeping, potions and many more methods. Upon depletion you will be rendered unconcious.
Oh, ok cool. So my Stamina did regenerate while I was "sleeping". I''m interested in the "many more methods" portion of the description since potions are a given. Does that mean skills? Titles could probably have something to do with it as well. Even then Titles are included in the Effects section of the character sheet along with my Race bonus, so how many more effects could there be? I''m assuming buffs from some type of class like Enchanter could presumably be applied there but im curious, Twoen hasn''t dissapointed me yet. I willed up my Character Sheet since it seemed like my brothers were just waiting for me to wake up. Though Jones probably could tell i''m awake by now.
Class: Animator Name: Cobb Titles: Prey Turned Predator, The Green One
HP: 264/268 Lvl: 24 Effects: Race Jjerg: +10 INT, +5 END, +5 STR, +5 WIS, +10 MND Prey Turned Predator: +25 INT, +25 WIS, +20 AGI The Green One:+7 CHR, + Can color things under your magical control an emerald green
MP:49/321 SQP:7/115
SP: 63/210
STR: 15 CHR: 17
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 208 AGI:20
WIS: 237 ENL: 115
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) Hunted Sense - Intermediate 9 (50%) Inform - Intermediate 6 (22%) Hyperfocus - Intermediate 5 (62%) Earth Magic - Advanced 5 (2%) Storytelling - Beginner 5 (2%) Animate (Class Skill) - Beginner 3 (10%)
I''m a fucking idiot. I had completely forgotten about Hunted Sense. I had become aware of a certain pressure after Jones mentioned we were being watched. I never attributed it to a skill rather I thought it came from the tension in the situation. Using it now I felt nothing. Wait. What are you up to Jones? I could feel small eyes on me. Nothing like being hunted but more like being targeted with annoyance. So he had realized I was awake. I shrugged it off for now and went back to my Character Sheet. I had 5 Stat Points left from leveling up from 23 and immediately placed them into ENL, which helped with my contructs. Because it gave Squad Points on a 1:1 ratio I gained 5 SQP and it added to my current points which was 2. The Tree Boa I had made out of rock sometime earlier took a whopping 108 points. Even then my Animate barely nudged in levels since I had already made... Jeff earlier. To only rise 2 levels in Beginner from such huge undertakings is unheard judging from all the data i''d gathered from the rest of my skills. Well, I guess that data is skewed since the only skill that I have that may match Animate''s complexity is Earth Magic which I already have copious amounts of experience in. Animate is different in the way I invoke the magic as well as the way I need to prep. One of the reasons I chose the Animator is the sheer amount of intricacies needed to be taken into account. The body of what you''re animating, it''s purpose, and orders. Each of these 3 things go into very much depth. What can I animate that can do what it needs to do using the least amount of resources? What ratio is more effective in a situation, quality or quantity? Can a simple humanoid handle the task or do we need more tactile and precise creations? The potential for this Class was endlessly attractive. Maybe Class Skills just raise slower? I got up, rolling over and putting my arms under me, my legs following them. I ran dirt across my face to wipe the dried tears, fortunately I was never dirty since I could just remove all the leftover sticking to me. The pressure eminating from Jones suddenly subsided when I rose, though it was barely noticable in the first place. I strolled over to a portion of flattened dirt, this being where I buried all the bodies. I popped one out and inspected it closely, I almost missed the approaching figure. Quickly I used some dirt to slap away a hand that was reaching for the things tongue. Not today fucker.
Inform Geckan ScoutsassinLevel - 48 HP: 0/821 (Dead) This variety of Geckan are ambush predators and more intelligent than the average Geckan. In addition they are equipped with small but sharp claws on their hands and feet. With their 6 foot limbs and long fingers and toes they are formiddable. Rather than the bright colors of normal Geckans the Scoutsassin is more darker to match the surroundings in which they operate, under their lair. You''ve noticed they share the same tendencies in their combat as normal Geckans, afraid to engage in close quarters. You presume that there many variations and you are correct, the Geckans found in the Geckan Battle Arena are the most basic.
When Inform reached Intermediate the new description allowed me to see their HP, get more in depth knowledge, and occasionally my conlcusions may be verified.
Inform - Intermediate (6%) Your inquisitive nature and problem solving attitude awards you with the inherent ability to know things. By focusing on an object or entity information is granted based upon the level of this skill. Learning new things and drawing conclusions will also develop this skill. The skill may even make connections you have not. Effects: +Basic knowledge and personal conclusions provided. +HP, more in depth knowledge, personal conclusions occasionally verified
"Well, let''s go." I plunged the Geckan deep within the earth, leaving its arm out and tongue submerged before giving JST a scathing glare. Shifting attention back to the Geckan I held up its arm and grabbed its long fingers, tracing my finger down I came across the claws and tested the sharpness. I applied small pressure and scarlet blood added to emerald green. Really I was just trying to answer my question from before, what color do my cheeks turn when I blush? It''s probably purple cheeks after seeing the scarlet red. My brothers shared a glance before Jones led the way, toward the Great Tree. After a while I filled them in on what I found. "Geckan Scoutsassins." I stated. "A different variety of Geckans, meaning there are most definitely more variations. The Great Tree is definitely our destination if we want to finish this quest, these type of Geckan operate only under their lair and the only thing above is that tree. Though I don''t need to say this, make sure to get up close to them they don''t like it." I finished the info dump. Though they didn''t react we were all in a state of high alert there was no plausible reason that they didn''t hear me. Keeping focus on my 6th sense or 7th depending on how you order them I used Inform on the Great Tree.
Inform Geckan Tree Lair (Great Tree) The Geckan Tree Lair is the home and breeding grounds of all Geckans. The Tree is hollowed out, though very much alive. 1400 meters high it approaches the height of a mile. At the top lies the throne of the Geckan Queen. Surrounded by guards and various Geckans the Queen handles all threats to the "Geckdom" as it translates. As of now left unchecked the Geckan may very well take the Uncharted for their own.
I relayed them the information in the same manner. We were closing in on the base of the tree but we were attacked by a much smaller group of Geckan Scoutsassins on the way. Finishing my third of the ambushers I watched as Jones weaved in and out of the flailing limbs of the Scoutsassin. He had been diminishing their numbers through the same tactic, getting inside their reach so they could apply no leverage into their swings, a classic technique in boxing. The 6 foot limbs made it easier to do this, comically so. Jones was facing the Geckan in open ground since the closer we got to the Great Tree the amount of smaller trees drastically decreased. I hypothesized it was a battle for nutrition, The Great Tree just sucked up all the nutrients leaving all others to die. Unfortunately this meant that Jones could only reach the waist of the monster and the legs, though it didn''t slow him down. I watched as Jones weaved through the legs and cut key tendons on the back of the calfs, the assassin scout fell on it''s knees and its spinal cord was severed. I changed focus to JST across the small clearing waiting for him to finish his last Geckan as well. He timed a block to catch the forearm of his opponent on the three prongs of his shield, he pulled the Geckan off balance and cut the arm off at the shoulder. A silent scream could be seen on the flying head of his opponent. "Put the fucking arm down. We''re too close to the Lair for this shit." Relunctantly JST threw down the detached limb. "Whatever bro." He said, dejectedly. "Next time can we let JST handle the extra, it''s harder for me out in the open." Jones informed us. "I could do it but still, he has like unliminited Stamina so.." He trailed off. "I''ll keep that in mind." JST said. We walked further out towards the base of the Lair and it really put things into perspective. The Tree spanned upwards and we were very close to the base, it''s height was astounding. Continuing onwards as we neared the base it''s thick gnarled roots came into my notice, visibly uprooting the earth around them. Further forward the tangling roots met each other and became even thicker singular roots, then those combined and so forth. When the leftover trees around gave barely any cover anymore we stopped. Surrounding us were smaller trees but nothing Jones couldn''t climb safely. Their leaves were thin and I doubted they would reach a size like the ones found a mile back but there trunks would do for climbing.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "I''ll see what I can see." With that he scrambled up the tree, barely a rustle in the thin leaves, he probably didn''t even really need to touch the leaves since he could stick to walls. Only through many thin layers and smaller trunks were we able to stay comfortably unseen, now however even the quantity of the trees dwindled rather than only their size and healthiness. A slight breeze could be felt through the trees, there weren''t many wind blocks around to stop it. "The roots come together at the base of the tree, I can''t really see the other side but there''s a section cut off because of two huge roots protruding from the bottom of the tree. You probably wouldn''t be able to see them but there are about five solidly colored Geckans guarding what seems to be a hole in between the roots." His voice carried on the wind. "Most likely, that''s our way in." He landed on his feet softly in the undergrowth. "Maybe the colors mean something?" JST added. "What were they?" "Same colors we''ve seen before but they were completely covered in them. Bright oranges, greens, reds and yellows." Jones answered. It wasn''t rare to see JST actually contribute when things got serious. "Either the colors mean something or the just the fact that they''re solid has significance. In any case keep an eye on them as we move in." I speculated. "Either way they''re probably higher up in the hierarchy, they''re defending an entrance after all." I grinned. We spent the next minutes making sure there weren''t any scouts between us and the section sealed off by the two huge brown roots. Jones had spotted some Scoutsassins as we approached a tad closer, they were up on the walls of the roots but not close enough to notice us, likely just more guards. I ran through a variety of situations that might''ve explained why the five Geckans weren''t stealthed. The most likely theory was that they didn''t feel they need to since all Geckans have already demonstrated that they could. Even though there were only two varieties I came across one of them was the most basic one and it could stealth as well, meaning it should be an inherent trait. That meant if these Geckans didn''t feel the need to stealth than they were very strong or very stupid. I already knew they were intelligent though. We watched and waited for more information. It had been 20 minutes and nothing. "I don''t like this. The solid ones aren''t even trying to hide." JST added, he was crouched beside me, we were taking cover behind a brown root looking up the incline towards the Geckans, they were far out but we hid on the off chance they might notice us. There would be limited earth in this area, only the small amounts found nestled between the roots. Still there wasn''t a shortage of roots around here. "Yeah man. I know. I don''t feel like walking around the fucking tree though so we''re doing this instead." I said. "Do you see him yet?" "No I was following him across the roots but I lost him when he-" His eyes stopped searching as he turned around. "What you got bro?" Jones was approaching us a few meters away, walking on roots. "Nothing really to say, five solids, maybe thirty or so stealthed on each side. Something felt off in the movements of the solid ones though." He shared his thoughts. "They seemed like they were making themselves less coordinated, something I wouldn''t have noticed normally." He described. "You think it''s a ploy to make themselves look weak?" JST asked. "Perhaps, but it could also be an effect of their variant. They have no reason to pretend to be weak when they''re in the heart of their territory. If they were really weak than they could''ve just stealthed, which they''re not doing." I conlcuded. Although that depended entirely on if they could. "Then it''s probably something we can ignore for now. In the end as long as we noticed it we can call upon the information if it becomes relevant." It''s easy to forget that we have an older brother. Of the three of us he was the best at adapting to new situations and taking things in stride. Jones nodded after a while and my head followed his. I told my brothers to stay still while I had dirt crawl over us all and cover us in a thin film and solidified it slightly. It''d be better if we blended in with our surroundings which just so happened to be dirt and roots, brown and brown. The way up the roots and towards the Geckans was very open so we decided to stick to the sides of the roots. After some conversation we settled upon Jones and I taking the left root and JST taking the right root, eventually we would meet at the base of the Tree near the solid Geckans. Jones would support my lack of awareness and I would shore up his lack of Stamina with my Mana. In contrast JST had all the tools he needed to go solo, spatial awareness and unlimited Stamina were the requirements for this particular mission and because of that we sent him alone. Before we departed I had collected small rocks using my magic and repaired the nicks on JST''s Rock Gladius and Rock Tri-Tipped Shield just in case we were seperated longer than planned. "They get thicker the closer you get." Jones voiced as we seperated. JST nodded and walked off. Some climbing over mangled roots later we came across our first scout, more accurately Jones did. I hadn''t even noticed it. I did notice that every time Jones sliced with his Sand Daggers a bit of sand scraped off. Discreetly after every fight I reatached the stray sand particles, can''t have them failing him last moment. I had no idea the effects this had on the timer on the weapons though, taking his weapons for inspection right now would be dangerous. My method of attack was much simpler, I just stuck with dirt spikes, lots of them. The only problem was I needed to wait until I actually saw them before I could strike and additionally I could only form dirt spikes from the surrounding dirt found in the roots. I wasn''t about to drag a giant mass of dirt around to use, that drained my Mana when I had tried it with sand earlier. Because I had my source of attack confined in between roots I just positoned myself between a gathering of dirt and the Geckan once it showed itself. When it lunged for me I erupted dirt spikes into it, if it dodged I made more spikes emerge from the original and so forth. This level of control was nothing to me. If they decided to stay away and shoot their tongues instead I either created a spike for them to impale their tongues one or threw large dirt balls into their mouths. It was amusingly effective, they choked on the dirt and tried to pull their tongue in, but it only shoves the ball further down their throat until eventually they suffocate. To me this was the appeal of magic, sure I could''ve threw dirt spikes into their legs or incapacitated them some other way but why would I waste the effort when I could shove dirt into their mouths? There is magic to everything, the correct angle in a swing, the perfect amount of force in a punch, the minsicule movement to duck beneath a blow, but many don''t realize the magic in magic. To use the least but do the most, that is magic. My thoughts were interrupted by a choking Geckan, not from my dirt but from its own blood. Jones wiped the blood onto his dirt suit before he slipped his daggers into some dirt sheathes I made him, positioned on his hips where he normally keeps his main weapons. I discreetly followed his daggers with some leftover sand I had gathered during the course of the battle. To our left was the wall of root that would lead us closer and closer to the solid Geckans, I still had yet to use Inform on them, they were out of sight once we started clinging to the left root. Occasionally Jones would use his spider powers to climb up the wall and peek over the wave of roots that seperated ourselves and our older brother. He glanced over and upwards to the Geckans positioned at the top of the incline. "Maybe 20% of the way there. What is that, seven now?" He asked. "Eight." We started climbing again. Almost 60% of the way there and ten dead Geckan Scoutsassins later we found a dozen or so grouped together. We had killed eighteen but that was in groups of two to four, one of them had been five, but twelve? We were atop a considerably higher root to the right of the wall we were hugging which we climbed after Jones had sensed the Geckans'' movement. The rolling tangles or roots still concealed our location to the higher ups. However the relatively huge root we were on, at least compared to all the smaller ones around us minus the gigantic one to our left, grew in a way that had captured a lot of dirt. It seemed the dozen Geckans were trading information because they weren''t stealthed, I don''t understand why they would leave stealth but I chalked it up to a cultural quirk. Nine or so were positioned close together while three were surrounding the perimeter at least according to Jones, they kept their stealth up. There was directly below our perch apparently. "Can we do it?" Jones was focused on the group of Geckans below, his hairs were swaying faintly. He had said the wind disturbed his Race Skill but it was irrelevant when there were so many moving bodies. "I could take three or five depending on how fast they react. Six if I time it right." He estimated. "You might only have to deal with three or four. Grab your daggers i''m gonna need a lot of dirt." He grabbed his Sand Daggers and I pulled the dirt off of both of us, his dirt sheathes as well. "Hold the root too." Soon after saying that I noticed the hairs on his forearms stick into the solid wood. I took the dirt underneath us and lifted it into the air. I had enough to form seven tightly packed spikes, the leftover dirt that was floating solidifed into smaller brown needles. I checked my Mana quickly, 45% and decreasing quickly. I made sure each was sharp, it was more difficult using dirt rather than sand. I split my focus and directed each two meter spike to its target, all were aimed for the heart, about midway of their upperarm but on the leftside of their chest, drawing on what I remember Jones targeting. 17% left and I launched all of them, the smaller needles I directed to the faces of the Geckans I felt would either survive or would not be recieving a bigger spike. Wind buffeted my hair and face as they flew. I raised myself onto the root using the small pillar of dirt I left alone to stand on, it joined me on the sturdy wood. I relaxed my control on the dirt pillar, leaving it inanimate at my feet while maintaining absolute control of the packed dirt I sent flying. Jones waited a few seconds before climbing up himself and jumping down from the view. His trajectory was aimed for the Geckan below us that wasn''t in my angle of attack. He would be the first to notice the carnage but my spikes arrived before Jones did. My dirt spikes impaled every Geckan on target with the wet parting of flesh, six of them fell like ragdolls, one seemed to survive even though I aimed exactly where I wanted it was brought to its knees by a sturdy root. It was an immediate death for most though and suddenly the leftover two Geckans that were conversing with the original nine shifted to a panicked clicking and chirping. Shortly after multiple needles found their spots on their faces. Their faces contorted into a certain expression which I had translated into fear after killing so many. I was so caught up with their facial expression that I almost missed the choking sounds below me, two Geckans were dead and one was currently in the process, Jones had been fast. Turning back to the conversing Geckans, their mouths were open in screams too high in frequency for me to catch, I hope they didn''t hear that up top. Thankfully Jones dagger found the throat of the first one. It''s screaming stopped in proportion to the blood the dirt soaked up, I could only tell the difference because the tension in its neck and mouth subsided. The surviving Geckan was about to engage Jones but a powerful click came from the Geckan that was now leaning on a gnarled root, a two meter dirt spike protruded from his back. The Geckan slowly stood up and with Jones nearby I could clearly see that this one bordered on thirteen feet. The smaller Geckan began to run up through the roots, engaging its stealth as well. Jones reacted quickly but not before a pink fleshy tongue filled the air where he would''ve been. The bigger Geckan had stopped Jones from pursuing the scout, he must''ve realized the importance of getting that information to his superiors. Jones shouldn''t have a problem fighting the Geckan since it had a two meter spike through its chest in the first place. I brought up the leftover dirt at my feet I thought I might end up needing it. I formed a spear out of it and tried to find the stealthed Geckan. It was no use, I couldn''t see and without my vison there was no way I could aim. I thought of a different approach. I could remember the speed in which he moved right before stealthing, I know the direction he was going, I could do this. I followed the trail I would''ve taken through the roots and aimed at a spot and waited. SHIT! I forgot those things could walk on walls! I was giving him a path for a human when I should''ve been estimating him one for a Geckan. I adjusted my aim as it had been five seconds and changed the location further upwards, still the fastest place into cover would be between a tangling of roots, I had already wasted too much time, I threw where I predicted he would be. My dirt spear flew straight where I wanted, a low whistling could be heard as it cut through the air, it stopped abruptly in the air and fell at an angle. I had aimed just at the entrance of the haven of roots I had identified, there slowly coalescing into existence was a Geckan, my spear had impaled the back of its stomach. It fell backwards and the front half of his body, which had been through the tangled gate came free and into my vision. It lay there in a pool of its blood. Looking back at Jones I could see him struggling with the bigger Geckan. Even with the dirt spike he managed to match Jones in speed, something that the normal Scoutsassins couldn''t. Jones was noticably tired but he didn''t have a dirt spike through his heart so eventually nature took its course and the Geckan fell to his knees. Jones approached quickly taking advantage of the weakness. I couldn''t really see Jones'' face from this distance so I couldn''t infer the reasons behind his actions but he ducked and pivoted right before the fatal strike, the Geckan''s significantly longer claws swiped the empty air in front him as Jones moved in and sliced his throat, his body fell to the side lifeless. He must''ve reasoned that this was no ordinary Geckan. He looked back at me and gave me a thumbs up and winning smile. I couldn''t jump down since I had no dirt so I had to take the long way slowly climbing backwards and walking around the mass of roots to Jones. "What is he?" He questioned. Nudging the dead Geckan.
Inform Geckan Scoutsassin Master - Level 56 The Scoutsassin Master is a deadly assassin that doesn''t rely on any one aspect of its skill. If anything its most used tool is its intelligence, crafty and deadly the only thing that can match its fierceness is its loyalty to the Geckan Queen. It managed the network of Scoutsassins surrounding the Geckan Tree Lair.
"Geckan Scoutsassin Master. Level fifty six." I told him. "I only realized it was different when it stood up, it had a whole foot on all the others. Man, I probably should''ve realized something was off when it survived the dirt spike though." I said scratching my head. "Yeah when it matched my speed I had to switch things up. I tried not to underestimate him even in his last moments." He had already personified the Geckan. "It''s just a gecko man." I said. "I know. I know." He said quiet once more. After covering us in dirt again and giving Jones his sheathes back we trekked up the roots once again. A good amount of the thirty minutes was spent in comfortable silence. We only met two Geckans on the way which went with Jones'' earlier numbers, about thirty or so in total on our side. We reached the edge of the flat clearing, which was just roots that happened to be flat. Five solid Geckans were milling around the center "It''s possible JST let runners slip by if he encountered as many as we did at once so stay alert." I warned. "It''s possible they know we''re coming." Jones eyes were scanning the other side of the clearing. "He''s there. I see him." Jones smiled. "He''s giving us a thumbs up." Chapter 13 - The Geckan Tree Lair ~Cobb POV~ I was admiring the majesty of their lair, looking up towards the canopy. Though it wasn''t quite dark out, the position of the sun was such that we were in the shade of the Great Tree. "He''s giving us a thumbs up." Jones said grinning. My attention snapped back to the situation at hand. Looking around the flat area where the Geckans were wandering about I realized there was a pathetic amount of dirt. If we wanted to get through here without taking any damage something has to change. Well I guess it''s time I reached for more magic. Whenever I played a VR that had multiple magics I liked to accumulate them over time, mastering one before moving to the next. In this case i''d consider Earth Magic mastered, my only grievance would be that I consider Animate a magic and I haven''t mastered it. Unfortunately this situation requires a new type of magic. Seeing as how i''m in the Uncharted, supposedly unexplored forest from the looks of it so far, I opted for a magic that would be the most effective in this predicament. A cycled through a variety of techniques before I felt something. I searched inward, I grasped outward, I felt for phantom senses, I reached for the abstract, I tested my emotions, I sensed for many things but ultimately it was as simple as lighting a candle. Following the same vein as Earth Magic it felt so....raw. I snapped my fingers.
New Skill: Fire Magic - Beginner 1 (0%) The element of Fire is the most unpredictable and destructive of the Elements. Many practitioners are scarred or maimed in their early years but when a Fire Mage reaches their apex, they are near unstoppable. The number of Fire Mages has been at a steady constant for years, unfortunately practitioners of Fire are prone to early deaths but that doesn''t stop young mages seeking power. Effects: +3% effectivenessof offensive magic
The flickering flame threw shadows across my grinning face. ~JST POV~ I wonder how many of their dicks I could rip off before they... My eyes darted to a flickering flame across the clearing. Up, left, half circle, on, off. He just learned the magic and he expects me to do that? Somehow I get the feeling I know exactly what he''s planning to do. I think Warrior Bond had something to do with it. Warrior Bond didn''t just generate from fighting together with my brothers. That isn''t what we were doing. What we were doing was something more. It''s one thing to work with a team, shoring up a weakness that the team has by using your own strength. But to trust a team is a different matter, shoring up the weakness of an individual rather than the team as a whole has a much stronger effect. Something like that requires absolute trust, to watch an enemy charge straight for you, to place all your trust in an ally, to not even flinch knowing that if you do, the enemy charging another teamate will break though. To show my brothers my most vulnerable areas so that they may be strengthened more than I ever could myself. That is what we were doing. I looked back towards my wall, against were two dead Geckan Scoutsassins. Not far from those two were a group of three, then two, then another three, and another, further back there was even a group of six. Looking at the clearing in front of me I counted five Geckans, two yellow, one green, one orange, one red. Instead of thinking about what the colors meant like my littles bros might I trusted them to think for me. They were better at it after all. No time like the present. Steeling myself I vaulted over the roots concealing me. I debated giving out a high pitched indian war cry but none of my hands were free so I couldn''t use them to get a better staccato. If not for the dirt layer I was wearing and the veil of shade from the Great Tree I might''ve been noticed earlier, way earlier if i gave the war cry. With swift feet I glided across the mass of tangled roots towards the first two Geckans, green and orange. Though I was expecting their speed, I was still met with a green and orange blur. It seemed that similar totheir color that their bones were more solid as well, taking a few moments I realized these two were indeed more muscular, their green and orange bodies had a clearly defined muscle tone. Ten or so feet of Geckan meant a lot of muscle and if we weren''t in the shade of their lair their scales would''ve caught the sunlight in brilliance. It was then I decided to name them by their colors and stop admiring their muscles. Green crouched low to match my height, but he didn''t underestimate me which I then returned. Orange darted around me but I kept them both at the front my shield taking no chances. Quickly as Orange darted forward I called his bluff and moved to strike Green, my gladius cut his left hand off, but I didn''t stop. I twirled into their guard using his momentary distraction, from there I launched a series of stabs and slices across Green. Not one to get distracted I caught the incoming forearm of a recovering Orange on my shield, but he was definitely stronger, we struggled for a few critical moments before I pulled my shield free. With the level of my STR stat and the fact its basically doubled because of Combat Savant I don''t think any other player would currently have their shield right now. These two motherfuckers were not to be trifled with. Any of the other two variety of Geckans wouldn''t have even tried that manuever. If Green wasn''t caught up with his missing hand I would''ve been done. I retreated backwards, circling them so that one would always block the other. I kept Green in front of me but Orange pushed Green behind him. Yeah that''s right your friend missing a hand motherfucker? Where''s your hand bitch? I would need every advantage I could get my hands on and if they''re intelligent that means they can get pissed off. I grinned and pointed to my hand smiling, flexing all the fingers so they could see, discreetly adjusting my grip on gladius in the process. It was hilarious. I could''ve imagined it but I think I could see them squint in anger. That is until I felt a sudden presence five or so meters from me. Quickly realizing the distance meant nothing at the speed these things moved I activated Hyperfocus and I ducked, fast. A whipping wind could be felt and it flattened my hair. As I straightened out I whipped out my sword and cut something solid, the presence swiftly left my Arena, the tip of my sword was dipped in scarlet blood. After circling each other initially my six o'' clock was towards my brothers now. I slowly retreated towards them to stall for time, I wouldn''t last with an invisible Geckan distracting me. Suddenly it was there again, it seemed to know I could sense it because it ran through my Arena and only flicked its long leg out in a sweeping motion, from a distance further than my sword could reach. I jumped backwards, clearing the limb, however I had to jump high and that meant hang time. Stuck unmoving in the air I kept Hyperfocus on realizing I was cornered, a battle at this speed capitalized on the smallest pauses. Green and Orange were already moving in and they wound up their arms. At this position I couldn''t do anything but block mid air. Trying to twist and angle my shield I took the punches and felt the impact verberate through my left arm. I soared backwards and planned to absorb the crash with a single roll but in the end I needed to roll more than once. It was painful rolling across tangled roots especially with a sword and shield but it''s something I had to pick up on and eventually master.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I took a deep breath as I rose slowly. I focused solely on my little bubble of the world. I centered my attention completely on The Arena.
The Arena - Beginner 10 (13%) The Gladiator fights for a bigger dream. Fighting in an Arena has granted an awareness of your surroundings. Effects: +10 meter radius
Ten meters, ten meters of perfect awareness. Two buff Geckans almost twice my height. Orange matched me in strength so we''re even there. The invisible one is the fastest and I dodged him earlier. Looks like the deciding factor is gonna be my skill or their numbers and tactics. They were slowly advancing and because of my Class Skill I could navigate the roots without looking, stepping backwards and eyes forward all the while. They were herding me to my brothers like a fucking sheep. I was tense for battle but I stuck to Cobb''s plan. I pretended to fall for their trap and backed towards my brothers but at an angle, veering off to the left of them. They were locked in combat with the two yellow Geckans. As it happened I was backing up into the two Yellows. Almost reaching the point where I would be completely trapped between them I did the unexpected and advanced on Orange and Green. Their rhythm was interrupted and they jerked to a stop. They obviously knew I wasn''t stupid if I fell for it that easily they would''ve suspected something. Gripping my gladius I ran forward and dropkicked Green, he blocked well negating most of the damage but that didn''t stop the force, he flew a good distance backward and did a good job of stopping my momentum. I propelled myself off his body and was able to reach face height with Orange. Midair I swung horizontally and carved a deep gash in his forearm, following it up with a quick diagonal, and a vertical slash as I descended. His right knee came up to meet my face but I stabbed his thigh with my gladius to hold on and blocked with my shield. As his leg lost its initial speed I held on before breaking its leg with an effort. It gave out a guttural clicking as it lost balance and fell. It earned my respect as it balanced on one knee and faced me with no fear. An offensive on his right side forced him to block and he lost his balance and fell over. I gifted him with a swift death, a slice to the neck as he fell, he was dead before he hit the ground. By this time Green had arrived and wasted no time, his punches were slower and more powerful than Orange. The speed he lacked was made up for in technique, most counters I formulated were redirected, deflected or avoided. If I hadn''t cut off one of his hands earlier I might''ve lost my shield a couple times. There were moments where a series of moves would position his hands near my shield, even though it seemed his most comfortable method of fighting he changed it to better adapt to his missing hand. However the problem was the difference in our reach. His arms and legs were long and even though I had a sword it couldn''t match the length of his limbs. I don''t know what he was planning but a few times an opening would present itself and as I was about to strike I could feel the invisible presence enroach upon my Arena. A split second decision and I passed up the opprotunity, dodging a flying hand, and ducking a kick. After a trade of blows I made distance between us, we had moved farther from the Yellows, who seemed as exhausted as Cobb and Jones did. Acting seemingly like an idiot I backed up into the Yellows feigning exhaustion and retreating from Green, who although missing a hand turned out to be a bigger problem than Orange. A loud click came from Green and I feigned shock as I turned around to meet to giant yellow geckos. I turned back to Green and gripped my gear tighter, it began to feel warm. I tried moving but I was feeling uncomfortably hot all three Geckans had me in the middle of their triangle. A loud whoosh and a second of unbearable, searing heat. That was what I felt before I opened my eyes and my world was a blazing inferno. I was in the middle of an expanding tornado of flame. Surrounding me in a triangle were the black remains of once coloful foes. A section of raging flames parted and my brothers walked through. "FUCKING CHRIST MAN THAT WAS FUCKING HOT." I yelled as I approached. "Lower your voice, fuck. My head hurts i''m at 10%." Cobb moaned, soft pain on his face. "I probably have enough for one more serious spell. Before I faint of course." "Well fuck." Jones said, looking at me intently. Enemies? Activating Hyperfocus, I walked forward before I could feel a presence slinking towards us. "Fuck that was really hot, if I didn''t have these scales man.." I trailed off. The presence approached behind Cobb and positioned itself to strike. As it was about to strike I felt four more enter my Arena rushing towards me and Jones. "COBB WE''RE SURROUNDED." I shouted. Ducking under the first one and slicing open its belly. The invisible enemies slowly appeared in the shade there were three solid black ones and the red one from earlier. I had assumed it got caught in the flame but apparently not. Immediately I was set upon and I had to work to dodge each attack, my swings barely nicked them. They were less skilled but their numbers made up for any lack of skill on their part, they seemed adept at covering for each other. Glancing over to Jones I caught sight of him over a dead Geckan materializing on the roots but his face was confused and he was looking towards my enemies. Focusing forward I wondered why they didn''t take advantage of my lack of attention. They were more obvious in their stance but I could tell they were ready to recieve my attacks rather than take advantage of their superior numbers and try to wear me out. What the fuck is going on? "They''re fake!" Cobb announced with confidence. "Watch!" A ball of flame launched into the roots off the clearing behind me. An explosion burst from the impact point and charred roots flew from the area. Almost instantaneously the Geckans in front me dissolved and the one Jones was standing over did as well. Come to think of it these ones never really touched me, I never even touched them except for small nicks which I would never have felt. It was an illusion? Right when I attributed the magic to the red Geckan in the middle it also dissolved. "The real one''s over here." Cobb said taking his time to walk past me, his face was pained. "I could feel his heat." He added. Jones followed behind him shortly after. Befuddled, I followed as well. In the pocket of burnt roots there was the real red Geckan, burned and scorched, it was alive but dying slowly, sputtering coughs came often. Jones was a strange one, at times he would be fine watching gruesome scenes such as this sometimes even dishing them out, othertimes he would be merciful as if he couldn''t stomach it. Without waiting any longer he ended its life. Apparently Red was keeping a secret because a part of the surrounding roots it was laying on slowly dispersed and revealed a short tunnel. "Wonder what he was hiding?" Cobb groaned, massaging his forehead. "I call dibs." Jones said as he dived in, the tunnel went straight down but it shouldn''t be a problem for him. I started feeling the pain of the battle as the adrenaline wore off, the patches of missing scales and revealed skin I had were burned by Cobb''s magic. I checked my top left peripheral, 80% Stamina and 75% Health, most likely from the punch and the burns. After acknowledging the fire resistance of my scales, and the slight weakness I felt from Overdrive I waited once more. The time ticked by and a few minute later Jones crawled out holding a book in his hands. "Sorry, I was reading." Jones grinned. "Reading? Reading what?" Cobb asked curious. "Bro you read that in a few minutes?" I pointed to the thick book. "What is it?" I asked skeptically. I could clearly feel three brothers which wouldn''t be a problem if I didn''t only have two. He held it up so that we could read the title. Cobb leaned forward, squinted and read slowly, still groggy from the lack of mana."Illusion Magic." "Illusion Magic." Jones confirmed grinning madly before poofing into purple dust along with the book. The real Jones was behind us somehow. "I''m still wondering which way I want my clones to poof out of existence." He tossed the real book to me. Cobb blinked and turned around still slow on the uptake. Catching it in my hands I felt the smooth spine and cover. Cobb came to his senses and peeked over my shoulder. The pictures on the book seemed to be moving and changing constantly like a mirage. Curious, I opened the first page.
Skillbook: Illusion Magic (Used) Illusion Magic is a Specialized Magic which can only be learned through special methods. Illusions are deceitful and underhanded, fake and tricky, dishonorable and disrespectful but most importantly illusions are beautiful. Effects: +Learn Illusion Magic
"A skillbook?" I raised my eyebrows. Chapter 14 - Inside ~Cobb POV~ Fuck my head... I looked over JST''s shoulder and noticed his burns, he didn''t seem particularly in pain so I ignored it. The mana loss is really fucking with me, the cover of the skillbook ismoving.Colors are flying all across the cover and oh my god my fucking head. I could feel throbbing aches pulse through my head. I didn''t dare reach for my magic, I might actually faint. The pain was a distraction, every thought brought on small spikes of pain that I could only barely endure. Looking at my status bars I was at 95% red, 50% yellow and 10% blue. My stamina was low from running around gathering dirt and using Hyperfocus, I had to cover for Jones, which in turn lowered my mana a good amount. I wanted to conserve my MP and wait for JST to herd them together like I signaled. As it was I ended up using too close to my limit, so much so that when I unleashed the controlled inferno I almost depleted all my mana. I didn''t even get to color it green like I wanted to, my focus was too fucked up. "This sucks so much ass." I moaned. "This has to be one of the heavier penalites for low mana I''ve experienced." Jones was peering at the lip of the root walls that enclosed us. My Hunted Sense informed of my various annoyed glares nothing close to hostile though. JST noticed him peering. "Yeah, lets head in." He said. We followedbehind Jones as he walked into the gap in the base of tree. As the sounds of battle faded along with the adrenaline the surroundings came alive. There were no trees to rival the Great Tree but still the sounds of animals could be heard from over the roots, buzzing flies assaulted us, they had become larger as we approached the lair. My brothers would kill them with deadly precision but with an effort of will I myself ignored them. There was eerie silence that was even louder than the sounds around us. You would think with this proximity to the Geckan Lair Tree Lairsomething would be heard. No, complete silence from the tree. We weren''t strangers to pain, experiencing it at length in real life through our sparring. It''s no surprise my brothers have no problems dealing with the physical damage dealt in the virtual world. But my brothers have never dabbled in magic, they are ignorant of the mental strain that comes with it. Mana has always been linked to the mind, in most VR games, Contavia for example, the lower your mana the harder it is to concentrate. Your mana is still there but being able to use it effectively becomes increasingly difficult. For Twoen to hit me with enough mental block to stagger me, it was impressive, it was painful, it was a challenge, and it made this world just a little more difficult. I smiled, exhaling my excitement, my black eyes are probably sparkling. It was something that the cycling pain couldn''t take off my face. I decided to look up my Character Sheet.
Class: Animator Name: Cobb Titles: Prey Turned Predator, The Green One
HP: 264/268 Lvl: 26 Effects: Race Jjerg: +10 INT, +5 END, +5 STR, +5 WIS, +10 MND Prey Turned Predator: +25 INT, +25 WIS, +20 AGI The Green One:+7 CHR, + Can color things under your magical control an emerald green Animator: +20 WIS each level
MP:30/321 SQP: 17/125
SP: 104/210
STR: 15 CHR: 17
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 208 AGI:20
WIS: 257 ENL:125
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) Hunted Sense - Intermediate 9 (50%) Inform - Advanced 1 (22%) Hyperfocus - Intermediate 10 (62%) Earth Magic - Advanced 6 (12%) Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%) Animate (Class Skill) - Beginner 4 (10%) Fire Magic - Advanced 2 (15%)
It didn''t escape my attention that the system removed my Unarmed Combat, likely from a lack of use. I demonstrated some skill in it so I was rewarded with the skill but sometime along the way I lost it since after that I barely used it. Of course the fact that I didn''t even think about it probably added to the judgement of the system. It wasn''t something I was gonna be using anyway. I leveled up twice and put points into my new stat Enliven or ENL. That bought up my available Squad Points up to 17. Yep, I was looking pretty good, Inform leveled up to Advance, Hyperfocus leveled up and Earth Magic leveled up. My Fire Magic jumped to Advanced 2. It was understandable since to the system I discovered the magic in about 10 minutes, I went from sparking a candle to a full on blazing fire tornado, add to that I formed the fire around my brother, a feat which required immense control on top of creating the tornado in the first place, and I did it while distracted with the penalty from the lack of mana. Yeah, I can see the reasoning behind the system.
Fire Magic - Advanced 2 (15%) The element of Fire is the most unpredictable and destructive of the Elements. Many practitioners are scarred or maimed in their early years but when a Fire Mage reaches their apex, they are near unstoppable. The number of Fire Mages has been at a steady constant for years, unfortunately practitioners of Fire are prone to early deaths but that doesn''t stop young mages seeking power. Effects: +66% effectivenessof offensive magic +24% effectiveness of utility based fire magic +Fire attributed creatures are friendlies by 10%
I read the bonuses and noticed the obvious similiarites to Earth Magic.
Earth Magic - Advanced 6 (60%) Your innate sense for the Earth has awarded you with ability to manipulate it. Earth magic is the most practical of elemental magics. Earth Mages are sought out often for the pure utility they bring to the table. Unlike the other elemental magics Earth is solid and with the ability to manipulate something solid comes the ability to create. +78% effectiveness of offensive magic +48% effectiveness of contructs of Earth +Earth attributed creatures are friendlier by 30%
A loud ding rang in my ear. A flashing prompt assaulted my peripheral. I tried to will it to appear mentally but the concentration required was the final straw, throbbing pain shot up my brain and I fainted after catching glimpses of blue.
NOTICE: Rock Tree Boa has gone too long without influence by its creator. As such the bond between Animation and Animator has been weakened. The magic inherent in the creature will soon fade. Time Remaining: 4:59
NOTICE: The God of the Uncharted and Untamed Beasts, Gyru has taken keen interest in your creature. The Rock Tree Boa hunting techniques, camoflauge, cunning and intelligence had brought it the attention of the presiding diety. The Rock Tree Boa continued to earn favor through the various killings of Geckans who upset the balance of the Uncharted, 167 confirmed killings in the span of barely half a day. Through divine intervention and Gyru''s power over Untamed Beasts, Rock Tree Boa has been gifted life once again, free to roam the Uncharted. Your Squad Points have been returned as Rock Tree Boa is no longer connected to you. Effects: +Gyru notices you
~LoneJones~ "He fucking fainted!" JST called from behind me. "Dang the headache must suck." I sympathized. "Yeah, I should''ve told him my trick to deal with headaches." JST said hoisting a limp emerald body over his shoulder. "And whats that?" I asked turning around. I had stopped at the entrance of the tunnel made by the roots, my hairs were still. "To fucking suck it up." JST said as he passed me. His figure dissapeared for a while before the roots on the floor started to glow faintly under his feet. It was dim but the purple glow lit up the tunnel enough for us to see, even though we both didn''t need it. Motes of dust drifted in the tunnel, disturbed by our movement and visible through the glow of the roots.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. We walked for a long time through the tunnel before I had to move ahead and empty a room, flashing prompts distracted me but I had to find a safe area before checking, it would be dangerous if I wasn''t paying attention while Cobb was unconcious. A change in air caught my attention and I signaled a halt. Using my septules I stuck to the wall of the tunnel we were in, climbed to the ceiling and entered the next room crawling on the roots above and out of sight. Thankfully the roots on the ceiling didn''t have the same effect on the ones on the floor. I paused on the ceiling, I was sticking to it with all fours, my hairs helped me track dimly lit Geckans below but that was the least of my problems. Something was up here with me. With my increased Perception, I was about to move before I felt something breathing, I could hear it clearly if I completely focused on my hearing, I stayed still for what seemed an eternity, something I had done many times before. With a soft breath it moved, crawling lightly on the roots I followed the displacement of the air, it positioned itself above one of the two Geckans. At that point I realized what it was. We dropped together with a silent screech, barely perceptible but there nonetheless. It dropped on the first silently, sank its twin daggers in the mottled colors of a Scoutsassin, and tied it up as it fell, gently laying it down so as not to make noise. Not one to be outdone, I had the strange urge to show off, yet the uncanny instinct to keep the Geckan alive. Activating Hyperfocus I dropped and time slowed down, the creature from earlier had taken out its daggers and watched me as it finished tying up the Geckan, I took this all in as I fell, at the same time I felt JST still in the tunnel to the side waiting for me to finish. Turning back to my prey I slowed my descent by carving a gash into its side, before a sound could be made I twisted my body nimbly as my dagger caught on bone and kicked it in the throat, before a move could be made I quickly swung up and wrapped my legs around its neck. With a jerk I broke its spinal cord, pushed off with my legs, backflipping onto my feet, and nine feet of Geckan fell over paralyzed,. The dim purple glow of the roots on the floor caught its body, and it lay there wide eyed and breathing heavily. I watched the creature from the ceiling approach, sink its twin daggers into the neck and wrap up the body with its white rope. I watched its movements in slow motion, they were precise and practiced, something done a million times and i admired its task. With two white cocoons I looked into eight blinking eyes, it turned and crawled up the ceiling dragging up two bodies against the wall, its six free legs skittering upwards. The creature left the soft glow of the floor and I was left amid distrubed dust and purple loneliness. It would leave us alone. I trilled the trill of a bird from another world. Heavy but silent footsteps were followed with purple light and JST came into view. He walked through and his movements activated the roots, the dim light was thrown across the walls and it caught my gaze, sprawling roots grew on top of each other, pockets of shadow where light never reached were nestled between them, they twisted and crawled over each other creating this cave. The motes of floating dust added to the ambience, it seemed devoid of life, still and beautiful but proof to the contrary lay in the shadows above. "We''re safe here." I said. "Let''s wait for Cobb to wake up." I stood there alone in the middle of the chamber. "And where the fuck are the bodies?" JST asked suspiciously. "I don''t feel anything and you''re literally just standing there alone glowing purple." "Oh, oops. Yeah, I made friends with a giant spider up there." I pointed up. "He''s probably eating them right now." I explained. JST''s face was deadpan. "Oook..." He breathed. "Fucking creep." He muttered, forgetting that I have super hearing right now. I ignored it, walking around I realized the glowing roots were slightly bouncy so I found a big one that was trying to crawl up against the wall and sat down, leaning against it. It was comfortable. Admiring the slow floating dust and purple glow of the cave I brought up my Character Sheet.
Class: - Name: LoneJones Title: The Fast One
HP: 209/209 Lvl: 26 Effects: Race Sperid: +30 AGI, +10 PER The Fast One: +50 AGI
MP: 35/51
SP: 160/235
STR: 10 CHR: 10
END: 45 AGI: 140
INT: 10 PER:75
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Sensitive Hairs (Race Skill) - Advanced 1 (6%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 1 (4%) Unarmed Combat - Advanced 1 (1%) Evasion - Advanced 3 (2%) Dagger Mastery - Beginner 10 (17%) Illusion Magic - Beginner 2 (0%)
It seemed that the illusion I made of myself took a good percentage of my MP. I leveled up twice so I split up the 10 points between END and PER, I had felt the drain on my reserves hanging upside down from the ceiling, but the fact that I couldn''t sense my friend from earlier spooked me.
Illusion Magic - Beginner 2 (0%) Illusion Magic is a Specialized Magic which can only be learned through special methods. Illusions are deceitful and underhanded, fake and tricky, dishonorable and disrespectful but most importantly illusions are beautiful. The magic itself is as wild and unpredictable as Fire Magic, but it is as fickle and difficult to grasp as Light Magic or Dark Magic, Illusionists are known to occasionally go insane and become lost in their illusions. Effects: +6% duration of illusions left alone
After using the skill book the basics of Illusion Magic flooded into my mind, naturally my first thought earlier was to play a prank on my brothers. The skill was amazing. It was perfect, with this the normal assassinations and whatnot wouldn''t be as boring. It also happened to be my fifth and final skill needed to get my class. I ignored that last part.
Class Notice! You have met the requirements to choose your Class! Significant actions and constant battle has given us enough data to suggest you your Classes! The minimum of five skills has just been met! Available Classes: Assassin Illusionist Explorer Ninja Guerilla Hunter
Assassin In the dead of night, when the silence is the loudest the Assassin strikes. When a stray shadow catches your attention and you sigh relief as a cat scurries by the Assassin is there to catch your breath. The Assassin lives in the gap of your vision where you never look. Your tendency for swift kills and single target eliminations align with the spirit of the Assassin. Effects: +10 LUK per level +10 AGI per level +Class Skill: Assassinate
Illusionist A rock could just as well be a Leviathan when an Illusionist is present. Masters of the fake the Illusionist could just as well be the Warrior beside you or the Archer in front of you, most likely however he is the tree behind you. The Illusionist is a passive Class that manipulates his foes rather than taking direct actions, waiting for the prime moment to strike. Your knowledge of the Unique Magic and ability to stay out of the enemies attention work in tandem with this Class''s playstyle. Effects: +10 INT per level +10 WIS per level +Class Effect: Upper Tiers of Illusion Magic unlocked +Skill: Illusion Magic
Explorer The Explorer travels the world, fearless and adventerous. Often alone he discovers Ancient Ruins, Monster Lairs, and Landmarks, drawing up Maps to sell for profit. Occasionally Explorers are granted Unique Quests due to the magnificent locations they end up finding themselves in. Your tendency to scout ahead into the unknown alone, paving the way for your team line up with the Explorer. Effects: +40 END per level +Class Skill: Navigate +Class Skill: Internal Map
Ninja The Ninja is agile, nimble and fast. Efficient and deadly the Ninja requires a subtle hand to guide his blades. The Ninja is most comfortable on walls and ceilings remaining unseen to the naked eye. Four of five skills plus your Race Skill as a Sperid work together to strengthen the way of the Ninja, making this Class well suited to your playstyle. Effects: +35 AGI per level +Class Skill: Ninjistu
Guerilla Adept at fighting against larger forces the Guerilla excels as the underdog. Distractions, disabling, scare tactics, mind games, crippling blows, all fall within the tactics and methods of the Guerilla. Constant combat with stronger forces, unique solutions and quick precise executions of irregular plans align yourself with this Class. A Guerilla is weak, but because he acknowledges his weakness he is strong. Taking advantage of the weaknesses of the enemy is child''s play, creating those weaknesses yourself is another matter. All of your Skills work towards the goal of the Guerilla, your playstyle fits the spirit of the Guerilla, thus this Class is highly recommended. Effects: +10 INT per level +10 AGI per level +Class Skill: Examine Enemy
Hunter The Hunter tracks down and kills for either money or glory. They often become bounty hunters for evil players or dangerous monsters, some even hunt other Hunters. They are often very strong but they are very few and most die out early in their career. If you meet a living Hunter beware as he is most likely very dangerous. This Class has stemmed from your efficient deductions and ability to root out various weaknesses in your opponents. In addition the "Absolutely Insanse" Challenge Start is attempted only by the mentally impaired, the immensely strong or both. Such is the way of the Hunter. Effects: +15 STR per level +15 END per level +Class Skill: The Hunt
Well I crossed off Assassin and Explorer, one was boring and the other just wasn''t me. Though Illusionist seemed really cool especially since I would be able to unlock a higher Tier of Illusion Magic I just didn''t see myself attaining that level of mastery. The kind of planning and manipulation that the Class mentions was something up Cobb''s alley anyway. I crossed that one off too. A Ninja seemed so boring, every little kid wants to be a Ninja, I feel like I''d be obligated to act like one, and I really didn''t want to so I passed that up too. It was too cliche. I chose Guerilla, it was the most highly recommended and I trusted the system. Irregular methods of attack appealed to me, it kept things interesting, the underdog mentality is something i''ve lived my whole life with competing with my brothers, the Class resonated with me. With them I have had to invent new ways to compete. I know my weaknesses and because of that I know my strengths.
You have chosen the Guerilla as your Class! As a Guerilla you gain: +10 INT per level +10 AGI per level +Class Skill: Examine Enemy
New Class Skill: Examine Enemy - Beginner 1 (0%) Facing stronger foes you have learned to watch for their weaknesses and strengths. The enemy of the Guerilla must be ready to face every method of attack conceivable. This skill allows you to know the weakness of your enemy so that you may capitalize on it and their strengths so that you may avoid them. Effects: +Small or obvious weaknesses are revealed.
My stats increased, applying the Class stat gains to every level after 15.
Class: Guerilla Name: LoneJones Title: The Fast One
HP: 209/209 Lvl: 26 Effects: Race Sperid: +30 AGI, +10 PER The Fast One: +50 AGI Guerilla:+10 INT per level, +10 AGI per level
MP: 39/251
SP: 187/235
STR: 10 CHR: 10
END: 45 AGI: 250
INT: 120 PER:75
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Sensitive Hairs (Race Skill) - Advanced 1 (6%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 1 (4%) Unarmed Combat - Advanced 1 (1%) Evasion - Advanced 3 (2%) Dagger Mastery - Beginner 10 (17%) Illusion Magic - Beginner 2 (0%) Examine Enemy - Beginner 1 (0%)
With that I waited for Cobb to wake up. Chapter 15 - Ascent ~Cobb POV~ I knew I regained consciousness when I realized my eyes were closed. The flashing blue didn''t help with my fading headache. I stared upwards into the darkness of wherever I was awknowledging the notifications. My awakening was not unnoticed by my brothers.
NOTICE: Rock Tree Boa has gone too long without influence by its creator. As such the bond between Animation and Animator has been weakened. The magic inherent in the creature will soon fade. Time Remaining: 0:00
NOTICE: The God of the Uncharted and Untamed Beasts, Gyru has taken keen interest in your creature. The Rock Tree Boa hunting techniques, camoflauge, cunning and intelligence had brought it the attention of the presiding diety. The Rock Tree Boa continued to earn favor through the various killings of Geckans who upset the balance of the Uncharted, 167 confirmed killings in the span of barely half a day. Through divine intervention and Gyru''s power over Untamed Beasts, Rock Tree Boa has been gifted life once again, free to roam the Uncharted. Your Squad Points have been returned as Rock Tree Boa is no longer connected to you. Effects: +Gyru notices you
I was wondering when the Rock Tree Boa might be freed of my tether. Apparently Gyru has taken control of my creation? Or rather gave it control of itself? In any case this helps take down more Geckans which serves our purpose here. The thing that surprised me was the existence of Gods. Not many games implement them since actually giving them power over the game limits the powers of the company running the whole thing. Still there are other times Gods are implemented but are severely limited or static. The fun games usually have Gods or Godesses that have their own motives, which make for interesting happenings. One of the times that stuck out the most to me was when a God had wanted to destroy the world and because of the very real possibilty that Yot, God of Absolute Destruction, could do it the game had to be temporarily shut down. I have no fucking idea why you would give a God that title and free reign over the system. Still it got publicity and in the greater scope of things that means more players, more profit, more fun. "Gyru, God of the Uncharted and Untamed Beasts." I muttered, reflexively squinting at the blue screen though the light had no effect on my eyes. "Looks like i''ve attracted the notice of a God boys." "Ahhh shit. Hope he''s cool. You don''t want a weird one on your back all the time." JST said, seemingly stressed. "Remember Yoyo?" "All that stuff you did to his shrine, you pissed him off too much." Jones said, facepalming. "Then he tried to destroy everything. Everything." He stressed. "Cut it out, let''s get moving. That shit, leave it in Overworld." I resumed thinking. "Gyru took my snake so I got all my points to animate stuff, all one hundred and twenty five of them." I said eagerly. "Yeah, now you just need something to animate." Jones said sassily. "Good thing you have all these roots to work with!" He sassed me some more. "I don''t need your sass right now Jones." I said shutting him up. I could feel eyes up above using Hunted Sense but they were seemingly holding back so I ignored them. There was nothing around except the gnarled empty room of roots, the feint purple veins, and us. After my second scan of the room I gestured Jones to the other opening in the roots indicating the advance. He moved swiftly past me entering the break in the roots. JST was glaring at the roots up above untrustingly so I guessed that he had noticed it too. Normally if they spent the time that they did in that room everything in there would have been considered safe or not hostile or of any concern so I kept trekking through the roots ignoring it unless my brothers brought it up. The journey was uneventful but I had the feeling we were definitely ascending. Underfoot the roots had smoothed out. The air remained stale and musty, like opening a door into an old study in an abandoned castle. My nose wrinkled at the transition, it seemed the further inward we get the more abandoned it seems. Only one or two Geckans were found and dispatched by Jones as we moved deeper. JST was at my back and tense, very tense. To my knowledge he didn''t have a skill that gave him any information outside of his Arena. We had already exchanged our capabilities sometime earlier. What this meant for us was that my older brother''s gut was kicking in, nothing but the raw animal instinct of a human unaided by the system, perhaps it was impulsive nature but he was always the most in tune with his instinct. Normally in a videogame it would be obvious when something was about to happen, a bloody smear on the wall, an empty cavernous throneroom, a suspiciously inconspicuous chest, an innocent child playing in a dangerous forest unharmed, anything like that would trip a normal gamer''s senses and send alarm bells ringing. However as videogames advanced they became more real, instanced events like that became less obvious, there were more distractions and your attention became easily stolen as the gaming industry progressed. What was left of this previous intuition was a subconcious gut feeling that something was gonna go down. Not everyone had it. But my older brother? He was one of them. "Eyes open." JST whispered, breaking the silence even I was unaware of. "We''re trapped." Even at a whisper I had noticed that his voice echoed. Unknowingly we had walked into an clear open space, something not ideal for three people. Only now that the small detail of his echoing voice came to my attention did I realize I had been following Jones not with my eyes but with my magic. The amount of glowing purple roots had died down and unwittingly we had all switched to some other means of vision, for me my magic, for Jones his hairs, and JST his Arena. We were so used to the absolute silence that we had grown accustomed to listening for the smallest sounds. We made none so that we could hopefully hear our enemies. It never even occured to me that we had walked into a trap, we were being led into an open clearing fit for a massacre. Ever so slowly our senses had been deprived until we walked ourselves into the trap. "How do they even get this good at this shit." I cursed. "Back to back boys. We''re in for a party." I said as they moved to cover me. "We''ve got a ten meter cushion." JST referred to his Arena. His back was to me and to our sides was Jones. "There''s something out there." Jones breathed. I would''ve heard the unsheathing of daggers if they weren''t sandstone and in dirt sheathes. He crouched low. And then lower. "Something big." Jones normally held the spot in the middle since he was best at weaving in between us, through years of competing he had our movements down. This helped at times like these but when i''m against the fucker it sucks. JST had my back and I had his but it was impossible to make a perfect formation without knowledge on the enemy, this simply was the best bet. Generally our formation didn''t need any change unless it was towards a specific enemy or situation. We held formation and kept the silence around us. We peered into the darkness we thought was a wall only moments earlier. "Move, move, move!" Jones yelled at the top of his lungs, breaking the lull. Instantly I activated Hyperfocus. Everything slowed down to a crawl, that is to say the giant pincers chomped slowly down onto where we were. It shattered the roots sending splinters across my face. My left leg had barely cleared the area and I felt wood imbed itself into my leg. "Light it up Cobb! I can''t see shit!" A voice called. I threw green fire into the darkness from where the pincers retracted. Green fire lit up an enormous bug the twice the size of a school bus. It hissed and clicked as blazing fire surrounded its shell, it seemed to get angrier. It''s various legs were frantically working to move its body forward. Again I threw bright condensed flame, not bothering to color it. A fireball exploded against its carapace, blasting a few legs off, I felt the searing heat press against my skin. Blown up limbs flew across the chamber we were in and they landed off to the side, I saw something there before the light faded away. "We''re in a chamber! That motherfucker has been waiting for us this whole time!" JST yelled taking his position in front of me. "Where''s Jones?" My voice naturally raised with all the commotion. But there was no time for an answer. Again there was no sound but JST rammed me off to the side, before using my body to stop his momentum and roll backwards. Giant pincers once again dug into the roots before clamping together where we once were, leaving a huge gash in the already gnarled roots. "Keep it lit up or we''re already dead!" JST said. "It''s too fast for me to react like that everytime!" His sword aimed for the joints, chopping off limbs one section at a time. I kept blasting it with fire, just enough so that my mana stayed constant, yet not too little that I didn''t do any damage. The result was a slightly lowering of my mana, still the creature kept hissing at my fire. I didn''t know the effect on the creature but I kept alternating colors to fuck with the thing. It probably doesn''t like light since its waiting in the dark like a bitch. "I think my sword''s getting dull!" JST yelled back to me. He says that as his sword whips out and hacks a leg clean off. "Really now? You''re fine keep it going!" I threw more fire. The bugs hissing had stopped after the last fireball and I wondered if it finally died. It wasn''t dead but it didn''t seem to care anymore, recklessly charging through my fire and hunting down JST. His strategy was a series of backwards rolls, forward dives and quick, enormously powerful sword strokes. "It''s not slowing down!" JST yelled, chopping off another limb. "It''s getting desperate keep going!" I said after throwing another fireball. It completely ignored this one, in fact it seemed that it didn''t even notice it. JST repeated his strategy, always keeping it fresh, yet a pincer strike flipped him legs over head, luckily he landed upright and kept moving, not a stranger to life or death situations.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "It''s getting stronger!" JST called to me. "It''s faster too!" I threw some fireballs at varying speeds to light up the room. I took the brief slow motion moment to inspect the creature.
Inform: Adapter Bug - Level 72 10,504/13,745 HP Extremely frail physically, mentally and spiritually early in its life Adapter Bugs almost never pass through their infantile stage. When an Adapter Bug reaches adulthood it almost never dies, their bodies work to counteract every possible method of their death including aging. Enviromental dangers are easily the most adapted to as long as they are not too drastic. Most Adapter Bugs however die of something painfully simple like falling off a branch. Exposure to physical, mental and magical attacks that do not kill the Adapter Bug only contribute to its growing natural defenses. Their size is their only constant change, they grow larger the older they are. Generally a large Adapter Bug is classified as a larger threat than a smaller one as it has had more time to adapt. Never approach an adult Adapter Bug without a surefire method to kill it instantly.
"Fuck dude! Adapter Bug, basically learns resistances for everything!" I raised my voice over the chittering. "We''ve been teaching it for the past ten minutes!" "What the fuck? I''ve been, thinking, shit, fuck, my, sword, was, dull." He said punctuating words between hacks. "The fucker is just getting harder." He finished cutting another leg off. "Stop cutting its-" I began. The bug whipped its tail end, even in slow motion it was fast, and sent JST flying into the other end of the chamber. "Where the fuck is Jones." I whispered, chasing the bug down with my limp. I needed to distract it while JST recuperated. I concentrated on what I wanted. I created fire, small balls the size of my fist, mentally I shaped them into drills and begun to spin them. I sent them one at a time at the head of the bug, it shrieked in pain as the first one drilled an inch or two deep into its carapace. It shifted and the second one met only centimeters from the first impact. It reared its head and pincers to look at me, I couldn''t find its eyes, which explained why Hunted Sense didn''t work, so I kept aiming for the middle of its head as it charged me head on. Pained shrieks came from the bug, it had already built up a resistance as the rest of my fire drills failed completely. The last fire drill rammed into the middle of its head, another one followed and five more joined the first. The amount of force pushed its head up and backwards but the drills didn''t penetrate all the way through, they burrowed two inches in, the same as what one drill would''ve done earlier. Before the last drill lost its power I caught the flickering silhouette of JST in the air, he had leaped onto the back of the bug and bashed its skull in, the carapace dented but the bug shrugged him off and retreated into the darkness. A different hissing could be heard in the dark. "What the fuck is this. How''s your mana?" He said as he ran over to me. "I''m down to 20% and I feel the headache coming on." I groaned a bit. "How are you on stamina?" "50%" JST answered. We waited for everything to regenerate and spotted light from above. There was a small opening above and from the looks of it we were in the center of the tree. I''m guessing were in part of the trunk that transitioned into branches and we were looking through a crack between branches. Up above I could see the canopy clearly, we had ascended quite a bit. The gentle light of dawn bathed the middle of the clearing and I could see the missing scales on JST. Dark bruising could be seen on the revealed skin and many of his present scales were discolored. On his leg which I recall one of the Adapter Bug''s pincers had flipped him there was a giant gash horizontal across his calf, there were no scales surrounding it. "Health?" I asked worried. "30%" Came the response. "We''re dodging backwards." Right as he finished pincers shot out from the darkness. They came horizontally, cutting off a dodge to the left or the right. Trusting my older brothers instincts I had rolled backwards whilst flinging a fireball to the things face, if nothing more than to light up its vision. The dent in its head remained but from the description of the bugs abilities i''m not so sure it would stay, already I see new nubs growing out of the bottom of the thing. I dodged back again, using the fireball this time to propel me back faster as well as keep light on the bug. The headache came on but I had to stall for time while I thought of a new way to take this fucker out. "Lead him backwards." A soft voice from above commanded. I sighed. "You heard him." I couldn''t think with this headache pounding my head. JST twirled beneath the horizontal pincers, spinning low like a descending tornado he cut under the things chin which really pissed it off, I could see slivers of meat slice off from under the chin it apparently had either no carapace there or a weaker version of it. It began to chase JST and without JST actually having to return blows he successfullly lead the Adapter Bug past the pocket of light and behind us. He was lost in the darkness and I had no means of vision into the darkness like my brothers. A minute passed before Jones fell from the ceiling above me and landed beside me. "Hurry up let''s go." He said running forward. I followed his heat signature, something the bug did not have, which thinking on it probably came from a defense mechanism to impede predators that hunt that way. When we arrived, what I came across was a gigantic mound of white silk, surrounding the Adapter Bug. It was completely trapped in silk, I wondered what possible way it could adapt to this, this doesn''t really classify as an attack but it could still lead to its death so does it adapt to it or not? I shrugged that off and turned my attention to the spiders that were surrounding it. "What is this? Jones?" JST was a bit further from the cocoon. "These are the friends I made in the tunnels." Jones explained. "This was their home." Curious I illuminated the area where I saw something earlier. A single bright flame made its way to the far side of the chamber. It revealed empty dried up egg sacs. A generation of spiders that never saw life. Seeing this the spiders became riled up. Their hackles were raising and they started to screech, only then did I notice there were some on the ceiling as well. They didn''t have any heat signatures either, although I didn''t see any particular reason why they wouldn''t. Jones worked to calm them down, his septules raised as well but he didn''t seem aware of it. "That makes sense, I wouldn''t have been able to sense them at all during the walk. The ceiling was too high for JST to get them with Arena and on top of that the glowing purple roots only ever appear on the floor." I thought out loud. "Friends? You can''t make friends with a fucking spider." JST muttered in the corner. He wasn''t even trying to hide it. "I had used my Class Skill Examine Enemy and the only hint I got was to trap it. At first glance, yes I could''ve helped but I would''ve long exhausted my stamina. So I went back to ask for help, as a Sperid apparently I have some type of communication with these spiders." He explained. "Alright let''s kill the thing." JST said walking over to the beast. "No." Jones and I both said together. "Are you crazy? I actually feel naked now!" He yelled pointing to his bare skin. "The conditions for the quest say to win the spiders home and give them the beast." Jones grinned. "You guys should''ve got it too." With that I glanced at my notification bar and realized I did indeed have a quest.
Unique Quest: Take back the Spider Den An Adapter Bug has taken refuge in the Spider Den. The Spiders of the Geckan Tree Lair ask for your aid in their revenge. They ask only for the body of their murderer, alive. Success Conditions: +Deliver the Adapter Bug incapacitated. Fail Conditions: +Kill the Adapter Bug +Die Rewards: +Can communicate with Spiders +Relations with all Spiders increased.
Completed - Unique Quest: Take back the Spider Den Rewards: +Can communicate with Spiders +Relations with all Spiders increased.
Suddenly the room came alive with voices. "Who are they?" A voice from above. "Ssstaa why do they help us?" A smaller one said. "I do not know young one. Hush." A bigger spider responded. "Enough, quiet." A powerful voice boomed, but then gave way to a smaller spider. Silence once again took over the chamber, actually this is how it sounded before I completed the quest. I wonder how loud the tunnels would have been if I understood spider-talk then. "I am Sraa thank you for returning to us our Den." A spider in front of Jones addressed him. It looked like a normal spider albeit bigger, but I vaguely recognized what some of its gestures meant. "It was not just me but my brothers as well who helped defeat the invader." Jones gestured to us. "Ahh your brood had come together to save ours, thank you young Jjerg, young Druman, young Sperid." He replied, a smile in his voice. It warmed my heart for a split second before I realized it was an ugly spider. I shook my head of those thoughts, I try not to be racist. "As the Spiders of the Uncharted I can send word through the Web, your deeds will be known to all other Spiders." He finished. "We had assumed our webs would be shrugged off just like our venom had in the past, we had never really attempted to trap it so solidly." The spider seemed grateful believe it or not. I didn''t even know how I knew that. Sraa stayed by us while he ordered his brood to start rebuilding the Den. With that they moved slowly over to the destroyed egg sacs, with hesitance and pain they began clearing the area. Soon white webs began to fill the chamber. They dragged the Adapter Bug around with them as well, I really had no idea what they planned to do with it. They tethered ten or so spiders just to pull it around. It was nice seeing things like this, always there are parts of the game running where conflicts are never resolved, to find one of these and fix them? It was always one of my favorite things to do in the games. "Why did you want to save it?" Jones asked me. "Huh?" I returned to my thoughts. "The bug, why did you want to save it?" He clarified. "I am curious as well Jjerg. Even I know not what to do with it, only that I want its crimes repaid." Sraa added. By now I had been accustomed to the talking spider. "It''s a cool bug." I said simply. "A "cool" bug?" Sraa asked. "How do I put it? It begins as the underdog and lives its life only reacting to what the world throws at it. Despite that it triumphs, becoming a better version of itself over and over again. Of course this doesn''t change the fact that it is still a monster, but evil, I don''t think so. Programmed with the instinct to survive, yes. In the end it is a beast, a powerful one, one capable of breaking its own limits time and time again. So yes I wanted it to live, if only to see where it may go. Other may see an untamed beast but on the other side of the same coin there is beauty in its ferocity, a passion in its struggle for survival, in many ways they are like us, just trying to survive." I elaborated. The talking spider was silent. The humanoid spider boy was also silent. They both looked to the Adapter Bug. My notifications were flashing so I called them up as I let the spider and spider person ponder what I said.
Storytelling - Intermediate 10 (10%) Storytelling is used to captivate an audience, it is an art that though may seem mundane, not many people perfect. You have taken steps into the world of entertainment and have succeeded in eliciting from your audience what many people fail to, emotion. Effects: +16% more emotion from the audience +Stories are 10% more compelling
Normally I don''t check the prompts for leveling up skills but I wanted to see how much that little tidbit helped me out.
NOTICE: Your story has captivated not only your friends but also a God. Gyru the presiding deity of the Uncharted has resonated with your story Effects: +Gyru approves
Welp. Wasn''t expecting this. I didn''t know that my stories could even affect a God. It wasn''t even really a story, more like a heartfelt sympathy for the bug. I understand that Gyru loves his beasts and what not even going so far as to adopt my Rock Tree Boa but the point of this whole excursion wasn''t to fight an Adapter Bug and help some spiders get back their den. The whole point of this trip was to kill the Geckan leader. It had come to my attention that there have been a very small amount of Geckans so far and I had no idea why but I think I knew an eight legged individual who might. "Sraa. Where are the Geckans?" I asked. Breaking him out of his reverie. Chapter 16 - Canopy ~JST POV~ God these spiders are annoying. If i had a bigger sword I might''ve been tempted to kill them all. Well maybe i''d let one live actually since Jones seems to like them, without its legs of course. Even after gaining the ability to communicate with them half of the time they talk they''re chittering. It''s fucking pointless since it would translate if it meant anything. Right now Sraa is just giving off a rhythmic chittering, maybe it means he''s thinking but I would really rather kill him. After a while he finally answered. "They are above, in the canopy as they have always been." The small spider responded. Why the fuck did that answer take so long. "Then that''s where we''re headed." Cobb declared. "After a while at least my mana needs to recover and so does my head." He groaned a bit. "Beware the leaves. Much like a spider in the dark the Geckans thrive in the leaves." He warned, his many legs became restless. With that the spider scurried off to the other side of the hollow avoiding the light pouring in from the hole above. I watched him depart and begin to communicate with the other spiders giving order or commands of some sorts. My attention was stolen by the clearing of light in the middle of the hollow. I stared at the dust motes, disturbed by the commotion that had disrupted their peaceful floating. I took in my surroundings feeling the edge of my Arena and pulling my senses inwards. I became aware of each spec of dust in the air as I pulled my awareness past them and towards me. When I finally reached my body I was acutely aware of the pain across my calf. It burned and ached at the same time, in addition my exposed skin I''ve come to learn does not like contact with the air. Each and every inch of my body that wasn''t covered in my tan scales felt as if it was in some very mild acid. After a period of rest we sent Jones to the spiders to ask for directions. Cobb had identified the stupid noisy spiders as Trunk Spiders something which I didn''t find at all original since they live in a fucking trunk. I thought the noises they make, at least when they aren''t bothering to hide themselves got even more annoying. After Cobb grudgingly denied my request to kill all of the Trunk Spider populace, much to Jones relief, Cobb and I followed our little brother up a carved tunnel that had a more noticeable incline. Glowing roots were interspersed across the floor as we moved, seemingly growing over the artifical carved floor of the passage. I bounced on them everytime I had the chance when Jones mentioned that quality to me. "Please stop." Cobb said. I did not stop. After a few minutes we spotted light coming in at an angle up ahead. "Hey look light." I said. "Hey look I have eyes too. Isn''t that dandy?" Jones sassed sarcastically. "Fuck you." "Both of you shut up, here''s the plan." Cobb said. He then rattled off a plan. "Fuck that!" I ran out of the tunnel finally having a chance to do an indian war cry and found myself on a very large branch on both my sides there was room for one Adapter Bug. Almost immediately my indian war cry proved effective as challenger answered, falling from the canopy up above long limbed Geckans came down. Instantly I assumed a ready stance to recieve them and stopped my hollering, my knees bent and my arms tensed, my weapon angled slightly and my shield was raised. My sword made quick work of them, dancing across their bodies drawing red streaks while my body avoided incoming blows. After that inital violent charge they became wary of my blade but never stopped moving, a sign of an intelligent creature. I used every moment to search for advantages be it positioning or otherwise. Two bodies lay on the floor with fatal wounds ripped into their chests. My brothers by now had exited the tunnel and formed up on my sides. I flicked my blade and splattered blood on the remaining enemies as they opened their mouths to launch their tongues. Immediately I could see a reaction, they closed their mouths and made some weird noise I assumed was their attempt to spit. It didn''t seem however that their tongues worked that way because instead they tried dropping their heads down to drip the blood from their mouth. That was how a pair of Geckan heads found the floor. Jones had snuck up behind them his hair whipping in the winds that blew at this altitude. A few more moments passed as I watched Jones leap and jump around everywhere, his movements were such that the wind always moved him into place and his blade always cut something vital. I didn''t even have to do anything, in fact I became kind of jealous. "And what are you doing?" I asked slightly peeved. "Don''t look at me he''s got it and my mana is still just 50%." My green brother responded, surprisingly camoflauging quite well in the greenery sprouting from the branch underfoot. "God this guy is a monster." I said shaking my head as he Jones impales the heart of the last remaining enemy with the assist of the wind. "A monster." Cobb agreed nodding his head sagely. Jones walked over to us dusting himself off. "What?" He asked unaware of the blood on his face. His walk was firm despite the steady wind, behind him the leaves of the tree rustled endlessly. Cobb gave me a look. "Nothing, let''s head to the next branch up ahead. I''m gonna assume that''s where the queen is." He pointed upwards. The branches of the tree were huge and were positioned like a spiral staircase, however they only got close enough to cross between branches at the end of each branch as they began to fan out in more extensions. That meant we had to fight our way through this branch, jump across to a smaller hanging extension of the next branch and continue that process until we reach the top of the canopy to which Cobb had just indicated. Up above the leaves got noticably thicker and judging from the placement of the branches, the very last "step" should give us access to it. Hopefully we weren''t wrong because that would suck so much balls. A shrill cry rang out over the blowing wind. In the distance I spotted a giant snake and it was fucking flying. There was a slight glare from its scales that reflected off the sun. "Behind us!" Jones said his perception working in our favor. It was then I got a good look at its mouth. Two rows of the white glistening teeth of a predator. I snapped my arm forward and jammed my shield in its mouth, stopping its momentum. It gave off beastial growls and tried to take my shield from me, jerking its body backward using whatever method of propulsion it was using to fly to pull as well. My shield arm kept it in place as my gladius slipped into its head from below, its body fell limp like rope. More growling behind me and I had to abandon my shield as I scrambled off to the side, a lunge by the beast barely missed my neck and I made eye contact with its cat-like eyes. It reared up, its eyes narrowed, it opened its mouth, and ate a ball of green fire. I watched it burn from the inside, scrunching my nose I passed the carcass of my previous opponent, pried my shield from its dead mouth and ran for Jones. Running towards the ensuing fight I got a better view of the whole body, it was lengthy and lithe, seemingly smooth, its head was that of a snake and so was its body but it had short arms and legs which I didn''t understand since it flies. I watched as the weird thing surrounded Jones and used it legs and arms to scratch at him while his head worked for a fatal blow. Fortunately Jones was able to cut off a few limbs before I landed on the beasts head and splattered its brains across the floor. Glancing to my left I realized how dangerously close I was to the edge of the branch, I backed off slowly. I slipped. "Woah!" Jones grabbed my arm giving me time to find a foothold and push upwards. "I think I just peed myself." My heart was racing. "Oh my god." I think I pooped myself too. "You can kill a flying snake demon but you''re afraid of little drop?" Cobb said jogging over, he was still further back by another pile of ash. We continued forward until we reached a point where we could cross from there all we had to was continue across each branch until we reached the top. As it was now the closest sturdy looking branch was only ten meters away. The problem was the open air between us. "Well fuck let''s turn around then." I said walking away. "Weeeeeee!" Jones sprinted forward and jumped, he didn''t land on top of the branch but it didn''t matter since he can just stick to walls. He scrambled up from there. "Come on! It''s easy!" He grinned and waved. He was hanging his legs over the open air. This kid is absolutely insane. "Well." Cobb clicked his tongue. "Can''t have our little brother going at it alone." He started running. Cobb leaped pathetically, he was nowhere close to the needed speed. As he began to fall, he started spinning and a jet of fire burst out from his feet. He left a trail of fire as he blasted past Jones, the fire dissipated in wide circles. I stared wide eyed and turned to finally walk around. He had landed in the leaves a burnt a whole straight through them. Yeah, fuck that. "Don''t be a sissy just jump!" Cobb yelled over to me. "There''s no way bro!" I yelled back. "I''ll just go back into the trunk and find another way!" A sudden and familiar shriek brought my focus back. I crouched low sensing for my Arena and felt a disturbance from behind me. I fell flat to the ground and jammed my sword upward as the beast ran itself through into two clean halves. I was drenched in blood and guts as I recieved the next one. My shield slammed it in the face and its battle cry caught in its throat. I cut both its eyes before I had to shift my attention to a third one. Again I wound up my arm and thrusted my swung my shield across both of their faces, one of them ragdolled on the floor unconcious while the other began to circle me. Its body was literally circling me. Thinking myself smart I reached down to the snake I cut in half earlier and threw one of the halves into it. Unfortuantely it didn''t seem to care and let the limp half-body flop against its face, never taking its focus on me. I activated Hyperfocus and charged in but it didn''t move to attack. As I got into range with swift footwork it almost immediately coiled itself into a spring and I had only a second to react. I twirled to the side and arched my back as the thing displaced enough air that my body was swung back around. As it passed I watched it''s eye glance back with look of surprise in its beastial features. I used the momentum of my spin to jab my sword into the base of its neck. It screamed and snarled loudly before launching off the branch with me with it.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The fall was invigorating and I actually enjoyed it until I realized we shouldn''t be falling. I looked down. "What the fuck? Did you faint?" I slapped the snakes face, holding on to my sword with my shield hand, it didn''t move so I kept slapping it. "Wake the fuck up!" I screamed into the side of its head, keeping up the slapping. Blearily it opened its eyes and looked around, I slapped it again on accident. First it was panicked, then it was mad, then it was in pain because I kept wiggling my sword and because I slapped it. "Up dammit!" I pulled backwards, not enough to actually slice through anything, just enough to cause pain. It screeched in pain. The snake followed my directions and reared upwards after a moment I realized this was really fun, in the same moment I think I found my way to the next branch. I fucked around in the open air for a while, letting the snake accept its fate and learning the controls. In the end I got a pretty good grasp on riding flying snakes and began to make my way to my brothers. Wait till they get a load of this shit. I''m not sure exactly what the fuck happened in the five minutes I used to fly my snake around but my brothers were now fighting some type of gorillas. It seemed Cobb fell back into a method of fighting I found pretty cool whenever I saw it. He went into an evasive form and dodged all attacks, running from and avoiding every strike. He weaved between enemies and was always on the retreat and when he seemed to be caught it was actually the other way around. Three gorillas, I couldn''t make out their exact details from here, had Cobb surrounded and I smiled. They lunged forward and Cobb flowed from between them, there was a pause as they looked at the distinct lack of death and then Cobb set them all on fire. Get wrecked. Meanwhile I was flying at high velocity and I didn''t know how to stop. "Yeeehawwww!" I screamed, waving my shield arm in the air like I was waving my lasso around, might as well own it. "What the fuck JST!" Cobb said narrowly dodging me, it helped he was already in an evasive mood. My rad ride crashed into like five gorillas and they all flew off the side of the branch. Their sad ape faces showed such a recognizable expression of honest confusion I almost cried laughing. The rest of the gorillas, which I now noticed had longer arms, seemed terrified, likely because I was riding a giant flying snake and laughing like a madman. I laughed some more as I rammed them with my snake mobile. Honestly I should have felt bad for the snake since I was using him as a battering ram and could probably be charged with vehicular manslaughter if I was driving a vehicle and running over people. Instead I shrugged off that though and sent more gorillas flying off the branch. One stubborn gorilla actually tried to stand his ground and beat his chest, he gave off deep hoots that I took for a challenge. Naturally I sent the fucker flying. He gave off a sad hooting and had ample time to accept my superiority as he approached the ground below. "Get the fuck out of my tree you monkeys!" Continuously ramming gorillas required me to control the speed of my snake so I eventually had to figure it out. I slowed and landed the snake, and by that I mean crashing him headfirst into the branch, and having his head drag violently across the wood to slow me down some more. I clapped my hands, lifted my shoulders, and spread my hands palm up. "Well? What do you think? I know I was a little rusty with the flying but hey it was my first time." They didn''t seem amused. "What the actual fuck man." Cobb''s eye twitched. Jones was peaking at my mount from behind Cobb. "How the fuck do you even come up with this shit?" He breathed deeply. "Bro is that snake friendly?" Jones inquired. "Yep." I pulled my sword out of him and he immediately bared his teeth and snapped for me. Faster, I grabbed his head with powerful accuracy, looked into his eyes, saying "You motherfucker." and brought his face into my knee, his head exploded across the battlefield. I was trying to figure out a way to get all this brainmatter off my hands. I''m not really sure why but my last few kills were done by obliterating the head. It was probably because the Adapter Bug resisted my strongest punch that I got pissed. "Holy....." Jones craned his head to watch the goo land. "Calm, calm, serenity, peace." Cobb was chanting. Orbs of green fire circled him, magical meditation as he called it. He was sitting down cross legged. His mutterings faded into the background as Jones interrupted. "Uhhh should we go on to the next branch or...?" Jones asked. "Hold on I haven''t checked my prompts and notifications in a while." My little brother nodded in understanding. "I''ll keep watch."
Class: Gladiator Name: JST Title: The Strong One
HP: 247/320 Lvl: 27 Effects: Race Druman: +10 STR, +20 END, The Strong One: +50 STR Gladiator:+10 STR, +10 END per level Spider Blessed:+Relations with Spiders increased, +Can communicate with Spiders
MP:51/51
SP: 165/430
STR: 190 CHR: 10
END: 120
INT: 10
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Hard Scales (Race Skill) (Passive) - Intermediate 10 (88%) Hyperfocus - Intermediate 10 (23%) Combat Savant - Advanced 3 (5%) Breathing - Advanced 1 (0%) Overdrive - Intermediate 2 (10%) Warrior Bond - Intermediate 7 (10%) Monster Riding - Intermediate 1 (2%)
Hard Scales (Race Skill) (Passive) - Intermediate 10 (88%) The Druman are known to excel in combat, much of their culture deals with combat and thus it is no surpise to find that they have adapted a form of natural armor. Effects: +10% damage reduction
Hyperfocus - Intermediate 10 (32%) Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily. Effects: +Perception of time slowed by 30% +20% increase in muscle reaction
Combat Savant - Advanced 3 (5%) Various techniques and masteries you''ve acquired have combined into this skill. You have shown advanced mastery in unarmed combat, the martial arts, sword technique, hammer technique, and shield usage. Data suggests you are skilled in several more dicisplines. Instead of granting individual skills they have been combined into this skill. In addition you have not shown any interest or reach for magic or stealth leading one to believe you thrive in direct combat. Effects: +46% effectiveness in battle +2.3x multiplier on STR and END
Breathing - Advanced 1 (0%) Superior respiration techniques lead to more efficient muscle movement and energy usage and consumption. Effects: +42% reduction in stamina usage
Overdrive - Intermediate 2 (10%) Caught in a whirlwind of emotions you have pushed your body to past maximum performance. Effects: +22% to all stats +Equal demerits for equal duration.
Warrior Bond - Intermediate 7 (10%) Forged in battle the Warrior Bond is a connection between allies, teamates and comrades, unspoken yet everpresent. Effects: +85% intuition of teamate planning or manuevers
New Skill: Monster Riding - Intermediate 1 (2%) You happen to be one of the crazy bastards insane enough to mount a monster, and to some extent, control it. Monster Riders are few but only because they make it look so fun that everyone else rushes the process and gets themselves killed. Have fun! Effects: +22% ease when riding monsters. +1% of mount speed.
Wow I actually got a skill for riding that damn traitor. I had leveled up 3 times since I last checked so I began by adding the 15 stat points into STR. Combat Savant I could actually feel working, anything I did that was with the intention of battling my enemies came easier to me. The 46% increase in combat effectiveness was very noticeable. The multiplier on my STR was hard to judge, uprooting a tree for example is obviously inhuman, but most of my fights were likely within my ability without that bonus. The Geckans die easy enough with simply superior skill. The most noticeable moment I saw that multiplier affect was denting the Adapter Bug, following that came dealing with bouts that tested my STR directly against another creature''s. But since I never really fought them before hand I can''t judge the difference, at best I gauge how far off from normal I am by whether or not Jones is avoiding them. The muscle reaction bonus on Hyperfocus I couldn''t percieve but I did catch a flying snakes head in my hands so maybe that had something to do with it. Warrior Bond or Overdrive I really never got a chance to use none of the monsters so far had required specific planning or extreme measures. Because of these circumstances I never had any system assisted feeling that a plan was brewing or any periods of weakness due to pushing myself too much. Something I noticed was that even though skills had multiple tiers new effects aren''t always added. That makes sense actually since it would be impossible to think of three seperate effects for each skill. "You done? It just looks like you''re thinking now." Cobb said, his green orbs of flame still flew around him. "Yeah i''m done. What were those gorillas anyways?" I asked. Cobb looked around conspiratorally and leaned in. "Get this." He whispers so very quietly. "Canopy Gorillas" He says. "That''s fucking retarded." I respond. "No its not it''s because they live in the canopy, get it?" Jones explained. "You''re fucking retarded." He stuck his tongue out at me. "Why haven''t you been using any illusions anways?" "Who says I haven''t been?" Just then a part near his hip blurred and the Illusion Magic skillbook appeared. "Ok but why the fuck haven''t you been using it to fight?" I ask getting pretty annoyed, he always draws this shit out. "Who says I haven''t?" Then the fucker vanished, like he was never even there, he was just deleted from existence. "I''m actually up here! I just let the gorillas waste their energy chasing me!" He yelled down. He was on the next major branch, one more step up. He was off in front me and another ten meters away. Well I didn''t have a snake to ride so I had no idea how I was actually gonna get over there and punch him in the face. After a while Cobb ran and jumped off the branch. He began to descend but instead of using jets of fire like I saw him use earlier he turned into a cow. Said cow was now walking in air towards the branch, it was even mooing. It was such a real looking cow too except for the fact that it should be falling. "Ok what the hell. Was I down here all alone?" I am so confused. The cow was still walking around in the air. "No I was just off to the side casting, i''m surprised Jones knew how to mimic my orbwalk casting but it worked out." He said emerging from a clump of leaves not too far away. "Is there a way you could just launch me to the next branch?" I asked jokingly. "Oh yeah sure." With that immense heat flooded the area and condensed into a huge solid green hammer of fire. "Those are heat resistant right?" He gestured to my scales, holding the hammer on his shoulder. "Yeah." I gulped down. "This shouldn''t hurt." He swung and a jet of fire added to the force of the swing leaving a trail of bright green in the air. I thought I saw his eye twinkle. This is just like my first time flying a snake. I tore through the illusion of a walking cow, to Jones credit the cow exploded into various pieces of seemingly cooked meat rather than dissapating. Chapter 17 - The Last Step ~LoneJones POV~ I watched JST fly towards me and sidestepped at the last second, the air whipped my hair back. Second later I felt a burst of heat and saw Cobb follow the same arc. "Damn, how did that not kill me?" JST propped himself up. "I let up at the last second." Cobb walked past us. We didn''t have to walk very far to reach the next section of the branch where we could cross to the next. Canopy Gorillas and Scoutsassin Geckans positioned themselves to block us. The beating of chests and cries from the gorillas permeated the air, there were about twenty of them and they were very active. The Geckans were more subdued, no sounds came from them but the threat from them was just as equal. There was no cover in the small distance across the branch so we were noticed quickly. "What''s the plan?" JST asked. "Take the front and i''ll cover your sides there''s nothing else I can do." Cobb answered, all he had was Fire Magic right now. "I can''t sneak past." I said. "Look''s like im supporting the rear." There was no surrounding cover. "Move." Cobb commanded. We moved swiftly but stayed in formation. The Canopy Gorilla was huge now that I got a good look at it, the same height as the Geckans but muscular and slower. They didn''t seem resistant to fire however. JST acted as our vanguard and pushed forward, only stepping back to counter and take two steps forward. His flanks were kept clear by Fire Magic from Cobb it seemed that he was trying different ways to use the fire against the gorillas. I kept my eyes on a particular Scoutsassin playing smart and dodging the flames while staying out of JST''s range. He moved in but a sudden beam of fire curved toward him and tore through his torso. I glanced back at Cobb who was behind me but he had already moved on to the next enemy. I walked forward at a steady yet quick pace, stepping over dead bodies. My body was in a state between relaxed and tense, able to react at a moments notice. I took in the surrounding battle in Hyperfocus, slow moving green fire coated Geckan and gorila alike, their last movements were always spent in a futile attempt at a kill. Occasionally a burning body would need to be redirected by a swift kick since some like to lunge forward on their last breath. I took to creating fake Cobbs so that they would throw their bodies out of the way instead. JST endured the brunt of the force. Stupidly the Canopy Gorillas came one at a time. One would approach while the rest would beat their chests and grunt, they liked to make a lot of sounds with their body. Not one to be outdone JST would make a sound too, the sickening squelch of a blade entering flesh. It was some sort of challenge, only one gorilla would be on any other person at one time. It might be part of their culture, vaguely I recalled some bigger Canopy Gorilla challenge JST before getting launched off into open air. I sliced the neck of an incoming Scoutsassin who I was keeping track of for a while. "Jesus." Cobb whispered. Looking forward I saw a particularly large Canopy Gorilla raise both of his fists and bring them down towards JST. Nimbly he entered his guard but the gorillas arms were so thick and bulky I couldn''t see what he was doing. I heard a sound and the gorilla roared and fell over. Right before landing JST slipped out from underneath the corpse with only his shield, with an effort he rolled the corpse over and retrieved his weapon from the bottom of the gorilla''s neck. That made the rest of the Canopy Gorillas go silent and they turned and went up the canopy dissapearing from view. "I think the bastard just killed the strongest one." Cobb smirked. There were only seven Scoutsassin Geckans left and they charged us, hoping to catch us off guard. A blob of green fire exploded between their formation as they approached us, four of them died instantly, two were launched towards JST and one rolled to a stop in front of me. JST decapitated the first one who had landed on the ground and caught the flying body of the second on his shield before administering a quick jab to the heart and letting its body slide to the floor. Getting back to business I slit the throat of my charge as well. Our trip continued like this until the very last step. We arrived on the end of the last branch and we could clearly see some kind of structure made of leaves at the trunk of the tree. There were many hostiles on this level so after clearing the initial enemies we took a break and I checked my status. I was liking it so far.
Class: Guerilla Name: LoneJones Title: The Fast One
HP: 209/209 Lvl: 27 Effects: Race Sperid: +30 AGI, +10 PER The Fast One: +50 AGI Guerilla:+10 INT per level, +10 AGI per level Spider Blessed:+Relations with Spiders increased, +Can communicate with Spiders
MP: 120/251
SP: 160/235
STR: 10 CHR: 10
END: 45 AGI: 260
INT: 130 PER:75
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points: 5
Sensitive Hairs (Race Skill) - Advanced 4 (16%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 1 (4%) Unarmed Combat - Advanced 1 (1%) Evasion - Advanced 5 (27%) Dagger Mastery - Advanced 4 (17%) Illusion Magic - Beginner 8 (0%) Examine Enemy - Beginner 3 (4%)
I decided to hold onto my five stat points I wasn''t sure where I wanted to put them yet, my class was strange and I had no idea how I wanted to play it. I would hold onto these points until I knew where I could use the most use of them for now.
Sensitive Hairs (Race Skill) - Advanced 4 (16%) The sensitive hairs found on the Sperid allow a heightened perception of ones surroundings. Reacting to changes in air pressure they are able to detect even slight movements. Because of this the Sperid are thought to have a 6th sense. Effects: +Sense changed in air pressure accurately. +Develop a sense of moving objects around you. +Sense of specific shapes based on movement sharpens.
My race skill was one of the most constantly used, and like my leveling it seemed to plateau. I''m thinking the upper levels of advanced require a different method of training. The only thing i''ve really been doing is sensing air pressure and movement, I haven''t tried visualizing exact shapes since there hasn''t really been a need to. Still I can see how that might come in handy when fighting an oppopent I can''t actually see.
Hyperfocus - Advanced 1 (32%) Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily. Effects: +Perception of time slowed by 31% +22% increase in muscle reaction +5% speed when Hyperfocused.
Hyperfocus has to be some kind of cheat skill, the fact that we all got it by the same method can''t be ignored. Us brothers can snap to a situation in an instanst, it has been something we''ve done to throw off opponents multiple times. I''m inclined to believe that the system recognized that and gave us a skill for it. The effects are amazing, we can react so much easier and become that much deadlier with these bonuses. Once we reach the Advanced tier we even get a bonus to speed, so that even when time is slow our body can move the same. Skills are still a mystery to me, i''m not sure whether they are tailored made or available for everyone. The method to obtain skills are varied from the ones I myself have gathered and my brothers have. I can understand skill achieved through combat and efforts to connect with the magic of Twoen but skills like Hunted Sense and Hyperfocus? Those are a mystery to me. Are they hidden skills waiting for a situation to unlock them or have they been tailor made for the player? Skills like Warrior Bond also add to the mystery, that skill is oddly tailored to teamfighting and planning, is that type of skill available to everyone who plays in a party or specifically players like us three who actually have that bond? Shrugging I checked the rest of my progress.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Unarmed Combat - Advanced 1 (1%) Fighting with nothing on you but your own body is an art. The body is a weapon and with you can kill. Effects: +63% increase in damage when no weapons equipped +22% speed when attacking barehanded +.5% to chance of severe crippling effects
Understandable, it didn''t change since Cobb gave me Sand Daggers.
Evasion - Advanced 3 (3%) If fighting is a dance then you and your opponent are dancers. But every now and then your partner is fucking ugly. You are smart enough to avoid who you do not want to dance with. Effects: +69% of air resistance ignored +39% less stamina consumed +6% more likely to slip into opponent blindspots
This one went up slightly, I might need to train this one differently too. Maybe danger had something to do with it? When I fought Jennifur I was in real peril and it increased the level dramatically, now surrounded by lumbering gorillas and Geckans that can''t keep up with me i''m in no actual danger. Something to think about.
Dagger Mastery - Advanced 4 (17%) When one wields the dagger, it shouldn''t be out in the open. If you see someone with a dagger walking around, his friend is probably behind you. Effects: +79.2% efficiency when wielding daggers
I glanced at this prompt while twirling my daggers on their points. At 79% I could really feel the difference. It was easier slicing through the muscle of the Geckans, I had never fought the Canopy Gorillas before so I wouldn''t know how it felt before the increase. I moved on to my newer skills.
Illusion Magic - Beginner 8 (0%) Illusion Magic is a Specialized Magic which can only be learned through special methods. Illusions are deceitful and underhanded, fake and tricky, dishonorable and disrespectful but most importantly illusions are profoundly beautiful. The magic itself is as wild and unpredictable as Fire Magic, but it is as fickle and difficult to grasp as Light Magic or Dark Magic, Illusionists are known to occasionally go insane and become lost in their illusions. Effects: +24% duration of illusions left alone.
I now realize that the duration of the illusion when I leave it alone depends on the amount of mana I use and how vivid the image I construct is. The cow I made earlier was taken straight from memory and it lasted quite a while doing exactly what I would imagine a cow would do, despite the fact it was floating in the air the magic took over and gave my idea life.
Examine Enemy (Class Skill) - Beginner 4 (3%) Facing stronger foes you have learned to watch for their weaknesses and strengths. The enemy of the Guerilla must be ready to face every method of attack conceivable. This skill allows you to know the weakness of your enemy so that you may capitalize on it and their strengths so that you may avoid them. Effects: +Small or obvious weaknesses and strengths are revealed.
By the time we were ready to leave I looked at my Class Skill and realized I only ever used it on the Adapter Bug. "Guys I''m gonna try my class skill on one of the Geckans." I warned them. "Go for it." JST said, he was lying down his head propped on his elbow waiting for us. I sent out an illusion of myself and walked him straight down the branch, instead of a Scoutsassin a giant wasp shot out from the surrounding leaves and impaled my clone. I studied its features, it was huge for a wasp the size of my clones forearm from the looks of it. It kept darting through my clone since it wasn''t actually there and I realized its wings weren''t designed very well for turning.
Examine Enemy: Weaknesses: +Can''t make tight turns. Strengths: +Venom.
"Jacket Wasp." Cobb said. My skill didn''t give me a name. "It''s bad at turning and its venemous." I said. "Class Skill." I explained. "You think its stinger can pierce my scales?" JST asked. "As long as they don''t get enough speed they shouldn''t be able to, once they''re close and have already missed you can take them out." I reasoned. I started to walk the clone back to me leading the Jacket Wasp to us. It didn''t seem very smart and when it got close enough I dashed forward and sliced it in half, its top half buzzed for a while and its antennas twitched wildly and it stopped moving. I popped some berries into my mouth since I was hungry, I had scavenged them earlier from the base of the tree, they were primarily made of water so my needs were taken care of. I had stored them in one of the sheaths of my daggers, it didn''t take much for me to dig a hole with my finger in the dirts sheathes and put berries in it. I wasn''t sure what my brothers did for food and water but they seemed fine, the Druman was combat oriented so maybe he had something that made eating and drinking less of a priority, the Jjerg I was less sure about. It took me a while to notice the buzzing over my chewing, the berries were chewy, surprising since they had a lot of water, but I had gotten over it a long time ago. "That might be more wasps, the thing was calling for help." Cobb said. "I should be able to just set them all on fire if they swarm." The problem was that they did swarm, but they came from three different directions, the front and flanks. The buzzing was incessant and there was a faint pressure in my head from it, I could feel the vibrations in my bones. I was losing my concentration. Faintly I noticed Geckans further down the branch. I felt a prick in my left arm and then I felt nothing at all. I was tired, the buzzing was a gentle rocking now. My hairs were perpetually disturbed and I knew I was stuck in the swarm. I could hear yelling and roaring, even though I knew they were loud they were so quiet compared to the buzzing. So very quiet. "-focus!" It was muffled but I knew my brothers voice. "Hyper-" It was cut off but I knew the word. I Hyperfocused and everything came back to piercing clarity. The roaring I heard earlier was a green inferno I could barely make out. I was within one of the swarms and my left arm was useless, a dead wasp clung to it and I ripped the bugger out. Then using my right hand I put one my daggers in my mouth. Then I swarmed the swarm. My right arm was a hurricane and feet always found a Jacket Wasp before finding the floor again. Biting down on the hilt of my weapon, the grainy sand helped mitigate the taste of wasp that creeped into my mouth. By the time I had finished I had lost feeling in my most of my upper body and I thought I had taken fatal damage. There were pieces of Jacket Wasps scattered all across the floor, on the other side of the battle there was nothing but ashe, where JST was there was a combination of sliced wasp and goop. I examined myself and realized that I was just numb, sometime during the fight I realized I had lost feeling in parts of my body, looking at those parts now I had stingers covering my left arm, some on my lower back and thighs. It wasn''t that I couldn''t control those parts, I just couldn''t feel myself moving them. That was a strange venom. I operated completely using my Sensitive Hairs that weren''t numb to judge where my body was, but my movement was still stilted. I tried moving my left arm and it didn''t work at all, maybe after enough doses the venom actually becomes a paralyzing agent. I walked awkwardly to my brothers who had met in the middle, the stingers in my thighs really messed up my gait. "Pull these out will ya?" JST was showing his back to Cobb. "Those things were hypnotizing until I Hyperfocused. Fuck man." "I never got stung what are you feeling?" Cobb asked. "Probably nothing." I answered for JST. "They had numbing venom he can actually still move, eventually though it leads to paralysis." I shrugged my left arm, or tried to. I settled by gesturing to it with my right. Cobb noticed the stingers covering my left arm and scattered over my body, he gave a low whistle. "I''ll be fine I can judge where my body is with these." I flexed my hairs, I learned how to control them a while back. "They almost had me with that buzzing but i''m fine." "Woah, when did you learn that? Are you sure you''re good? Your arm is paralyzed?" JST probed. "Yeah, i''ll keep you updated." I said, as I had already been stung the most I would be the patient testing the effects of the Jacket Wasp venom. "That''s badass." JST said. "You fought while numb? Damn." "We really need clothes." Cobb said suddenly. "We really need bags too." He was holding the Illusion Magic skillbook since he didn''t really need his hands to fight and I had nowhere to hold it that was convenient. As it was we were still all naked but technically we were all covered by something so it wasn''t as weird. I had my hairs, though it wasn''t really thick it was something. JST had his scales practically covering his whole body, not really sure how it covers his junk but I never looked and am not planning to. Cobb is just bright green and transparent so he looks more like an art piece than actually being naked. "Well when you''re this far from civilization don''t expect clothes bro." JST said. "And we chose the challenge start so we don''t get shit ''no starting items or equipment''remember?" "He''s right. We do get a Legendary Skill though. I''m thinking a normal player couldn''t get through most of this." I said looking around. "The chance for someone insane enough to do the Absolutely Insane Challenge Start is low. But for three people to do it? And then team up?" JST asked. "Well shit. If any three people are gonna do this, it''s us." He finished. Cobb breathed out. "Alright guys. I think this " He gave a sweeping gesture to the Jacket Wasps. " was all of them." "All of the wasps at least." I said. "Still can''t feel my arm by the way." "I''m thinking we just move forward and have Jones send clones of us up ahead. That way we clear the way of any ambushes, the wasps took us by surprise. It''s come to my attenton that we need to be wary of any type of enemy most of our opponents have been straightforward so when the wasps came we weren''t ready. We have to be ready for anything that might suggest an out of the ordinary attack or effect. Things like hypnotism or poison or even if they try bashing uf off the side of the tree." He glanced at JST and laid out a plan for us. "We''ll send copies of us forward and we''ll shadow them and be ready to take out any ambush as it happens. Jones do you think you can camoflauge us?" He asked. Camoflauge? I focused on my body and tried to imagine nothing there, then I applied the magic. What happened next was very strange, actually i''m not even sure I saw it correctly, flowers, fire, fireworks, frogs, a dragon, a unicorn. I think I just let the Illusion Magic go free for a second. If it wasn''t imagining nothing in place of myself what is it? Instead I tried imagining the branch but it faltered as soon as I moved. "Not working?" Cobb asked. "Try making a box and then step inside of it." "Uhh ok." I wasn''t confident but I tried it anyway. I created a box big enough for me to step inside that just displayed its contents to the outside. I stepped inside of it and immediately the box just showed me to the outside. I stepped back out and tried to hold onto the feeling I got from the magic before I stepped inside the box. I took a few times of this, and being acutely aware that to them I was just stepping forward and back for no reason, until I finally got it. "Woah he''s gone!" JST exclaimed. "It looked stupid but whatever it works!" "Nope, he''s right there." He pointed to me. "Aren''t you?" He smiled. The box of Illusion Magic I made showed an empty spot of the branch when in reality I was inside, the feeling was amazing. I poked my head out. "How''d you know?" I squinted. "How''d you know how to do it?" "Ha, you forget who I am peasant. Sometimes you have to think inside the box." He swished his imaginary cape and grinned. "Do you think you can move now?" I could. I moved the box and started walking with it, I tried to go around and scare Cobb but his eyes snapped to my position. "Nice try." His eyes twinkled and he smirked. "Heat vision remember?" After creating copies of us I idly wondered how real they could seem if i charged them with the memory of my brothers and a ton of mana. Instead I opted for just keeping track of them and letting them walk forward. After a few meters we followed them in silence, wrapped in Illusion Magic to wandering eyes they would see only three, but not the right ones. Profoundly beautiful indeed. Chapter 18 - The Queen ~Cobb POV~ We approached the leafy structure in silence and completely invisible. Though there wasn''t a another step higher but there were still some branches above, the gorillas swung about and seemed to be in a state of confusion after JST knocked out that big one. I couldn''t help but wonder what cultural significance the duel had. What loomed in front of me was a giant leafy double door. I stood at the edge of the Jones'' magic''s influence peering at the doors and couldn''t ignore their green hue. Stepping slightly closer and lifting my arm up I confirmed it. I was indeed greener. "Should we just pop them open?" JST asked from behind. "No, giant door doesn''t seem slightly strange?" This idiot. "Maybe we should just knock." Jones said. "Are you both stupid? Look up, what if they decide to just jump down and land on us the second they see us?" I pointed to the nearest Canopy Gorilla above. "Ok then what?" Jones said. The gorillas weren''t near enough to hear anything. "Look at the door and see if you can see anything, any weakness or structural flaw." I told them. It looked to be primarily made of leaves, it was pointlessly tall too, taller than the tallest Geckan. The only indication that it was a door was the shape and compact leaves that made it up. The walls in which it was attached to were made of twisting branches, layered thick enough that we were unable to make out the inside. The structure was roughly the shape of a cube, indicating a planned construct. I had an urge to use Animate on something ever since I got my Squad Points back but there was never anything to animate. I had tried to use animate on parts of the tree but apparently if I couldn''t animate the whole thing I couldn''t animate targeted parts. I tried to animate a pile of leaves also and to my surprise it actually worked, except when my man leaf creation got up it caught the wind a flew off the branch. In the end I concluded that it would probably be possible to create animations like those when my skill advanced in the magic. "I don''t think this is a leaf." Jones said. "Yeah it''s a door stupid." JST was lounging on his back now. He was balancing his sword on his nose. "I mean this door isn''t made of leaves, I can barely make out something. It''s some type of creature or at least some of it is." He explained. "These leaves are all connected, it''s some type of insect." I strained my eyes trying to see anything but there was nothing but leaves, no movement at all. I attempted to use inform but nothing relating to Jones'' observation came up.
Inform Leaves High quality canopy leaves useful for brewing various potions. You have concluded you are greener than them and you are correct. You suspect this is actually an insect.
Yes! It''s good to have your personal conclusions verified, when they''re the right ones. "I see nothing are you sure?" I asked. "Come here and keep quiet, i''m gonna lead you to its head which is just within reach. We can cut the head off and move through but i''m not sure if it can hear." Jones said, his eyes were seeing something I couldn''t, they were focused on an unassuming pack of leaves. He gestured to a thin line of leaves, which from context clues I had to assume was the neck. It was aggrivating that even though I realized it was a neck I still couldn''t make out the body or the head. JST raised his sword, still under the cloak of Illusion Magic. He practiced the arc and glanced to Jones to make sure he had the right spot, to which he nodded. His sword came down swiftly and cleanly. A high pitched, but surprisingly small screech erupted from the spot in front of us. The patch of leaves came off and rolled into our box of Illusion Magic, some of the leaves twitched and my eyes followed the movements. Slowly my brain pieced it together and I saw the head of an insect. The leaves in front were actually an elongated skull, or carapace. It was shaped like a shield, something which was difficult to make out since the rest of the leaves broke up its figure. It had a row of small leaves surrounding a barely noticable opening and upon closer inspection they were razor sharp, teeth. Eerily I couldn''t find the eyes no matter how hard I tried. "Can you see the face?" JST asked. "Cuz I can''t. Just the head kinda." "I can see it." Jones'' perception was working for him it seems. "Where are the eyes I can''t find them." He pointed to a leaf. "Damn my eyes just aren''t making sense of it. Perception really helps, huh." I shrugged my shoulders. I''d have to find a way to shore up that weakness. Looking up it seemed the Canopy Gorillas didn''t notice anything. We pulled on the leaves a bit and the rest of the things body came down. It just seemed like a gigantic pile of leaves peeled off from the door. "Good thing we killed it" He said noticing the still standing double doors. "because my mana just ran out." And with that we were revealed to the world in all our naked glory. "Examine Enemy the corpse real quick Jones." I said with naked calm. "Hmm, strengths, camoflauge, ok, pack hunter, ok, wait." He paused. "Well shit." JST chimed in. He was in stance and watching the doors. The door came alive and two blobs of leaves seperated from each other. The only distinguishable feature to my eyes were the shields on their head but other than that I couldn''t find the rest of their body. "The reason you thought that some of the leaves weren''t the insect, was because it was the other ones." I used inform.
Inform Leaf Stalker - Lvl 68 HP: 1346/1346 Leaf Stalkers are ambush predators, their exact method of eating their prey has never been witnessed as their camoflauge seemingly engulfs the body leaving everything to the oberservers imagination. They are found in Gigantic Class trees particularly when monster concentration is high and fast breeding species are nested close by. These species are widely unknown.
"Level 68, Leaf Stalker, ambush predator, capablities unknown. No information on combat outside of normal hunting." I informed my brothers. "Strengths, camoflauge, pack hunter, weakness, joints." Jones added. "Hit the joints? I can''t even see the fucking joints." JST whined. The Leaf Stalkers were either moving very slow because that was just their speed or they were sticking to their name and stalking us. "I guess that ties into their strengths." Jones said. "Any other weaknessess?" I asked curious. "No that''s all it says. Why?" He responded. "Because they''re made of fucking leaves." Then my hand lit up in green flames. "Ohhhh shit!" JST chuckled with raised eyebrows. He darted forward ready to engage the Leaf Stalkers and I threw my fire over him. As expected the fire caught and the Leaf Stalker burst into flames. Unexpectedly the thing didn''t stop moving, instead it was getting faster. Unfortunately for JST he had to trade blows with a faster opponent stepping between limbs and hacking at joints. That''s when I realized I had burned off all of the leaves leaving only the bug, a dramatically faster bug. I could clearly see its figure now, there were stubs all over it which I assumed was where it grew its camoflauge. It''s shield on its head seemed very prominent now. In fact, it''s whole body seemed streamlined and defensive. It had six legs and its feet were circular but covered in the same carapace the rest of its body was. I assumed this was for silent movement, when the feet were covered in leaves stepping on a soft pad of leaves would leave virtually no sound. The joints did indeed seem weak but I wouldn''t go as far as calling it a weakness, not when its camoflauge doesn''t let you see it. Especially not when it becomes this fast when shedding its leaves. As it was the thing seemed built for blunt damage, its circular feet were more like wrecking balls, two could be used as weapons maybe even three without losing balance. Swinging feet were ducked under, barely. Anytime he dodged them a cut would appear on the leg and some bug juice would squirt out. The midle two legs were used the mostJST was still my brother though, he took the first one with effort but he still killed it. "That was intense." He said walking backwards at the pace the other was approaching. "Can you handle the next one?" The pile of leaves was still coming for us. "Don''t bother setting it on fire I think I can do without." He walked forward, and from behind I could swear the guy was smiling. He met the Leaf Stalker head on, which wasn''t as explosive as I thought it was gonna be. He sidestepped and a line of leaves came over him, only now looking like a leg. When he bent forward, he pivoted as well, turning his body to me, and in that last second before he dissappeared into the leaves and under the insect, he was still smiling and his eyes were closed. "This crazy bastard." I whispered. I turned upwards to see what the gorillas were up to. They were just watching us in silence. "He should be fine, I think he''s using his Arena." He smiled. It sounded like chopping wood but it rang louder and sounded wet. The sound continued and with each ringing thud the pile of leaves vibrated, eventually the monster fell. A rustling came from the stalker and JST emerged. There were stray leaves sticking to what looked like bug juice on his face. It was eerie walking past the dead lanky behemoths, one completely bare, the other one looking like a simple bush. To add to the atmosphere we had an audience up above. A steady beat and thumping of chests verberated through the air, it was felt in our chests as well. What were they up to? "You guys getting this?" My older brother was zoning out. Seconds later Jones was too. It was then I noticed a new icon in my vision towards the top right, near where I had placed my status bars. I focused on it.
Rhthym of the Canopy Gorilla Your actions are supported by a tribe of Canopy Gorilla. The powers behind the rhythm of the Gorilla Tribes are known to empower them, they are characterstically large scale buffs, both in range and effect. Effects: +3 All Stats Time Remaining: 29:59_
"What are they up to?" JST seemed skeptical. The buff granted aligned perfectly with the description, it affected all our stats slightly and they were buffing us from up above, probably since we could hear the music. I wasn''t really sure what a large range meant relative to Twoen since we hadn''t encountered any other buffers. When we reach civilization it''ll be easier to tell how significant this buff was. Essentially we got a few levels from buffs alone depending on how many differents stats you had. "I think you beat their leader a while back." I shared my suspicion. "I think their culture is centered on power, you beat their leader you gain their respect. It''s not clear what it means when their leader dies though." "So that''s why they''re confused. But why do they fight with the Geckans?" Jones asked. "Hard to say." We moved on. Entering the now open doorway, we were greeted with a golden geckan sitting on a raised leafy throne, she was situated in a manner that conveyed complete comfort and lax, nothing to indicate we were a threat. It was infuriating, but I was too experienced to take the bait, something was up. Jones gave a low whistle, as if admiring the room, enemies. Despite the signal I couldn''t help but follow the original connotation of the action and look at the room myself. On the inside the twisted branches as seen from the outside had melded together to form smooth wooden walls. Nothing about the room screamed royalty but thats to be expected each culture has their own definition of status. Though it wasn''t particularly extravagant I took note location and the fact this was one of the few structures i''ve seen that could qualify as a building. Perhaps some effort into construction denotes royalty? Vines hung from the wall, something I had only seen previously adorning the tunnels of the trunk and the cave I originally spawned in. By now I had accessed my sense of heat and the room was full of it. There were two heat sources positioned next to the Geckan that I presumed to be the Queen judging from the throne. In front of the throne it seemed they were ready to take us head on. Too many heat signatures to count were in front of me, so much so they blended together making it impossible to define individuals. There were some seperating from the main group and as they got closer and further from the blob of heat I could make out their signatures, only two each to our flanks. The two on my left were approaching the range of JST''s Arena. "Shall we?" He gestured forward, mock bowing, exposing his back. The Geckan lashed out, it had maintained camoflauge even during its attack. But just as quick it was caught on JST''s shield and slammed down viciously, the stealth retreated from its scales as JST recieved the next one''s neck on his sword. To my right Jones had dispatched his set as well. I conjured up two swords of green flame and localized their heat so they wouldn''t blind me during this fight. Thinking back to my spars with JST I was always one to react rather than make the first move, sticking to my method I waited. The heat signature in front of me split into threes and if I didn''t know any better they were taking formation. They marched forward but now I could make out individuals but not the shape of their body. I had no way to know how to dodge what. I had to think of a solution quick, I opted for making the swords longer, after all flames didn''t weigh anything. They did drain my mana but at this point I could last for quite a while. I sliced bodies in half as they came, instantly cauterizing wounds but taking limbs in the process. They were smarter though and I found myself surrounded. I took wounds to the legs, they aimed for my mobility, then I took wounds to my shoulders. I knew how claws felt like and these weren''t claws. Weapons? There weren''t weapons on the other Geckans. I twirled my blades and gave myself a respite. With a thought, still holding my fiery weapons, I created small orbs of fire on all my bleeding cuts, they were instantly sealed. My movement was slightly restricted especially in my swings, but magic is magic I didn''t need to swing right to hit left. I conjured four more floating swords before I felt I would lose effectiveness. They surrounded me and I focused their heat as well. With a glance I checked my mana and noted the 7% loss every second. I was at 67% so I got to work. I guided my blades solely on heat, my eyes were useless so i closed them. I memorized my brothers heat signatures and their spots relative to me before closing my eyes though. I didn''t know how I looked but I know I felt immense heat, the sound of cutting flesh was muffled by sizzling meat, now and then a pulsating pillar of warmth would shoot out at me, something I realized was tongue after a while. They were systematically cut in half by the sword that happened to be free at that time. Bodies littered the floor after their camoflauge left them, most were colored black, not because their scales were that color naturally, but because almost everything was on fire, even the previously dead bodies. I opened my eyes to green hell for a brief moment and noticed various weapons and armor on the floor. That would explain some resistance I felt, unfortunately however my fire passed weaponry and heated armor, unable to be parried and unlikely to be blocked. At some point I had stopped localizing the heat on my swords, I was already way past blind so it didn''t matter. That allowed me another ten seconds as I was basically supressing my fire magic with raw mana. Ten minutes had passed. I had eventually wiped out a quarter of the enemies by myself alone in twenty seconds after that I sat back and watched the room evading enemies and letting my mana recover. There were weapons on the floor of crude design yet strong material, no clue as to where they came from. Geckan footprints could be seen on the floor appearing on the ash. When I recovered my mana and joined my brothers the Queen finally showed signs of distress. Our Rhythm of the Canopy Gorilla buff was still on for nine minutes or so. There was still a quarter of the Geckans still alive judging from the heat they were giving off relative to what I sensed earlier. They formed a defensive half circle and we didn''t approach it, these Geckans seemed skilled at teamwork, when they fought together they had amazingly sophisticated synergy. It was enough to give us pause as we considered our next move the formation wasn''t clear to me, I had no idea how my brothers were seeing things however. I felt magic. It was strange feeling it not coming from me, or not being the usual feel of Illusion Magic. The feel was not the same as controlling my Fire Magic or Earth Magic, instead it felt like an echo of what it should be, barely perceptible but I felt it. It was a deep grasping, not for us but for something else, and it was coming from above. Then the vines started to move. I reached out trying to understand the magic. They moved sluggishly for half a second before snapping out at blinding speed, they whipped all three of us and not even Jones could react in time, in actuality he was the only one who did react. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Fuck!" JST got lashed across the face. "Are you blind?" Jones took a vine across the chest, it was smeared red and bleeding, I would''ve considered burning the wound but I feared burning his hairs as well. "Not for ten meters or so." It looked like he was wearing a red blindfold "That''s bad." I said. "I took it on the arm, I had sensed it earlier." In reality I got whipped trying to feel the magic. "Quick I feel it again!" I yelled. We were too late, there was no way for JST to react, Jones fared better but still took it to his calf, I took a lashing across my back. "Fuck! God fucking dammit!" JST yelled his chest to his shoulder was colored red now too. With a sweeping motion I wrapped us in a dome of fire. "That hurts got a plan?" He was examining his leg. "Jones can you swap us for this illusion?" I asked. "Hurry, i''d rather not waste mana." He then layered the illusion over the real thing, Jones'' face was intensely focused until he finally breathed and gave me a thumbs up . I waited a second since I felt the next burst of magic come through the vines, they whipped down and burned to ash as they touched my dome. Then I let the dome fall. What was left was the fake picture of a burning green dome. I felt like I was gonna get burned as I walked through the fake, looking back there were copies left in our place, Fake JST even waved at me. We left covered in Jones'' Illusion Magic and we advanced on the half circle. The next few moments were very eventful. Our fakes burst out of the dome. Fake Cobb was throwing fire up towards the vines, setting them all on fake fire. Fake JST was charging the formation with a feral grin on his face, immediately I felt the half circle shift to block him. Fake Jones followed behind Fake JST. The real Jones meanwhile was smiling. "Don''t let it go to waste. I don''t know how long they''ll last." He warned. JST, the real one, broke through the weakened left flank killing four before they noticed an attack. I had conjured a wall of fire and slowly moved it to stem the tide of Geckans flowing back to the left. At this point I was blind and the Rhythm of the Canopy Gorilla had given out. The heat emanating from my wall blinded me but kept them at bay. Jones and JST worked in sync to reach the Geckan Queen. I felt the magic again and realized it had come from the two heat signatures on the left and right of the Queen. I let loose with jets of fire, not caring to control my mana only directing the force. Two pillars of green fire shot from my sides and collided with the two figures, their stealth gave way and steam rose off their armor as they were revealed, they only seemed angry. They wore dark blue robes, still unassuming in the dark color scheme. They were still Geckan but there was an intelligence in their eyes not seen in the previous alterations. Another Geckan stepped through my wall of fire and his color scheme was the same yet he wore full plated armor, apparently they had decided to stop stealthing. They were all shades of a dark yet rich blue. "Choose one!" I yelled to my brothers. "I got that one!" JST yelled back. There was no way for him to see the robed geckos as they weren''t in his range so he had only felt the presence of the warrior geckan. He was efficient in that he didn''t question orders in the heat of the moment. He clashed with the warrior and they met swords, apparently he had found an actual sword because the one in his hand was distinctly not made of sand. The "I''ll get the left." Jones said. "How long can you distract them?" Jones asked. "Depends on what magic they have. For now i''ll take a page from my fake''s book." With that I set the vines hanging on the ceiling on fire. All the illusions had worn off just a second ago. "You would''ve though of it eventually." He smiled and dashed for the wall. Before the eyes of the robed Geckans could follow them I assaulted them with fire. I used as many distractions as I could, I alternated between colors, sending multiple green fireballs, swathes of red flame, sneaking in red fireballs with the strips of flame to keep them on their toes. I threw fire straight at them and with incredible precision and control, created zig zags and moving pathways, hiding fireballs between movements, before striking them when they least expected it. In the process I manipulated the fire to meet straggling Geckans reaching the left side and passing my earlier wall. Despite my efforts they seemed tired but not injured. Primarily because of the steam rising in the room. It had occured to me a while ago that the blue might''ve had something to do with water and the steam confirmed it for me. Water Magic, they were controlling the water in the vines to manipulate them to slash us. As of now they were creating water to absorb the heat of my attacks and defend themselves with it hence the steam. Unfortunately being higher leveled than I, they had more magical stamina. It didn''t take long for me to run out of mana and contract a migraine. Luckily it didn''t seem that they could utilize the mist as a weapon, instead it served as camoflauge for me. Strangely the clanging of metal swords didn''t slow at all, instead it seemed to ramp up. The room was extremely warm now and there was no way for me to sense anything. I was a sitting duck. I was left wth nothing but the instinct of an 18 year old trained by the virtual world way passed his years. I focused my eyes and assumed my usual stance. A boxing stance, two hands up, head tucked in, feet light and shoulders hunched. The swirling mist was dead silent except for the constant ringing of metal swords which seemed to be travelling around me. I wasn''t sure what Water Magic entailed in Twoen but I had various other worlds for reference so I mentally prepared myself for those methods of attack. What I didn''t prepare for was a blue fist. I didn''t need to though, instincts kicked in and I ducked under it and countered. My fist hit the mist and sent it swirling once more. A leg came wide from the fog aiming to knock my legs from under me, it also served to remind me I wasn''t limited to boxing, it was dodged as I took a measured step backwards. In the same motion my stance changed, it became more relaxed and facilitated counters easier. Another fist came but I was ready, my elbow shot down and struck the forearm with a crack. It retracted into the mist. I only had to hold out until the room cooled down, unfortunately the leafy structure we were in was closed off from the stronger winds, there was barely any circulation in here. The mist swirled gently and intuition took hold and I threw an elbow to my right. When I twirled around I was surprised to see the whole Geckan there. I didn''t let up as its robes didn''t allow it a swift retreat. I got within his guard and gave short jabs to the chest, elbows, palm strikes to the abdomen, hammer fists to the collar bone. Eventually it broke free and dissappeared into the mist leaving with bruises and more blue than before. There was a screech behind me and because I hadn''t heard the clanging of metal for a while I glanced backwards. It was Jones. "News?" I asked focusing forward. He stepped up to me and placed his back to mine covering all angles. "One is dead." He said. "Or he should be?" He darted off into the mist with a puzzled expression. "Wait!" I called to him. I was met with nothing but the swirling motion of his passage. I resumed my stance and waited for the next thing to break through the mist. Again a fist came and I resorted to grappling this time. I pulled the Geckan over my shoulder, but as I threw him over and behind me a ball of water encased my head, the water was exerting pressure on my already aching head. I was frantic for a second thinking of methods of escape when it hit me. The best way to disrupt the spell is to break the concentration of the caster, powering through this was an effort of will but my mind has had years of practice. I descended upon the dark blue gecko, surprisingly it seemed less injured than it should be. I made sure to add those bruises back, eventually the arm bar had knocked it out. The water surrounding my head succumbed to gravity and splashed onto the floor. The sound of swords rang again. The same screech from earlier came but it sounded more pained. Another one followed that and it was abruptly cut off. I watched the water that had splashed on the floor gather in a groove in the floor. The groove happened to have the Geckan''s broken foot in it and I watched as it absorbed the water and partially fixed itself. It''s self healing? The mist! This thing was fighting me while practically healing the whole time? I used Inform.
Inform Royal Water Geckan - Lvl 69 HP: 892/1257 (Unconscious) The variation of Geckan is part royalty and considered nobility. They accompany the Queen and are of the more advanced form of Geckan. They have high affinity with Water Magic and are highly intelligent even for its species. These Geckans regenerate and self heal in water or high moisture.
Jones popped out of the mist and I nearly knocked his head off. "Careful they-" "Regenerate, yeah I got it." I severed the head off the unconscious Royal Water Geckan with a green flame. A few meters from us, still completely shrouded in mist a voice rang out. "There you guys are!" A relieved voice said. "Why the fuck is this fucker not dying?" JST yelled. "Just cut his head off!" Jones yelled. "He''s regenerating through the mist." More metal clashing. "Cut his head off?" He yelled back, his voice was coming from a completely different direction. "This guy knows how to swing his shit and i''m blind remember?" He sounded annoyed now. Jones eyes followed something through the mist and sure enough the voice came from there next. "Ok this is really annoying, if I try anything like that im-" The ring of metal interrupted him. " i''m gonna get run through!" He finished. "What you can''t handle it? You need help from your little brothers?" I teased him. "You know what? Fuck you." He was definitely angry now. "That ought to do it." I whispered mostly to myself. "Yup." Jones said. The sounds of swords ramped up, I was hearing clanging metal every half second until silence. "Where are you?" A voice called. "Over here!" I yelled back. "You might wanna-" Jones lifted a finger. "Never mind." He put it down. Me still being essentially blind for two meters didn''t see the flying blue head until it hit me in the stomach. I grunted and kicked the thing away. I checked my health bar, 72% the flying head shaved off a good 10%. "What the fuck man!'' I growled at JST who had appeared through the mist. "Served you right bitch." He said. "You guys are acting like little kids." Jones said off the side. This fucker. "The fuck did you say?" I looked over at him. "You heard me." Jones said as he got up in my face. Right then I had the urge to blast them both with green fire and send them both to an emerald hell. That''s when it hit me. Something wasn''t right. Some type of mental effect has us angry at each other. I''m still angry at the fuckers. Luckily we have plans in place. "What are you gonna about it?" He unsheathed his daggers, backed up and looked at us. "What are you trying to do with those little things?" JST wielded a blue curved blade now. It was clear to me this was getting out of hand. I knew how they looked when they were serious, basically it was how they looked now. Abruptly I interrupted with our prearranged signal. "Big juicy sausage." I said deadpan. They blinked. Jones took a deep breath and sheathed his daggers. JST rubbed his temples. "Shit. Fuck both of you." Of course knowing we were under the influence didn''t stop it. The reasoning with our code word was something that would instantly break up the tension and give pause to whatever was happening. Hence big juicy sausage. Surprisingly it was extremely effective at derailing whatever emotions were stirring and replacing it with confusion, especially so with strangers. "Where''s the Queen you idiots?" I asked. "She''s over there." Jones pointed into the mist. Jones was the one who hated getting manipulated the most. Even though he was almost certainly feeling the fake emotions he would never indulge them that would be succumbing to someone elses will. In that way he was stronger than me and JST who don''t give a fuck. "I don''t give a fuck where she is. Just let me kill the bitch." JST said. "I''ve got some anger to vent." His grip visibly tightened. Well JST didn''t like getting manipulated either. The closer we got the harder it was to control our emotions. We got within thirty meters before problems started to arise again. "Don''t walk so close to me fucker." JST said. "Shut up." Jones responded quietly. "Big juicy sausage." I tried, it loses the impact after the first time unfortunately. "Enough with the fucking sausages or i''m gonna fucking kill you!" JST screamed. He brandished his sword at me. "Shut up! Cobb go ahead it''s getting stronger and I don''t know how long I can go without killing you both." Jones said surprisingly calmly. "You think you can fucking kill me bastard?" That was the last thing I heard before I realized the room was cool enough now. "In your dreams maybe." I said it just low enough for Jones to catch with his increased hearing, the magic was getting to me. Instantly I found the heat signature of the Geckan Queen. As I apporoached I got angrier and angrier and I was about to turn around to go kill my brothers before I realized I might as well kill the stupid gecko in front of me first. She squirmed in her seat in terror, she was an average size for a Geckan and it became obvious that it was her messing with our minds. It was probably my MND stat or magical endurnace that helped me withstand the effects to an extent. In reality the ten points I had in it only got me a handful of meters further than my brothers. I pondered investing some points into that stat. Looking at the terrified and helpless Geckan Queen I couldn''t help but struggle with my emotions. My emotions of absolute rage, her magic was messing with my emotions and I had so many ideas for torture, in the end I burned her to a crisp. I had done it slowly, succumbing to her will. Ironically her magic that had just earlier almost turned me and my brothers againt each other instead made me torture her. In a sense I guess she delayed her death. There was no quest completion. But the effects of her magic were fading. I checked everything, my status, my skill and any other notifications, maybe the system is taking a while to process.
Class: Animator Name: Cobb Titles: Prey Turned Predator, The Green One
HP: 200/268 Lvl: 29 Effects: Race Jjerg: +10 INT, +5 END, +5 STR, +5 WIS, +10 MND Prey Turned Predator: +25 INT, +25 WIS, +20 AGI The Green One:+7 CHR, + Can color things under your magical control an emerald green Animator:+20 WIS each level Spider Blessed:+Relations with Spiders increased, +Can communicate with spiders
MP: 291/353 SQP: 140/140
SP: 70/210
STR: 15 CHR: 17
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 208 AGI:20
WIS: 317 ENL:140
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) Hunted Sense - Intermediate 9 (50%) Inform - Intermediate 9 (22%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 2(62%) Earth Magic - Advanced 6 (60%) Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%) Animate (Class Skill) - Beginner 10 (1%) Fire Magic - Advanced 5 (37%)
First I placed my 15 stat points into ENL even though I had nothing to animate. My magic power was enough and the 20 WIS each level really increased my mana regeneration so I didn''t feel any particular need to place it anywhere else.
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) When immobile and unmoving your body adapts to the surrounding rock. Your body will inherit the hardness and defensive capabilities of the rock it becomes. Sudden movement cancels the skill. +18% chance of going unnoticed +1.9s of lingering effects after skill cancel
Ever since entering the forest there hadn''t been any rocks so my Race Skill had been stuck unable to advance. The lingering effects practically meant I was armored for that duration after I left the rock, a skill like this would become very useful to me depending on the terrain.
Hunted Sense - Intermediate 9 (50%) Knowing the feeling of being hunted by superior predators. Their presence and intent were ingrained into your memory. Your paranoia has developed into being able to tell when you are being watched. Effects: +Know when being watched with hostile intent +Know the general direction
Since this skill seemed to tie into either how I feel or how strong the enemy is I can''t be sure how to advance it. Either it only advances when I feel threatened which would make sense and align with the description or it would progress while I was in actual danger despite my actual feelings toward the situation. In the end there was nothing I could change that would help it progress so I left it at that.
Inform - Intermediate 9 (22%) Your inquisitive nature and problem solving attitude awards you with the inherent ability to know things. By focusing on an object or entity information is granted based upon the level of this skill. Learning new things and drawing conclusions will also develop this skill. The skill may even make connections you have not. Effects: +Intermediate knowledge and personal conclusions provided +HP, more in depth knowledge, personal conclusions occasionally verified
I find the most useful aspect of this skill to be the ability for my own personal conclusions to be verified. Of course an HP bar always helps in games like these but in reality the monsters we fight seem so real it''s easy to judge how close they are to death.
Hyperfocus - Advanced 2 (62%) Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily. Effects: +Perception of time slowed by 32% +24% increase in muscle reaction +10% speed when Hyperfocused
I nodded at this notification, my brothers got the same effect so I was expecting it.
Earth Magic - Advanced 6 (60%) Your innate sense for the Earth has awarded you with ability to manipulate it. Earth magic is the most practical of elemental magics. Earth Mages are sought out often for the pure utility they bring to the table. Unlike the other elemental magics Earth is solid and with the ability to manipulate something solid comes the ability to create. +78% effectiveness of offensive magic +48% effectiveness of contructs of Earth +Earth attributed creatures are friendlier by 30%
No room for advancement here there was no earth around.
Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%) Storytelling is used to captivate an audience, it is an art that though may seem mundane, not many people perfect. You have taken steps into the world of entertainment and have succeeded in eliciting from your audience what many people fail to, emotion. Effect: +6% more emotion from the audience
Wasn''t telling any stories.
Animate (Class Skill) - Beginner 10 (1%) Through various insights on the workings of life the Animator can breathe it into his constructs. Effects: +Can follow basic commands or preset orders
I did notice a huge boost in levels considering this is my Class Skill, in the end I attributed it to the Rock Tree Boa rather than the random animations I worked on the way up here.
Fire Magic - Advanced 5 (37%) The element of Fire is the most unpredictable and destructive of the Elements. Many practitioners are scarred or maimed in their early years but when a Fire Mage reaches their apex, they are near unstoppable. The number of Fire Mages has been at a steady constant for years, unfortunately practitioners of Fire are prone to early deaths but that doesn''t stop young mages seeking power. Effects: +75% effectivenessof offensive fire magic +45% effectiveness of utility based fire magic +Fire attributed creatures are friendlies by 25%
I found a slight increase in the advanced levels of my Fire Magic and noted the effects paralelled Earth Magic. By this time I wondered where the quest completion was. The mist around me still swirled around in a visible white but there were no new notifications for me. "What''s going on? Did you kill it?" Jones emerged from the mist. "I could''ve still killed you dude." JST was saying before he noticed me. "Oh hey." He waved. "The quest should be done I don''t see the problem." I rubbed my temples. "Unless."
Geckan Princess (Awta) - Lvl 52 HP: 0/572 (Dead) The Princesses of the Geckans are highly guarded and very inaccessible, they are capable of strong magic if allowed to reach maturity. Honor guards are usually set to protect the Princess and many layers of Geckans normally bar the way. Awta is the third in line in the royal succession.
"Are you serious. It''s the princess." I groaned. "You''re kidding." JST said. "You''re just busting my chops right?" "I don''t think he''s busting your chops." Jones responded. "This sucks major balls." Chapter 19 - A Step Back ~JST POV~ After we found out that we actually killed a princess rather than a queen we decided to log out. We weren''t in a safe zone and there were still Canopy Gorillas outside so we had to take some precautionary measures. In the throne room we found a spot in a corner, cut into the wall of branches, huddled inside and threw an illusion over us. Using all of his mana Jones assured us that it would last a few days just about half a day in real time. I removed my equipment which was just my trusty Sandstone Shield which Cobb had renewed after it fell apart and the Royal Geckan Water Scimitar which I picked off the dead body of the Royal Water Geckan I maimed. It was a cool sword but I still felt that the name was too long, four words is pushing it. Besides being cool it actually felt cool to the touch as well, it had a bloodthirsty feel without the viciousness. In fact if I knew any better it just seemed thirsty. It was a royal blue shade, I had no available means to identify the sword but it was definitely sharp. There was an endless layer of water droplets on the blade despite how many times I flicked them off. The handle had a curved guard and was wrapped in some type of gray material akin to leather. Despite being wet my grip was surprisingly solid. In my hand I knew this blade could be deadly. It might have been my imagination, I could''ve sworn the blade just got wetter almost as if it was salivating.
Royal Geckan Water Scimitar (Rare) Wielded by Royal Geckans this sword is the Water variant of the Royal Geckan Scimitar. These sword are found only on the hilt of a Royal Water Geckan specializing in combat. Effects: Damage: 40-52 Water Damage: 20-32 Durability: 37/39
It was weaker in terms of normal damage but the added Water Damage makes this weapon stronger than the constructs Cobb had made me before. Of course this had a durability rather than a time limit. Actually the fact that Cobb''s magic weapons were made strictly of sand using Earth Magic said a lot of his magic, his weapons were on par with a Rare sword. Since I haven''t looked at the forums I can''t be certain where that lies in terms of rarity or strength, everything we''ve witnessed has been skewed since we started smack dab in the middle of the Uncharted. "See ya guys on the flip side." I said. I was leaning against a particular branch that fit against my torso perfectly. "Adios." My spider brother said. He was simply lying on a pile of leaves. The green one was already limp.
Log out initializing...
One moment I was watching the blue screen and the next was complete darkness. Technically I haven''t moved in about twenty four hours but my body was perfectly fine comfortable. Thing is, with the NIMF or Non-concussive Instant Memory Foam your body never gets uncomfortable. I awaited the removal of mehanical sensors and brainwave detectors gently floating in the breathable metallic liquid I was submerged in. Once the equipment retracted into their respective pockets against the interior of the Varas Capsule the liquid surrounding me receded until it was only me and the foam. Gravity returned when the liquid left and my body pressed harder against the foam. After years playing in the virtual world ridding the liquid from your lungs becomes second nature. New players often have trouble getting accustomed to it but I learned early, one long cough and you were done. The lid of the capsule opened and I was admitted from darkness and into the glory of interior lighting. Pneumatic hissing could be heard from my sides. "Damn." Cobaj said sitting up. "Now that''s a game." "Yup." Nojas replied getting out, Cobaj followed suit. I got out as well. It was strange knowing these two were the ones always beside me. In different worlds these two have saved my life and I have saved theirs. In other worlds they were my worst enemies. We''ve spent more than our own lifetime in game but we rarely ever team up. "It''s only been two days out here since launch." Cobaj was heading to the kitchen. "A five to one ratio is cool and all when you''re actually playing but once you get out it feels like you''re missing so much." "Well that''s the trade off. In total, since we missed the first day, the game has had ten days to develop." I followed. "The usual please." Nojas walked in from behind me. "Coming up." Cobaj replied. Cobaj got two steaksthat had already thawed in the sink and threw them on a pan. He then turned around. "I don''t know about you guys but i''m having a lot of fun." He said. "Same, same. We haven''t even been to a town or anything. The Great Tree didn''t even count as a dungeon or anything it''s just open world." I recalled. "So I have a question then." My now fully clothed brother said. "What is it?" Nojas was getting tomatoes, lettuce and other greenery out of the fridge. He tossed me a knife, it landed with the handle in my palm. We took a big cutting board, placed it on our granite kitchen island and cut up the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and more in a few moments. Blade work translated to real life after all. We sweeped everything into a bowl and Nojas tossed it. "Let''s eat first." Cobaj was naturally talented with fire, magic or otherwise, so the man could cook a mean steak. When we were done cooking the food we sat ourselves down and swapped plates, steak for me and Nojas and salad for Cobaj. Food tastes better when it''s cooked for you. It didn''t take us long to devour everything we were in the capsules for a day and despite the nano bots providing sustenance we haven''t actually eaten anything in all that time. "What is it then?" I asked curious. "Are we sticking to our normal rules or are we gonna team up?" His face was serious. "This game is definitely different." Nojas commented. "You don''t want to compete?" I asked puzzled. I assumed that after this challenge quest we were going our seperate ways. "If this game is as big as I think it is, I don''t want to be fighting against my brothers the whole time." Cobaj replied. "Besides it''s been a few games since we played on the same side." He grinned. I smiled myself, it was true. "If it''s anything like Contavia Online we might seriously mess stuff up." Nojas had his elbows on the table. "Just a warning. You know what happens when we team." After our battle in Contavia Online the world had to go through major updates, players causing such a big change was unprecedented. We created our own faction and took over Contavia. I checked in a few months ago and the developers were forced to keep the Kingdoms of Brozo in the game, my log in was announced world wide as the ruler of one of the kingdoms had returned. Instantly I logged off. It was too entwined with the story to be removed, we basically uprooted all the developers work creating their own virtual kingdoms by destroying them with our own. The worst part from their prospective was when the three rulers of the kingdom decided to leave and never log in again. We got bored. "Relax. This game is big, I can feel it." Cobaj continued. " That begs the question. Are we sticking to our rules and staying off the forums?" "I don''t mind checking the forums if we''re not against each other. It''s only been ten days in game so i''m not expecting anything." I shrugged. "Turn on the TV." I said walking into the game room. It was Cobaj''s turn to do the dishes. Nojas picked up the remote from the table, turned it on and flipped to VRN, Virtual Reality News. "Hello and welcome to VRN. Today i''m here in Twoen reporting live!" A blonde elf was broadcasting straight from game. She, unlike us, had equipment. She was clad in leather and animal skins, her bow was slung across her back and despite her dress it seemed very professional. Contracts for in-game coverage and publicity were always sought after, specific licenses were needed to record game content. VRN always got one in every game since it was the biggest news organization that covered Virtual Reality. It was no surprise to find them in Twoen. In fact we''ve actually been interviewed in other big games, so we were actually familiar with the elf on the screen. Of course she had no idea some of the big game shakers she''s interviewed were the same three brothers.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Jane is in what seems to a be a desert city. The houses seemed to be of hardened sand and the paved walkways were sandstone. In the distance a gate outside of the city revealed only rolling dunes. Tall figures could be seen walking between them. Despite the dry scenery, fountains were found in the center of the plaza she was in. They spewed bright blue water in endless amounts. "I am in the city of Tote right by the deserts of Ari. The largest starting city and most racially tolerant of all choices. Of course you all know who i''m meeting today and that''s why I chose Tote, it has the best security of all the known cities. Even now you can see the patrols!" Jane gestured to a human patrol armed in steel. By this time Cobaj had come back from the kitchen. "Hey it''s Jane." He said sitting down. "This should be interesting." "If you''re tuning in just now it''s almost time for Hendrick to arrive. That''s right folks! The first player to reach level fifteen and recieve his class in a record ten days! Amazing!" Jane was ecstatic. She actually had a deep love for VR gaming and it was something all three of us could understand. We all shared a glance. Only fifteen? "As you know." She continued calming herself. "Even with the level curve reduced. For those of you unaware, the time to reach level ten during beta took about two months. Since launch the leveling was judged to be too slow and reduced, making it easier to level up. At this new rate level thirty in two months is the expected." She explained. Oh I had forgot that our experience was bit different. Still we were about level thirty so we were way ahead of the curve. However now it doesn''t seem as skewed as it was. If reaching level ten took two months and we were playing on that leveling curve then our levels would need a lot of explaining to do. Our challenge start shot us way ahead,. "That''s right that means that Hendrick has somehow managed to progress a month''s worth of leveling in only ten days!" We''re at two months worth of progress in only five. "He should be arriving soon." Jane was now actively looking around. "Hello." A voice sounded from off camera. It wasn''t quiet but the mic didn''t pick it up very well. "Hendrick! Welcome, welcome." Jane gestured and the player walked in front of the camera. "Hello my name is Hendrick. If you follow my stream you should already know me." He introduced himself. His voice was rugged like a rusty tool decaying from disuse. He was covered in white garb. The white material rested upon his body in a way that suggested some type of armor below. His head was covered from the sun, but his face was clearly visible. Simply put he seemed like someone who was easily taken advantage of, his eyes had an innocent gaze, it didn''t help that they were blue. His face was clean shaven, slightly tan and glistening from sweat. Sand was in his hair from what I could see, only visible because of his black hair, suggesting that he had just been in a fight. Despite the innocent look anyone with enough experience could tell you this man knew his business. "I wonder what his class is." Nojas was leaning forward, arms on his elbows and chin on his hands. He seemed uncharacteristically interested. "Questions please." He got straight to business. "Okay. First, how did you get level fifteen so fast?" Jane asked genuinely curious. If I knew Jane she was dying to know. "I caught the attention of an important somebody." He adjusted his hood and in his shifting robes I could make out a curious outline. A shield? "Did you catch that?" Cobaj asked. "A tank then?" I kept my eyes on the TV. "No, i''m not looking at him, the houses look." Sure enough there were flashes of sunlight, barely visible in the already bright setting. "I was waiting for you to notice. I hope his class is a tank cause that''s morse code." Nojas hadn''t moved from his postion. His eyes were glued to the screen. I never bothered to learn Morse Code. They did though. I just learned the signaling code that Cobaj devised for just us three. It covered a wider range of communication than just flashes of light or sound. Of course we use that too but in a game setting so many ways of communication become viable. This method of communicating since it was unique to us helped us greatly. We''ve had years to develop it. It could be the way I lead an opponent around in a duel, a subtle gesture in conversation or simply a random phrase where it would normally be overlooked. "What''s it say I missed the beginning." Cobb was squinting at the TV now. "Target spotted." Nojas smiled. "What''s your class Hendrick? And how specific can they get? What fields do they cover and how is yours decided? At this point all we know is that we gain them at level fifteen from beta testers but how is that decided?" When Jane finally stopped he answered. "I could tell you the process but that would ruin the surprise. It''s reliant on you just playing up to level fifteen without any influence. If I were to tell you then you might get a class you aren''t suited for." It was true thinking about it. "So you won''t tell the viewers anything?" Jane slumped. "I''ll tell you that they get very specific, even my viewers didn''t get to see the process, I shut my stream off for it and recorded it for later in case people want to witness how I got my class once it becomes public knowledge. I will tell you on thing though." He said. "What is it?" Jane beamed. I chuckled. I knew how easy it was to lead her on. "They can get very specific but my class is very simple." He paused and cocked his head to the side a bit. "Well?" She was practically begging. "What''s it called?" "Protector." He said. In the same moment he swung his shield arm and shattered three crossbow bolts mid air. His momentum didn''t go to waste as he circled around Jane to protect her. The angle of the camera shifted to first person. We were witnessing the attack live from Jane''s perspective. It was a bad angle and nothing could be seen when enshrouded with white robes. At the same time the emotional suspense and constant battering against Hendrick gave a different appeal. Hendrick was smiling, his innocent gaze turned into one of a gentle protector. "I have a platinum stream license by the way." He smiled down to her. "W-what?" We couldn''t see her face but she was in shock. "Sorry, you know what that means, I have jurisdiction here. Tune in to my stream to see what happens next." He shot a smile at the camera before it winked out. His grin was comical and got a chuckle from all three of us, he didn''t seem the joking type but in the face of big profits sides of us come out that we don''t think exist. We did exactly what he suggested and found his stream. "God that was some good media. The guy knows his rights." Cobaj praised. "He must''ve stolen millions of viewers just from being on VRN." Now the combat was from Hendrick''s perspective. He was hunched over an elf girl. When the attackers realized their crossbow bolts weren''t working they advanced on foot. Their target wasn''t clear to the viewers, it could either Hendrick or the girl and that same question was shown in the way Hendrick''s head shifted. I could almost read his thoughts. He was indecisive of his method of protection, leading the enemies away to follow him. Or standing his ground and risk having Jane in harms way for no good reason. In the end he chose to stay, it was what I would have done as well. The first method was too risky. As they neared he reached into his robes and pulled out another shield, he had a small shield on each arm. I wondered on how he handles combat, it was surprisingly straight forward. The guy could take a hit, he took full swings on his chest and knocked them down with his shields. Sure it wasn''t flashy but it was efficient and earned my respect. I would have done something more appropriate for the viewers but I guess he''s hoping they''ll forgive him and know he''s not taking any risks when it comes to saving Jane. That in itself shows his character. Jane hid behind the man the whole time so even when the battle was done their actual target wasn''t clear. As the adrenaline wore off Hendrick tended to Jane. We stopped watching shortly after. "Seems like a nice guy, I like how he didn''t try anything and instead just did his best to protect Jane." I complimented. "That''s because you have a thing for Jane." Nojas poked me, grinning. "You know you do." The fucker poked me some more. "Fuck the fuck off bro." I shifted slightly. "Want to go sparring?" "Not when you''re like that." Cobaj called over his shoulder breaking us up. He had moved to his computer and was browsing the Twoen forums. "Channel 985, World of Twoen." He told us, swiveling to face the TV. A message popped up asking us if we wanted to buy the channel to which I responded yes. It was a multi-channel meaning it covered different categories within the subject that we could tune in to, this one being Twoen. Among the options presented were world lore, dungeons, player disputes, new discoveries, items, quest and npc interaction. I chose player disputes. Of course they were covering Hendrick, apparently the players who attacked them were indeed after Jane and were sent by another news organization. "What do you guys want to look at?" I asked them while the TV droned on. "NPC interaction." Cobaj rolled his chair closer to the TV. There was no reporter this time but just a voice following a video. "In the deserts of Ari the hulking figures walking among the dunes are often ignored. Many believe them to be monsters. One player among many decided to meet them and see for himself. His name is Chris and what he found was amazing." The camera cut to an interview angle of who I assumed was Chris sitting in a bar. There was a drink in his hands and he looking into the camera. "It was incredible! A whole race of people twenty meters tall! And I talked to one! Me!" He was wide-eyed. "His name was Got and he was huge. His people are know as the Tyou. I asked him why I see them walking around in the sandstorms that plague Ari, Got told me he lives there! It''s insane!" The screen shifted to someone standing on the edge of what I recognized was Tote. In the distance a raging sandstorm approached, faint outlines walked undisturbed through the storm. "Have you seen those sandstorms? Impossible. He told me a few things about his people, when he finally noticed me that is. I skimmed over that part didn''t I?" He slowed down. Now it was the first person view of Chris. He was yelling upwards, running full sprint to keep up with the Tyou''s stride. "Hello! Hello!" He took a swig of water from a waterskin at his side and continued. "Hello! Hello!" After long minutes there was lull in the wind, silence for only a moment and his voice was heard. The figure paused and looked around before spotting Chris. He paused and I could feel the fear from Chris. "It was incredible! Huge! Got didn''t even realize some was yelling for ten minutes! The wind muffled a lot of sound but still!" He laughed. It cut back to the first person of Chris. "Yes?" A deep rumbling voice rolled through Chris. Back to the bar. "Can you imagine my face when Got actually replied? That moment will be ingrained in my memory forever!" He slammed his drink down. The desert came back and Chris paused for a long moment. "Can we talk!" He adjusted his satchel and took out his notebook. "What shall we talk about, little one?" With that Got sat down against the dune sending sand in all directions. After that Got told Chris about his people and his life, how he used to live in the Light Freeze and how he has family there waiting for him. His story was amazing and eventually the shifting between Chris at the bar and Chris at the desert stopped. Eventually the viewer was just there. They were sitting right there beside Chris and Got listening to a man tell his story. "How old are you? I mean if that''s okay." Chris asked. "I am old even among my own people. It is why I walk." Got responded. By this time, through Chris'' questioning, the cultural importance of walking to the Tyou becomes clear. It''s something he didn''t completely share but we got the sense walking was of great cultural significance. "Did you have fun? Living your life that way? Walking your life I mean." Chris asked innocently. Got tended to use the word walk rather than live. I don''t think Chris had the tact to realize it but he was talking to a very old Tyou. One on the verge of dying. It was obvious to the viewer he was a dying Tyou but also clear that Got didn''t really care too much. In fact it seemed he enjoyed the questions. To me he seemed so much like a grandfather. "Fun?" Got blinked and a tear rolled down his face. "I had much fun walking my life, much fun." His rumbling voice broke at the end. "Good." Chris left it at that. And he just sat with him. Not everyone can walk forever after all. With that the program ended. Chapter 20 - Ruins ~LoneJones POV~
Welcome back to Twoen, LoneJones.
The log in screen welcomed me back to virtual immersion. I looked around our hovel, it looked like we were safe. It didn''t even seem like the gorillas came into the throne room. "We all good?" Cobb was regretting not finding a comfortable position. "Cause i''m not." His face was the picture of pained annoyance. "Warm up your muscles, you know Fire Magic don''t you?" JST pointed out. Cobb manifested small orbs of gentle green flame and brought them close, using their heat to stave off the stiffness. There was a small smile on his face while he let out a sigh of contentment. His green features never seemed so fragile, they normally looked focused and sharp but now his translucent emerald skin was soft on the eyes. It reminded of a complete different satisfaction there was to playing. Besides following stats and anticipating new levels or abilities people often forget the possibility of other things. You could go into town and get a genuine message and enjoy life, you could drink a night away with strangers, you could talk to a Tyou. Right now though, well, we were basically huddled in a hole in the wall. The gentle green glow from his flames lit up the whole alcove and JST''s face as well, sitting close together the scene gave me a sense of deja vu. The memories of another world played through my head. ~FLASHBACK~ Unidentifiable floating specks permeated the air, behind them an endless jungle. The trees, if you could call them that, were a gentle lavender. Despite their soothing color, they loomed overhead and around the jungle, their presence was foreboding, their scent lulling us into a sense of false safety. In their branches they housed the deadliest animals on the planet, some not even predators. Their flowing branches gently lead you astray until they change from flowing to twisted, their true nature revealed, the apex predator. Above, the sky, what little of it I could see was a baby blue in direct contrast with the imminent danger we''re in. My feet sank into the strange purple grass as I followed the two figures in front of me through the twisted branches. They were my brothers, both didn''t seem to appreciate the danger of the Purple Wilds. If I didn''t know any better I would assume they just took the name at face value and thought it was some children''s playground. "Ah, here it is!" My oldest brother slew a hunk of charging purple fur but he wasn''t talking about that. He was pointing to the trunk of a tree. "Now little brother, watch this." My other brother winked at me. "As we slay the so called apex predator of the Purple Wilds!" He swished a cape he didn''t have. That day we killed a Laven, one of the predatory trees in the Purple Wilds. It was in Proyu Systems a game focused on alien life, there was no space travel however, you began in an alien world. It was launched with an agreement between a research agency curious to see how humans would interact with different forms of viable life based off readings of distant planets possibly supporting life. I was around eleven years old at the time, still not old enough to realize my brothers were completely lame. That night we killed a Laven we spent it in the hollow of its trunk we carved out, nothing but a small fire and the scent of lavender as they recounted their adventures in games I wasn''t old enough to play. That day was when my real love of gaming began. ~END~ "So how do we find the Queen?" I wondered as I stopped my illusions and we exited our resting spot. "I say we go grab a couple of Geckans and torture them to find out." JST gently suggested. "My new sword is thirsty for killing!" He poked at the air like a fencer, sending drops of water forward. "Wrong sword." I pointed out. "Where''d you get that anyway? The last thing we need right now is for you to steal something from a cursed necromancer''s dragon again." Cobb looked at him expectantly. "That was an accident alright, how was I supposed to know that dragon was cursed? I got it off the blue gecko in armor so we''re fine, chill out." He crossed his arms. "It''s called Riptide! I named it myself." He said with a smirk "Riptide? It looks more like Drip." I quipped. "There''s not even enough water on that for a puddle." I noticed the thin layer of condensation. "It doesn''t matter if you thought it was cursed or not it was a fucking dragon!" Cobb raised his voice a bit. "Forget it, forget it. Let''s focus on our next move." After much debate, that is JST arguing to fly down using one of the flying serpents rather than walking. Even through his assurances of our apparent safety we decided to walk down. On the walk we experimented with our magic deeply since we weren''t in any danger in these tunnels, we were friends with the inhabitants. Illusion Magic and Animation Magic don''t mix. It''s as if Illusion Magic has a mind of its own too wild and fickle to be tamed and tied down to reality. When Cobb had tried to animate my magic directly he said it felt like it was already alive. In a sense it was. What would he breathing life into? My magic already lives. The idea stemmed from his creation of Greenhat, he had animated him from Earth Magic so he proposed his idea to me. I agreed, it was something to do on the walk after all. My illusions weren''t real, they weren''t supposed to be, but they were alive. He actually succeeded in animating his Fire Magic though. The animation held strong and the entity of fire walked around with us for a while, even conversing to an extent. "Hello?" His voice sounded like a waving torch, discovering tunnels long forgotten. "Woah, fire guy. Cool." JST tested the heat with his sword, which steam rose from the second he got close. "Hey there." "My name, what is it?" The entity spoke again. "FireGuy." JST declared, Cobb shrugged apparently he didn''t care too much this time. "Where are we?" "In a tunnel." I chimed in. "We''re gonna go kill a Geckan Queen." "Do you feel like joining us?" Cobb probed. Of course he could''ve brought the hammer down and commanded him to, at least I think he can. For now he was experimenting and taking mental notes on FireGuy''s behavior. There was silence for a long time as we continued walking. It was completely dark and we all had our own way of seeing things but FireGuy was looking around since he was literal lightsource. His body was solid fire but his facial features were covered in flame so they were hard to discern assuming Cobb gave him the knowledge of them. I was hearing some type of hissing sound barely perceptible. "Is there more to see? To experience?" It asked. "Yes." Cobb kept it simple. At that point FireGuy abruptly turned green and flickered back to red. He was blinking red and green until it stopped, he didn''t even seem to notice. At the same I realized the hissing sound was JST making a show of inspecting his scimitar before flipping it over and sending droplets splattering against FireGuy. I didn''t think he was doing it on purpose until I saw his mouth curl up a bit. This guy is such a child. "Huh." I heard Cobb say mostly to himself. "Then I will go."And then he died. Or rather dispersed. The problem was that although Animate gave it life, the target of the animation was the Fire Magic itself. Without Cobb constantly fueling the Fire Magic the creation would fall apart. In the end FireGuy as JST called him was a cool existence, or should I say hot? His creation gave deep insights into the magic. "So it''s useless then? I mean, if you''re trying to combine magics with it?" JST asked, looking dissapointed. "You''d have to fuel it the whole time." "Not necessarily, as long as I have the mana it could be very useful. I don''t have to think at all, only fuel the magic, of course normally it wouldn''t be a problem for me. In a large scale battle though? Can you imagine the things i''d have to keep track of? The strain on my mana might be worth the relieved mental pressure." His jet black eyes were sparkling.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Always for the strategy." Me and JST shared a knowing look. An hour later we were leaving the shade of the Great Tree and trekking towards the Geckan Battle Arena. We were going for the bonus. When we arrived the Arena was no more, I noticed the distinct lack of the structres presence after we passed the guard building. As we neared it became clear that the sturdy wooden beams had collapsed and the Arena was destroyed. In the ruins of the structure, dog-sized creatures feasted on the remains of various other bodies, Geckans among them. With a gesture from Cobb I scouted forward looking for a passage into the battle cages. I found a half broken trapdoor about ten meters from the nearest body flipped open and I crawled through the sandy tunnel. When I emerged into the battle cages they were all broken open, metal cages were crushed inward so that they couldn''t close, metal doors were detached from their hinges. The gates that were sturdier were swinging on their hinges sending creaking noises echoing up and down, the noise was jarring. On the walkways there were a myriad of paw prints, clawmarks and other footprints I couldn''t attribute to a particular creature. Under all of them however was the same deep rugged groove in the sand. I followed the groove around the complex and realized it led straight back to me, it seemed whatever came in and freed everything entered through this Arena entrance. As I exited I registered that the trap door even when unbent wouldn''t have fit over this tunnel. Something had burrowed down? I reported my findings to my brothers. "Not good Cobb. This whole area got a lot more dangerous." Though we were quite covered JST took a cursory glance around. Cobb raised three golems from compact sand around us. They were clad in rock armor and weaponry pulled from an outcrop nearby. Two had a shield and spear, one had a sword and shield. They were reminiscent of roman spartans. Behind me a samurai formed from the sand at my feet and behind JST a military commando formed. I was surprised at first but then I realized why limit yourself to the fantasy setting? We''ve been using techniques across games, across worlds. Why recruit a Sand Geckan where there deadlier warriors from other worlds, from earth? It was something I haven''t thought about and I was honestly surprised Cobb could still impress me like this. "Hah!" All three Sand Spartans jerked me back to reality. They stomped their feet and banged their sword on their shields, it wasn''t as effective as metal on metal but it worked. The spartans had a cape of sand flowing behind each of them. They had the traditional spartan helment with the crest on top. Their arms were defined and muscular, they wore a rock curiass and greaves. Each of their faces seems slightly diffrerent yet very detailed, Cobb had outdone himself. They already looked battle-hardened and had dark stubble across their face. How did he make sand darker? Watching them stand together was almost like glancing in a mirror, their interactions between each other showed a sense of ease and comfort only found in brothers. They seemed so alive, what was his stat, ENL, Enliven, what was that at? "We await your command my liege!" They came to a knee and thumped their hand arm to their chest. Their voice was powerful and filled with vitality. "Rise!" They did. "I''m no more your master than I am your brother. " "Hah!" They shouted. The Sand Commando looked like he was wearing desert camo, mainly because it was actual sand. He actually had a rifle slung across his chest and he was holding it in a resting stance, finger near the trigger and pointed down. In his cargo pants were various pockets and holsters. One of which contained his pistol. He had knives strapped to his hips as well. Adorning his head a hat with a wide brim covered his neck from all sides. Taken together, along with his stance and professional air yet rested ease the man seemed deadly. His countenance was that of a grizzled veteran and scars accentuated his jawline. His jawline probably cut itself, it was so sharp. At the moment he was talking to JST whom he formed behind. "Sir!" He didn''t have the display of respect the spartans did but it was clear he was talking to an authority. "Hey I like this sir business! Can you hold your own in a fight, George?" JST inspected his gear. "Or is all that just for show?" He gestured. I raised my eyebrow slightly as he took off his rifle sling and adjusted his hat. I had just assumed all his equipment stuck together. He stood there and beckoned JST forward a grin on his sandy face. The man looked capable. "First would-be lethal." JST said. He set Drip down and apporached bare-handed, that earned a raised eyebrow from the man named George. "Isn''t your Strength stat kind of overpowered here?" I asked remembering the other figure behind me. I gave the stoic samurai a glance, he was just watching the fight. I trusted my green brother to not create a hostile samurai so I turned my attention back to the fight. They clashed going for grapples and takedowns insteadof punches. Surprisingly I watched as JST was brought to the floor, it wasn''t for long though he escaped in the next second. JST was constantly shifting his method of attack lunging for George''s base and manipulating his momentum masterfully. The spartans were cheering, for who I couldn''t say. Cobb was by them smiling at his work just as incensed as the spartans were. George came out in a roll as JST went on the offensive, abruptly he turned around and froze surprised. He had paused to turn around only to find JST closer than he judged. "Gotcha." In my brother''s hand was a knife made of sand. It was a standard military combat knife. "Likewise friend." His mirthful voice followed his smirk. I walked a bit to get a better angle, between them George had his pistol aimed for the bottom of JST''s head. "Draw." Cobb''s voice broke the silence and the two combatants seperated. George holstered his pistol with practiced ease, despite only existing for ten minutes. JST returned the knife and George stashed it away. "Alright I''ll believe it. If his pistol actually shoots." JST picked up Drip and used it to gesture to a nearby tree. "Come on friend try a bit harder." He gave JST a suffering look. A bird cawed overhead. "The bird." JST crossed his arms. George tracked the bird for only a moment, his eyes tracked its path under the shade of his hat. In a short second his pistol was out and bang resounded across the ruins. There was a squawk from above and feathered carcass fell at JST''s feet. Impressive. JST uncrossed his arms and inspected the shot, the sandy wound was clean through the chest of the bird, which seemed normal despite living in the Uncharted. "Alright you win George." JST threw up his arms. He got up and they clasped hands. "A good match, kid." He said. It made sense, normally you would think that guns were overpowered and shouldn''t mix with the fantasy setting. However when magic is as versatile as it is and there are armors made from dragon scale and giant leather? Modern weaponry becomes less efficient, it technological superiority always equaled by magical application. It''s no surprise that Twoen allows it. In fact with a world as detailed as Twoen I probably should have expected it. If you allow guns in a fictional world you have an excuse to add other technological advancements from the real world and then you have more plot material and world depth. Civilizations and races like the Dwarf are usually the ones who have that type of background but judging from the various sentient races just from character creation Twoen may indeed be different. One of the things I look forward to is finding civilization and how this world is outside of the Uncharted. I sat there also wondering how these animations would function. How did they even get that level of skill simply from Cobb''s imagination? Did the system fill everything in? Are they under complete control of Cobb or not? Actually, I remember Cobb imbuing Greenhat with a sense of loyalty so they aren''t directly tied to Cobb''s will after creation. This type of magic seems to have a lot of holes but so far I haven''t seen any technical problems with any skills otherwise so maybe Twoen actually has it figured out. Earlier JST brought up the fact that if you could breathe life into things could you bring them back from the dead? Could this magic step into the bounds of Holy Magic, Necromancy or the equivalent? We tested this out by choking a Geckan to death and trying to animate it. It didn''t work. Theoretically it should at least move the body but even that didn''t work. I wouldn''t put it past Twoen to have a plausible reason that it didn''t work either. For now I''d just leave that for Cobb to get frustrated over. A tap on my shoulder, I almost forgot about the samurai. "Jack." He introduced himself. He had a japanese accent but it wasn''t heavy. I bowed, mimicking his gesture. His armor was heavy, various plates made of stone hung from his body. His head had the samurai helmet that covered the neck completely. He was wearing armored gloves and greaves as well. His face was sharp but he seemed age, wise. Somehow he had a whispy goatee made of sand, if that''s even possible. His curiass covered his torso and if I didn''t know it was sand I would''ve thought it was leather. In his hilt was his katana and on the other side was a shorter tanto. He was older than George going from looks alone but instead of looking battle-hardened he exuded a sense of wisdom beyond his years. He was holding his helmet on his hip and his hair was in a bun. "Samurai Jack huh?" I repeated amused. I wonder what the spartans were named? He nodded in response. Not one for words then. "Cut!" I gripped a pebble with my toes as I turned around to walk away and threw it at him, fast. The sound of his katana entering back into it''s sheath was the only thing I heard before two soft thumps in the sand. "Good." I said. The dog-sized creatures earlier were some type of large insect, they were more scavenger than hunter though so we were left alone. I had gotten used to their chittering mandibles but another sound now caught my attention. From within the forest I could clearly hear a galloping gait. What exited the forest were two white creatures, they loped toward us in a relaxed fashion but their speed was nothing to scoff at. They seemed capable of bipedal movement but they moved like a gorilla, walking on large knucklsd, there were blue streaks on their otherwise white skin. They were large and had a ridiculous hunchback. Their back protruded up at nine feet tall whereas their head was only at four feet, I couldn''t think of a viable reason for that at all. The rest of my group seemed to notice and we turned to face them as they loped through the ruins. Swords being sheathed, weapons unholstered, shields being leveled and a green flame prepared for battle. Their fangs were bared but every now and then their mouth would close as they cast worried glances behind them. Right before coming into our range they split and passed us on each side running away like puppies dissapearing into the forest. We had all turned our heads to follow the beasts not quite relaxing until they fully dissapeared.
Quest: Track down the Beast A monster capable of destroying the Geckan Battle Arena has freed the monsters living within. Track it down and decide what to do with it. Rewards: +Dependent on method of completion.
"I say we kill it. Those in favor say aye." JST broke the silence. Chapter 21 - Snakes ~Cobb POV~ Creating the Animations altogether took all of my Squad Points, Greenhat took about 110 while the Rock Tree Boa took the same amount. Both were strong in their own ways but I''ve learned much in the time spent contemplating, the results were showing. Beforehand I had imbued them with knowledge of Twoen so that they wouldn''t be surprised by the creatures appearing. I don''t know how they would hold up against minions that cost the same from another class but I was confident in their abilities. I purposely chose very versatile warriors. Even know I can see George inspecting his equipment, he was methodically dissasembling his weapons and putting them back together. Next to him the Spartans were sharpening their weapons using rocks they had picked up from the surroundings. I asked them for their names, the sword-wielder was Gaius, the spearmen were Lucius and Marcus, I had no say in it, I believe that I could give them a name but I chose not to. In contrast to their prepping Jack was sitting crosslegged and meditating, his katana across his lap, his helmet resting in front of him. Earlier I had briefed them of our position and surroundings, in short they now know as much as we do about the Uncharted. More accurately, barely anything. I glanced around debating which direction to take, our lead was the Arena and now we have no idea where the Queen could be. For all we knew she could be on the other side of the Uncharted. Jones motioned meoff to the side, closer to the tree line. "How are they so real?" His eyes were resting on Lucius and Marcus who were chatting amicably. His gaze turned back to me when I didn''t answer immediately. "You know I have almost perfect memory, right?" I raised an eyebrow at him. He nodded. "Let''s just say there was a time when I was very interested in warriors throughout history. Eventually I ended up reasearching modern military as well." "So these are the results of just information gleaned from just research?" He seemed surprised, and his face turned to the Animations again. "There''s no way. It''s too real." "Not gleaned." I stressed. "Analyzed, recorded, compared, examined and studied. Video analysis, written accounts, descriptions." I crossed my arms and looked to my creations. Although they aren''t really mine are they? For now they''ll do but if i keep making conscious Animations something might go wrong. "Why were you even searching that up?" The kid still didn''t believe me. "Because Jones if you want to use magic then inspiration is everywhere." I was peeved and it was showing in my voice. "Really now?" He said sarcastically. I guess I can''t blame him this is his first time he''s used magic this intricate. He needs an example. "You see this tree?" I pointed behind me to an ordinary tree. "Yes?" "Of course you do." I held up a finger. "But let''s say there was a charging bull. Would he see the tree?" "Yes. But I don''t see the point of-" I interrupted him. "Of course he would but all it takes is a little illusion and then you have the bull charging straight at a fake Jones and into a tree." I enjoyed the mild "huh" expression on his face. "Magic differs depeding on what you use. I could come up with that strategy but if I was using Fire Magic i''d just set the damn cow on fire." He blinked. "It isn''t just the tree that''s the inspiration Jones, it''s the environment. Illusion Magic is about your imagination, it has limitless potential. In the same vein, I took to heart what the description of Animate said "various insights into the workings of life" as it was put. Isn''t it better to Animate a soldier when you actually know one?" "I guess I could buy that but isn''t that kind of strong for a skill?" "I think for our level i''m at a decent strength. Twoen does a good job of balancing. If you think about it those ridiculous hunchback creatures that just loped by us would have gave us a run for our money. Even then you and JST would be doing the most damage along with my magic. That isn''t to say the Animations are completely useless, they''re warriors that fought other people after all. When we fight humanoids, that''s when I think they''ll shine. For now though, they''re gonna have to learn how to fight monsters. That shouldn''t be a problem though, they''ll get the hang of it." I began to walk back to the group, Jones followed. "And why''s that?" He asked curiously, easily keeping pace. "They''re aren''t afraid to put their life on the line." I said. Our group huddled in as I approached. The spartans stood to attention, shield and weapon clanging together. George saluted and returned to a resting stance, gun down, finger by the trigger. Jack dipped his head down in acknowledgement and put his helmet on. JST flipped me off. I facepalmed. "Where to, sir?" George was the one to ask. Jack was too quiet and Gaius, Lucius and Marcus were content infollowing orders. "We have no leads but I want to find the beast responsible for this wreck." I gestured around us. "If anything we''re headed that way." I pointed. "Hah!" Gaius stomped his feet. "The hunt is upon us, my liege!" Lucius and Marcus cheered as well. "You want to go toward the thing?" George asked surprised. "Sir." He added after gathering his wits. "We know little about the enemy, it would be a fools quest. We cannot protect all of you. Though your friend seems capable you and the child cannot be guarded reliably." Jack''s voice was strong and soft. It carried through the group, his little words so far had us straining to hear what he had to say. "Protect us? We''re gonna be protecting you Jack." Jones sounded genuinely surprised. Jack was skeptical but didn''t say anything more. Seeing that he was unconvinced Jones shook his head, he''d have to prove it sometime later. "You ready bro?" I directed towards JST who was moving fluidly through a blade style I hadn''t seen in a while. He stopped moving through his forms and looked around. "What are we waiting for?" We took it slow throughout the ruins in case something was lurking nearby, bodies littered the sand we had fought on previously, most unrecognizable, though that could''ve been due to our lack of knowledge. Jack moved to my side still unconvinced about my ability to protect myself. I found the effort he put into his role amusing, his eyes were scanning the collapsed wood around us and his hand was gripping the hilt of his katana. At times I would sense a heat signature nearby, the dog-sized bugs from earlier. As it would come nearer Jack''s grip would tighten before relaxing again as it came into view. All the while I would continue walking forward oblivious. My heat sense wasn''t perfect enough to guage facial expressions but I would assume that his would be perplexed seeing as how I had apparently not noticed the very noticable chittering. George walked with Jones. I found it fitting since they were both the most versatile. George didn''t argue with us when we told them we were more than capable but apprarently he wasn''t taking any chances. He took controlled strides, his weapon partially raised as we advanced forward. To his burden Jones'' movements were carefree but I knew him better than most. He was always moving in the open and his position was always vulnerable, at least to a normal person. Taking his agility into account I could always see at least two ways he could retreat. If he even needed to. "Crazy kid." I heard him mutter which meant Jones definitely heard too. Jones'' smile only got wider, a sparkle in his eyes. JST was leading. He was explaining something about the make of his sword to Gaius while Marcus and Lucius chatted only a few steps behind them. If I strained my hearing I could hear them. "Curved swords like Riptide here are better for slicing, the curvature allows the blade more contact time when you swing." They''d be seeing a lot of different weapons as we journey, assuming they make it that far. "And mine my liege?" Gaius face was eager, holding up his gladius. From our short interaction I judged him to be an optimistic person, he was smiling despite my brief earlier. I guess in Sparta you had to cope with what life threw at you some way. "Cutting, chopping and thrusting. Your blade is thicker, heavier and straight, all that facilitates those three modes of attack. If we have time after we get through this hell hole i''ll teach you a thing or two." He patted Gaius on the shoulder and glanced backwards. "I could teach you guys a few little tricks about the spear too if you''re down." "Down?" They asked puzzled. Oh god no. "Man am I gonna have fun teaching you." He grinned. By now we had passed the tree line. The forest now became more akin to a jungle as we progressed further. The sun was beginning to reach its apex, the heat with it. With the cover of the trees we were shielded from the sunlight but also from the wind which we had become accustomed to. Without the gentle breeze cooling us off we began to sweat, not ridiculously so, the warmth was noticeable though. I wasn''t quite sure how the Animations would react to changes in temperature. Judging from their fidgeting they were affected too, with a glance to Jack''s sandy face I confirmed it. They were definitely sweating something, probably something like sandy salt water, right now his face was only slightly damp. The spartans were the only ones who didn''t seem affected, they trudged on through the thick underbrush. George had already readjusted his hat a few times to get comfortable. I was curious about how they worked so I asked a question. "Are you thirsty Jack?" I asked the sandman to my right. "Yes." No complaints, no pleading, just confirmation. I took the moment to look for a new magic, water would be helpful, immensely so. I closed my eyes. I conjured dense orbs of solid green fire around me. I think I startled Jack, he almost fully removed his katana from its sheath. He had taken a step back and then two forward eyeing the orbs.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "It''s fine I told you I wasn''t helpless." I told him, peeking with my right eye to give him a sideways glance. I circled the orbs around me until it became second nature. I split my focus and sent rolling waves of dirt around me before pulling them back. "Also me." Before Jack could say anything. Slowly I altered the orbits of the orbs until I was akin to an atom. I sunk my feet in the dirt and felt the earth, using this to sense my surroundings and glide forward. Then I sensed for water. Not the liquid, the feeling. Refreshment, thirst, nourishment. There are many ways that magic can be awoken, if that''s the path the game wants to take. One that i''ve already used is raw feeling, looking for an emotion or phantom sense yields results. Other times while one magic might be discovered through one method the rest do not. Attributing the elements to familiar concepts is the easiest however. When I couldn''t immediately find it I focused on my orbs and truly felt what the fire was. It was power, rage, life and warmth, the hotblooded older brother. The dirt was solid, dependable, protective, the father who carries his family on his back. Water had to be the caring mother, nourishing, gentle, calming. That meant wind had to be the little sister, fun, fickle, carefree, and easily distracted. I felt submerged for a second and then the feeling of a light breeze replaced it then they both dissappeared. Looking around George was staring at me but seeing Jones and JST''s reaction he calmed down a bit. After watching the previous two demonstrations Jack had accepted it for what it was while the spartans were looking at me in awe. The feeling for magic is different for everyone, sometimes it''s temperature or emotion, which is the most common. The strangest account i''d seen was feeling texture. To my knowledge my experience was strange as well, it was always a concept and a feeling combined. With these two I felt the calm depths of the ocean and the freedom of flying.
Water Magic - Beginner 1 (0%) Perhaps the true wonder of Water Magic is the ability to conjure water, an essential to living. Only the truly calm and serene can harness the power of water. There have been many wizards, mages and magicians who prove that wrong however, somehow staying calm in the face of battle, yet seeming fierce and ferocious. Water is seen as the calm element but it can be just as deadly as Fire and Wind. Effects: +3% effectiveness of offensive Water Magic
I wholeheartedly agreed. Each has their own strengths, sure water can be just as deadly as fire but that isn''t how you would want to use it to get the best effect. The same is true for the other elements.
Wind Magic - Beginner 1 (0%) Freedom. That is the understanding most mages have of Wind. The ability to control Wind Magic is rare. Many attain it but settle to releasing the wind in a certain direction working around the nature of the magic. When a talented mage can control the wind itself he as unlocked a weapon immensely powerful. An invisible one. Effects: +3% effectiveness of offensive Wind Magic
"Are you okay man?" Somehow JST had gotten very close. "What?" I asked puzzled. "It''s been three hours bro." He said. "Why do you think we''re all sitting down?" Three hours? How long was I out? "I was unlocking new magic, it shouldn''t have taken more than a few minutes!" I said shocked. "We haven''t moved much but I had Jones and George scout ahead. There''s a creepy building about two miles out." He estimated. "You were asking Jack if he was thirsty, does that mean?" He asked trailing off in the end. I''ll have to consider that for later. It takes longer to unlock, it didn''t seem hard but elemental magic has to be the most simple. "Yep." Concentrating a bit I conjured a ball of water and held it up for Jones as he tooks gulps of it mid air. I put it off my mind. "Ah finally fresh water!" He said between drinks. "Vine juice sucks. I ran out of berries a long time ago." They were the same ones I picked up. They have a water source? Oh is that it? I walked over to George who was sitting with Jack, leaving Jones to his drink. Both had thick vines across their laps, nearby the spartans were cutting down that very same vine. Lucius was walking back to the tree which they were resting on and he held the vine up to his mouth. He squeezed and clear water came out, a look of refreshment across his face. The vine became shriveled when was done with it and he threw it away. Still holding the ball of water up for Jones I asked them. "How''s that taste?" "Like vine." George said bluntly. I caught Jack nodding his head again. "Have a slurp." I gestured backwards to Jones. I formed five decently sized balls of water and hovered it in front of each of them, two of them moved to Gaius and Marcus who were cutting down vines. Marcus was using George''s combat knife it seemed. I walked away holding up the six balls of water in the back of my mind and after a while I felt the strain of my magic dwindle. I picked up the pile of discarded vines to find them quite spongey, with a thought I formed another ball of water and plunged the vines inside. Instantly they absorbed the water and when I pulled them out they were wet but not dripping, they held most of the water perfectly. I squeezed and noticed it didn''t come out of the membrane instead it came out the end of the vine like a hose. "Hold on to some of the vines, I can refill them for you." I told them. "In case we get seperated." George wrapped a long vine twice across his chest, the whole thing was still full of water. He grabbed an end of it, pulled and water squirted out the side that was cut open. Nodding his head he began checking his equipment. The spartans followed suit while Jack deigned to wrap one around his shoulder and neck. "Can we go now? I''m getting bored." My little brother wiped his arm across his mouth and let out a sigh. "Thanks by the way." His hairs twitched and he frowned. "Yeah-" JST''s head snapped to the side and up. "Shit!" He yelled. A mass of muscle descended upon us. George tried to hold Jones back but my little brother was already moving. JST had caught the creature on his shield but was brought to his knees. It was another damn snake except it had arms, muscular arms. It''s chest and arms were covered in mottled scales, from the bulging of its muscles I could see it was powerful. It''s lower body ended in a tail. It had fins, but they didn''t look like they were for swimming, they were fleshy and two were across its upper back, one on each forearm, one running the length of its back to its tail. Those fins were flexing and muscular as well. Rather than hissing it roared and its fins flattened. It held JST back with a single arm and used its other massive limb to punch his shield sending him backward inch by inch. Its tongue lashed out for a second and Jones dagger was there to cut it off. It roared in pain and with anger fueling it , threw JST backwards into the incoming spartans, they caught him and stood him up, scales fell from his chest. Looking at the arm of the snake JST had left a deep gash down the side of it. On his other arm were jab wounds that JST had inflicted while defending. George''s pistol had no effect. He switched to his higher calibur rifle and made a few dents, its scales weren''t getting pierced anytime soon. Jack, who was moving to help, took JST''s place. At first I was worried but aside from the initial lunge the snake was at a manageable speed, its real power was its defense and strength. Jack''s precise strikes towards the eyes caused the snake to pick his swings. "What the fuck is that thing?" George hand quickly reloaded his rifle. "My bullets aren''t doing anything!"
Inform Qeztl - Lvl 54 HP: 854/874 The Qetzl are serpentine half-men who traverse the jungle like water. Their fins, lining their body, are surprisingly effective at pushing against some sub-biomes within the jungle. They are slow and powerful but their fangs contain a powerful neurotoxin. Instead of direct combat, though they are completely capable, they opt to use their ease of movement and strong upper body strength to climb the jungle trees and drop down on prey.
"Jesus Christ." I whispered, there was another one behind me. Hyperfocusing, everything slowed down to a crawl as I turned around. Large fangs took up most of my view. I threw myself to the side aided by Wind Magic. I let the earth eat me and feeling my way around I emerged on the other side of the snake. It slithered towards me and I cut into its eyes with wind sending gouts of blood to the sides. It hesitated, blind, before tasting the air. I cut its tongue off as well. Around me blades of fire formed, I sliced at it but they didn''t penetrate the scales, it did however growl at the heat. I didn''t have time to roast the whole snake so I changed tactics. I erupted spikes around the snake, not in an attempt to pierce, but in order to prevent its movement. Spikes came up from the ground at an angle to stop it at its chest. Behind them more came to lock its chest in place. I began to conjure water behind me. From there the tail was restricted until only its arms flailed about smashing at the spikes. In short order I had those locked down as well, its struggled loosened the spikes though and I knew it would be free if left behind. Two spikes across the throat lifted the body up and hopefully made it harder for the thing to breathe. I englufed its head in a ball of water, focused on maintaining the earth spikes and quickly looked around to see who needed help. Jones was nowhere to be seen, George and Jack had teamed up fighting the original snake. JST fought his own snake as well, this one bigger than both mine and the first. The spartans were fighting their own too, Lucius and Marcus were holding it back by poking at its eyes with their spears. I could feel the struggles of my Qetzl dying down and looked backwards. Its body was still but I didn''t know how intelligent they were so I kept the water there and strengthened the spikes again. I ran to JST since he was the only one alone, as I passed George and Jack the snake lunged for them but the commando dodged to the side drawing his pistol and shooting the armpit. The snake roared and Jack and George shared a glance before fighting once more. As I was leaving George was shooting the eyes and face with his rifle, taking cover behind Jack. When the half-snake reached up to shield his eyes, Jack plunged his katana deep into the armpit, part of its scaled shoulder bulged upwards but no scales broke. I yelled to the spartans as I neared. "The armpit is weak!" They nodded grimly. I got into JST''s Arena and knowing that he was aware of my presence I didn''t waste any time. This particular Qetzl was almost twice the size of the one I subdued earlier. "Did you hear?" I said over the roar of pain. "Yeah, but wheres the fun in that?" JST called back, staring up at the Qetzl. JST was strangely discolored and i''ve seen his body in this condition before so I knew he was missing a lot of scales. With an unspoken understanding JST''s fighting changed, maybe his Warrior Bond kicked in? Instead of rolling backwards he went on the offensive. A massive arm descended towards his head but it was caught by a pillar of earth. I sent a steady stream of water at things face, it was a stupidly simple strategy and it was almost comical. The snake was blinded by a perfectly aimed hose that followed its face, it tried moving its face, swiveling its head but in the end it just looked stupid. Annoyingly JST ignored its weak spot and sliced at the chest. Already there were deep gashes and the blood of the Qetzl became more pronounced as my water washed it down the body. Most of its fins were snapped which I guessed my brother had broke sometime in the battle. JST ducked under a haphazard swing and was about to end its life with a stab to the heart. I swung a pillar of earth with all my might and right hooked the thing in the face. In Hyperfocus I could see its neck dislocate before the rest of its body followed and flew away. "Man fuck you. Kill stealer." JST walked over. "Oh wait I have to try something!" He ran towards the spartans. I repeated the process with the first Qetzl, securing the body and drowning it, just in case it lived that. To my surprise George and Jack were still fighting their opponent but the thing was bleeding out from its armpits. The whole scene was sad and I couldn''t help thinking that was animal abuse. They were within my range so I created a huge heavy hammer of very, very dense dirt. Using all the strength I had and Earth Magic I threw it up in a high arc. As it descended I felt its approach and adjusted it accordingly. ~George POV~ I repeated the process, finally we were gonna kill this thing. Would we be running into monsters like this everytime? Jack was in front of me ready to dart to the side and stab its underarm again. I shot at its eyes holding up my rifle. I heard a faint whistling sound. I frantically looked around for cover and pulled Jack with me, that''s the sound of goddamn artillery. The next thing I knew it was on the floor, its head exploded, and Jack and I were covered in brain matter. "Sorry!" Said the green man behind me. Partially embedded into the ground and where the snakes head was supposed to be was a gigantic brown hammer. I wasn''t trained for this. I resolved to be unfazed and take everything in stride from this world. ~Cobb POV~ "Sorry!" I forgot about the exploding part. I doused them in a heavy shower and realized alarmingly that they were made of sand. When the water cleared up they were brain free and perfectly in tact. I wonder how that works? Does the material which I work take properties of what the person would be? Would a turtle made of feathers be just as hard? Did it have to do with the Enliven stat? That would make the material more lifelike and explain all this. Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts a yell interrupted me. "Yeeeeehawwwww!" Oh god. Not again. Slowly I turned around and sure enough JST was riding the last Qetzl. "Howdy partner!" The Qetzl was bucking and his giant muscles didn''t let him reach over to his back. JST was using his fins as makeshift reins, whipping them like you might with a horse. To the side the spartans were cheering like usual. "What the fuck is this place." George said to my left. Jack grunted. "So I had to take care of a few of those snakes, I led them off to the side using illusions." Jones had come up behind us, I had sensed his heat signature. All he got back was silence. "Yeeeeeehawwwww!" "What is happening here. I left for five freakingminutes!" Jones sighed. Chapter 22 - Books ~JST POV~ It didn''t make any fucking sense. Why would a library be here of all places? The progress of crawling moss could be tracked all the way down to the bottom of the stone walls. Falling sunlight, sifted through the twisted jungle trees painted the library in bright shifting splotches. Through the delicate windows one could easily make out pristine books, undistrubed in the wilds of the jungle. The once hard wooden door was a contrast to the complex structure. Resting as if in eternal sleep surrounding the building were portions of the walls that had crumbled off. Small animals, of a type I hadn''t seen previously, hid under the failing roof, content to take advantage of sentient contruction. Despite the evident decay the structure was sound and well built, stretching further back than to the sides. It gave the impression one was in the shadow of something once great. Through the decay and ignoring the overgrowth I could see how it once would''ve been, towering tall and imposing upon the jungle, the massive building was indeed impressive. "This is what George and Jones found earlier." I said picking my steps forward. Tufts of grass, strangely uninteruppted by jungle brush, popped unevenly out of the dirt. A symbol of a battle hard won. "Now what''s an abandoned building like you doing out here?" Cobb''s jet black eyes landed gently on the structure, contemplating. "Sir, not to nag or anything but the sun''s coming down, we need somewhere to hole up. Still, doesn''t take that high a priority after seeing what you guys can do, established watches would be good enough if we don''t want to risk it in there." George pointed. "For all we know there could be traps or some kind of magic waitng for us." "Or a bear." We all looked at Jones. "A really big one." He corrected seemingly unfazed. "Jones not now." Cobb said. "Wrong. Don''t worry George we shouldn''t be in any trouble with all three of us on alert." I told them. "George we''ll be fine. If they aren''t warm blooded, they''ll still move the air, if not then JST''s got a ten meter bubble." Cobb told George. "And now that we''re down here I can feel through the earth again, it''s still probably not as accurate as JST''s Arena but its another layer of awareness." "What is your plan in dealing with traps?" Jack asked, his hand rested on his katana''s hilt. His voice was as light as his stance. It was a valid question but also easily solved. Something was off with the building, there were no other structures within a few miles of this place. I wholeheartedly agreed with Jack''s tense attitude. There could be danger lurking despite this calming setting. "We''ll have JST walk ahead he has the best spatial awareness." Cobb reasoned. Meanwhile the spartans were eyeing the building in awe, they seemed impressed with a library for some reason. Have they seen buildings like this before? Actually, that''s probably why. All they''ve seen are Greek and Roman buildings huh? By the time our talk was resolved I had reached the door. I reached for the handle and pushed it open, the wood creaking on old hinges.
Enteringthe dungeon Malvolio''s Library(Aged)
"Aged?" I said. " What''s that mean?" "The age determines the difficulty of the monsters. The longer a dungeon has been there the harder the monsters inside. If I remember correctly it goes Young, Old, Aged, Mythical, Legendary and Prehistoric. Young is anything below 150 years old. Old are dungeons that are 150 to 500 years old. Aged dungeons have been around anywhere from 500 to 1000 years. Mythical dungeons range from 1000 and 10,000 years old. Prehistoric dungeons are anything above that." Cobb was right behind me. "I had done reasearch last log." "But still to think we found a dungeon this early, an aged dungeon especially, it should be within our abilities but only just. If It were with anyone else I wouldn''t think we could clear it." Cobb continued. "Especially with George and everyone I don''t think we would be able to clear it at all." "Then high alert the whole time?" Jones suggested. "Sounds good." I said entering the library. "Keep an eye out for anything weird. I don''t like the fact this place is in the middle of nowhere." The first room was expected considering this was a library. There was a receptionist desk and on top of it were a stack of books. They were perfectly preserved. On the walls were various paintings and where there weren''t paintings there were shelves filled with books even though this was only the entrance. Deviating from the normal vibe of a library, there was a rather large fountain taking up the middle of the room. Unlit torches lined the walls of the room as well. "Where''s that sound coming from?" Jones was hearing something we couldn''t. "There''s nothing of the ordinary man." I told him looking around. I did hear water though. The room was silent as far as I could discern. Nothing seemed to have been distrubed in quite a while and yet at the same everything seemed practically new. Eerie. "Who seeks passage into Malvolio''s collection?" A voice boomed from the room. What the fuck! Instantly I was on alert. Cobb tensed, and Jones'' hairs were up. Leave it to them to be the first to react. I could see the slight tilt of Jones'' body, as if in position to attack. Moments later his presence seperated from his body and it only took me a second to realize I was now staring at an illusion. Then Cobb''s body followed, George''s rifle was raised and his eyes were scanning the room. The spartans were taking defensive positions and Jack had crouched low, ready to attack. I withdrew my sword from my belt, condensation sending drops of water out of the sheath. "You seek entrance water bearer?" The voice boomed once again. "Yes." I said after missing half a beat. Is he talking about my sword? I still couldn''t find the source of the voice. "You, warrior. I speak to the water bearer, not some wielder of a paltry enchantment." My grip tightened. If I could only see him he would be dead already. "Yes." The illusion of Cobb spoke. "We all seek entrance to Malvolio''s library." His voice was strong and confident and though the illusion couldn''t be reliable he didn''t seem very nervous at all. Something itched at the back of my mind and I knew Jones was getting in position on the ceiling. Warrior''s Bond was kicking in. Something was preventing Cobb from giving me any signals, something is preventing him from using any magic otherwise I would have been privy to our enemy. Instead I watched the clones of both my brothers. "Only the truly worthy, one''s even remotely capable of clearing the library can enter." The voice had a fluid aspect to it, each word connected to each other in sleek perfection yet it seemed powerful nonethless. It sounded like magic and it probably was. It''s something you pick up while playing these games. "So that Malvolio''s knowledge can spread and leave this place." There were ripples in the fountain. "Prove yourselves, warrior, water bearer, child." He spit the last part, easily, considering he was a water elemental and had just risen from the fountain. He had all the parts of the human in less detail, there were no fingers or toes or facial features, instead those were all replaced with smooth water. Inside of him the flow of crystal clear water could be discerned but the body stayed together despite the current. Does water damage damage a water elemental? No time like the present to find out. I ducked under the first watery appendage, and held my breath, a habit I picked up after fighting in an underwater cavern system. Water formed around me but didn''t stop me from hacking away, I did no damage at all, in fact I think he was taking the water right off my sword because it came back dry everytime. Jones dropped from above and cleaved a portion of the arm off which then neatly reformed. As he fell he took the other arm as well, which reformed too. "You cannot hurt me with the physical, fools." Jack had moved forward to decapitate the elemental form and the spartans moved to join him. "Insolent children!" I could hear the thump against Jack and the spartan''s chests. A powerful rush of water pushed us all back, leaving almost everyone sputtering and gasping for breath except for me and Jones. The wave was powerful enough to knock the air from us but nothing my scales couldn''t handle, I had no idea how Jones escaped but I wouldn''t put it past him. Cobb had split the water like Moses and was moving forward, through the tide and towards the elemental. Wave after wave came again and only careened to the side in the face of Cobb''s magic doing nothing to stop his advance. Impressive. "Deny my magic but you cannot kill me no matter-" It got hit in the face with a book. It turned to glare at me. Of course it was me. I couldn''t find anything to do so I just threw books at the thing. It sucked up some of its water but only or a moment. The book was ejected from the water completely dry. "Stop that!" It thundered as I pelted it. Cobb began seperating pieces of the elemental using his magic but that didn''t seem to be the correct way to proceed. After watching the books eject he smiled and backed off. Oh, this was gonna be good I could feel it through the bond. "Foolish human!" It said after regenerating its body once again. "Distract him boys." George''s bullets were the only thing that actually worked, they were made of sand after all. It seemed the swords and weapons of the other animations seemed to retain properties closer to steel and wood rather than sand. George''s bullets however reverted back to sand when embedded and soaked up some of its body, still the sand was ejected but it was clear it was taking some of its concentration. "My katana does little." Jack said pausing beside me. "Why do you not fight?" "You guys are enough to distract it. I just wanna watch." Too bad I couldn''t ride it. Cobb''s plan was still "Then help me out a bit." George said rolling away from a whip of water and ending up beside me. He unlatched his pistol and handed it to me stock first in perfect efficiency, before sprinting off into a new position. Oh cool. This I can get behind. I decided that if I were an elemental I would not like getting shot in the face, so i thenproceeded to shoot it in the face. Unfortunately I became a target so I had to fall back on old training, tumbling to the side in a controlled roll, coming up on my knee and taking measured shots, in the face of course. In the end my shots paired with Georges were slowing it down noticably but it really didn''t do anything to stop it. This was however, an ideal distraction. "Your sand does nothing but annoy me fools!" Despite that it seemed angry. That''s when the birds struck, flapping wings assaulted the elemental and plunged into its body drinking it up whole. The massive swarm assaulted the thing leaving no vision of anything except wings. My Warrior''s Bond actually gave me a heads up but something George said made me do a double take. "Flying books. Alright. Keep moving George. Ignore and forward." George was talking to himself again, something I noticed happening everytime we see something even slightly magical. "Ignore and forward." He repeated. Warrior''s Bond actually gave me the impression of birds, I had no idea how Cobb was gonna pull it off but I had complete faith. Instead they were actually the books around the rooms tucked into their shelves coming alive in an imitation of diving birds. Even now I could see them wriggling out of the shelves and catching themselves, flapping hard, getting their bearings, and diving straight for the water elemental. By the time I watched the process a second time my eyes followed the flying book to what was once the water elemental. As it was now it was just a pile of soggy books. I couldn''t find the face otherwise I would''ve shot it. "I do not know how you have brought the books under your command but I concede." The water elemental said. Cobb had walked up to the pile of books in the now soaked up fountain. "Magic." He smiled stupidly. Thats his most used joke and it''s not even funny. In real life its misleading but in here it''s a viable answer and he finds it insanely funny for some reason, the idiot. Some things we just don''t agree on, he thinks dumb jokes like that are funny when I enjoy decapitation but whatever. In a bright flash the torches surrounding the room lit up in searing heat. They shot towards us in thin deadly streams, I caught one on my sword and another on my shield. The rest dissipated. Fireballs followed the fading trails of fire and again I caught two. The rest merely disappeared in their trajectory. "A master mage? Of fire?" A silky fierce voice resounded across the room. Whereas the last voice echoed in the chamber, starting in the middle and bouncing off the walls this voice came from the walls and met in the middle in a powerful yet unmistakenly feminine sound. Swords of green fire took shape around Cobb as if to challenge the very nature of the elemental herself. "Green fire?" She said surprised. "One with Fire Magic in the Advanced tier conjures green fire? Posei what of his strength with water?" "He practices only in the Intermediate tier, laughable." The soggy pile of books replied. "He does however possess Water Magic." He mumbled. He sounded defeated, well he was defeated but his voice sounded like a petulant child. I was tempted to shoot one of the puddles of water and hope it was his face. "Two elemental magics? Strange indeed." The fire elemental said. "I concede." Instantly a gust of wind threatened to push us out the door, it was countered by another, but my sword had already planted itself into the ground. Immediately the wind was still, Cobb hadn''t even moved. Oh wait that''s just an illusion. I forgot that they were both illusions but I saw Jones inflicting real damage earlier so where did he go? Jones had somehow managed to hide himself and leave a decoy again. Wait, was I watching the real Cobb splitting the tide or not? Jeez how much were my brothers coordinating there? Jones'' Illusion Magic apparently had some type of power to mimic magic signatures too because the elementals have been directing their conjectures at Cobb''s clone. Then again it could''ve been the green one doing that rather than the spider brother. More blades of wind, only felt through my Arena, were cancelled. A particular batch of strong ones met my blade and shield There was only a whisper out of earshot and one of the flames flickered. I felt a familiar presence behind me. "There''s four elementals in here, the wind one is soft spoken but he said ''He knows the wind.'' to the fire elemental who is named Falme." Jones whispered behind me and tapped my shoulder signalling his leave.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. It made sense Jones had the best hearing after all. It felt as if there was a whisper in all of our ears. "I concede." Then, predictably the earth started rumbling and I fell into a stance used for perfect balance in unstable environs, my body fell with the towards vibrations and righting itself at the last moment. The method allows one to stay upright using the least amount of energy which I had actually learned from an accelerated game world, meaning the stance was invented completely within game but also completely viable. It was invented in a biome where earthquakes were part of the natural cycle and homes were built upon loose foundations. Cobb raised a single huge pillar up to the ceiling, breaking the floorboards and sank it back down into the ground. At the same time the rumbling stopped and I reverted to just standing normally. Four voices started arguing this time with a strong bass mixed in somewhere, the effect was beautiful but didn''t hide the fact that they were arguing. "Four?" One questioned. "Impossible." Another refused to believe. "He knows the wind. And he is Jjerg." A whisper. "To have that much understanding, it is on par with a Mastery skill." One reasoned. "Near impossible." Swirling into existence were four humanoid bodies. Fire came from the torches, water flowed from the books, earth came from the floorboards, and wind was barely visible. "I concede." The earth elemental said. "You may enter at leisure." The water elemental said.
Passage into Malvolio''s Library (Aged) earned. May enter and exit at leisure, guardians of the entrance will not hassle those who have earned passage. Those who have earned passage will be givenMalvolio''s Mark. This may influence future interactions.
A glow surrounded us brothers but left George, Jack, Gaius, Lucius and Marcus alone. Likely because they were with Cobb. I called up the relevant information.
Malvolio''s Mark Signifies approval of the legendary scholar and librarian Malvolio. Effects: +Reputation with libraries across Twoen increases. +May influence future interactions.
I made a sharp, short sound that was easily ignored unless you were constantly on alert for it. Even if heard it could be easily accepted as some weird unimportant noise. "Yes?" The invisible boy asked. "I want to fuck with them. Tell me their names." I said under my breath. "Falme, Posei, West and Thear." He responded, chuckling. "West is the wind and Thear is the earth." "Ok but get Cobb over here, magical accent and shit remember?" I told him in a whisper. "It''ll be better if I got them down perfectly. Oh this better be good." I grinned. "Falme, Posei, West and Thear." An unmistakable voice said from my left. The accents and pronunciation were different but somehow they embodied the elements and it was something you could do in the real world too. Cobb was the only one who bothered learning it though. A previous game used an accelerated world as a blank slate, in it the elements created their own language that reflected their natures since then it has been implemented in many different games and has become as intertwined as swords or staffs in the gameworld. For now however i''m only going to use the four elemental accents. Cobb had sent his creations ahead. I could make out his curious expression with my Arena, Jones had the same look save for a small grin. I walked in between them heading for the double doors that were swung open, welcoming us deeper inside. I locked eyes with fire. "Falme." My voice was a jolting staccato that somehow continued smoothly, a flickering flame. "Posei." The accent for water was fluid, soft, and slightly slurred. The sound lingered as if the noise brought condensation to the ears, not quite ringing but remaining in your eardrums in the same way a gurgling stream hides in the sounds of nature. Earth was hard. "Thear." And the accent reflected it, it was sound given the illusion of solidity. There was no lilting, or sing song aspect, but it was thick. A proper pronunciation in earth was always slow, very slow, but never a whisper. In contrast wind was lilting, sing song and free. "West." Sharp whistling sounds are always added, but that''s beyond me. The accent revolved around getting a whisper to project through sharp noise, but not sharp enough to disrupt the air. By far it is the most difficult of the four. Their expressions were unreadable. It didn''t matter since shortly after they talked amongst themselves as I walked away smiling. "A master of four and one who speaks?" "Absurd. What would a child be doing with them?" "Perhaps he is dangerous as well." "But the warrior knows. He did not do anything during the trials." "Barely. Yet the mage cleared us himself. Only the nature of Posei hindered him." "Yes and what of the others? The sword wielders, the archer, the spearmen?" "There were weapons among them I did not recognize, perhaps the child is a tinkerer? A blacksmith?" "What secrets does the child hold? Who is this warrior?" I turned around at the door. "The child is my brother and he is just as dangerous as us. As to his secrets?" I pointed. "Well, he can tell you himself." I said smugly. I love bragging about my brother. But I really love bragging about myself. "I''m the more dangerous one though." The elementals seemed confused for a second when I winked. Jones emerged in the middle of the four, seemingly unaffected by the wild nature of their bodies. "Secrets?" He asked. The elementals turned to the small figure and their bodies had their own versions of surprise, Falme flared, Posei''s current got swifter, West swirled faster. Thear seemed to be the only one impassive he simply turned around and regarded Jones. "I guess I have a few but none of them are yours." Then the clone, rather than poofing, disappeared in an instant as if deleting from existence. "Planar shift? A plane summoning?" The fire elemental yelped. "What is a summoner of such calibur here for? Impossible!" Posei yelled. A pause of contemplation. "Malvolio''s library holds much." West chimed. "Truth." Thear declared. "They can only be here for one reason." "To seek knowledge." West and Thear surprisingly seemed to get along the most, bouncing off each other in the conversation despite their conflicting natures. "Have the sentients stopped wearing clothes?" Quickly I lost sight of them acutely aware of the angle of my dangle. I regarded the multiple shelves surrounding me. To the left and right were rows upon rows of bookshelfs. Finally I caught up with the rest who were in snug alcove cut out from the bookshelves. A study area was cleared out and books lied about haphazardly, through the spots from which they fell I could see only more bookshelves. The rest of the group were looking around and browsing the titles but none seemed as excited as Cobb. Then there was something beautiful in between the bookshelves, it was a wooden masterpiece, incomparable to anything at the moment, all my desires and wishes culminated into a single item. A chair. "Oh my god fuck yes." I jumped onto the chair. "Yes." I sighed. "Really, we logged out not two days ago." Jones said. "Yeah but two days without a chair. I can''t do that shit." I snapped back. My butt sunk into the chair. Bliss. "Maps, encyclopedias, fables, legends." Cobb dropped his burden onto the nearby study table. "Prorge''s Monsters of the North, Contos Spellcraft, 7 Reasons To Hunt Dragons,there''s so much!" No doubt Cobb was getting excited about depth and whatnot. Something brushed against my Arena for a split moment. An angry mass of blue spotted fur shot for Cobb''s back. I moved to cover him but Jones had already intercepted the beast. He rolled to the side with the beast and was brought down. It slashed and ripped against Jones shoulder. Jones yelled in pain and jabbed it in its throat, its moment of shock was all I needed to cut its head off with a diagnol slash across the neck, begrudgingly leaving my paradise. The blood easily came off with the help of the water on my blade. After Lucius - or Marcus, can''t tell - pulled the body off of Jones they took positions closer to the group. "It looks like it came from the otherside of the bookshelf." Cobb said. "It''s a Knowlguart. Level 47." "You okay, kid?" George asked lending a hand. Jack ran around to peer on the other side of the bookshelf. "There is nothing." "I''ll be fine, just have to ease up on the shoulder." Jones said. "Besides you''ve seen me fight." He grinned taking the hand. "Don''t remind me." "We are not safe, they are keepers." Jack said glancing through the peepholes in between the shelves. As he finished, another Knowlguart, perched above on the bookcase just outside my range, leapt onto the study table. It took a swipe at Cobb but a gunshot pierced the quiet ambience of the library as well as its head. The body maintained momentum and flopped on to the floor beside the head of the first attacker. I turned to George but he already had his pistol holstered and his main weapon up. He saw me glance at him. "My rifle was down, faster to draw the pistol." I know that George, i''m not stupid. "Sir." He added. I eyed him suspiciously but there was no sarcasm evident. "I got the next one." I said already feeling it approaching. The blue creature dived through the opening created by the three thick books that Cobb had removed. It growled at me as it stood to full height. The Knowlguart matched me in height but its strength was lacking. I raised it up on my shield and slammed it onto the floor breaking its spine. As it made its final noise Cobb said something interesting. "Three Knowlguarts for three books?" "They come for the books?" Jones asked. "Neat." Cobb held the books with him as we continued deeper into the library since he didn''t really need his hands. Cobb had glowing balls of water surround our entourage, flame encased in water, so as not to danger the books. We came upon what was surprisingly a directory. A sign read "1". It was a magnificent desk made of top quality wood, encircling a table that held various dusty scrolls, ledgers, and unimportant papers. Spread across the table and held down by thick books was a map that was dangerously yellowed, as if someone was studying it. To the side of the desk was a board that held a map of the library or what once was a map of the library. Instead it was fading and splotched by what was likely blood, very old blood. Nearby, on the desk was an old book flipped to the last page covered in blood. "Well it is a library." Jones said. "For what reason do we venture here, my liege?" Gaius asked. "Are mere books worth the price of death?" "I''m not your liege Gaius, for the last time." Cobb said annoyed. "And yes you can learn a lot from books. Especially when you''re not from here in the first place." He was looking at the book on the desk. "Strength above all!" Marcus shouted. To which Lucius pumped his chest in agreement. "Keep it down spartans." I told them as their defacto leader. "Books are useful even if they are boring." "Especially when you''re not from here in the first place." Jones likes to be annoying. Just ignore him, Derjar. "We cannot read, captain." Lucius said grinning. "Too bad." I said, not really caring. "What you got there bro?" "It''s an encyclopedia." "Blood." Jack glanced around. "Some type of four legged beast, large and powerful but nothing to it. A Coregath." A roar in the distance caught our attention. Something huge was moving through the shelves knocking books down left and right, then in a burst of hard covers and flapping pages a monster appeared. It had grey fur only disturbed by occasional discolorations, its face was round and ugly, like a cute pug without the cute. I could feel its weight from here vibrating through the carpet. "Fuck!" George yelled from behind, I caught the Knowlguart behind me, twirling around as I drew my sword across its neck. I stepped back from a long grappling arm and struck below the left shoulder of the next. I ducked under the next, planning to deal with him later and slaughtered the next in line, with a powerful vertical slash across the face. Turning around and similiar horizontal slash gutted the recovering Knowlguart. One took advantage and knocked me in the kidney, but I quickly turned around and brought its head into my knee, killing it instantly. Still more came. I launched one of the blue beasts over my shoulder and into the next one, like a scavenger Jones was there to sever their spines. Jack took on three retreating one step backwards and letting them run into his blade, shoving the bodies aside and taking another step forward. George was dual wielding his pistol and his combat knife, he was near Cobb taking care of those Knowlguarts that got too close with his knife. As I watched him catch one against his body, he followed a short jab to the nose with an elbow to the face, he got his pistol under the chin fired and stabbed its heart before letting the body slide off and meeting the next one. Cobb was preserving mana, shooting out streams of fire, just enough to catch onto one of them. The rest of his efforts were spent supportng the team but mainly the spartans who were recklessly charging the middle of the incoming horde. Occasional shards of stone would find their spots nestled in the neck of an unsuspecting Knowlguart. At times a fireball would clear out a particularly bad concentration of enemies. "They seek the books!" One of the spartans yelled. All the Knowlguarts were pouring out between the shelves, where they came from I couldn''t say but they numbered in the hundreds and I assumed that''s how many books were displaced by the charging behemoth. "They''re still trying to kill us anyways!" Jones yelled back. He was in constant motion but I saw his left shoulder catch a beast in the neck and pop. His whole left arm jerked a bit and suddenly he lost one of his daggers. Instantly I powered through like a lineman bashing bodies aside and throwing into their friends. Jones had resorted to dodging, but his right hand would occasionally flick out and draw fatal amounts of blood despite his awkward positions. I scooped him up and held him between my arm and my body, covering him with my shield. As we moved back to the group our horde of Knowlguarts eventually dwindled. The directory had four clear paths toit that extended a distance I couldn''t make out, suspiciously larger than the outside. On the section of path that the previous hulking monster appeared from Knowlguarts were still pouring from the surrounding bookshelves, some even leaping onto the beast from the higher shelves. It wildly bucked and slammed the blue furry bodies against the bookshelves but it only displaced more books and summoned more of the tenacious book guardians. Even now on the other paths I could see some coming to assist, they seemed as limitless as the number of books. They were hopping from the tops of bookshelves or diving through the wholes where books once were all in an attempt to kill the monster and fix the books. I''d assume the books on the floor had their single guardian killed or something like that. We cut through the remaining Knowlguarts and reached Cobb. "Thanks for the lift." Jones said, his arm hanging at his side. "Can you?" He said gesturing to his arm. I grabbed his arm and popped it back into place without any uneccessary pain, still he whimpered like a hurt dog. "Maybe next time grab my arm where I don''t have slash and rip wounds yeah?" Jones glared at me. Oops. "I needed a good grip and angle." I lied. Sweating just a bit. Sorry bro. I completely forgot. That was definitely a lot of uneccessary pain. Jones gave me a look and walked over to Cobb who then washed his wounds with a gentle stream of water. More Knowlguarts came and I positioned the spartans and myself in between them and the rest of the group. Geoge was positioned inside the directory on top of the desk for higher ground and better range. George used his rifle to shoot over the shoulders of the spartan formation while Jack was still figuring out how to use George''s pistol. A bullet pierced the head of a Knowlguart that was entangled with me and I looked to George in thanks but he was mowing down enemies to the left. Slowly I turned my head to Jack who was looking at me guilitly. Stupid samurai. "He stopped knocking the books over." Cobb was leaning against the directory desk and peering over to the beast who was still in constant battle with the Knowlguarts only 80 meters away. Sure enough the amount of enemies coming slowed again. By now the bodies littered the floor forming a nice soft blue carpet, occasionally stained but still really soft. "It''s not supposed to be smart." Cobb rubbed his chin. "Hold!" I told the spartans before heading over. "What do you mean?" I moved from my position and they spread out a little more to cover the same area. Jones was sitting on the desk kicking his feet reading a book. "The Coregath has limited intelligence. It says right here." He pointed to page containing the unmistakable image of the beast in front of us. I grabbed the book and flipped through. Deep forests? By large water sources? Endangered species. Easily angered. "What''s it doing in a library?" "We think it came from the book." Cobb said. "Hard to say but its the only explanation and this Malvolio person seems like someone who would go to great lengths just to protect his knowledge. Strange though since I don''t sense any magic. I could try but I don''t think freezing up for a few hours is the right move right now." "You think it came from the book?" It was a stupid notion but we did hear the roar right after the we picked the book up. "Bro, did you ever open those other three books you picked up?" Jones asked Cobb. "No, I didn''t. ButProrge''s Monsters of the Northand7 Reasons to Hunt Dragons? I don''t know about you guys but I am not fighting a fucking dragon in a library.Contos Spellcraft? I''m not keen too on fighting some obscure magic right now. Still, the knowledge is tempting. We''d have to choose which books we actually wanted and think we could handle." "Well, the Coregath is heading this way so what do you want to do?" I asked, noticing the charge. "Yeah I can feel its eyes on me." Cobb said adjusting himself. "You do not want to get hit by that JST. Examine Enemy says it has massive power, no obvious weakness." I charged forward and pillar of earth broke ripped through the library''s carpet and launched me at the thing. I hit the beast straight on with a flying knee I put everything into. The conditions couldn''t have been more perfect. My knee jarred from the impact, I lost a few scales but my knee was in tact. The Coregath collapsed onto the carpet, its face which used to be ugly was now really ugly. My knee had caved in part of its face and head but surprisingly it didn''t seem dead. It probably has brain damage but it didn''t get back up fast enough. Now that there weren''t many Knowlgaurts annoying Cobb and the spartans earth spikes shot from the floor and impaled the beast in the neck and face. "Easy." Cobb said walking up. After a small discussion we decided that we should explore the rest of the library before settling on our theory, it didn''t make sense for that to encompass the whole challenge of the dungeon if we could easily figure it out and avoid all trouble. We ventured further with the only break in the monotomy being the study areas that had nice exquisite chairs. Shelf, book, bookshelf, bookshleves, carpet, it was all the same. Eventually however we did realize that this was unreasonably large on the inside than it was on the outside regardless of how massive the structure was. We found multiple directories on the way but all were in similar states to the first one. We did however realize that there was an improvement of directory quality as we moved deeper. When we finally came to directory number nineteen it was the least ruined so far. The map was in tact and I followed Cobb while the rest stayed alert. On top of the board in which the map was plastered onto a quote read "Fend Five That The Reward Will Be Decided By." Something we would probably be privy to if fucking Malvolio put a preservation spell on the directories. "Dammit Malvolio. If the directories were maintained we would''ve known that earlier." I said. "Look" Pointing to the sentence. "Oh. Does he mean choose five books to fight?" "Probably" I said. Cobb scoured the directory looking for clues that wouldn''t have lasted the test of time in other previous eighteen. He moved papers, parchment, and scrolls around before he found something engraved in the desk itself. "Only defeated books are allowed for checkout." He quoted slowly. "We can just stick to encyclopedias." I placated. "Fuck that!" Cobb snapped. "How are we supposed to get anything good!" He yelled. This drew the stares of the group. "I''m opening this fucking book." He slammed one of the books he was carrying onto the table and flipped it to the first page. Contos Spellcraft: Lost Magic. "What the fuck man?" Chapter 23 - Contos Spellcraft ~Cobb POV~ I checked my status as we approached directory nineteen.
Class: Animator Name: Cobb Titles: Prey Turned Predator, The Green One
HP: 200/268 Lvl: 33 Effects: Race Jjerg: +10 INT, +5 END, +5 STR, +5 WIS, +10 MND Prey Turned Predator: +25 INT, +25 WIS, +20 AGI The Green One:+7 CHR, + Can color things under your magical control an emerald green Animator:+20 WIS each level Spider Blessed:+Relations with Spiders increased, +Can communicate with spiders Malvolio''s Mark:+Reputation with libraries across Twoen increased. +May influence future interactions.
MP: 291/353 SQP: 160/160
SP: 70/210
STR: 15 CHR: 17
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 208 AGI:20
WIS: 397 ENL:160
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) Hunted Sense - Advanced 1(10%) Inform - Advanced 3 (32%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 2(62%) Earth Magic - Advanced 8 (42%) Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%) Animate (Class Skill) - Intermediate 4 (29%) Fire Magic - Advanced 6 (37%) Water Magic - Intermediate 4 (2%) Wind Magic - Intermediate 1 (0%)
First I dumped 20 points into Enliven.
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) When immobile and unmoving your body adapts to the surrounding rock. Your body will inherit the hardness and defensive capabilities of the rock it becomes. Sudden movement cancels the skill. +18% chance of going unnoticed +1.9s of lingering effects after skill cancel
Hunted Sense - Advanced 1 (10%) Knowing the feeling of being hunted by superior predators. Their presence and intent were ingrained into your memory. Your paranoia has developed into being able to tell when you are being watched. Effects: +Know when being watched with hostile intent +Know the general direction +Know the danger the threat poses
Inform - Advanced 3 (32%) Your inquisitive nature and problem solving attitude awards you with the inherent ability to know things. By focusing on an object or entity information is granted based upon the level of this skill. Learning new things and drawing conclusions will also develop this skill. The skill may even make connections you have not. Effects: +Intermediate knowledge and personal conclusions provided +HP, MP, more in depth knowledge, personal conclusions occasionally verified +Hidden knowledge occasionally revealed
Now that''s gonna be helpful. Hidden knowledge? Thank you very much. Now it also gives me an indicator of their MP as well, not that I had encountered anything besides the Royal Water Geckans that had anything to do with magic, well I guess invisibility counted, if it was magic rather than a biological feature. All Geckans had that.
Hyperfocus - Advanced 2 (62%) Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily. Effects: +Perception of time slowed by 32% +24% increase in muscle reaction +10% speed when Hyperfocused
Earth Magic - Advanced 8 (42%) Your innate sense for the Earth has awarded you with ability to manipulate it. Earth magic is the most practical of elemental magics. Earth Mages are sought out often for the pure utility they bring to the table. Unlike the other elemental magics Earth is solid and with the ability to manipulate something solid comes the ability to create. +84% effectiveness of offensive Earth Magic +54% effectiveness of contructs of Earth +Earth attributed creatures are friendlier by 40%
Mentally checking the progress of my skills my eyes land on the third effect of Earth Magic. Could this be why the elementals guarding the entrance conceded so easily? The Water Elemental, Posei, was the only who really could''ve stopped me, but when it came to the elements that I had Advanced magic in they conceded easily, the Wind Elemental just followed suit. I knew I could''ve beat them unless they were disguising their true strength but still all it took was a small display of power and they backed off. And what was the talk about having a Magic skill of any of the elements? They said it was akin to having a Mastery skill with a weapon but JST and Jones have those too. In JST''s case he has a skill that combines them all, are those skills perhaps rare? Maybe they are, but the elementals seem naiive I doubt they let many pass or even see that many adventurers so it wouldn''t be that hard to impress them. Then again, maybe it''s actually been rare but the influx of people in Twoen might change that, then again it might not. Even with all the people if these skills represent some type of stronger mastery over the magic or weapon then not much people are going to have it, but that begs the question what type of skills do other people get?
Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%) Storytelling is used to captivate an audience, it is an art that though may seem mundane, not many people perfect. You have taken steps into the world of entertainment and have succeeded in eliciting from your audience what many people fail to, emotion. Effect: +6% more emotion from the audience
Do they get things like this? This seems rather basic compared to something like Fire Magic which acts like an umbrella skill for anything you''re doing with fire. Oh well, moving on.
Animate (Class Skill) - Intermediate 4 (29%) Through various insights on the workings of life the Animator can breathe it into his constructs. Directly tied with the Enliven stat. Effects: +Can follow commands and orders within capabilites +Can adopt knowledge inserted by the creator upon animation
I couldn''t spot it at first but something was different in my class skill and it didn''t take long to find it. It looks like the first effect changed, it used to be "Can follow basic commands and orders." but after gaining the Intermediate tier it had to be overwritten. After all being able to create something from memory leaves a lot to the imagination. I suspect that this particular class would be hard to implement for anyone else without any knowledge of what they want to create. Since the Animator is a class that requires imagination and viable knowledge as well as something to actually animate I don''t think i''m going to see very many Animators, it seems too niche. I''ve been wrong before though but with the amount of classes I saw on the forum I think the Animator would be even less likely to pop up. If there was someone with it then I don''t think we''d ever meet.
Fire Magic - Advanced 6 (37%) The element of Fire is the most unpredictable and destructive of the Elements. Many practitioners are scarred or maimed in their early years but when a Fire Mage reaches their apex, they are near unstoppable. The number of Fire Mages has been at a steady constant for years, unfortunately practitioners of Fire are prone to early deaths but that doesn''t stop young mages seeking power. Effects: +78% effectivenessof offensive Fire Magic +48% effectiveness of utility based Fire Magic +Fire attributed creatures are friendlies by 30%
Water Magic - Intermediate4 (2%) Perhaps the true wonder of Water Magic is the ability to conjure water, an essential to living. Only the truly calm and serene can harness the power of water. There have been many wizards, mages and magicians who prove that wrong however, somehow staying calm in the face of battle, yet seeming fierce and ferocious. Water is seen as the calm element but it can be just as deadly as Fire and Wind. Effects: +42% effectiveness of offensive Water Magic +12% effectiveness of utility based Water Magic
Wind Magic - Intermediate 1 (0%) Freedom. That is the understanding most mages have of Wind. The ability to control Wind Magic is rare. Many attain it but settle to releasing the wind in a certain direction working around the nature of the magic. When a talented mage can control the wind itself he as unlocked a weapon immensely powerful. An invisible one. Effects: +33% effectiveness of offensive Wind Magic +3% effectiveness of utility based Wind Magic
After reaching directory nineteen I peered at the map and around at the circular wooden help desk, books still in hand. It didn''t make any sense for the Knowlguarts to encompass the whole challenge of the library, sure the opening the books cause some problems but if you figure that out then its stupidly easy to survive. Even the things that get summoned, when they knock the books over like the Coregath did, nothing came out of it, even when they were wide open. You have to actually read the book is what I hypothesized since the Coregath didn''t appear until I read it or glanced upon it at least. But this is a library so I can just take the books out and read them then. Unless the books themselves are causing the summonings, not the library. JST had followed me up to the directory. Orbs of water encased fire surrounded the group, throwing refracting light from the already flickering flames across the dim library. "Dammit Malvolio. If the directories were maintained we would''ve known that earlier." JST said. "Look." He was pointing to a quote that had been worn off in all the other directories, positioned at the top of the map. It read "Fend Five That The Reward Will Be Decided By." "Oh. Does he mean to choose five books to fight?" That didn''t bode well. "Probably" he said as I moved around the directory desk. Scrolls, parchments, maps, same old, same old. My hands moved anything familiar out of the way and ventured across the help desk, looking for something I hadn''t seen before. There had to be something that lasted here but not in the other directories. Eventually I found a something engraved behind the help desk, on the employees side. "Only defeated books are allowed for checkout." I said slowly. Well that can''t be right. What''s to stop us from just walking out of the library with the books in tow? Fortunately I remembered one of skills that broke into the Advanced tier only recently.
Inform Dungeon: Malvolio''s Library (Aged) Established by Malvolio Peren following the destruction of libraries across Twoen during the Second Dimensional Break its construction was completed and finalized shortly after the event coined the Soothing, possible only due to accelerated construction and magical methods lost to time. These methods however exist in the library waiting to be discovered. Without them much knowledge would have been lost. The library is Malvolio''s collection and harbors High Tier Spatial Magic that allows greater expansion inside the library than the structure visible by outside viewers. Measured in Leiou''s Method of Magical Measures the Spatial Magic affecting the library lands neatly in the Twelfth Tier. Adventurers, Travelers, Seekers, and any who seek knowledge are allowed access into the library upon gaining approval from the Guardian Elementals whose power will rise in response to the challenger. Malvolio''s Mark is only granted to those who sufficiently impress the elementals or even defeat them. Access can also be granted when new knowledge is brought as gifts, sufficiently interesting curiosities grant access as a favor to the contribution of knowledge. Upon entering, every book is assigned a guardian. With the thirst for knowledge comes consequence. Every book may be read but the knowledge itself will come to life and the reader must defeat it to earn the right to leave with the book. Awards are given to the entrant in the event that they live through the ordeal of five books in an effort to facilitate survival and the spread of knowledge lost in the Second Dimensional Break.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. You may only leave once five books are defeated, upon completion you are brought back to the entrance room. Spatial Magic prevents inhabitants from exiting through normal means. Hidden: +All knowledge gleaned from books not checked out are lost, a hole in the memory, upon leaving. You must defeat the book and leave with it to retain memory of the knowledge read. This is to prevent powerful readers from disabling multiple manfiestations of knowledge and reading every book in the library. In addition when reentering the library the location of all books are randomized. Knowledge is power but absolute power corrupts absolutely.
What the fuck. "Fuck that! How are we supposed to get anything good?" I yelled breaking the silence of the library. I''m supposed to choose fucking five? Out of all this?
Malvolio''s Mark Signifies approval of the legendary scholar and librarian Malvolio. Effects: +Reputation with libraries across Twoen increases. +May influence future interactions.
I looked around, they were staring at me. This wasn''t fair, sure I could enter again but even now there was no method or system in place that organized the books, the Knowlguarts were just there to place the damn things back on the shelves. Randomizing books when they''re already random, are you kidding me? Why does this library have to be so frustrating? On top of that we still need to find that damn beast. "I''m opening this fucking book." I looked around to see if anyone would challenge me. Of course more than half the group I made and the rest were my insane brothers. I slammed one of my books on the table and flipped it to the first page. Contos Spellcraft: Lost Magic. "What the fuck man?" The words betrayed his expression. He was grinning. "Well now you''ve done it. What book is that?" Jones walked over and read the first page. "Well at least it wasn''t the dragon one because I would''ve left you guys to die." "I''m not an idiot." I said flipping through the book. The first chapter detailed the history behind the magic and how it came into being. The whole practice was called Contos Spellcraft. It was dated back to before the Split War whatever that means. I wasn''t exactly privy to the method in which Twoen kept track of history, and I didn''t know anything about the history of Twoen in the first place. I did browse the forums however and this book was written even before the Second Dimensional Break from what I gather. I remember one of the races I was able to pick was the Kersooth which only came into existence post Second Dimensional Break, meaning this knowledge predates a whole race, likely more too. This is old, very old. Lost indeed. I skipped the details for a second and flipped through the book looking at the illustrations, these didn''t seem like effects a single person should be able to produce. It had notations of velocity next to some conjured wind magic scribbled into the side in short hand. That shouldn''t be possible. Volume of water created, temperature of fire, density of rock manipulated, these numbers didn''t seem right yet they were there scribbled down right next to the colorful illustrations. You could get these numbers maybe using industrial engines or density presses in the real world or maybe even somewhere in Twoen but through magic alone? It seemed the technique centered on drawing mana towards three dimensional lines created by the user. The process called ambient mana towards the lines to create a lesser effect or could be fueled by the user''s mana for a greater outcome, there was another listed technique that used both but its mention was short. It looks like the whole system based itself on the assumption that the reader had complete mastery of the four elemental magics, four of the five magics I knew. If anyone was looking at me they would see a smiling idiot. A magic I haven''t heard of? Bravo Malvolio, bravo. "3D magic? What the hell does that mean?" "Shh. Over there." Jones pointed to the nearest bookshelf. The directories aren''t located in a huge clearing, instead they''re nestled in the bookshelves with pathways leading away from them, only a small two meter space seperates the desk from nearest stack of books. There was a green glow coming from the nearest bookshelf. I signaled to George, Jack, Gaius and the rest. I had taught them basic signals that we brothers used, since they were basically my creations my brothers were fine with them learning. I sent a small ball of wind whistling past them, instantly they moved closer to each other, a tribute to how close they''ve grown. George scanned around with his rifle while Jack positioned himself behind the guarding spartans, ready to dart out and strike the enemy. After spotting the glow they became wary of it as well. George nodded to me and Jack did the same, the spartans responded only by tucking their heads down. The whistling wind was a sign of a potential code red threat. "I think you''re about to find-" A giant pillar or earth speared horizontally through the bookshelf sending books flying and wood splinters everywhere. Entering Hyperfocus JST and Jones had already sprung away. I had no time to launch myself to the side, my brothers weren''t close enough to pull me to safety without getting out themselves. The pillar caught me on my side, sending my body into a hurricane towards the floor. I absorbed the impact on a hardened water, I went from standing uprightto bouncing off the floor on my good arm in less than a second. The pillar surged through the directory and continued through three bookcases on the other side. "Fan out!" George yelled. "Large spread attacks, don''t get caught together!" The rest moved accordingly. There a deep blue glow and large wave of water crashed down upon us. Quickly I cut into the giant rock that almost killed me, just big enough for three. "Holy shit this is gonna be good." JST was pressed against me, shoulder to mine. "Fuck my left is arm is broken." I only noticed the pain after I slammed into the rock. It''s gonna hurt a lot more later. "I might''ve preferred the dragon to this." Jones said also crammed into the impromptu shelter. "I''m gonna head for the nearest bookshelf when the water stops, see if i can find the caster." "Alright, birds method." I told him. Alluding to our signals. He nodded and positioned himself against the wall, poised to launch out, slowly his skin melted into nothingness but I felt him there nonetheless. When the water finally stopped gushing forward, it didn''t recede. Books floated around in the water displaced by the current but the water stayed level. The invisible presence beside left like a missle. Moments after he left I heard a small bird that basically signified that Jones forgot something. Immediately next to me Jones reformed but at this distance I could tell he was fake. "Hey i''m back." "He''s fake." JST stepped into the water but was immediately sucked down by grasping tendrils of water. I heard him get a lungful of air before going under, two feet was enough to submerge someone when they''re forced down horizontally. His thrashing disturbed the water as I walked past him to check on the rest, sparing a small amount of my mental capacity for his plight. I heard him emerging from behind me, soaking wet. "Thanks." He said following me. "Why didn''t you let me mess with him?" Clone Jones asked waiting for JST to follow. "I already knew you were fake." I said. "Takes more to fool me." Especially when I didn''t sense Jones coming back. "My liege." Gaius'' face was stoic as I approached. I felt an absense of something. "We took cover behind this, sir." George patted the giant cylinder. "It broke most of the tide." He said softly. "Lucius and Marcus are dead." Jack said. "We will have our revenge or I will give up my sword. No honorable samurai would let this pass. Blood for blood." His eye''s were darker, somehow. His face showed the smallest hint of emotion, but it was pure, pure rage. He pulled his smaller blade from his side and sliced his palm, smearing the dark brown liquid across his face. The significance was lost on me the cultural aspects and tradition had already fled my memory, intriguing but not important. Interesting facts like technique and combat stayed almost indefinitely. "My liege. They would want to us grieve later. They were fools like none I have ever known, but they were my brothers." Gaius voice was soft but it burned with a controlled fire. Spartan warriors are none to be trifled with. How many people have you met? Five, five other people? A blast of intense fire drew our attention to above the bookshelves as Jones screamed, backflipping between shelves. The jet of fire set many bookcases on fire. The heat could be felt from here and it was probably ten shelves away from us. I looked at Clone Jones who shrugged. "Don''t forget about these annoying shits." JST grunted throwing a Knowlguart onto its back, submerging it in the water and stepping on its throat, he held it there as he elbowed another in the jaw, setting him twirling into the water. I never had the chance to properly inspect one, past the levels at least, so I peered at the one drowning under JST''s foot. The last time I used Inform on one I only spared a cursory glance at them.
Inform Knowlguart - Lvl 47 HP: 290/420 MP: 10/10 Tasked by Malvolio to protect his collection the Knowlguarts despise those who disrupt the order of the library. The species as whole has been stripped of their ability to read and speak, unable to gather new knowledge from their eternal burden or pass it on to someone else, they are eternal within the library. As they die their bodies remain only a short while before they return as a whole, leaving the library perfectly clean. They are guardians of the book, sentinels of the bookshelf, in the library the Knowlguart rules. They lie in slumber, each Knowlguart tied with a single book and awaken only when their bound literature is disturbed. It is said that within Malvolio''s library only the Knowlguart knows the exact location of every book.
That''s kind of depressing. Wait. Of course they would fucking know how the library was organized. And of course they wouldn''t be able to talk. Man fuck that. The presence of foreign magic still permeated the pool but I had been supressing the tendrils as they came to my attention, now Knowlguarts came in hordes, the blue mass hid individuals. I wouldn''t be able to juggle all this at once while also providing support and at the same time trying not to get overrun. I beckoned the group closer to me and sealed off the whole directory area in a dome of earth, I packed it densely erupted a swirling mass of spikes around the whole thing, I felt the earth pierce many bodies and shrieks and yells accentuated the success. The group looked around shifting to a more relaxed stance from their previous tension. The danger was abated for now. "Here''s the plan." Already my mind was working in overdrive, trying its best to ignore the pain of my broken arm. "Jones should be fine on his own, he''s been getting better after I helped him a bit with his magic. The main problem is the destructive power and adaptability of the magic user. Those were only two spells and even now this water wants to kill us." I let up for a second and tendrils began to form. The animations reacted good enough, chopping at the water in a hurry but I returned my iron grip in an instant, none ever reached them. JST hadn''t moved at all. "Jesus man." George the sturdy man was gripping his combat knife, pistol drawn. "What do you have in mind, my liege?" Gaius eyes burned and he seemed eager. I applauded his futile efforts to contain his enthusiasm. "George how good are you with a sniper?" I had forgotten what I put into him but i''m pretty sure I went all out. I gave him a knowing look when i asked him. "No way." Clone Jones said sounding like child who just saw something really cool. He contemplated for a while. "I''m up there." He holstered his pistol and returned his knife. "Why?" He grinned, his smile broke through his grizzled features and scars across his face. I smirked at him. Immediately I moved to what was left of the directory table as George followed me. I ripped a portion of the earth from the pillar that was conveniently inside the help desk using the hand attached to my working arm. In reality I didn''t really need to get all the little parts correct for the sniper to function, my skill Animate actually did it for me. I created the stock, smooth rounded edges that fit snug against the shoulder. The scope had a thin layers of dirt as the lenses, which I assumed would undergo a transformation similar to the skin of my sand people, receiving properties of actual glass instead of skin. The barrel, trigger, bipod and general body of the sniper would inherit traits belonging to an actual rifle as well. Some parts I had gaps in memory but I called back to my brother, who was a wealth of information when it comes to weapons. Of course I created the functioning parts to the best of my ability but when it goes into George''s hands the weapons really come alive, as if it was real. Of course something like a knife is easy to create but a gun? There are so many components and different materials needed for different parts that it wouldn''t be possible without access to them. In essence the weapon reacts with the magic in the construct, in this case George, and becomes real. They stay real too since I remember JST using one of George''s guns in the past. I lifted up my creation and moved to bestow it upon him. "Sir, with all due respect." George said in awe. "You''ve got be shitting me." I handed the gun to George who hefted it with ease, smiling the whole time. I felt a complex interplay between the magic in George and the rifle. Boys will be boys. He looks like a little kid on Christmas day. A blast of heat assaulted us even while encased in the dome, heating the inside walls significantly. I had the water crawl up the inside of dome which sent steam everywhere. Hurriedly I sent the scalding steam out of the dome through small holes I opened up. I glared in the general direction of the magic. "Fuck that guy man!" JST yelped, he was leaning against the dome. "You''d think my scales would do shit." He grumbled moving closer. "I hope Jones is all right." I said only slightly concerned. "You''re worried for Jones? Nojas?" JST hissedat his burns, turning his arm in effort to glimpse his back. "I''d be worried for the mage guy. If Jones can''t kill him then he''s gonna annoy the shit out of him. You know it too, don''t act like you don''t." He raised an eyebrow at me and pointed an accusatory finger. Honestly, I had to agree. "Well if it''s any indication he''s fine Clone Jones is still here." I reasoned. "I''m just here in case you guys need a distraction." Clone Jones said. At the same time, another much larger surge of magic, I braced the dome with hard packed water from the inside, did the same to the outside and solidified the spikes and dome wallls. As an afterthought I brought pillars of earth up at an angle to brace the wall as well. Nothing came. JST had moved in front of me. "What''s wrong?" He said quickly not wasting any time. "Nothing, there was a buttload of magic but it wasn''t aimed here." George had thrown his sniper over his back and pulled up his rifle. "Jesus Christ what are you doing out there little bro?" JST said in good nature. "My liege, what profound weaponry is this?" Gaius, seemed so naiive sometimes that it surprised me that he was bigger than George. His ripped muscles were only partly hidden by his cloak, clasped around his neck. His psuedo leather skirt did nothing to detract from the male form. I always thought of him as young, but he was almost halfway through life as a spartan, he had stubble growing on his chin and face. He walks with perfect ease and his rock cuirass and rock greaves did nothing to weigh him down, although they probably adopted the properties of the intended material. "George you can do the honors." Then Gaius turned to George in rapt attention, momentarily free of his grief. George nodded to me under his wide brimmed hat, only barely concealing a smile. "This my friend, is a Barrett 50. Caliber Sniper Rifle." He paused for a while thinking about how to express the power of the rifle. "This thing could rip through multiple shields, iron shields." George''s genuine smile was taken down a notch as he noticed Gaius face. "Impossible." Gaius said as his bright smile lost its luster. "Those two buffoons would''ve loved this." His face was stoic but was betrayed when his voice broke at the end. "They will be avenged, Gaius." Jack''s simple statement burned with passion. "I''m sure Sir Cobb could bring him back." George said offhandedly. I blinked. Could I? I knew who they were, I created them after all. I was never there for when they interacted with the others, not all the time. Could they be Lucius and Marcus without those memories? Would they be the same? I struggled internally but now isn''t the time to even attempt it. It brought to mind Theseus'' Paradox but even then the problem wouldn''t be the parts of the people, rather their thoughts and very existence. Troubling. Gaius looked at me hopeful. Relunctantly I answered him. "I can''t guarantee that they would be the same." His expression still retained the hope. "If I do attempt it you''ll have my word that I''ll do everything to get the same men back." "My liege." He brought his fist to his chest. "For now, what will you have of me?" He drew his sword. A spartan has to move on. "Give me a sec Gaius." He returned his sword but the hope remained. After applying my points to Enliven and after Marcus and Lucius died my Squad Points freed up. I had an extra 20 more than I had before. First though I looked at my constructs, I didn''t need to use inform.
George (Sand Commando) - Lvl 34 HP: 299/310 MP: 10/10 A developed construct of sand given life charged with the knowledge, tactics and combat techniques of the U.S. Military. Not centered on any one branch, George has trained to a specialist''s proficiency in many fields to the point where one might not call it a specialization anymore, simply aptitude in all areas. His adaptibility knows no bounds. Squad Points: 40
Jack (Sand Samurai) - Lvl 34 HP: 290/311 MP: 10/10 A developed construct of sand given life charged with the techniques, honor and precision of a peak samurai. Jack is the epitome of samurai perfection coupled with a fearless attiude, uncanny ability to take things in stride, and immense focus to the task at hand. In the face of adversity the samurai prevails. Squad Points: 25
Gaius (Sand Spartan) - Lvl 34 HP: 310/344 MP: 10/10 A developed construct of sand given life charged with mindset, brutality, fearlessness, and camaraderie of a true spartan warrior. Gaius is inquisitive and eager to learn, yet deadly and dangerous in combat. The power of a spartan lies not in his sword, but the ones next to him. Squad Points: 25
The first thing I noticed was that George cost insanely more than Jack and Gaius. Discounting George everyone would have been worth 25 Squad Points which fit perfectly in the 140 Squad Points I used to have. I couldn''t really think of as to why but then my eyes landed on his weaponry. Of course, Squad Points - im guessing - drain depending on the potential of the construct given its initial creation. His weapon, the Barrett 50. Cal, added its cost to him as well, but i''m gonna assume his initial cost was somewhere near 30 SQP. Of course the intricacies of Animate are lost to me but I am slowly gathering data to base my findings upon. So, when I create them some of my Squad Points are deducted, which I assume are related directly to their potential. If i add something to the construct that brings it alive further, say a sniper rifle, that isn''t real, it will intertwine with the magic inherent in the animation and something will change it and bring it closer to reality - life. The fact that a pistol and sniper had to be animated as well added to his cost. But that doesn''t make sense. Why should a sniper rifle and pistol even be allowed to animate? They''re inanimate objects. But then, so was George until I made him. I could assume that Animate isn''t to bring things to literal life but metaphoric life. For example, an imitation of a gun wouldn''t really be alive. Breathing life into it would be like allowing it to shoot and that would count as being alive. Still the nature of the magic puzzles me. I''d have to experiment when we have down time. "Alright." I said. The group had been doing their own prep, George had actually dissassembled the sniper on the help desk. There were pieces there that I had no recollection creating, when he heard me he already had half of it assembled in seconds. Jack was meditiating, I think. Near the dome wall where there was more space JST moved through sword forms, weaving his sword between the prongs in his shield. Gaius was looking off into the distance leaning against the help desk, which was hard since we were in a dome, yet he pulled it off anyways. "George. What do you think about this help desk?" I gestured to the directory desk like a professor prodding his student. "Sir, nothing interesting why?" He said looking at two halves of a circular desk. Clone Jones was kicking his feet, sitting on the desk much like the real thing. I sunk the pillar into the ground, leaving only the portions that touched the desk. They acted as a replacement for the parts of the desk they rammed through. What was left was a perfect circle of wood and stone. "I don''t know looks like a perfect sniper''s nest to me." I rubbed my chin. "Don''t you think George?" I gestured to him as if admiring a piece of art. He smiled, shaking his head and got behind the desk, already unslinging his sniper. "Sir, i''m assuming i''m gonna be really high in a few seconds, right?" JST giggled like a little girl. I shot him a look, so immature. Suddenly another surge of magic permeated the air - or rather the ground. I didn''t react though. The magic was mine. "Oh most definitely." I said. Unbeknownst to him the dome was opening at the top as if making way for a rocket launch. JST wisely stepped back from the help desk and Jack sagely took a measured step backwards. Gaius, who was still leaning against the desk, looked at his arm, slowly removed it and took a step back as well. Clone Jones hopped down to stand by me. "Oh go-" George broke off into unintelliglbe yelling as the entirety of the help desk rocketed upwards on a cylinder of earth. I saluted him. "Well now that that''s done we can get move on. Getting George to cover us was the first step. " I explained to a bunch of people looking upwards. "And the next?" JST asked. "We need to find Jones." I said, bringing up stone to splint my broken arm. The stone crawled across my arm and became immovable as it attached to my joints. I had broken my upper arm but the splint kept in place. I had to grit my teeth as the broken bone rubbed against each other. The stone splint encircled my upper arm and stablalized the damage. "The real one." Sparing a glance at the clone. I flexed my fingers and moved my arm once the splint was in place, my arm had been hanging loosely this entire time, it would have to do. His face seemed petulant, still mad at being found out no doubt. Quickly though his expression changed ."Oh." Clone Jones said suddenly. "I think i''m-" Then he dissappeared in a purple poof. The dust or glitter or whatever assaulted my face and got into my mouth, I had to remind myself it wasn''t real despite the phantom itch on my tongue. Really Jones? "Did that taste purple?" JST asked in a squeaky voice. He was always good at impressions. "Shut up, that''s not good." I said now concerned. "His illusion shouldn''t have dissipated unless his imagination is somehow taxed, the strain on the brain due to mana loss might just be enough to cease the illusion. If not then he''s either dead or knocked out." "I bet you a whole pizza he''s fine." JST didn''t seem concerned at all. "And no chickening out this time, I mean a whole pizza. From Pizza Palace." "Fine, but you can''t purposely kill him." I glared at him waiting. "I wouldn''t kill my brother dude." He said actually offended. "Not when we''re on the same team. And Jed was a fucktard anyways, he deserved to die." "Promise?" I poked at him still not convinced. Jed wasn''t that bad. JST just didn''t like his mustache. "Promise." We shook on it. "Alright Gaius, Jack get ready to move. Dome''s coming down in three, two, one!" Chapter 24 - Dark ~LoneJones POV~ The only reason we entered the library in the first place was to get clues for the Geckan Queen. Now we have to beat five books? At the very least we should get a pretty good reward, there isn''t a time limit on the quest so it doesn''t really matter. Once we leave this place we''ll need to hunt that beast down, with any luck that will take us on a tour of the surrounding area and we could gather information that way. If the library doesn''t work out then the mandatory walking we''re gonna do to catch the beast might be enough to put us in the path of some clues to the Queen''s whereabouts. Now was not the time to think about the future though. I dodged a burst of heated air. Jeez that''s hot! I cleared the incoming dense ball of fire but the heat was enough to roast me. I jumped down from my exposed position on the shelves, stepping out of a newly created clone and disappearing fast enough that the switch wasn''t noticed. I could still feel the heat from the fireball despite its passing. I felt its trajectory through the air and it was surprisingly heading straight for the spiked dome Cobb had created. Did he aim for me or the dome? Was that on purpose? I called him a "he" but I had never gotten close enough to lay eyes on the culprit. An intense light and I knew from the green hue that the ground was no longer safe. I dodged chunks of the library floor being ripped from the carpet only to realize they were directed at my clone. Good. It worked. I darted through the bookshelves in the area, getting closer. It was only possible since so much of the books that had filled the area were now on the floor, being as small as I am diving through the small holes was not a problem. At times when the mage wasn''t using any huge magic that displaced the air I could faintly make something out. There was a small disturbance, relatively small compared to a fireball or mini tsunami but it was erratic, rapid. Always following the movements, a sudden burst of movement and then magic. Whatever kind the guy was using it always started like that. It was what I was feeling now. There was a comparably large amount of movement, it only felt small to me because of the distance. There was then a huge displacement of air and I went blind to the phenomena that had just targeted my clone. I could guess though, air - lots of it. It sounded like a group of people that was reading together had just finished a page, multiplied by a thousand. In a library it''s really easy to detect any changes especially when there''s no air conditioning, windows or anything alive. It''s the only reason I could feel the magic user despite the distance. Diving through the last standing bookshelf and taking cover behind a pile of debris I waited. I was tense. I needed to determine how the mage saw me when I had no vision of him. The only reason I had evaded his attacks was because of the indications he always gave off. More movement, the glowing was faint, and I was closer but there was always a faint glow in between attacks. My shoulder was a mess from the Knowlguart earlier, the pain could be ignored JST had popped it back into place but that wasn''t the problem. I wasn''t as limber as I could be for this but that didn''t stop me in the past. The problem was that I had no idea what I was facing, I needed to gather intel and I already had to an extent. With what I learned i''d be able to warn the rest when and what was assaulting us at any given time. Aside from that though I had not even seen the face of the enemy or really tested his capabilites. I had to get close so I could use Examine Enemy and bring back some useful intel. I moved from the debris and took quiet steps closer, completely invisible. He shouldn''t be aware of my invisibility as I had always kept myself visible for this very opprotunity. As I approached the bookshelf I could clearly see someone drawing in the air through the empty slots in the shelf. His sleeves were loose and there was a cowl thrown over his head the rest of his features were obscured save for piercing purple eyes. He drew cresecents overlapping each, with only the barest space inbetween. He then drew a series of lines that started and ended in fine blue lines, the middle of the script was thicker and the whole picture started to glow. He thrust his hand through the script, shattering it. Balls of water formed around the figure, in the distance I could see my clone taunting him. Then with a sudden speed, half circles of water launched from the balls of water formed around him and shot towards my clone. He took one to the knee, taking the leg off and fell forward. I heard the figure mutter something. The balls - his ammo - were smaller now and shrunk further when he sent slices of water once more at the clone, his eyes narrowed as my illusion only suffered superficial cuts. Before anything else could happen I used Examine Enemy.
Examine Enemy: Weaknesses: +Preperation period between magicThe narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Strengths: +Powerful magic +Knowledge of the four elemental magics
Just as I thought. The different colors he wrote with were the different elemental magics. I continued to watch him. He was drawing again, looking around. White script, thin and circular writing like an endless cursive that connected the start and end of each sentence. The "sentence" was written in a circle too and the figure didn''t even tilt his head or slow down when the words slanted and eventually flipped upside down. He drew lines surrounding the words in a swirl in a soft white creating a spiral around the script. In fact, I was hesitant to call it script it was more akin to something else - art. He pierced his creation with his hand and dispersed the writing with circular motion of his arm. Then I felt all the surrounding air get sucked in, packing itself densely at the point where the figure drew. Then the air was released in pulsing waves, sending pages flapping and pressing against me. I could see the hair on my arms flatten. More pulsing waves. My hair, I could see it. My heart mirrored the frantic pulsing of air as I glanced at the revealer. Under the cowl piercing purple eyes stared me down. Balls. I ran backwards, diving through a bookshelf as it shattered behind me. What? I thought he needed to prepare his magic! What did Cobb say earlier? They need a complete mastery over the four elemental magics? Oh god he''s not using spellcraft, he doesn''t need to! I split myself, imagining a clone seperate from myself in an attempt to make it seem like it had substance. I didn''t slow down though. I kept splintering clones off of that one but they were destroyed. Lightining struck one of my clones and jumped across and between the rest, only few more drew the mage''s fire. I was furthest but I still received a shock, enough to numb my arm but nothing more. I needed to think of something, quick. Nothing physical would actually help me here, I needed something metaphysical? Something not based in reality. How can I defeat him without the physical? Something not based in reality.... That''s when the earth started shaking and rubble started to move, vibrating dangerously. Then I remembered something. Oh. That could work. That could definitely work. ~FLASHBACK~ I stood against something moving in the dark, no I stood against the dark itself. It was a being formed from the fear of an idea. Inside the darkness I knew there was a gem to be broken, of black and swirling purple. Getting there was the hard part. My brothers were elsewhere on the battlefield needing me to pass the dark and eliminate the enemy commander within. "Too weak." A voice whispered, the darkness given substance swirled to caress my face. "Too weak." My hand itched to extend the blades in my gauntlet yet I didn''t so much as twitch. I walked forward with purpose. "Fool, what can a child do?" The dark taunted me. "Are you scared of the dark?" It hissed. "The weakest challenges the black?" A twisted voice spoke into my ear. "Yes, the assassin. Weakest of the three. A joke." The other responded in the opposite ear. The shadows let up if only to reveal what could be lurking. Dark masses moved, their sillouhette only just visible. Rolling flesh encircled me, inching near when my eyes would wander. I let my eyes wander and ignored its movement, it was a bluff after all. Eyes peered at me within the darkness, they watched my moves and hinted at a beast bigger than myself. Something darted out of the shadows but I did not flinch, if I turned I would find nothing there. I ignored the movement at my feet and kept my eyes forward. There were more sounds that one might deem scary but it was clear they were scared themselves - frantic even. "Please. We will serve you. Stop!" I had found the gem gently floating in the air. "Stop!" "Reconsider! We will turn on Youva! She will not know what hinders her forces!" I took it in my palm. "Release us!" They shrieked. "Ahhhh!" "Too weak." And I crushed it in my hand. ~END~ I imagined those moments and charged them further with what I knew from the scariest gameworlds. Zombies? No. I''m sure Twoen had a lot of those. The dark had no hold on me the supernatural and impossible was the norm for me. For someone who hasn''t travelled between worlds? I''m sure I could come up with something. I discharged all my mana and formed it into a swirling darkness that I fueled with unthinkable horrors. All the times I could remember a mage dying. The murders I witnessed, the most graphic. The horrors not only beast, but human as well. The disfigured and corrupt. Addicts who attacked anyone in the hopes they had some. People turned monster, the terrible abominations. Massive hunters, those who thrive in the night and enjoy messing with prey, the kind that are truly sickening. Parasites that embed themselves in the body, torture like none other. My face was unreadable. I sent the roiling darkness towards the mage, spreading it out over a wide area. I staggered and unsteadily got my feet under me. 4% mana left. 40% health left. 50% stamina left. I was going to go unconscious from the mana loss, normally it''s the stamina that gets me. Still, I knew that even if I passed out my stronger illusions will stay manifest. There were a few ways to create them, the easiest way is to create a set illusion and have it last until it runs out. You could however connect some illusions directly to your mind, it was a strange and unique facet of the magic according to Cobb. It didn''t hurt, it was only mentally taxing as well as magically draining. It gave them more variability and predictability so I tended to link with my clones, so they would be more like me. That type of illusion suffered when the connection was cut though, sometimes they survive others times they don''t. When I make an illusion, charge it with mana and send it forth, it''s harder to predict its actions which can be pretty useful at times when you want mass confusion. When I want something more specific I link the illusion to myself, if the situation is constantly changing then I need that connection. However with the darkness I only set it to react to those inside, other than that nothing should affect it in a way that reveals its nature. That also means it dangerous to everyone else that enters in addition to the mage. My brothers would need to warn the animations, they''d know exactly what this is. I just hoped they can find me before something happens to my unconscious body. The thoughts of my brothers make my eyes wander backwards in their direction. As my vision fades and the last bit of consciousness is about to leave. I see a huge pillar of earth I know wasn''t there before. There was a glint at the top of the pillar and only leaning on my enhanced vision could I make out what George was holding. "No way." A bright smile broke through my mood and I passed out. Chapter 24.1 - Dark ~JST POV~ "One!" The dome fell around us. Knowlguarts. Dead. Everywhere. "Keep moving!" Cobb yelled. "Find Jones!" Swift steps around dead bodies and past empty bookshelves brought us to our enemy - should have brought us to our enemy. Instead there was that motherfucking fog, possibly the most annoying thing ever. It was static until you walked in, never spreading unless something moves it. "God fucking dammit." I whispered. I could hear screams from the inside. I knew for a fact it wasn''t Jones, he wouldn''t be screaming. So where was he? "Jack check the perimeter and whatever you do don''t touch the fog." Cobb eyed the fog and let out a huge sigh. "Not this again." I feel you man. This shit sucks. "Gaius you too, swirling vortex of death is a no no, got it?" I said. Jack walked off katana drawn, I had to hand it to him he didn''t let his guard down. "I understand." Gaius responded. The screams didn''t cease and from what I remember they never did. It was always difficult trying to find out which are the real ones which are fake. "Could he have done this?" I swung my sword around. "It''s probably him, this doesn''t belong in Twoen. This is probably why the clone dispersed too. Now we just need to find him. The only problem right now is what George is gonna be doing. If he can''t see anything I don''t know how he''s gonna help us." Cobb erected a rock wall to lean against. "Does he even need to? The caster won''t last long in there. That fog is a bitch." I flipped off said bitch. "Incoming." Cobb derailed the conversation. "Shit!" I could just barely make out the white glow of magic within the fog. I felt my hair fly backwards and in seconds the swirling darkness was everywhere. First I was standing with Gaius and Cobb then all became black. I closed my eyes and slowly walked backward, trying not to lose my direction. I knew it was too late though. The bitch fog already had me in its grasp. Shapes shifted slightly in the darkness, causing a swift swirling among the already billowing dark. Faces unrecognizable familiar floated by in anguish. "Fuck, you''re an ugly one." I said to one that passed by. Then I flipped it off. Eyes came next, the kind of eyes that take pleasure in watching prey squirm. They were catlike but blinked left to right. Then the body of the monster was revealed - a child. The hideous face was attached to the body of an innocent. It moved closer even as I watched the sad ugly thing. "Come on you ugly thing. I know, I know it''s hard being ugly. It''s fine though, that way you can tell if someone really loves you." I kneeled down to hug the ugly kid. It disappeared as soon as it touched me. "You know, this is why I hate your shit you stupid fog. If you''re gonna send me something make it real! Last time you sent me a chimera, a chimera! And it was fake! What the fucking hell is that?" I screamed. This fog was the most annoying fucking thing ever. I know Cobb hated it because it just made his stomach turn. I hated this fucking fog because I can''t do anything in here. It just keeps me in here and I can''t even walk away. It''s like playing with your neighbors ugly daughter. Fuck being a good host. If I don''t want to spend time with an ugly buttface I don''t have to! "Fucking Cobaj. Next time you entertain the ugly people." I muttered. Around me disfigured and maimed bodies littered the floor while vaguely human shapes ate their flesh. On the outskirts of visibility a four legged beast stalked. It growled at me, challenging me to fight. Naturally I walked through the thing, nothing to see here.
New Skill: Ultimate Obliviousness - Beginner 1 (0%) For some reason events surrounding you that would stagger others mean literally nothing to you. You don''t even care, at all. Effects: +2% resistance to negative physical effects
Oh cool, new skill. One that ignores negative effects too? Don''t mind if I do. Ultimate Obliviousness? I''m not oblivious, i''m sure everyone would have the same reaction, or at least something similar. Oh well, don''t care.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. And I kept walking, it gave me something to do. Since I basically had unlimited stamina because of Combat Savant and Breathing I really had nothing to lose, the fog keeps me here anyways. There was a lot of floating faces that kept getting in my way, it was like they were all trying to kiss me. I had to punch through all of them so they''d disperse. Eventually I came to a figure that had piercing purple eyes, he was deathly pale and painted in the blank air like some mad kook. I cocked my arm all the way back and swung. I blinked as I made contact. "Yes! I can punch something in the face again!" I punched the fucker out. "Oh my god yes!" I punched him again. "Oh my god no! Are you okay dude?" I got frantic, I got too excited again. Fuck what did I just do? "Uh shit, oh god." I picked him up like a dirty rag, using my index and thumb. "Shit, where do I hide this?" After offering his body to the four legged abomination from earlier and being politely declined I chucked his body into the darkness and wiped off my hands, whistling as I walked away. Hopefully no one saw that. Discreetly my eyes darted around the darkness, more eyes, more faces, weird beast, dead bodies, ugly child. Phew. That was close. No one saw anything. "We saw." A voice said. These were the voices that attacked your fears. Shit. "No, you didn''t. I don''t know what you''re talking about." I said a tad too quickly. "We''re gonna tell your brothers." They hissed. "Please don''t! Fucking Christ!" They got me, they got me good. I''m not supposed to punch strangers in the face. But it was so tempting in game, there is literally nothing that can stop you from punching someone in the face for fun. "We saw you punch his face in." They whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine. They had me. "Anything but that please! Don''t tell my brothers dammit! I fucking swear I will kill you, you damn fog." Begging was my only option. "It is done." They said with deadly finality. Their words cut into my soul, gouging out my very reason for living. "No!" I fell to my knees and screamed to the heavens, yelling profanities about this accursed world. Somewhere in the fog a voice rang out, perfectly clear. "Hah! You know what that means! Next time John''s over you''re hosting Matilda!" It was unmistakenly Cobb''s. God fucking dammit. Why the hell does this happen to me?Now I have to host the neighbors ugly daughter. I sighed, nothing good ever comes from this evil fog. "Fuck you fog." I said weakly, I didn''t have it in me anymore. ~Cobb POV~ Phew. I hate Matilida, she''s hideous. I knew the fog wouldn''t let me reach him so I didn''t even try. In fact, i''m actually really impressed that Twoen had the capacity to transfer something as unique as this fog into the game. By now all the clues point to Jones. Just this fog came from Illusion Magic, that''s incredibly intricate. I was beyond impressed really, the fog was from another game, born completely from Jones imagination, or so I assumed. My thoughts drifted to the magic user and before I could catch myself they wandered further. "Magic." The voices spoke again. I kept silent. "What are you without it?" Voices overlapped in an eerie effect. "Nothing. Weak." I clenched my teeth. "Pathetic." It spat. Again I responded with silence. "The green one knows nothing but magic. Stripped of it, he is nothing. Nothing." It hissed. "What are you without it? What are you compared to those two?" My fists balled up as the voices faded, allowing me to stew in my own thoughts. The floor below me rippled in pulsating waves, orbs of fire and water circled me. Loops of wind and water tied themselves around me. I sent bursts of fire forward, the color red filled my vision before black slowly enroached. Tendrils of water flowed around my body, like a living snake. Air blew my hair backwards in a soothing caress. I closed my eyes and let my mind relax, sinking into the meditation.
New Skill: Meditation - Beginner 1 (0%) Calming your mind and relaxing your body into the present allows the flow of mana to permeate your body undisturbed. Effects: +5% mana regeneration when meditating
Handy. It wasn''t anything unexpected though so I kept moving, brooding. My stance changed and I allowed the elements to relax to a degree, my control over them lessened, giving them more freedom. My right fist jabbed out, fast as lightning. Only half a second behind the motion was mimicked by a swathe of fire. I threw my elbow out and more fire blasted forward. I brought my left knee up and proceeded to front kick, rapidly sending my foot out again and again, pivoting myself to move forward at the same time. Gusts of wind sent the darkness roiling. My right leg sweeped the floor in a circle and a crescent of water sliced across the floor, I brought my leg up in a crushing knee and the water rose in a sharp pillar. My left jabs sent slabs of rock flying, erupting from the floor, an uppercut sent a short pillar of earth high enough to hit a jaw. Then I tied them all together and released a devestating attack that rained havoc in the dark, the magic linked together and left no openings. I landed on my feet as a flying roundhouse sent fire in a wave.
New Skill: Mixed Magical Arts - Beginner 1 (0%) Wedding the movements and technique of various martial arts with the nature and ferocity of magic itself births a dangerous practice. The tax on both the mind and body require someone of immense skill. Effects: +When in use magic is amplified by 3%
Wow. I wasn''t expecting that. Normally it''s just an easier way for me to use magic, but this, this is amazing. I can actually be doing more damage if I use magic this way, even if it''s less convenient than just mentally casting everything. It''s like taking the pressure off my mind and giving some of it to my body. It''s the skills like these that really make me wonder how tailor made these are. Can anyone obtain this skill or is it custom made for me because of the way I practice magic? If there were any requirements for the skill I wonder what they were? Display aptitude in combining both magic and martial arts? Demonstrate a deadly combo? Showcase an efficient way of stringing magic with physical techniques? It was impossible to guess and it only reminded me how little of Twoen we truly know. It wasn''t long for the words of the fog to find me again. "What are you without it? What are you compared to those two?" The words echoed in my head. I knew exactly what fear they were targeting. What am I when I leave the Varas Capsule? Where does my magic go and what it does matter out there? Who am I without it? My brothers, they have their physical skills, their talent, their reactions, but me? A triple flying roundhouse kick, sent a claw of fire ripping through the air. I can''t take magic outside the game. My jet black eyes reflected the fire burning alone in the dark. "I never will." Chapter 24.2 - Dark ~JST POV~ I realized the fog figured out what my worst fear was. It was definitely after I happily skipped through a horde of abominations. I stared at the fog enjoying the small stimulus of the swirls. The voices never came, they knew my fear. How long has it been? Seconds, years? I was bored. My worst fear. I sighed and walked around, if anything I can look at how the ground changes. My thoughts took over when my walks got boring. I knew that this illusion wouldn''t - shouldn''t - last that much longer. Sure, Jones had used all his mana but how long can that fuel something this big? I thought back on my previous encounters. Wait. Did I kill the magic user? That guy I punched in the face? Well that makes things easier. I don''t know if it was planned but Jones basically disabled the guy in the fog. To three brothers who have traversed worlds? The scenes, the gore, the disfigured, everything, we had seen multiple times and more. I''ve been desensitized, scarily so. On Earth, I remember a man that got into an accident. Ommitting the circumstance of the crash, he was caught in such a way that a portion of the metal slashed open his gut, everything was in tact but there was a lot of blood. I knew basic medical aid and I was the only one who moved then. I still remember, everyone says traumatic experienced happen in slow motion, this didn''t slow a fraction for me. He crashed, he got gutted, I moved, I helped. The guts didn''t faze me I actually helped the dude hold his stomach in, literally. We made it to the emergency room after a woman drove us, unfortunately the dude bled all over her car. When we finally arrived they said it was miracle he lived, wounds like that apparently result in death without immediate treatment and assistance.They said the nature of the wound normally prevents anyone from helping, helping in any actual capacity that is. They told me I was a life saver. My brothers are the same. How long have we been playing? We''re immensely older than our actual bodies are. It was something to ponder but it was also all we ever knew. How would our lives differ if we were actually our age? How old would we actually be when we''re old men? Before I could get lost in my thoughts, my stomach rumbled. I took a bite of the apple I found earlier, I already finished all my grapes. I bit into the perfectly crisp juiciness that was the apple. I''m pretty sure the grapes were poisonous but I didn''t care. Now though, my stomach cramped and I was brought to my knees groaning. I doubled over and curled into a ball on the floor. My body convulsed and I laid there as the pain dissapated. Against all reason, I took another bite. I was promptly sent to the floor again. The apple was the most tastiest that has ever entered my mouth, that wasn''t the reason I took another bite though. I was just bored. I remember watching a video on the effects of boredom. Someone would rather shock themselves painfully than sit in a chair without any stimulation. Right now, I couldn''t agree more. My eyes shut as tasty pain invaded my body through my mouth. The third bite was the worst but the taste made up for it. I was now focused on my body and observing the effects. I made a guess and pulled up the debuff blinking on my right.
Debuff: Poison of the False Fruits Created by the scientist Calad Ium to cripple a vegetarian population sitting on a metaphorical goldmine. The goal was to free up lands containing valuable resources to claim for his empire. The False Fruits as they were dubbed, were poisonous even to other vegetation, rapidly degrading them and taking their place. To his avail, he loved fruits and got confused. The fruits scattered and have been widely used as last meals for those sentenced to death. Effects: +Debilitating pain +90% decrease to all stats +Regeneration effects nullified
That seems about right. An errant thought ran through my head, this was a bit extreme for trying to find a simple stimulus. I buried the thought, I was bored. You''re not supposed to let the voices know your fears, so you don''t think about them. I had encountered many times where protecting your mind was of the upmost importance, to flood your surface thoughts with random thinkings in order to hide the truly important information. That''s what I''ve been doing since I entered the fog. The fog wouldn''t know my true fear. Cobb could never do it. He was too true to himself. His mind worked at a different level. Every thought he had was something important, each thought connected and spread to the next, that''s how I pictured his brain. The notion of thinking random useless thoughts was against his very nature, to waste his mental capacity on something inefficient? Blasphemy. Normally he found another way to hide his thoughts, an amulet, a magic, he got really creative sometimes. The last time he set a trap in his own brain and ended up frying someone elses. That was hilarious. As for Jones, he was a mystery to me. He was also the earliest one to be exposed to virtual reality, what effects that had on his brain I would never know. Sometimes I regret it but then I wouldn''t have spent all this time with all of my brothers. There was nothing to say, I didn''t know if Jones followed my example for attacks on the mind or had developed something else. Perhaps he followed the alternative methods? Maybe he thinks in parallel, or structures his thoughts in different ways. He could blank himself too, moving from active thinking to an absolute void of thoughts, I heard it hurts to look into the minds like that. I shrugged my spasming shoulder, rather it shrugged on its own, multiple times. I tried moving my hand again. It was time for the next apple. My body refused to move as it jerked on its own, cramping in inconvenient spots. I glared at my body and grabbed the next apple. Again the taste was painful and blissful. I wasn''t taking pleasure from the pain. I was taking pleasure from the taste. It was the most otherworldy taste and yet still managed to capture the simplicity of an apple - all in a single bite. The taste was minimalistic, humble and yet at the time it was grand and boastful. The pain sucked however, it wracked through my body sending needles into my skin from the inside. There was no release, the stress built up inside of me, but went away when I thought of the alternative, absolute boredom.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
NOTICE: Pat, God of Boredom and Entertainment has taken a keen interest in you. As presider of all things boring as well as entertaining, your situation has piqued his curiousity. Effects: +Pat notices you
The first thing I noticed was how Pat was a really boring name for a god. I laughed, then paused. Was I just entertained over how boring his name was? Pat, the God of Boredom and Entertainment you sneaky bastard. I could come to like that name, it was perfectly fitting. Didn''t Gyru, God of the Uncharted and Untamed Beasts take interest in Cobb? There weren''t many games where I had taken the interest of a god, when I had it was normally a god focused on war or something like that. Unsurprisingly, it was Cobb who attracted the most attention with his magic. We would meet up occasionally within games, the really big wars were the ones that got us together, we weren''t teaming, we just happened to both be at the same place fighting for the same thing. Events like that forced us together. It was always a competition but we never outright tried to attack each other, we didn''t like it, it wasn''t fun for anyone. Instead we just dueled each other but that wasn''t the point. The really big events that attracted the attention of gods were the times where I could really shine, the problem? Cobb was right beside me flinging magic willy nilly. That was why it was rare for me to get a god''s attention the spotlight was on him. Of couse it didn''t really matter to me, I didn''t like the gods, they can''t take a joke. One time I was joking with one and he tried to destroy the world. Hate that guy. I called him Army, short for Armageddon but who would''ve guessed that he would try to destroy the world like a child? I pushed away those thoughts. I was on my fourth apple now, the effects were lessened though, the pain not the taste. The more I ate the more I could ignore the pain and enjoy the taste. Some masochistic side of me missed the convulsing spasms and cramps though, I felt dirty eating something so divine without punishment. I didn''t like feeling guilty, it made the apple taste a bit - less. Some indeterminate time later I finished all my apples, leaving one for later.
New Skill: Poison Resistance - Advanced 9 (56%) Through exposure to various poisons your body has built a natural resistance. Poisonous effects will have less effect on you. It is said food eccentrics train this skill so that one day they can taste the Forbid Fruits, extremely poisonous and unimaginably tasty. A select few poisons disregard this skill. Effects: +87% resistance to poisons
Naturally the first thing I did was check on the poison affecting me. Apparently the effects were lessened dramatically enough that it didn''t count as a debuff anymore, the icon vanished. I could still feel a small amount of pain though. Jesus, how poisonous were those? God that could''ve been really bad.Huh, should I curse using Pat''s name? I decided not to, the consequences are unknown. I looked around a bit as I regained control of my body, perusing my choices of food. Next thing I knew I was eating edible flowers. The pleasure that pierced my senses was unimaginable and I was brought to my knees, not in pain, in bliss. I couldn''t have enough. I kept eating and eating until I caught sight of my hands. They were purple and brought my thoughts to the magic user I maimed, it was enough to knock me out of my trance. Even now I could feel the urge to eat more flowers, my hand reached for one. My other hand stopped it. I locked my mind down and sorted through my urges, emotions and thoughts. Where did my urge to punch people go?
Debuff: Popyoin Addiction Your body has been tuned to the magic of the Popyoin flowers. Your mana will crave these flowers and the addiction will only rise with the flowers your system digests. Effects: +Mana reliance on Popyoin flowers +While under the influence magic is amplified by 20% +INT and WIS increased by 40
Great, a magical drug. Is this magic heroin? Absently, I took a bite of my remaining apple and savored the taste. I could enjoy the bliss of this apple without a trance, I was in control and that made it all the more tastier. Then the Popyoin Addiction debuff disappeared. I blinked, surprised. The apple in my hand temporarily forgotten. My mind raced. What just happened? Am I cured? Did I build a resistance to magic flowers? The fuck is going on? Some part of me registered that the fog was dispersing. When the rest of my awareness caught up I saw Cobb looking down at me. I was sitting in a small field of flowers by one of the bookshelves, next to me was a pile of apple cores and next to that was a pile of grape stems. His eyes scanned and landed on me. "What the fuck man?" "What? I was hungry." I said defensively. "Most Painfully Rewarding Fruits? Magical Addictions of the Glade?" He read through the books open in front of me, one opened to an illustration of an apple and grapes, another to a field of purple flowers. "False Fruits? Addictive flowers?" "Uh." "Goddammit dude. There goes two of our books down the drain!" He facepalmed. "Do you even think at all?" Oh shit I forgot about that. "Um. I forgot sorry." I ventured. "I was bored! The fog figured out I hate being bored and stopped making things! I was alone and hungry what''d you want me to do?" "So you fucking poisoned yourself? Ugh." He sighed defeated, reading the pages I opened. "Finish the flowers and eat the rest of your apple after. The apple should kill off the flowers and the addiction." Oh, so that''s what happened. "Yeah, I was already doing that." I said defensively, lying terribly. He squinted at me. The fog was now mostly gone. To my right I heard someone yelling frantically in another language. There was a glow and amidst the broken bookshelves I could see the apparition fromContos Spellcraft in perfect clarity - piercing purple eyes. The glow was a mix of all colors and as it reached its peak I could see the picture the hooded man drew. It was a 3d rendering of all the elements swirled into one, script in different colors and fonts surrounded the piece in all patterns. His purple eyes were dulled and erratic, no doubt the effects of the fog. Despite his relative safety he checked behind his back, throwing furtive glances over his shoulder. He finished his magic. He locked eyes with us and moved to break and activate the magic aiming toward us. "Fuck!" Cobb and I yelled in Hyperfocus, diving opposite from each other. I kept my eyes on the hooded figure as he moved to break his magic. His head exploded sending a trail of brainmatter across the pristine ornate carpet. His body fell limp, headless. And then the fashionably late sound of a Barrett 50. Cal pierced the air. Chapter 25 - The Last Book ~LoneJones POV~
New Title: The Nightmare Not everyone is capable of driving others insane on such a large scale. You have driven over 500 sentients insane with fear, leading most to suicide. A task, not insignifcant. Others will sense something from you, an unreasonable fear at the back of their minds. Effects: +New Skill: Fear
Fear - Beginner 1 (0%) The ability to be feared is earned not learned. You give off a strong sense of fear scaring all those around you. Some with high resistance or willpower can shrug off this effect. Other factors can influence success. Effects: +Abilites that sense danger are amplified by 100% on you +Mild fear can be directed
I flinched as the screens opened, confident that the bright blue would hurt my eyes. Instead it seemed because it was part of the system I could see the screens no matter what. With no consequence. I noted the title and was surprised. Five hundred sentients? It was after I read about my new ability that I realized who I drove insane. The Knowlguarts. So many books were knocked over by the Contos Spellcraft manifestation that a wave of Knowlguarts had to enter the fog. It was the only explanation. "-fog sucks man." Slurred voices assaulted my ears. "Two wasted books." A green blur said. I tried opening my eyes but all I saw was a glaringly bright blur with no definition. My mind felt torn apart, there was liquid pain flowing though my brain stem. The throbbing was piercing at the same time. The pain from mana loss made my body feel slow too, probably from affecting my brain or thoughts somehow. "Agh. Hngghh." I perfectly expressed my pain. My vision gave way to Gaius who was fussing over me. I was lying in comfy chair in one of the ubiquitous resting areas. Cobb seemed annoyed, the kind of annoyance he gets when something is bugging him. JST was trying to defend himself as Cobb was blaming him for something. It''s usually his fault though. "Brother, how do you fare?" The ancient warrior asked. Terrible. "I''m fine." I groaned. "No he''s not I know how complete mana loss feels and I know you feel like shit." He was running his finger over the bindings of multiple books, scanning the titles. "What are you even looking for?" JST was doing the same thing but he wasn''t as invested. "Is it true, brother?" This big, bulky man was playing mother hen. "Gaius i''ll be fine in a few minutes, alright?" I laughed at the irony. Then winced at the pain. JST and Cobb looked up and shared a small smile before going back to work, the mood was lighter. "I''m telling you. You don''t know how difficult those books were. They could actually be worth a lot to defeat them." JST was defensive again. Cobb paused. "Well, I don''t know what kind of idiot would be willing to eat fruits, realize they''re posionous, and then keep eating them because he''s hungry. We''ll have to see. I don''t know how difficult eating addictive flowers are either but I have no idea what would''ve happened if the fruits didn''t kill off the addiction. " Cobb was giving it some genuine thought. Whatever it was. "Huh, we might get something good from that." "What are you talking about?" There was no reason to be talking about poisonous fruit and addictive flowers so why were we? JST simply gestured to the small table beside me and the stack of books on it.Coregath Field Guide, Contos Spellcraft, Most Painfully Rewarding Fruits, Magical Addictions of the Glade. They were stacked neatly to my left. "These are all the books we''ve opened." JST flipped through the fruit book and was drooling. "This one was delicous." He pointed to a page with apples and grapes. "Why didn''t you just choose a book without poisonous food? Are you stupid?" I gave the page a cursory scan. "I was hungry. And it said it tasted the best so why settle for anything less?" That sounds logical when you discount the fact that they were extremely poisonous. "Ok, but what made you eat something from the second book? "I flipped it open and it said they were edible and tasty. Simple." He said it so matter fact. His face devoid of anything resembling recognition that he was an idiot. "Oh my god you''re such an idiot." I facepalmed. "Thank you!" Cobb yelled back. There was a moment of comfortable silence before Gaius talked. "It is good to see the bonds of combat bring people together. You three have an air about you, all can see the bonds that tie you as brothers." His voice was distant as if he was somewhere else. For the very first time, I saw a spartan, hunched over, defeated. A glorious warrior brought to his knees. Why? I looked around. Searching. "They have passed." Jack was ominously silent, leaning against the bookshelf behind me. Only a few meters from him the rest of the bookshelf was destroyed, just like everything past it. I nodded grimly. If there was anything else we were experienced in besides gaming, it was loss. I tried standing but immediately I wobbled and Gaius caught me. I was thankful but only now did the absence of the other two spartans sink in. There was a question burning in my mind but it was not the time to ask it. Can they be saved? It was the same question I asked myself back then. The same one burnt into my skull, over and over. The same one that resurfaces every year. "I am sorry. Your loss is mine as well." I caught the gaze of the man, just long enough for him to know my sincerity. "Thank you." The words were a soft whisper and ran contrast against the physique and power of the man. "They aren''t your only family, bro." The words came out before I could stop myself. The mood fell again. Cobb had stopped scanning titles, resting against the shelf, lost in his thoughts, upon his face rested a small bittersweet smile. JST was much the same, only allowing the positive thoughts to show on his face. Jack was the same quiet samurai he was. Gaius was mirroring my brothers. I looked around before JST said something. Something that we rarely talk about. "What has it been? Twenty years now?" Rarely does JST ever become serious, usually it''s in the heat of combat but we were far from danger. "Four years outside in two months." Cobb''s was resting his arms on his knees, twirling fire between his fingers, then staring as his hands. I sunk further into in my chair. The memories were painful. Too painful. "It''s funny, it''s been four years for everyone else. We''ve had close to twenty." I sunk below the armrest, enough to hide my face. To hide my tears. "Twenty years. Twenty years, and it seems like we''re still hurting the most." Was it Cobb or JST? It didn''t matter. Old feelings woke up and I remembered, remembered everything. It was maybe half an hour later before I stopped crying, time was meaningless when lost in memories. I never cried out loud, tears flowed down my face and sadness enveloped me but I never made a sound. My face was twisted in despair but no sound. I don''t know why I did it. In honor of them? Who knows? It was something that I always did from the very fateful day it happened to now. There was no sense to it. Only that it felt right that way. That something was in my control. That I could do, something. Maybe at some point Gaius realized I was crying, maybe Jack did too. If they did, they were really good actors. They ignored me, pretended to at least. Gaius gave it away, he wasn''t even looking in my direction. That could work with Jack since he was always stoic but with Gaius it was different. He was curious and that meant looking around. When he wasn''t something was clearly up. I could stand up now, so that''s what I did. JST got up from his spot, dusting himself off. Cobb had a book in his hand but was still looking for something different, absently he killed the Knowlguart that appeared to his left with a wind assisted uppercut. A small breeze dusted off the books as he moved down the shelf. "What''s the next book?" I said, finally having gathered myself. "I''ve gotTribesmen of the Greater North.I''m looking for something else though." He eyed me, concerned. I ignored him. I walked over to the nearest shelf and began scanning the titles.Hound Fleas, Methods to Forget, Weather on the plains, Demon Summoning.I kept looking, the only thing challenging didn''t seem particularly fun to fight. I asked just in case. "How do you guys feel aboutDemon Summoning? Doesn''t seem fun." I questioned them trying to move past recent events. "Hold it for later." Cobb said. I took it off the shelf. A minute later the guardian Knowlguart came and I tested Fear on him. It hesitated and I cut it down. "How aboutFlavei''s Pastry Monsters?" JST had succummbed and looked through the titles as well. "No." Me and Cobb said in sync. Absently I noticed JST take it off the shelf and hold it for later. He killed the Knowlguart that came after it. Ten minutes later and three dead Knowlguarts later we came together, I put downDemon Summonings. Cobb placedTribesmen of the Greater North, Yolt,Wyrmic Races,andMage Golems down. We had amassed a small pile of books and potential challenges. All that was left was to choose our battle. "Well these are the four I felt we could-" Cobb started. JST placed downFlavei''s Pastry Monsters on top of the pile. "Don''t forget this." He said. "If we can eat what we kill why not?" JST asked. The cover was delicious looking pastries, it looked like an average cookbook except for the last word in the title which was bold and underlined. "What''s Yolt?" "There''s a short summary on the back of some books. It''s how JST found what he wanted to eat. When you read it the knowledge doesn''t manifest and you don''t have to fight anything. In short, Yolt is the legend of a lightning beast that traveled around destroying crops and metals." "And you thought we can handle that? Lightning beast seems kinda out of our league here." "I''m sure we could come up with something." "I''m telling you guys. Flavei''s. Pastry. Monsters. It''s a no brainer." JST looked smug. "No." We both snapped. "Tribesmen of the Greater North is probably the safest best, unless we really want those better rewards we should stick to this." I held the book in my hand. JST sighed. "If we''re not doing the pastries." We glared at him. "Then we should either doMage Golems orDemon Summonings. I agree with Jones, Yolt seems too dangerous, if something has a legend it''s for a reason.Wyrmic Races is off the table. I''ve had enough reptilian, amphibian, geckan, snake things the last few days to last a month.Demon SummoningsandMage Golems both have some risk involved but we should be able to handle it, both are inherently tricky but we''ve handled them before. That book you''re holding Jones, it''s gonna be way too easy for us." He reasoned, quite logically I might add. "You. Have a point." Cobb conceded, defeated. "Flavei''s Pastry Monstersis probably our best bet though." JST said in the same logical and matter of fact way of speaking he used earlier. "No!" This time we both raised our voices a bit. JST wilted. "George get ready!" Cobb yelled upwards to the sniper''s nest. I had forgotten about the last thing I saw before passing out. "You gave him a Barrett. 50. Cal? A sniper?" I was incredulous, remembering what I saw. "Yep." Cobb smirked. "Now which one should be open?" He had both books in front of him. "I don''t know." Shaking my head at Cobb. Only he would find a way to get a working sniper rifle in George''s hands in the middle of absolutely nowhere. "Just choose one." "Should I flip a coin?" A coin of dirt formed in his hands. "Actually, shouldn''t we think of what we can handle best?" "You''re right we should probably make a plan for both and see which one is more viable." He rubbed his chin, reading the titles. "We should read the back too, can''t be too safe." I suggested. "I already the backs, can''t hurt to do it again though." He picked upMage Golemsand began reading the back. "Oh for fuck''s sake." And JST flipped openDemon Summonings. Cobb looked up from reading the back of the contending book. He placed it down gently, sighed and prepared his magic. Gaius and Jack who had been waiting for us to decide and silent since the emotional turmoil earlier took up our flanks. I was positioned behind us and went invisible. There was that throbbing pain again so I stopped my magic and gripped my daggers instead. JST grinned and drew Drip or Riptide, whatever. His shield came up and I wondered if Cobb had been renewing our sand equipmentthis whole time. These were supposed to be temporary constructs, or so he said. A black swirling vortex came from directly in front of us it sucked up all the surrounding bookcases, a stone altar that I knew wasn''t there before appeared directly under it. We spread out, fearing the enemy would attack immediately like the magic user. Jack pressed against a nearby bookshelf, his katana half drawn. Gaius had moved up with JST and held his shield up. The black swirling mess collapsed in on itself, forming a small black rip that glowed with purple light. Small demons poured out of it each one increasing the size of the rift. They approached me but I flared Fear and they stumbled and fell in front of me. I didn''t waste time to bend down and strike them, I just jumped on them, and dislocated their heads. It was easy why they were scared and immobile. I noticed the rift stabalize as we killed the demons. "Kill the demons, it keeps the portal small!" I called. Jack was a blender. His katana cut cleanly, and blurred in the mass of small demons. His face was the same stoic Jack but his katana screamed with all the emotion that wasn''t on his face. I wonder if the loss of Marcus and Lucius hit harder on the samurai than I thought. As I watched he bisected a leaping demon perfectly. He kicked another up to waist level and sliced that in half as well. One that got too close was sent back to hell as Jack unsheathed his tanto and had it back in its sheathe before the body hit the floor. Black blood splattered on the samurai''s face, the only emotion present was in his eyes and his sword. From his shoulder down was a blur as he sent demon after demon to hell. The demons used small magic, mainly fire. It served only to throw Jack''s shadow across the horde. Gaius copied JST''s form, the large warrior not used to fighting monsters or smaller enemies. He mimicked sweeping low cuts, like golfing with one hand. His shield kept them out of his face, while his feet kicked them away. Gaius was struggling when the tide increased and Knowlguarts joined the mix and he looked wide-eyed at JST when he glanced for more instruction. My older brother almost looked like he was tapdancing, each tap stepping on an arm, leg or head of a demon before sending them on their way. His sword was in complete focus though, never missing and never faltering, each swipe taking no less than three enemies to the River Styx. It didn''t matter what foe came demon and Knowlguart alike died. His shield blocked with only the sharp edges, not only keeping them out of his face but also crippling and bruising the leaping demons. The injured demons that came back were destroyed efficiently. Each part of his body was doing something, all of it was used to kill.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Cobb looked as though he was fighting an invisible enemy. He punched, spun and kicked at nothing. He elbowed, uppercut, and jabbed at nothing but the air. His knees met no enemy, his feet met no foe, his fists found no threat. Yet only a handful of meters in front him, chaos. Pillars of earth launched handfuls of demons upwards, jarred from the impact, they were met with a crescent of fire that cut them in half but didn''t seem to burn them. Heads exploded seemingly for no reason concurrent with Cobb''s kicks. He implementedBagua Circle Walking in one of his moves and a tornado caught a mass of demons and Knowlguarts, forcing them close together and ripping them apart. Surprisingly some demons got through and bit at him with shockingly white teeth, they were shortly met with his physical attacks as demons in the background met the magical equivalent. A handful of demons that were too close were drowning in their own personal bubble of water, struggling against it, they were suspended in the bubble. At that moment, I could see one his stupid analogies of magic come to life. The painter and the canvas. Medium sized demons started to squeeze through and at the same time the Knowlguarts arrived. One approached me hesitantly, fearful. It ran at me on all fours eyes full of hate and I frontflipped over it and jabbed my knife into its back, cutting it in two as its momentum brought it forward and my knife dragged down its rear. Another group of smaller demons approached and I charged them. They leaped at my face but I rolled forward, catching one midair with the bottom of my foot and hammering it into the floor as I finished my roll. Close to the ground, I looked around. Surrounded. I windmilled, knocking more away. One approached from the floor, more intelligent than its bretheren. I kicked it upward into the path of another leaping demon, when they collided I held my dagger point facing down and stabbed through both of them at the same time. My other dagger moved on instinct and killed another almost unconsciously. Two medium demons came and I heard a piercing gunshot echo throughout the library. Sparing a glance at the portal, I could see a dead body, headless, lying on the ground behind it. The lead demon roared at me, loud despite its average size and leapt straight at me. I ducked under it, speared it on both my daggers and threw it at the second demon. It dodged the body, but my dagger had already foundit''s throat. I took another glance at the dead body by the portal, the summoner? The body was connected to the portal by the hands via a small thread of black energy, the thread pulsed and the body shriveled. The portal got larger. Something pushed through, a red demon tried to enter the now larger portal but was stopped at waist height, its hands grasped the sides of portal and pulled but ultimately failed, it roared. Its attempt cut off the flow of demons which quickly resumed as it backed off. Now medium sized demons took precedence, pushing the smaller ones out of the way. A blast of fire sent directly into the portal wiped out a small portion but the rest were relatively unharmed. The Knowlguarts were now more plentiful, they fought the demons as much as us however. JST and Gaius were actually moving forward, pushing through the medium sized demons. It became clear the portal had to be closed to win. I moved to climb the nearest bookcase but more medium sized demons came, I sighed and crawled the short distance down. They were swept away by a wave of water and I nodded to my brother before climbing up again. From my perch I could see the body of the summoner, the energy still flowed in copious amounts. I looked backwards and up to George, who I could see easily thanks to my increased Perception. He was looking down the scope of his sniper and I waited until he saw me. I signaled for cover and he looked up from his sniper and nodded to me. Instantly the bigger demons around the portal started to dwindle as bullets ripped through them. The stronger ones were actually guarding the portal and corpse. My brother and the spartan had stemmed the tide quite a bit, Cobb was containing the flow on the left and Jack had the right. The concentration of demons got higher but the area they covered was now much smaller. Which basically meant that Cobb could get to work. And he did. Fire didn''t work so he created a vortex of water sucking demons into a deep hole in the ground. I could only hear screams from the inside, it sounded like the wailing and moaning of grown men. Cobb was standing off to the side, he didn''t even seem to be doing anything, his hands were folded behind his back and he stood in a relaxed posture. The only indication this was the man responsible for the spectacle was the look of concentration on his face. I could make out sweat on his brow, he was maintaining a lot of magic. From my Sensitive Hairs I could feel the wind and knew exactly what Cobb was doing. He was making a demon smoothie. I jumped down and ran towards the body of the summoner, aiming to cut off the flow of power. A demon my size cut me off but its head was blown off by George. I ran past it and drew my daggers, feeling up to it I created a clone and sent it the other way. Pain, nothing unmanageable though. Three of the bigger demons stood over the body of the man and I charged them with my clone. George hit two of them, one''s head blew off and the other one''s arm came off at the shoulder. The one still in tact looked at the clone and myself and stepped in front the real Jones. Good guess but bad choice. I darted under its arm, drawing blood across its torso. It spun around and crouched low, protecting its vitals. I feinted but it didn''t move. I feinted again and it didn''t move. One more time and it didn''t move. I used Fear, then feinted, and it moved surprisingly quick, dodging to the side wide-eyed and fearful. I ignored the demon, using the opening to run past it and cut the dead body''s hand off. One the of the tendrils of black receded, the portals growth slowed. The demon came at me again and a gunshot rang out, I felt the displaced air take out a approaching demon behind me. I thanked George internally for taking that weight off my shoulders. I grappled the demon, being my size and vaguely humanoid martial arts actually became viable in this situation. I threw it on its back and choked the demon, realizing it would take too long I snapped its neck with some effort. I cut the other hand of the summoner off and the portal''s growth came to a stop. It did not close immediately though, it was slowly shrinking, not fast at all. "It''s shrinking! Hold off the demons!" I could just barely hear JST over the chattering demons. From behind the portal I couldn''t see what exactly came out of the portal but a giant foot touched down on the stone which the portal was formed above. Another foot. Something stepped out of the portal and when it stood to full height the top of its head was just barely visible from behind the portal. I did see dark gleaming horns that rose far above the height of the portal. There were demons around me which I had to take care of so my focus was on them for a few moments. I heard a roar and the other side of the clearing was covered in dark fire. I could feel the heat of the flames from my position and I was forced to scramble backwards as books lying about caught in flames. The fire the huge demon used was streaked heavily with black. Nothing could be seen from the other side and I feared the worst. Then I could hear, sizzling? I cocked my head and moved around the perimeter of the battle to get a good look at the last demon that was going to die. It was regal, dark red skin and patches of black scales covered the body. It was the most human looking demon aside from it''s nine foot eight and two foot horns. It''s face was decidedly human, and it looked confused. The sizzling was louder now, desperate. It sounded like a tea kettle past boiling, times a thousand. The blanket of black fire exploded. Standing there unharmed was everyone, in a ball of water. The sizzling was the water evaporating, the steam was captured by Cobb. My green brother grinned and wobbled. Then the horned demon''s left arm disappeared. Chunks of flesh left its body as it realized what just happened. It roared in agonizing pain. Cobb had released the high pressure steam in a controlled beam, the attack was almost invisible. How much pressure is he holding in? Another shot of steam I could barely follow took out its right hand. A gunshot rang out and chipped one of its horns. "Impudent mortals!" The demon talked. It''s deep bellowing voice rumbled through our bones. "To stop a demon progenitor! To deface his body!" The demon could breathe fire too apparently. "You stupid motherfucker you''re gonna die today!" A voice small in comparison answered back. "Who dares!" The demon yelled in rage. I looked at JST and back to the demon who was deadly serious. Then Cobb fainted. The world was white. The steam was released and covered the whole area blinding everyone except JST and I. I could see fine with my Sensitive Hairs and JST had his Arena so he should be fine. The only problem was that we just lost our cover from George. He would''ve been useful, not that many things can stop a sniper rifle like his. He even managed to chip the horn of the demon. I didn''t have a chance to use Examine Enemy on the horned demon, I needed to see him. The steam was hot and it felt like a sauna. I moved like a phantom in the steam, unseen. I could feel the demon moving lashing out at JST who was attacking his blind spots. I formed illusions of JST around the demon and had them dart in when JST moved to attack. JST molded to the rhythm of the feints like it was planned. His strikes met solid scales, practically armor, but I could feel scales coming off at the blows. Impressive given JST''s strength. He ducked under the arm and slashed at the demon, a clone replaced him as he backed off. The clone was ripped to shreds and the demon laughed, it was cut short when JST moved again and struck his neck. He threw dark fire and it hit JST, glancing off his scales. I could feel a sure-footed figure move in besides JST. His eyes were closed as he passed me. It was Jack and none of his steps faltered. He stepped right in front of the demon and breathed deeply. The right arm came down and Jack''s katana moved like it could see for him. It caught the arm in the wound of the missing hand and dug deep, he ripped the skin open from the inside of the arm and the demon fell, clutching at the bloody mess. Rather than instantly getting cauterized by the attack the demon bled black. It cursed in another language and a pentagram drew itself in the air. It stuck its ruined arm in and came out with a sword attached to the stump that was its arm. It screamed and its blade pulsed with a black power, sucking the magic from my illusions and revealing the real JST, who fell to his knees. They were close enough that the steam didn''t matter. "There you are pest." It spat a glob of black acid on the floor. I moved. Dashing through the steam and I made sure to approach slowly checking the effect the sword had on me. Jack had moved in front of JST eyes open now he met swords with the demon and his katana broke halfway. He pulled out his shorter blade and held them steady awaiting the next attack. When it came he had to block it or it would''ve struck JST, he held both swords up awaiting the impact. A clang rang out and I winced, fully expecting to see a slaughtered samurai. What I saw was a spartan in all his glory, standing above the defeated and holding his own against a stronger foe. His cape flowed backwards from the shockwave and his shield was angled above his head, catching the blade of the demon. The demon roared once more and cocked his only arm back to slice again but Jack and Gaius had grown close, they moved together, Gaius covered Jack as he attacked the injured right side of the demon. Meanwhile I had moved behind the demon my figure hidden in the steam. It roared and breathed dark flame but JST had already recovered from whatever effects the black sword had on him. He moved against the flame and met Gaius struggling against it. The flame blew the steam away momentarily and the demon raised his sword hand again. It fell towards Jack who was caught out of position. He tried to dart forward using the flame as cover but the demon caught him and sliced his sword hand through his breath of flame. The second the sword was moments from connecting a gunshot pierced the air. It deflected off the sword of the demon sending it off course and saving Jack''s life. It ricocheted through its torso, straight through the heart. At least, where it should have been. The demon still lived. The trail of the bullet could be traced through the steam, off to the side George was prone with his sniper mounted on the bipod. "Again and again I am denied! It is my right to conquer!" The demon yelled. "You will suffer in the deepest depths of-" My dagger found its throat and it gurgled on black blood. It should have died, but against all reason, it lived. I held on to its horns and as it yelled it coughed forth gobules of black blood. It had no more hands and it couldn''t reach up with the sword unless it wanted to cut its own face. I held on as it tried to shake me off and the world spun wildly until eventually it stopped. I had hit the ground, dizzy. "God damn privileged motherfucker." JST was standing over me spitting on the corpse and lending me a hand with his shield arm. His sword arm flicked black blood to the side, the condensed water on Riptide doing wonders to clean itself. "Thanks." I took his hand standing up. Jack was kneeling on the floor holding the pieces ofhis broken katana. Gaius was patting his shoulder crouching down as well, picking up shattered pieces. A grim faced George walked up from the steam. "By the time I had a clear line of sight, I couldn''t go for lethal, had to save Jack. Sir!" He was carrying Cobb in a fireman carry. "All''s good George good work!" He slapped the commando on the back. "How''d you get down anyways?" "Sir Cobb had left a ladder." He gestured to my uncoscious brother. "It was a long way down, kid. But I had to do it after the steam blocked my line of sight. Otherwise I would''ve been useless up there. Only had enough time for one good shot though." "I have a life debt to you, George." Jack stood up and put his hand on George''s shoulder. "That weapon of yours perhaps I could learn one day." "It was nothing, don''t mention it friend." He removed Jack''s hand, gently. "You probably could your instincts will get you far." "That was the last one wasn''t it?" I interrupted. "The last book?"
Congratulations! You are the first party to defeat Malvolio''s Library in over 600 years! The quality of rewards has increased by 300%. Dungeon Rewards: For defeatingtheCoregath Field Guide,a moderately difficult enemy you gain: +Coregath Heavy Leather Set +Coregath Light Leather Set For defeating Contos Spellcraft, a high difficulty enemy you gain: +Contos Spellcraft Skillbook +Contos Practicioner Robes +Contos Picture Staff For eating theMost Painfully Rewarding Fruits, a high difficulty task you gain: +Endless Apple For overcoming theMagical Addictions of the Glade, an extremely high difficulty taskyou gain: +Glade Blade of Whist Grass +Bag of Popyoin Flowers +Popyoin Seeds +Access to the Glade For defeatingDemon Summonings, an extremely high difficulty horde you gain: +Demonstone Sword +Demon Familiar Stone +Demon Summoning Skillbook For being the first party to defeat Malvolio''s library in over 600 years you are awarded: +Dimensional Bag x3 For defeating one moderate, two high, and two extremely difficult tasks and enemies you have qualified for three greater reward upgrades. Random rewards chosen: +Dimensional Bag x3 has upgraded to Customizable Dimensional Bag x3 +Coregath Light Leather Set has upgraded to Enchanted Coregath Light Leather Armor +Customizable Dimensional Bag x3 has upgraded to Soul Binding Customizable Dimensional Bag x3
By the time I finished reading the rewards I found myself seamlessly transported to the elemental guardian room. "They passed." The earth rumbled. "Not in six hundred and seventy three years has a party passed through the library." "The one who speaks, the master mage, and the boy. He stays untouched." "What is this?" The earth elemental was hovering over Cobb''s body inspecting the splint he had made out of earth. "That''s a splint, friend." George answered. "Stabalizes the bone and the damage." "The construct bears new knowledge? A product of the boy?" It was annoying how they asked all these questions when the ones who held the answers were standing in front of them. We were in front of the fountain just at the entrance of the door. Laid out before the fountain were our rewards. The leather and armor set were laid out flat beside each other along with the robes. The Skillbooks were beside each other, those would probably go to Cobb. Under the robes and Skillbooks that Contos Picture Staff was laid across. A perfectly ordinary and ripe looking apple sat by itself, it sported a two leaves, one green and one gold. Next to it was a red oval stone I assumed was the Demon Familiar Stone and beside that was a mossy oval the same size. At the end sat three ordinary looking leather rucksacks. I ignored the chattering elementals. "How are we doing this?" I asked JST. "Enchanted armor''s yours, robes go to Cobb, I get the heavy stuff." JST had walked over to inspect the rewards which were laid upon a nice looking gray silk cloth. "I get the apple, drugs and whatever ''Access to the Glade'' is since I beat those fucking books myself." He really just ate them blindly but whatever. "I guess you can have the dagger though." He said picking up the mossy stone. He blinked and put it down. "A bag for each of us. You get the sword." I suggested. "Skillbooks go to Cobb, it''s all magic stuff." He nodded, his eyes lingered on the mossy stone before he moved on. "The staff too, obviously. I don''t really know about the Demon Familiar Stone though." We stuffed the appropriate items into each bag and when we slung the leather rucksacks over our shoulder.
NOTICE: You can only have five items bound to your soul. Do you wish to bind Customizable Dimensional Bag? Successfully bound.
It said customizable so my first thought was whether I could change it to one of those sleek black futuristic cloth bags. Instead of having to manually change anything the bag shifted and formed across my back, hugging my torso. I was left with a shiny black backpack, multiple pockets, adjustable straps and a buckle that secured it against my chest. I glanced over to JST to check whether or not he bound his backpack, instead I saw him shoving his shield into a shark''s mouth. He made his backpack a shark head. "What?" He looked up trying to shove the whole shield into the shark''s mouth. I facepalmed. Cobb had woke up and we explained to him the distribution of the items and what happened after he fainted. "I knew I could leave it to you guys." He grinned. "As for the Demon Familiar Stone, not sure if I want to use it but i''ll keep it for now." He had put all his possessions into his bag, which looked like mine except it was black with green streaks. The bags were really popular. "How''s the weight?" I couldn''t tell since the only thing I had in there was a new dagger. "Lighter, maybe 50% lighter." Cobb had shoved the five books he got from the library plus the two Skillbooks into his bag. The red oval stone followed suit. That''s good, that meant we could carry more on the go. I checked my new equipment.
Enchanted Coregath Light Leather Armor (Epic) Leather armor created from a master. A Coregath has one of the toughest hides on the south continent and it also happens to be resistant to magic. Treated Coregath hide is hard to come by, armor created from it even rarer, but enchanted? Impossible. Defense: 79 Durability: 110/110 Effects: +20% magical resistance. +90% slash resistance
Glade Blade of Whist Grass (Exotic) Whist Grass weaved together, preserved, hardened, sharpened and formed to a dagger. Straight from the Glade, Whist Grass is a sharp plant that secretes addictive magic when in contact with the mana of another. Those who cut themselves on the plant come back for more, cutting their bodies on the plant in a desperate haze until they die. Damage: 82-102 Durability: 50/50 Effects: +Whist Grass addiction upon cut
Customizable Dimensional Bag (Mythic) (Soul Bound) Dimensional Bags link to another dimension and allow one to carry more items within a smaller space. Weight is distributed to the carrier and some dimensional bags reduce the load. This bag is customizable and changes size and shape according the master''s preference. Effects: +Pocket dimension storage +Weight reduced by 45% NOTE: Soul Bound items can be summoned to the user from anywhere.
Basically my equipment was super strong. I had 79 defense while JST''s shield gave him 13. The grass dagger outdamaged JST''s Riptide. The bag was the most overpowered reward we had. Basically we had a bag that was always within reach that could contain everything we owned. I know Twoen did a great job of balancing things but even this seemed over the top. I wonder if we actually earned this bag, we did do some intense dungeoning and then on top of that the dimensional bag was upgraded twice. Add to that the already 300% increase in quality of rewards. It seems more likely the bag is viable but i''m still skeptical. After checking the forums previously the item rarity went: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Exotic, Mythic, Legendary. Needless to say the haul was impressive. I stuffed everything into my bag even the armor, checking the weight. "Let''s test the weight reduction as we set off." Cobb suggested. "Get a feel for how much we can carry around with us." He exited the library and everyone else followed him out. Not even sparing a goodbye to the elementals. He walked whistling. "We didn''t get anything on the Geckan Queen but all this shit should let us wipe her out easy." He turned around to address us. "Uh. Where''s the library?" "Woah what the fuck." JST put it simply. Behind us the library was gone, a patch of clear dirt where it rested was the only indication it was ever there. There was a whirring sound, something bright flashed around all of us. Our bodies hit the dirt. Chapter 26 - Captive ~Cobb POV~ Nothing quite like waking up not knowing where you are. I''m naked. Nothing changed there. What caught my eye is the room. Metal and steel and glass. I sat up from the bare minimum prison bed I was on and looked around the small room. This can''t be right. I checked my notifications doubting they were even there, that I was in the game. They were and I was.
Class: Animator Name: Cobb Titles: Prey Turned Predator, The Green One
HP: 268/268 Lvl: 45 Effects: Race Jjerg: +10 INT, +5 END, +5 STR, +5 WIS, +10 MND Prey Turned Predator: +25 INT, +25 WIS, +20 AGI The Green One:+7 CHR, + Can color things under your magical control an emerald green Animator:+20 WIS each level Spider Blessed:+Relations with Spiders increased, +Can communicate with spiders Malvolio''s Mark:+Reputation with libraries across Twoen increased. +May influence future interactions.
MP: 671/671 SQP: 140/140
SP: 210/210
STR: 15 CHR: 17
END: 15 MND: 10
INT: 268 AGI:20
WIS: 637 ENL:160
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) Hunted Sense - Advanced 4 (10%) Inform - Advanced 6 (92%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 4 (22%) Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%) Animate (Class Skill) - Intermediate 7 (35%) Meditate - Beginner 10 (1%) Mixed Magical Arts - Beginer 10 (0%) Elemental Magic - Beginner 2 (43%)
I had leveled up 12 times. Gaining a total of 60 Stat Points which I poured into Intelligence for a change. Each level gave me 20 WIS and which in turn increased the amount of MP I gain each level. Which resulted in a whopping 671 MP. I didn''t need any more Squad Points so I dumped everything into Intelligence, so I could do more damage.
Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%) When immobile and unmoving your body adapts to the surrounding rock. Your body will inherit the hardness and defensive capabilities of the rock it becomes. Sudden movement cancels the skill. +18% chance of going unnoticed +1.9s of lingering effects after skill cancel
I used to think the camoflauge was insanely useful but I really haven''t had the need to use it in a long time. Is it actually useless? Then the vastness of Twoen hit me and I realized that at some point in time this skill is going to save my ass. With this game I personally don''t think there''s a skill that''s here for no reason. Taking into account that huge list of races and classes and each having a unique skill for each one might think there''s going to be a useless skill or two. In my gut I felt that Twoen had it handled. Call it a gamer''s intuition. A second later I noticed myself. My body was polished steel, same as the frame as the bed. So it worked on manufactured materials from the earth? That really doesn''t qualify as camoflauge, at least not in this situation, i''m perfectly exposed. But then, JST had some skills that evolved too, I wouldn''t be surpised if it changed later. I don''t even have it past Beginner so I can''t really say.
Hunted Sense - Advanced 4 (10%) Knowing the feeling of being hunted by superior predators. Their presence and intent were ingrained into your memory. Your paranoia has developed into being able to tell when you are being watched. Effects: +Know when being watched with hostile intent +Know the general direction +Know the danger the threat poses
I really need to start paying attention to this. It''s like a seventh sense. For me, the meaning of a "sixth sense" changed a long time ago. I had touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight and magic. That''s why when I get some other way of recieving sensory information, I fumble with it a bit. It''s always there but i''m just never paying attention, unless it''s a huge or intense feeling. Right now though i''m punching myself because I can feel hostile eyes and they''re dangerous, less than the Demon Progenitor we fought. More than the Contos Spellcraft mage though. I snapped my eyes to the corner of the room, which i''m just now realizing has no doors, only a glass window into another empty room with a lone chair. My eyes locked on to the top corner of the room I was in, the source of the danger, no doubt some type of scrying orb. Instead I found nothing, no magic coming from the spot at all. I did feel the hostile eyes though, so my own searched endlessly, if they were watching me which I knew they were, they wouldn''t see searching eyes, they would see a stock still metal figure. When that figure stood up and moved closer to inspect the corner, his camoflauge would fade away and they would see starry eyes, jet black save for white specks. His ethereal emerald skin would only add to the uncanny image.
Inform - Advanced 6 (92%) Your inquisitive nature and problem solving attitude awards you with the inherent ability to know things. By focusing on an object or entity information is granted based upon the level of this skill. Learning new things and drawing conclusions will also develop this skill. The skill may even make connections you have not. Effects: +Intermediate knowledge and personal conclusions provided +HP, more in depth knowledge, personal conclusions occasionally verified +Hidden knowledge occasionally revealed
I tried using Inform but all that got me was a nice little window telling me it didn''t work. Maybe if I looked at the prison differently it might work, I had been focused on the prison cell not the complex, assuming I am in prison. Maybe that was the problem actually. I am definitely captured and seperated from everyone else but that doesn''t mean this is a prison, some type of facility maybe? I was asking a invalid question that was the problem. I tried again focusing on the complex as a whole. Hopeful that my logic was sound. Inform rebounded and failed but because of the nature of the skill I queried it''s own failure and got this.
Inform Inform Failure: Magical wards in place.
I sighed, my next move was to attack the wall. Just in case I tried pulling on the metals around me, nothing. I tested my other magics, nothing. I thought maybe that the structure was protected against magic, not outright negating it. Unfortunately nothing is easy. Hunted Sense worked earlier, that means it isn''t magic, I could chalk that up to being some type of passive buff to the body or senses. Inform worked though but that drained mana so what type of skill does it fall under? It didn''t work because of magical wards that meant that it was for sure magic. Maybe it was an internal magic? It happens inside of me rather that outside, this would make sense since it failed when I queried anything about the complex but worked when I asked it about itself.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I moved on to check the rest of my skills since it didn''t seem like I was going anywhere for the forseeable future.
Hyperfocus - Advanced 4 (22%) Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily. Effects: +Perception of time slowed by 34% +28% increase in muscle reaction +20% speed when Hyperfocused
I changed gears. Thinking about the skills rather than escape for the moment. Hyperfocus is amazing, it allows us so much breathing room when in the heat of battle, I can think longer and react faster. The only problem with the skill is the drain on stamina. It actually balances well though. A mage has the potential to do so much more during those small moments in Hyperfocus and as such lacks the stamina to maintain the state for very long. A warrior who normally has a relatively small impact on a battle can maintain the state much longer because he has a larger stamina pool. For an assassin like Jones it''s a mix as well, an average amount of stamina for an average amount of Hyperfocus time.
Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%) Storytelling is used to captivate an audience, it is an art that though may seem mundane, not many people perfect. You have taken steps into the world of entertainment and have succeeded in eliciting from your audience what many people fail to, emotion. Effect: +6% more emotion from the audience
I really want to know the effect this has on NPC''s and whatnot. Once I find any friendly ones maybe I could try and see what it does. Of course I''m in a prison or something similiar so that might take a while. I shook my head and continued to check the rest.
Animate (Class Skill) - Intermediate 7 (35%) Through various insights on the workings of life the Animator can breathe it into his constructs. Directly tied with the Enliven stat. Effects: +Can follow commands and orders within capabilites +Can adopt knowledge inserted by the creator upon animation
It''s rising pretty slowly but that''s within expectations, as a Class Skill it makes sense. Especially since I haven''t been animating anything simple. I''d have to test the boundaries again some time in the future. Maybe I could create simple golems? I''d need to experiment with creating something out of magic that I could animate. With a start I realized I couldn''t feel George, Jack and Gaius. Are they dead? My link was gone but it could be because of the magical wards blocking my connection to them. Do they need the link to survive have they gone inanimate? No, I remember my creations keep my magic inside of them, my mana pool isn''t constantly draining when i''m around them so they don''t need any of my mana. I remember watching the magic in George react with the sniper. But that begs the question, why do I need the link? Is it simply for knowing where they are, that really doesn''t help right now.
Meditation - Beginner 10 (1%) Calming your mind and relaxing your body into the present allows the flow of mana to permeate your body undisturbed. Effects: +50% mana regeneration when meditating
Classic skill and straightforward. Years of playing, and you find yourself able to be calm and relaxed during a heated battle despite your outward appearance. This skill along with my copious amounts of Wisdom and mana pool will allow me to wreak havoc with my magic constantly.
Mixed Magical Arts - Beginner 10 (0%) Wedding the movements and technique of various martial arts with the nature and ferocity of magic itself births a dangerous practice. The tax on both the mind and body require someone of immense skill. Effects: +When in use magic is amplified by 30%
Huh. I thought that fight with the demon horde would jump this skill to at least Intermediate Tier. I knew that logically a Class Skill would raise slower than a regular skills but maybe there are certain skills that just raise slower. This would make sense for Mixed Magical Arts since it''s a more complex skill.
NOTICE: New Skill: Elemental Magics gained from reaching Advanced Tier in the following skills: +Fire Magic +Earth Magic +Wind Magic +Water Magic NOTE: Tier I and II effects of all skills combined are retained at the Advanced 1 level. These effects stack with any effects from the Elemental Magics skill. Tier III effects are retained for all at the highest of the four combined skills, Advanced 9.
Oh shit, all the percentage damage increases I keep? All the utility increases and construct effectiveness is kept. It looks like all elementals are friendlier with me by 45%. This might be worse actually, I had the potential to have a 50% friendliness modifier with all elementals if I reached Advanced 10 in Earth Magic before I got the rest to Advanced Tier. In addition my damage with Fire and Earth got lowered down to Advanced 1 level. I checked the new skill, hoping something good would come out of this.
Elemental Magics - Beginner 2 (43%) The Elemental Magics are the most basic of all magic, yet in their simplicity comes their deadliness. Together, Fire, Earth, Air and Water when used to their potential can turn the tide of any battle. When used by a master, can turn the tide of a war. Effects: +Damage from any of the Elemental Magics increased by 10%
That, that is impressive. Beginner 2 and it''s already increasing my damage of all the elemental magic by 5% with each level up? I regressed a little bit with Earth and Fire Magic but with this I should be up to par by the Intermediate Tier. I paused as I remembered the fight with the demon horde and the rest of the books. If I got this skill before the demon fight and it only leveled up once I don''t know how I feel. Sure, I have huge potential but i''m a crippled version of my past self''s damage. Unless of course I hit Advanced in Wind and Water when I was fucking with the steam which was towards the end of the fight and would mean this skill leveled up once after a relatively easy task. Wait, even then if it leveled up once while I was basically uncoscious, out of mana, maintaining a combination of the elements, and fighting a Demon Progenitor how slow would this be leveling? I rubbed my temples and looked around my cell. It was a pristine white. White tiles for the floor, white tiles for the wall, white tiles for the ceiling. It felt like I was in a hospital or part of some experiment. The only break to the white was the occasional steel support against the wall and my bed frame. I just noticed the absence of my stuff and rubbed my temples again, not even bothering to look around. If I had my stuff I could rummage through all my things and see if anything could get me out of here without having to reveal my trump card. What did I even have in there? A staff, robes, skillbooks, normal books, and a demon familiar stone. Yeah, I don''t think any of that is getting me anywhere right now. The best option would be to wait. The good thing was that everything was in my bag and I binded that to my soul. I could have everything in there in my hands with a thought. None of that would do me any good now, that would only serve to show them I could summon all my shit to me. It might not work with these wards everywhere but i''m hoping to god Soul Magic or something existed and ignored all these restrictions. I sat down, lowering myself into a cross-legged meditation stance. I breathed in and out, instinctively reaching for magic to meditate with, the abrupt absence broke my trance for a second but then I was washed away once again. A passenger to the ocean. Time passed and I meditated more. Without the magic my mind ran wild, without distraction I was haunted. Thoughts that found me only when I was alone assaulted me. They spoke of the absence of magic in reality, they spoke of what-ifs and maybes, they brought to the forefront of my mind a child powerless, a naive child who reached for something that wasn''t there, a naive child who may or may not have had the time to stop a tragedy if he didn''t waste it reaching for magic. Me. Pain tried to fill the void in my heart. Soothing words tried to trick me. Reassurances swirled around in the void before dissapating altogether. "Magic has been a part of you since you could walk. Even then you reacted fast." The words were assuring but they were full of their own pain. "I couldn''t do anything." His voice broke. "Ididn''t do anything." A smaller voice echoed in my head. It was emotionless, empty. I blinked the tears away and breathed in slowly. When I was finally calm I opened my eyes to see a human sitting in the opposite room. He was human, perfectly so. He wasn''t part lizard, bear, cat, dragon, dwarf, elf, this guy was a human. He wore strange armor or maybe it was clothing. It had metal strips across the torso that connected some way or another to a small cape attached to his back which in turn had wires running into his pocket. He was holding a crystal that reminded me of my own skin, as well as the fact that I wasn''t human at the moment. It hovered in his hands and his stare moved from the crystal to me. He seemed surprised but not incredulous. Perhaps it was an identification crystal? How much information did he glean? He took another crystal out, slightly larger. I stared at him, trying to look like an alien. He avoided eye contact but didn''t seem particularly uncomfortable, just focused on his work, whatever it was. They crystal rotated slowly and rose in his palm at a higher altitude than the last one. It shined brightly and I felt eyes from the corner of my cell again. I scanned that particular corner and still found nothing. I made sure to turn my head slowly when I looked though, just to creep them the fuck out. The man was still looking at the crystal, he was doing something with it that I couldn''t percieve because his facial expressions shifted slightly yet there was nothing but a small rotating crystal in his hand. Something knocked him out of his focus though and he looked backwards towards the door. He opened it and another man walked in, he wore much the same armor but had a sword attached to his belt. He spoke to the first man and glanced towards me. Again their attention was drawn to the door. They opened it and a man was standing there. His posture was off and his arms were very expressive pointing down the hall, flopping up and down. A scaled hand reached behind the head of third man and moved the head in an imitation of speech. The body of the third man dropped to reveal a grinning JST. In a flash both men reached for their pockets, the second man also reached for his sword. In a blur of movement and a moment later JST was stepping over their bodies. He paused at the glass of my cell and scratched his head. There was no sound but I could read his lips. "Uh." Chapter 27 - The Beast ~Cobb POV~ I threw up my hands and my Rock Camoflauge broke. Somehow, through some means, this idiot managed to escape. Yet he stands there staring at me through the walls of my cell. "You have no idea how to get me out, do you?" I facepalmed. Years ago I had learned to read lips but right now that knowledge didn''t really help me. "What?" JST mouthed. I pantomimed breaking the cell open with a hammer, pointed to him, and shrugged my shoulders. There was never a situation that I ever needed to tell JST I could read lips, it just never came up. JST nodded to me, his expression leaving no doubt that he understood my actions. "What the fuck is he doing." His mouth betrayed him as he rubbed his chin and examined the cell. I dragged my hands across my face, exasperated. I pointed to the men on the floor and patted my body, mimicking a search on my person. JST got the idea and began rummaging through the strange clothing and armor that the two men were wearing. He dragged the third man from the hall and shut the door. JST found the crystals in the first man''s pocket and set them off to the side along with a few things from the other men''s pockets. There were two swords and a dagger, they had wires running along the side of them but other than that they seemed normal. The cord running from their hilts to the armor was unplugged. I found it strange, the wedding of medieval weaponry and electrical engineering. Likely, advances in technology would lead to a better understanding of science and therefore weapons. The doubts were dashed aside as my brother pulled a gun from the side pocket of the first observer. It didn''t seem to a ballistic weapon, instead it had the same wires and cords running from the body and grip of the pistol - because that was undeniably what it was - to the cape on his back. It had a barrel and a trigger, modern weaponry. I left JST to it when something caught my attention. In an effort to become more familiar with the skill I had been paying attention to Hunted Sense when it alerted me someone was watching again. I turned to the very same corner I had been alerted to before. That''s when JST took out the first keycard. It had the face of the person and several other symbols on it. A sign of higher thinking. I slapped my forehead, these were humans after all. They had magical wards so why would they use magic to view me? Could it be that simple? A glance towards the corner, this time with a different intent, immediately found what I was looking for. A small black dot, almost indescernible but I knew what I was looking for. A camera. I got up and moved to the corner. I let my body take the properties of the polished steel I was standing on before smashing the camera with my index finger. The feeling of being watched dissappeared. JST had three keycards now, he pointed to some device on the men and made his hand talk. They had radioed in? I slammed my knee into the glass but my leg rebounded off, no luck. JST stood in the oberserver''s room and looked at me funny, then at the keycards. He approached, holding one as if to slot it into something. Nothing but glass seperated us yet he still approached. His hand prepped the card while his other swiped across the glass. Wait, there''s some kind of interface on the other side? He found what he was looking for, after swiping left, right and in circles. The first thing he did was drag the corresponding body over and pressed its hand on the glass. He dropped the limp body and inserted the card. He slipped right into the glass, twisted then the glass pixelated and dissappeared. My nice little cell shielded me from the massive panic apparently going on outside. "Yeah, it''s hectic." Alarms were blaring, and voices in another language were echoing through the intercom. The radio on the men spat static before a formal voice queried. We couldn''t respond before the voice said something to itself and the radio was silent. "Help me." I started dragging the unconscious men into the cell. JST just shoved the men across the floor with his foot. A panel to the side of the room, outside of my previous view, activated the glass barrier that ensured my captivity previously. It took only a moment of fiddling, the glass wall seemed to be the main function so the button wasn''t hard to find. When the glass was in place it showed real time biometrics and readings on the cell mates. Red letters stood out hovering above each head "Unconscious". Their race was listed as human and other information was filled in such as names, height, weight, job, profession, specialization and more. There was a small interface by each reading, allowing one to sift through the information. There was no time to dwell. A big man burst through the door behind us and instictively without turning around I slammed him down into the floor with a burst of wind. My magic was back. Even if I was caught off guard, anyone entering from the hall was within JST''s ten meter Arena. We threw him in the prison as well. We exited and I noticed we were towards the end of the hall which could only be described as the prison block, each door we opened and checked had something in the cell. These cellmates ranged from the harmless animal to even those strange insect scavengers we found at the Geckan Arena ruins. A few doors down we found the pair of ridiculously hunchbacked creatures that loped by us at the ruins, white fur and imprisoned together their cell had a high ceiling and other specific accomodations unique to them, similar to the other prisoners. The cell had working readings on every animal and sentient. "So many prisoners." I said. To know they can see you and remain impassive how did they do it? How could they reduce something with clear intelligence to mere data, numbers. The thought disgusted me. "Test subjects. Specimens." My brother said as he closed the door. "How did you get out anyway?" "We passed my door a while back but if you went in you''d need shoes cause there''s broken glass everywhere." He grinned. I chuckled. "And you had no observer, scientist or whatever watching you?" "No, the first one I met was in a cell adjacent to yours, the one with the glowing deer that we passed. After that, well, you were there for everything since then." He finished. "Then maybe there are only a few wardens? Or reasearchers? No, it seemed like the only people that belonged in the section was the guy in my cell and the guy in yours. The other guy came after the radio called in." We reached the end of the prison hall and opened the door, which was slightly ajar to begin with. There was still no sign of the rest of our group, but there were empty cells. Could they have escaped? No, best to assume the worst. It seemed the structure had multiple circular floors. We were however at the bottom floor, probably below ground. The whole structure expanded maybe four floors up, each floor, if it was like ours, spanned a wide area. Despite them knowing of our escape ther was barely any activity on our floor. Around the edges of the circular floor were passages that led into other sections, I could make out some type of medical center and a cafeteria. My eyes landed on another passageway as guards came out touting swords, guns and armor of the strange variety we saw earlier. The man in front yelled something and instead of towards us they moved the opposite direction.
Inform Human Squad Leader - Lvl 62 Humans, overlooked by the Elder Races as insignificant, have made ironically significant progress in upsetting the balance between the races. This human has been tasked with leading a small squad.
"Where are they going? I thought the alarm was for escaped prisoners?" "I''m starting to suspect something is happening to the entire facility. If the alarms had been going off since you escaped then they would already have flooded the prison block with guards." I reasoned. "Huh. Now that you mention it the alarms were blaring when I broke the cell, but I just assumed they were instantly alerted. It didn''t even cross my mind that they were already on." "Let''s check their armory, they had to get word something was wrong down here somehow. I''m betting we could figure it out if we head there." I waited for the guards to leave my view. I noted the direction they took before I moved towards the armory. "I''ll take point." We took advantage of his Arena as we sweeped the section. We came across two branching hallways as we entered, the one on the right containing all the weaponry and armor, to the left I could only assume were living quarters. Voices came from one of the doors to the left. JST relayed four hostiles in that room, none in all the others. He gestured, letting me know he was going to clear the rest of the section. I opened the door quietly but as soon as it cracked open I got a glimpse of the room. There were monitors everywhere but one that stuck out was the image of a naked green man opening what i''m guessing is the surveillance room, then I realized I felt Hunted Sense tickling my neck. I ducked, dodging beams that melted through the door. I stomped the floor and felt the vibrations, mapping out the room as I took cover pressed to the side of the doorway. I formed a ball of water and packed it tight, looking to incapacitate. One more stomp of the floor and I had my targets, the water snaked in and darted around the room. In seconds every man - and woman I noted as I walked in - was knocked out. They were dressed in the same manner as previously seen but the woman stood out, she was wearing a different version of the same armor, it seemed more important. She''d be the one to talk to. These people would be the most aware of the situation if this is a communication center between the floors as I suspected, I needed them for later. On the glowing screens above me I could just see JST choking the last man in his branch. I stripped them of everything, leaving only their regular clothers. It was an effort but I got all people shackled to the wall. Reaching for the steel in the walls took way too much mana than I had thought it would, almost leaving me with a headache. That''s saying something when your mana pool is around 700. Iron bands wrapped around their wrists, which were positioned behind their back. Another tied their legs together at the ankles. The last two bands were larger, they were across their chest, locking them against the wall and over their thighs, pinning them to the ground. I tracked JST''s progress on the screens as he came to me, he paused at the door and looked at the glowing red hole punched through it before shaking his head, smiling and walking in. "Have some trouble there, bro?" He smirked. "You didn''t tell me this was a surveillance room, they could see us the whole time." I placed all the weaponry and armor on the nearby table, swiping everything else to the floor. I took a better glance at them. I remember JST saying he could identify Riptide as he called it, without the need for a skill. I tried to do the same without using Inform, it seemed the blue screens tied into your understanding of something. Derjar breathed the sword, withholding that information from him wouldn''t make sense. In addition he had a umbrella mastery for all weaponry. As it was, the sword was simple the wires just charged the steel with electricity.
Human Charge Sword (Uncommon) Human ingenuity knows no bounds. This sword has been fitted with prototype wires, sending electrical charges into the blade upon attack. The sword must be charged. Damage: 40-50 Lightning Damage: 20-22 Effects: +10% chance of paralysis
As I didn''t quite understand what was going on with the armor, I had to use Inform. With some scrutiny on my part I would''ve been able to figure out the jumble of wires and metal but Inform works much faster, I just had to test the system in terms of identification of equipment.
Inform Human Charge Armor (Uncommon) Meant to connect to chargeable Human prototype equipment, this armor regenerates power through solar panels on the cape. Partially made of rubber this armor stops electrical attacks and allows you to charge off attacks electrical in nature. Strips of conductive material lead reroute electricity to the battery located below the neck.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Defense: 24 Effects: +95% resistance to lightning effects +10% absorbtion of lightning attacks
I was able to piece together what went where so by the time I looked at the pistol a blue screen popped up for me without having to use Inform.
Human Charge Pistol (Uncommon) This pistol is a rechargable energy weapon created by Humans. Largely untested, the weapon has yet to be approved by the board of researchers at it''s testing facility. Shoots a concentrated electrical charge strong enough to tear through most metals. Lightning Damage: 45-50 Effects: +50% chance of paralysis
We donned the equipment. It would be better than looking out of place with the equipment from our dimensional bags. Even though I was green and crystal this would provide better armor against what weaponry everyone else in this place has. If everything is electrical than this armor would do wonders. I didn''t need anything from my bag but I could feel its presence, as if all I needed to do was reach out and grab it. I guess that was the magic of Soul Bound equipment. I holstered the pistol to my side and plugged in the wire, and although this wouldn''t be effective against the humans walking around I have a lot of different elements at my fingertips. JST could actually look the part of human guard, if he avoids close study they won''t even notice the scales. In the end the only person standing out was me. "I think they were having a lunchbreak. Look." He pointed to the floor, which was now littered with strange fruits. "And the screens are all the way over there. That''s outside my limit. Actually, come to think of it they were staring at that side of the wall from what I remember." He scratched his head. "Whatever." There was no point in fighting right now, there were things to do. "The lady''s important, you''re bad cop. Let''s assume she can understand us." He nodded. She blinked groggily as I slapped water on her face and woke her up. Her eyes focused on me and when she noticed she jerked in her restraints. As if just realizing her bonds she glared at me before trying again. "You''re not going anyhwere." I smiled. She still struggled and I had to admire the fight in her. "Who are you?" She asked, noticing my green skin.I didn''t let the surprise show on my face that we could communicate. "You''re not human. How''d you get in here?" "We were captured and brought here, why?" My face showed no emotion, I spoke with power, leaving no doubt that I would get an answer. This time her face was an expression of surprise. "That''s impossible we only capture creatures of the Uncharted. This is a research facility." Her eyes went wide as she said that. "Who are you? Did you unleash that beast upon us? Are you behind it?" Her eyes darted to the glowing monitors. "We were captured, remember? How would we be behind this?" "You could be lying, there''s no proof. For you to be captured you''d have to one; actually survive the Uncharted and two; be running around naked for us to even mistake you for locals." JST glanced at me and his bad cop visage was cracking, he smirked. We did exactly what she listed. "You! Free me, how can you stand there while your section leader is in chains?" She commanded. JST smirked. I smiled when JST didn''t react. "Tell me exactly what this place is, and why we were captured. I''ll give you ten seconds before your first coworker dies." JST positioned his sword under the first man''s neck. Her face fell. "Stop! I told you this is a research facility! We''re based in the Uncharted and we test weaponry away from prying eyes. We found these ruins and converted the whole place into a research facility, that''s all I know! Please, spare him." She cried. "This place isn''t even that high of priority to be kept secret. Aside from the ruins it''s based in there''s nothing special here. Only a few weapons ever work. Please, that''s all I know." She whimpered out. It felt like her life story just poured out, apparently that failure weighed heavily on her mind. "Who are you, exactly? What do you do here? Ten seconds." My older brother yawned as his sword found an unconscious neck. "I''m Mineva, Head of the Research Division." Her face was full of tears, she looked pathetic bound to the wall like that and crying. "Divisions? I thought everything was research. Explain." Her eyes followed JST''s sword and she gulped, sweat on her brow. "There''s the Testing, Defense, Survey, and Capture Divisions. Field testing weaponry, fortifying the facility from the Uncharted and security, exploring the surrounding area and minerals, and capturing creatures of the Uncharted for study." She said. "You''re a forward outpost. The Humans are charting the Uncharted." I rubbed my chin. Her face seemed horrified. "W-what? No, we''re a simple research facility." She was very unconvincing. "Be that as it may you''re also expanding into the Uncharted." I said. "Not sure how Gyru will like that, the name after all is The Uncharted. If you were to map it, well, not sure how that would go." I mumbled to myself. "Gyru? That''s the name we find scrawled all over these ruins! Who are you?" She squinted at me, her curious nature poked through her teary visage. "I demand an answer." Her posture shifted as she studied me, the researcher in her coming out. I couldn''t help but indulge her. I had to give her something, but then she would just tell the rest of her people when she''s freed. No, I couldn''t tell her anything, this whole place is a literal staging ground for expansion of the Human race into the Uncharted. Them hunting me down wouldn''t work for my future. I found it interesting since most games like to alter the human race to an extent, taller or stronger normally. This lady though, she seemed of perfectly normal asian descent. I couldn''t leave the humans any trail, they are persistent bastards after all, sometime down the line it would bite me in the ass. Ah, god it''s weird thinking about the Human race and not being a part of it. "What''s this about a beast unleashed?" I changed topics, ignoring her question completely. She squinted at me again, aware of my segue. "Something broke through the ruins, from the monitors I couldn''t make it out." "Why? It disrupted the magic?" I played dumb, some random Jjerg wouldn''t know about computers. She smirked and then her face fell. "No. No, it was too big. It took up the whole view." Her face took on a ghastly shade of white. I brought up my quests as she lived through the memory. "It just burst through. The defense... pointless. I knew a few people too, Jom, Haul, he even got Tacob. Then it left. But now... it''s back." She was saying.
Quest: Track down the Beast A monster capable of destroying the Geckan Battle Arena has freed the monsters living within. Track it down and decide what to do with it. Rewards: +Dependent on method of completion.
I knew it. It had to be. If the beast left the facility and came back then during that time it could''ve wrecked the Arena. We never did find it''s tracks after we got derailed by the Qetzl attack and Malvolio''s Library. If we could get rid of this quest and get the reward, then along with the equipments from the library we''d be set on taking out the Geckan Queen. I looked at the quest regarding her as well.
Quest: Kill the King, Queen, Leader or equivalent of the Geckan Lair. An intelligent species of Geckos that are found deep within the Uncharted. Their intelligence threatens the balance of the Uncharted and you have been tasked with putting an end to them. Bonus: Kill all Geckans present Rewards: Legendary Skill
I don''t know where she is, but the Geckan Tree Lair is deserted which means she''s moved or is moving. The princess was still there so she couldn''t have gone very far, unless the Queen was leaving the princess to deal with everything in her stead. It doesn''t make sense. The library didn''t help in gathering information either. "You said it''s all over the ruins?" I got ready to leave. "Yeah, Gyru, over and over everywhere." She answered. "How many languages do you speak?" I probed. "And where are the ruins?" She hesitated but JST drew his blade again. She quickly rattled them off. "Elven, Dwarven, and Human. I can read and write all of them plus a few others. The language of the ruins though, that''s almost indecipherable. Gyru is one of the simplest things to write in the language and thus understand, it''s all over the place. And of course I speak Standard, as i''m talking to you now." She said. "They''re just a floor above. The capture cells, armory, and research are located on the deepest floor, where we are now. I moved for the steel door before she stopped me. "Wait, who are you?" Looking at her, I pitied her situation so I answered. "I''m just a messenger traveling the Uncharted." An errant thought flitted across my mind. "Oh, you wouldn''t happen to know the Geckan Queen would you?" It was a long shot but anything helps. She blinked. "Her Highness Alwatl? She was helping us decipher the markings." I paused in my departure. "What? You work with the Geckans?" I asked unbelieving. "Of course. They''re the only other power out here. Out here any semblance of companionship is valued, we trade with them, though only few speak Standard, they''re good trading partners. It''s only after a few years the Geckan Queen herself visited, though heavily guarded, she was surprisingly fluent in Standard." Mineva explained. "Upon her first visit we explained the ruins we were built on and her curiousity would''ve landed her in the research department had she been a human. Since then she and the Research Division have been working towards investigating the ruins, deciphering and decoding whatever lies under. Why do you ask for her?" Apparently researchers and scientists like to jump into long detailed explanations without being prompted. In this case it helped though. "I''m supposed to kill her." I answered and left leaving her wide eyed and immobile. We left the armory and surveillance area, heading over to where we saw the guards leave. A metal sliding door greeted us at the end of the hallway, next to it were buttons with an up and down arrow. An elevator. "Second floor." I told JST as we shuffled in. "How big do you think it is? Do you think Jones and everyone else are there? The monster, I mean. If that was the prisoner block then they should''ve been there but they weren''t. So where are they?" Typical, he''s getting excited for the fight. "Don''t know, don''t know, and I don''t know. Just focus on the fight ahead alright? Worry about everyone else later, Jack and George are fine, I can feel their link now that I left the cell. Jones though, well, if he wasn''t in the prisoner block then he either escaped or he''s with George and Jack." It was almost ridiculous waiting in an elevator to fight a beast unleashed from the ruins of a god that presides over the whole area for miles on end, especially so when the elevator music started playing. Even more so was that we should''ve been moving a single floor up yet it took a few minutes before we arrived. It opened up and as in the other floor there was a huge clearing in the middle of the circular level. This time though there was gaping hole where a wall should be on the far side of the clearing. Outside I could see a trail of broken trees and destroyed plant life leading to the rip in the steel, the sun was setting. Standing in the center of the clearing was hulking figure. The type of beast where you could hear its heavy breaths from a hundred meters away. It moved vaguely in the way a gorilla would, but that''s where the similarites ended and the differences began. It was maybe twenty times the size of a gorilla, towering over us and nearly touching the ceiling, each step it took dented the steel floor despite its weight being distributed across four points. Huge muscles were hidden in a blanket of black quills that raised like hackles. It opened its mouth to roar and there was nothing but smooth teeth, suggesting the creature was a herbivore. As it got up and roared at the people trying to carve its legs up, I could see that it had a tail, but it seemed normal, like a dog''s if anything. It swung its massive arm and destroyed the humans attacking it, its muscle mass jiggled from the impact and it raised its arms to see nothing there. Illusions. As I realized it another charged the beast, the realism was insane, so much so that when the illusion was about to die I feared he was actually real. Next, Shadow Panthers darted in from the jungle, spiders, geckans appeared out of nowhere, outside of the beasts line of sight. Knights, warriors, and other melee combatants pressured the beast into a corner. It didn''t seem like their attacks were doing anything and yet the pressure of their unexistant numbers pushed the beast back. A strained yell caught my attention. My head darted around until I spotted my missing brother crouched behind a counter of what looked to be a snack store. He spotted me and waved me over. It wasn''t until me and JST approached that I noticed the other four there. A burly human, an elegant geckan and two familiar sand people. At the sight of their grim faces I noticed what I was stepping over, bodies. The only thing keeping the monster from advancing were the constant illusions that it targeted in its rage. I could see the sun falling into the horizon through the high windows positioned at intervals all over the floor. "Jones, who are your friends." JST hopping over. "You''re clothed." He said surprised. "This is Alwatl, the Geckan Queen." He stressed meaningfully. He gave a signal for standby though. "The man is Tad he runs the whole operation here. He also set me and the rest free when he realized his mistake, debriefed us, and although he didn''t let us leave." He shot a glare to Tad. "He promised to free you two as well. We were on our way back down until this guy broke through the wall." Jones gestured to the monster. "And yes I''m clothed and so are you." He was wearing his Enchanted Coregath Light Leather Armor with his dimensional bag on his back. "Talk, quick, not much time." He said strained. "Sniper doesn''t do anything. It''s blocking .50 caliber rounds. Doesn''t do anything but piss it off." George said. It was good to see him, straight to business in the heat of battle as usual. Tad eyed the piece of weaponry as if he had seen it in action himself. "Good to see you George, and you as well Jack." I smiled. I got a smile and a nod in response. "Far as we know it''s impenetrable. I take it yer Jones'' companions?" Tad asked. "If ya can escape a cell tailored to contain a creature of the Uncharted then i''m glad to have ya aboard." "That we are." I answered. "Introductions aside, let''s start at the beginning shall we? How did it arrive the first time around?" "It first came upon us while we surveyed the ruins. It''s arrival was unprecedented, no creature geckan or otherwise should have been able to sustain themselves down there. The survey team retreated while my Geckan Warriors gave their lives to stall the beast. By the time I had rallied my forces the beast had rampaged through the human complex and burst into the Uncharted. It wasn''t seen in months until now." Alwatl''s ready explanation raised some of my suspicions, what was she doing in those ruins? Did a Geckan Queen really need to visit personally? "And this time?" I asked observing her. She was a royal purple, ironically. She stood shorter than most geckans but her posture was straighter and sheseemed taller. Even crouched and hidden in a snack store she screamed elegance. Her movements were refined and no energy was wasted. Despite the obstacle a huge tongue would pose in speaking Standard she took to it with a royal grace. Her speech was elquent and refined mimicking her movements. Yet, when her face fell, the emotion seemed almost too genuine. It''s been said the two most intimate things you can have with another being is making love and murder. I''ve killed my share of geckans and I''d like to think I have a grasp of their facial expressions. It may not make sense, after all how many times have I seen a geckan sad? No, it didn''t make sense but there was a certain truth in the way emotions played on their faces, I knew it as a fact. I couldn''t find any of it in hers. "As we approached the same area of the ruins it returned with a vengance. We could feel the breach in the castle from deep within." She answered. "And what exactly were you doing down there?" I met her eyes. Her royal composure never broke but her brow glistened, if geckans could sweat I swear she was. I jerked suddenly and the Geckan Queen tensed. I felt a huge, terrible eyes land on the back of my head. My sense of danger screamed at me, yelling at me to flee. Jones gasped, long laboring breaths and clutched at his head. "Out..out of mana. No illusions." He smiled. "Good luck." Then he fainted. The kid had bought us maybe two minutes of conversaton, enough to get our bearings. My sense of danger skyrocketed, Hunted Sense worked against me in this regard. It told me that, without a doubt, I was prey. There was no time to use Inform, no time to call my bag to me. The hunt had already begun. I faced the beast, completely black eyes shone in the deep black quills and I met the hungry eyes of a predator with my own. Then I remembered the very first title I received "Prey Turned Predator". Vaguely, I was aware of moving bodies around me. I knew with an absolute certainty that I was staring at an apex predator, a truly untamed beast, that I was simply a meal, sustenance, prey. As the realization hit me darkness fell over us as the sun finally set, then the beast moved. My hands lit up in green fire, throwing shadows across the room. Then, time slowed. Chapter 28 - Big Bob ~JST POV~ I stood up from my crouch and moved in front of Cobb. His eyes had that eerie twinkle in them, an abyss ready to consume. He was serious now. I gripped the charge sword, cursing. There was no time to grab my better sword from my pack. It turned out we weren''t actually captured, we just looked like savages. I sighed but couldn''t fault them. Cobb''s hands lit up in familiar fire and with that my focus sharpened and I entered the slow world of Hyperfocus. The beast launched itself forward with its huge arms and the ground cracked. I moved in front of its charge against all reason. I grinned. What better way to test my strength? The beast roared as fire splashed across its face and bullets ricocheted off of its hide. That didn''t stop it though, it roared and shook the whole building as we collided. The shockwave was something physical, no one felt it as much as I did though. I lowered my center but the path of his arm rocketed me into the wall. Flying through the air and having absorbed most of the initial impact with a stupid amount of strength and precision, I noted that I took maybe half of its momentum. The little detail would''ve been lost to me if time wasn''t slowed by almost half. Then I crashed into the wall, creating a crater in the cement. I felt a significant weakness from Overdrive for a single second, the amount of time I was boosting my stats was the second of impact. I might''ve broken a bone or two, and I was for sure sore all over but Ultimate Obliviousness was paying dividends. I was no stranger to extreme cases of physical discomfort. I was definitely not feeling all of it. I peeled myself of the wall, literally. I eyed the beast and charged again, we needed a frontline and no one is stupid enough to do it but me. ~Jack POV~ The older "brother" as they called themselves charged forward despite being thrown like a ragdoll. How could they be brothers when they are not even the same race? Gaius had called it a type of comaraderie but that is not how they treat each other, it is much closer to family, strange. I backed off of the beast, getting a feel for its movements, weakpoints, habits and tendencies. Without any large amount of power I must rely on strategy and precision. I met the eyes of the monster and saw its intent, dodging left as it slammed a fist to the ground. I jumped over the shockwave that rippled through the ground, holding my katana at the ready should I ever need the blade. It had been repaired since the fight with the demon. I backed off and observed again, George will "cover me" should I need to retreat. The beast''s eyes showed hunger, deep and insatiable. I did not falter and met its eyes with my own. Its face, barely visible through the quills gave me pause. A recognizable expression painted itself on its face. A smile, happiness, relief. I was puzzled and took two steps back from where I marked the safe distance, allowing me to react at whatever it may throw. Still it only smiled and I wondered why. It continued to deal with Gaius, trying its best to shield its face from George''s bullets. Then the one called JST, a strange name, arrived. "Big Bob! That''s your name now!" Only two steps away he threw all his power into his shoulder and the beast was forced backwards slightly. Impressive given the size of each. "Crazy ass bastard." George spat to the side, sighting his weapon. I had come to know the contraption as a sniper rifle or more specifically a Barrett .50 Cal, one of the most impressive specimens of weaponry i am told. Gaius found the beast shoved toward him quite suddenly and circled around as to not get cornered, he found JST and moved with him in assaulting the beast. Meanwhile a slew of different magic rained down on the beast in different forms and in different spots, different combinations and different colors. It roared but didn''t seem particularly damaged. Their strength is unfathomable, unworldly. This is not home, or even Earth, but it is adventure and I am content to follow these strange companions, at the very least it will be interesting. To Cobb, the one who created me, it is a challenge, I know. I speak only when needed but he is surprisingly comfortable in my silence to carry the conversation on his own, his is a path of constant improvement. The younger seems only to want improvement of himself, I see it, in his eyes, the determination to best his brothers, to contribute. After every battle as well I see the disappointment, that he had failed, and yet he remains oblivious to the cause of his actions, that without them all would be lost. They are a strange group of brothers, very strange, yet a family nonetheless. As for the older brother. "The goddamn maniac." George was lifting his head from the rifle sight, squinting. "The kid is smiling." He seems to only want to have fun with his brothers, a path, I think, that is just as honorable as the other two. ~JST POV~ "Damn Big Bob, you''re a fat one." I said smiling up at the beast. I couldn''t ignore the bruises forever and I was getting stiff. He roared at me, rudely ignoring Gaius who could only slash at the quills ineffectively. "Cmon fucker I need to stretch!" I ducked under the beast as it slammed its arm down, roaring and showering the spartan and I with spittle. My left arm brought the shield up to defend against the quills from its underarm while I jumped for the extra reach and my Charge Sword stabbed into the armpit. I pressed the button and sent the charge right into Big Bob''s armpit, at the same time I considered why the armpit is such a nice place to stab monsters. It was the same with the Qetzl''s. Unfortunately, I don''t think Big Bob felt anything, at all. He just kept roaring and though he was slow, he probably had more stamina than I did and was definitely stronger, he was also huge, so there was that. In fact, I couldn''t be sure if my sword actually stabbed him, there was no blood. The thick black quills surrounding him meant that a normal blade wouldn''t actually hit his hide, you''d have to stab and shove your arm deep in the quills, no problem for me since I have a natural protection of my own. For anyone else though it''s gonna be a problem, the very problem Gaius is having. "Conserve and distract, Gaius, conserve and distract." I told him during a short reprieve. He nodded as Big Bob loomed over us.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. We dived opposite of each other as he brought two fists down, sending Gaius tumbling over his shield and into a recovering roll. I followed Jack''s example and jumped the shockwave. By now, I had realized that the magic had stopped, not that it did anything, or that we were doing anything. I glanced over and saw Cobb with his backpack. Glancing back, even in Hyperfocus the speed of the incoming fist was almost too much for me to react. Maybe Jones would''ve gotten away with it, not me. The fist connected with my whole left side, breaking scales as I tried to turn. I stabbed my sword into the ground but was hit before I could use it to pull myself out of the way. The sword anchored me for an extra second allowing some quills on the arm to stab into me, a mistake on my part. I was launched towards the wall a second time. The world was black for a second before I came to. Big Bob just looked at me, then to its arm, and huffed. It slapped the ground, and rubbed its arms, creating a kind of tinkling noise of heavy windchimes. It huffed again and turned to Gaius and only from afar I could see how slow he was moving compared to when he punched me. I peeled myself off the wall again and started walking toward Big Bob once more. My shield had been shattered, or rather crumbled into sand. My left arm was broken and I grimaced and how mangled it seemed. The armor didn''t even help. I ripped off the shirt, easy given my strength to inspect the damage. My torso and stomach were heavily bruised, purple, black and discolored where the peripheral scales absorbed most of the impact. For the sake of everybody present I kept my pants on. The broken rubble and cement, at least that''s what I think it is, started to move around me. I held my arm out, the broken one, anticipating the low whistle. The signal came but I already knew the drill. The surrounding rubble shattered and reformed, stabalizing my arm. Ironically, the very same injury that had Cobb in a splint right now. I looked over to him, who was rummaging in his backpack taking out a book and robes. He spared me a glance. "Hey we''re matching!" Just like that his splint came off and revealed a perfectly fine ethereal green arm. I forgot he told me he could read lips. He scowled at me. I noted my crash site was only an inch away from my other crash. Now there were two human shaped indents in the wall right beside each other. "Good work Derjar. I see a plaque here already." I winced, probably shouldn''t be talking. I then reevaluted the situation. Looking at them fighting from afar, it almost seemed like Big Bob was toying with us. It almost looked like he was having fun. "Are you smiling?" Caught up in my scrutiny I mouthed the words unknowingly. A click of air caught my attention and Cobb was nodding yes to me, so Big Bob was smiling. He was now wearing the mage robes he got. He looked down to his book and began to read. He was reading. During a battle. Are you insane? That''s cocky even for you! But as I watched the pages of the book flipped faster and faster, his eyes roamed the pages absorbing the knowledge and before I knew it he was looking up at me, thoughtful. Before I could even begin to question that look something painful throbbed in my veins. I looked down to my chest and arm, festering blisters. I fell on my right side and I felt the ground hug me and pull me towards Cobb. I could not move, nothing responded to me, my arms, legs, head, neck, nothing. Only my eyelids worked. So I could do nothing as I was dragged to Cobb and I was given a panoramic of Gaius and Jack fighting in that effective way that they do. Even completely paralyzed I could see the futility. Their strategy was effective and efficient, scoring hits in lethal areas were it not for the mass of armored quills. As it was they were definitely skilled enough, though not nearly strong enough. My view lolled back as Cobb moved his face in front of mine and checked my pulse, vision and everything else. I was staring up into his face when he was saying something to me, he blinked once, then twice. It was then I realized I couldn''t hear anything. There was pain everywhere. If this was poison what kind of wretched biological poison does this much damage under an 87% reduction.
Poison Resistance - Advanced 9 (56%) Through exposure to various poisons your body has built a natural resistance. Poisonous effects will have less effect on you. It is said food eccentrics train this skill so that one day they can taste the Forbid Fruits, extremely poisonous and unimaginably tasty. A select few poisons disregard this skill. Effects: +87% resistance to poisons
A select few poisons disregard this skill, fuck me. I fumed but had no release. I wracked with pain but had no way to show it. Tears left my eyes and there was not a single thing I could do but blink. I couldn''t even answer Cobb''s questions, I couldn''t lip read like him. A quick glance to my health bar and I found it rapidly dropping, at the same time I found my stamina bar already greyed out, yet I remained conscious, how cruel. The little mana I had was also gone, and I realized what that painful throbbing in my head was from. Cobb noticed too and he moved with a terrifying efficiency and purpose, rarely do I see him like this. He flipped through his book, but I didn''t question him this time. A flame appeared in his hand and a floating ball of water in the other, they both rippled and became a single red and blue dot, which he brought together. They rejected each other at first but combined easily enough and I had a feeling I just witnessed something incredible to anyone who practiced magic. The colors combined and completely ignored the properties of light and instead became and radiant green. Then he began to make art in 3D, flowing branches that ended in gentle explosions of green, circles and lines, finer lines still, and he kept going. It was thicker on the left side, whatever it was, but the branching was extensive, violent even. I felt the pain somehow, despite my numbness, it was more accurate to say I was numb with pain, nothing existed but the knowledge that my insides were subject to an excruciatingly cruel poison meant for the victims to suffer. I watched my red health bar tick down to 5% its scarlet red standing stark against the darkness enroaching upon my vision. My vision was pinholing but I got one last look at what Cobb was doing, creating, painting. I remembered something just then. A small conversation. ~FLASHBACK~ "You don''t get it, magic isn''t just... something flashy. It''s more." Cojab said, he was lying atop a magic tree. "Yeah, i''m sure, there''s technique in everything after all." I said annoyed. This magic forest isn''t my cup of tea. "Ugh, I don''t expect you to understand. All you use are weapons, it''s like painting the same color with different brushes. You can only get so much out of it." "What''s wrong with that?" I said. "If we''re sticking to this stupid analogy it''s not like i''m only using my weapon, there are techniques, movements, feints, strategy, speed, strength. I can paint a masterpiece with one color." "There''s nothing wrong with it." He sighed. "It''s like, magic has so much more..... You''re missing out, is all im saying." Nojas was off to the side, sitting in a not-magical tree. He was listening intently as he does. He seemed skeptical but interested this time though. "Pshh, all I need is a good sword and a better opponent." I smiled. "Then I can show you art." "Magic, no, when you use magic you become a painter. The battlefield? Your canvas. You have unlimited brushes, different ways to apply your magic. You have unlimited colors, different magics. When I look at the battlefield it''s like im given a piece of art. What can I do in the smallest amount to change the most? What can a single stroke of red to a field of grey?" "Hmph. you''re saying you''re a painter?" I looked up to him sitting in a glowing tree, he was looking towards the treeline in response to strange bird call. "That I am." He squinted at the enemy that Nojas had signaled, or rather the painting. "The painter and the canvas." I scoffed. ~END~ My health ticked down to 2%, then 1%. And on the verge of being graced with passing out I realized what he was painting. A 3D rendition of a human made of radiant green stared back at me, his veins and biological systems were mapped out in magic, the green magic concentrated on his left side, the violent branches were veins, his heart beat and he was alive. The magic pulsed strongly through his system, his face was detailed and I found he looked familiar. With one glance at his handsome face I realized who was staring back at me. The painter and the canvas. I see it now. It was me. Then the picture was broken as Cobb''s hand burst through the rendering. His fist shook with green power. But his eyes, they were solid green. Chapter 29 - Down ~Cobb POV~ Understanding flowed into my awareness, knowledge at the most basic level but complete mastery over what was given. The usage of a Skillbook was indeed strange, the method of imparting the skill still allowed me to glean random insights here and there as the pages fluttered. Contos Spellcraft, 3d magic, something I had never even considered. It wasn''t an elemental magic, it didn''t have its own specific domain of power. It wasn''t something as unique as Animate. Neither was it the power over time, or something equally encompassing. In fact, it was most closely akin to enchanting; not the enchantment of items but rather, of magic. But it wasn''t a magic. It could most closely be called a technique, one lost to time. A piece of Twoen before the Second Dimensional Break. A damn effective one too. The poison of Big Bob, a name which I had the unfortunate chance of hearing, completely took JST out of commision. The interface and general HUD helped me realize exactly what was happening. I had filtered through the settings previously, removed the unessecaries and optimized the display, effectively showing me the least and telling me themost. I realized that the poison was depleting everything as my preferences worked to my benefit, HP, MP and Stamina, and he was staying conscious. The bars manifested neatly to the side of JST''s head as soon as I felt the need to see them. If I didn''t already have the Contos Spellcraft Skillbook out I wouldn''t have had the time to discover any magic useful enough for the occasion. There was a extensive instruction on how to write using the four elements that the technique relied upon, only towards the back of the book were there any effects mentioned that formed through a combination of elements. I had only a handful of seconds of peaceful experimentation before the stakes were raised in the form of JST collapsing. In my case, Fire and Water were needed as i recalled their specific properties and while a miriad of other effects could come into play, intent, power, focus and many other factors contribute to the effect. For JST and this situation I could only think of rebirth and rejuvenation, two concepts tied innately to two specifc elements. The birthing of a pheonix from the ashes and calm healing of a mountain spring. Despite the general tendency for the red and blue manfiestations of magic to make purple, instead they created a radiant pulsing green, without any interference on my part. There was nothing to indicate what I was supposed to draw, the basic elements had different, simple symbols to amplify their purpose but healing was too diverse, complicated and specifc, that or I missed something. I settled down and did what I so often did when it came to magic. I felt for it. When I completed my "sculpture" I had no time to actually look it, I punched through and absorbed the power, intent, and feeling I had placed there in the first place. The 3d piece shattered, swirls of green seemingly sucked into my fist, a fast tornado of power focusing into my hand. The sensation of surging power in the palm of your hands is something new to me everytime it happens, though not so often do I ever feel the overwhelming power to heal. It isn''t an experience I find myself forgetting anytime soon. My fist shook with green radiance, a blazing sun held in the palm of my hand. Veins of power ran up from my fist. I briefly wondered if, in my fist, I held so much power that the excess flowed up my veins and into my forearms. Then without pause I slammed my fist into my brother''s chest. The edges of my vision curiously tinted green. Some instinct kept my fist pressed into his chest. He jerked and the power pulsed into him with a physical force, not all of it though. The radiant green faded only slightly as I watched his vitals rise up. It''s like I was by someone''s deathbed and a miracle just occurred. His HP jumped slightly as well as the rest of his resource bars. It was closely akin to the diagnostic screens by hospital patients. The pulses grew in frequency and his health, mana and stamina all rose rapidly. If there was something like internal bruising but in the fiery context then it would''ve oddly been fitting. The magic was attacking the very posion in his veins, flaring up and eliminating all traces, the purging visible even under his light tan scales which were reforming as well. His cardiovascular system was mapped out in pulses of bright green that were focused on his left side, which took the brunt of the quills and poison. By the time his status bars reached maximum he became responsive again, yet I kept my fist on his chest, the power hadn''t run out yet. His left arm, still in the splint I made for it, calmly realigned itself and looked no worse for wear. "What... the fuck." His breathing was staggered as his body came under his control once again. "That poison, holy shit." He glanced at my fist. "How are you doing that?" He gingerly tested his left arm as I let the splint fall away. "It''s Contos Spellcraft, you''re lucky I gleaned something to do with healing from it by the way. I don''t think I could''ve just reached out for some type of healing magic, especially with me blacking out last time I tried to get magic." My fist still pressed against his chest as the last waves of power pushed into him. "You owe me." I couldn''t quite keep the grin from breaking out onto my face. "I owe you." He said with the type of sigh that comes from a man knowing he''s lost. "Woah, I''m going over max." His thoughts on the bleak future temporarily interrupted. Apparently confident enough, he propped himself up on his left arm. Sure enough, his HP had an extra bar forming below it, his mana and stamina had the same. The extra bars rose steadily but only got halfway before the power ran out. His mana was a painfully small pool and the boost was equally small, half of ten was only five after all. However, his HP and Stamina were ridiculous, so while this didn''t make him stronger by any means it did make him insanely more annoying and durable. "Damn, that''s gonna be helpful, assuming you can do it again?" "Sure, with enough time and mana. For now though, there''s something more pressing on my mind." I said glancing over at Big Bob. "This isn''tright." "What? That''s the point. I mean we''re trying to kill him." JST rubbed his neck when he got to "trying". "You didn''t notice anything?" Jack, Gaius and George were coordinating their attacks, on the sidelines some workers were watching with a healthy amount of fear. Jones was unconscious to the side, still resting peacefully in the store we left him in. Tad''s eyes were hungry, looking at George''s sniper. I''d have to keep an eye on him, to one of the weaker races advances in technology have to be their only way forward. "He''s toying with us." "That''s about the jist of it. Believe it or not that thing isn''t a predator. It feels like one but no, it''s just beyond ancient. Did you see its teeth? Smooth. No, this thing''s a herbivore." Confident enough that the rest weren''t in trouble, I conjured up a chair of stone and took a seat rubbing my chin. "True, if he moved the speed he did when he hit me, then they''d all be crumbling sand right about now. But that begs the question why? What are these ruins, the people here don''t even know what the place is." I made him a seat which he greatfully took. "I might have a guess." I was met with a raised eyebrow. "Care to share?" "Mineva, the head researcher, remember what she told us? Gyru, scrawled all over the ruins. Now, give me your best guess, why would abeastbreak out of the deepest depths of a ruin with Gyru written all over it? You know, Gyru, God of the Uncharted and Untamed Beasts? The very same one that took interest in my Rock Tree Boa? The same one who presides over the Uncharted and deals with all the imbalances? Ringing any bells in there?" Knowing my brother he''s probably caught on now. By now the others noticed our inaction to which JST responded with a non-commital dismissive wave. "You know that Gyru handles the imbalances how?" "Just a hunch, that thing looks pretty imbalanced to me." He followed my gaze to the behemoth in the center of the floor. Its breath was heavy but to Big Bob it was probably nothing. He wasn''t even breaking a sweat, that is, if he could. Another glance at the beastly visage left me with no doubt, it was smiling, ever so slightly. Strange that something presumably ancient shares a small similarity in facial expression. "You think Gyru runs a zoo." He said plainly. "I think this is where he keeps all the ''Untamed Beasts'' that''s part of his title." "That doesn''t explain why one escaped, you''d think a god kept better care of their pets. If you lock them up with the intention of keeping them there you might as well throw the keys away." "It does explain a lot of things though. Alwatl could translate a bit remember? Mineva mentioned her piqued interest when the Research Division mentioned the ruins to her, since then she''s been all over the place. Of course, we were only told that she was translating, deciphering and decoding the language along with the rest of the researchers. The way she spoke Standard earlier, that fluency, I''d be surprised if she had a whole slew of languages under her belt. I''m not saying I know how the culture works in Geckan society but i''m sure that without a doubt royalty get a high education. We''re also forgetting one thing." My brain was working overtime, the conspiracy forming as fast as the thoughts came together. Seemingly unrelated details finding their spots next to each other. "Shit. Why would the only intelligent species in the Uncharted we''ve met so far not know the local language." It was more a statement of fact than it was a question. I nodded. "Even if it wasn''t the local language, i''m not gonna underestimate the Geckans and think that they haven''t at least come across the same language before." "Which means Big Bob didn''t escape." He looked towards Jones and Tad. "He was freed." His eyes no doubt searching for someone I''d confirmed missing moments before. "She''s gone." I said following his gaze. "We need to stop her. We can''t have Bob just rampage around though. I haven''t found anything in the way of weakness." He paused suddenly, realizing his own words. "We need to wake up Jones. The kid''s been sleeping job way too much." "Only because he pushes the hardest." I replied. It was the truth too. A short walk later I was slapping Jones with a jiggling ball of water, hilariously. "Wake up bitch." JST got straight to the point, going so far as to grabbing my magically conjured blob and slapping him himself. "Ughh. Leave me alone." Jones rolled over. "Jones we need you, check the weaknessess on Big Bob, we have to put him down or at least subdue him." That got his attention, he perked up, albeit groggily and glanced at the beast. I didn''t blame him, mana loss in most games generally leaned towards headches as the punishment, in varying degrees of severity. Twoen was one of, if not the most, punishing in this aspect. In the meantime I did my own info gathering.
Inform Baby Great Turgill - Lvl 98 HP: 12,503/12,503 MP: 1,000/1,000 Though relatively weak in terms of strength and stamina to the beasts of its time the Great Turgills make up for the deficiency in effective poison and insurmountable defense and hardiness. Their young, unable to control the amount of poison administered are generally left alone as predators fear the consequences should they be pierced by the quills surrounding them. Peaceful by nature, Great Turgills enjoy combat and sparring with each other, immune to their own poison the method works perfectly. Great Turgills existed before the First Dimensional Break and still live to this day. The only remaining Great Turgills are ancient and in deep slumber, their locations marked, yet never expected to be seen awaken. To find a Baby Great Turgill is something unheard of.
Unfortunately there was no hidden information for me to glean or any insight into its weaknesses, but the descrption does explain why it was toying with us and smiling all the while. It''s just a baby having fun. I laughed out loud drawing stares from Tad and JST. It was a result of the futility of it all, an ancient baby and we haven''t so much as made a dent in it. "Have ye finally gone bonkers? I''m on the verge meself watching the beast wreck the ''ole place." His words were harsh probably angry at me for taking this a little too light hearted. "Sorry Tad. We''re under the assumption that the Alwatl released the beast, which i''ll let you know right now is just the baby version of its species." I said smirking. "It''s a fucking baby? You''re kidding me." JST got up and pointed, unbelieving. "That thing?" "And apparently compared to everything else from its time its the weakest of the lot." I said remembering the wording. "Fuck me..." He exhaled a controlled, calm, annoyed sigh. "Right, okay the thing is ancient, no shame." I could almost hear him mentally repeating the phrase. "Sure. That''s why those are there." I pointed at the two JST shaped indents on the far wall and gave him my smarmiest grin. "Fuck you." "It has no weaknesses." Jones groaned, still clutching his head, although the intensity at which he did abated somewhat. "This thing must be really strong. Its strengths are as listed: Extreme Strength, Defense, Stamina. Add to that it''s just a baby and that''s kinda depressing." "Well it''s just a baby. I''m great with kids, why don''t I just play with it or something?" JST shrugged surprisingly unconcernced of his brush with digital death, or the fact that said baby was capable of sending him flying into concrete walls. No matter what idiotic stunts Derjar pulls in game and in real life, not even his own brothers could deny his skill with children. Where one might assume a total lack of responsibility and therefore qualification as a babysitter, Derjar had both in spades when it comes to kids. There was a gentle patience and humor in him that only a rowdy child could coax out of him, perhaps it was that he was that child in his life before, perhaps it is simply the fact that humans are unpredictable, multifaceted beings, nonetheless one thing is certain, Derjar is undeniably great with kids. I sighed audibly, aghast at myself for even considering that he might succeed, because while I might think his idea is outlandish, bizzare, unconventional, and just plain stupid; those are the exact categories in which many past plans have fallen. The very same plans he brings up to rub in my face, whenever I deny him a shot at trying something equally unprecedented. "Remember how we dealt with that angry god who tried to destory the world? Armageddon or something. Anyways back then you said- " "Fine." I was self aware enough to know my forehead was creased with wrinkles, tangible evidence that a small part of me warred with my decision. "No, but i''m saying, it worked at least give me- " He paused. "What?" Honestly, he didn''t really need permission from me, it was just a formality, a dynamic we''ve always had whenever immersed. If he really thought it was the best idea he wouldn''t bother asking me. Either he asks as a courtesy or not even he is going into this as confident as I think he is. Of course, he could just be planning to corrupt an ancient baby being into destroying half the world, it wouldn''t be the first time.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "I''m saying go play babysitter with the Great Turgill. Only God knows where the luck you get comes from." I massaged my forehead, something that seems more and more nessecary. Then JST started laughing, wholeheartedly and mirthful. "What''s so funny?" Jones squinted. "Oh nothing, just that, this might actually be more fun than actually fighting the thing." He took a moment to stare at what was probably a notification, smiled and ran off. "Really?" Jones sidled up next to me, eyeing JST as he ran over to the fight. JST could be seen calling the rest of the group away from the beast. The spartan and samurai backed off, somewhat hesitantly, all George had to do was stop shooting. Big Bob, a name that seems even less fitting than it did before, paused and looked at JST, he quirked his head to one side, a motion that would''ve come across as eerie, creepy, distrubing or sinister now it gave the impression of a toddler puzzling out something new. "Something your Class Skill doesn''t readily explain, although it is undoubtly strong, the creatures are actually rather peaceful. Meaning it''s not really a threat if you don''t get it angry, and from the expression on its face I think it''s been having fun this whole time. So yes, really." "Yer bout to let yer friend go play with that thing, what might you lads be doing?" Tad butted in, skeptical. "This doesn''t solve anything, i''ve still got a near damn gigantic beast in me facility! Not that I don''t appreciate you lads, thought I''d point it out though." He quickly reiterated. "We need a map of the ruins." Jones said catching on quickly. "We need to find Alwatl." I raised my eyebrow, glancing to my side. "It was pretty obvious she had something to do with it." I was not one to doubt Jones when it came to finding ulterior agendas and underlying motivations. "Well then, that''s that let''s go find her. Tad, the map?" I asked. "We folks din''t have a map, no need, them ruins are a simple thing really, ye can see the entrance right over there. It''s a dark hallway all the way down, straight as an arrow, long been removed of traps, protections, magic, gizmos and whatnot thanks to Alwatl. It ends in a larger hallway, I only know cuz I was down there meself. Now, I din''t see nothing, at least not much, but by the time the beast popped right out of the wall I had a good reckoning. It came right out of what ''ad to be a cage, and now that I''ve got the brain to spare, Alwatl be the one inspectin'' the thing. Fortunately and unfortunately, we had to run out of the place, or else get run over ourselves. Truth be told, I never trusted the lizard. Then again, woulna'' have gotten so far down the wreck without ''er. Ahh, but maybe we shouldna'' been pokin'' down there in the first place." "Only God knows what''s down there." I told him, not entirely lying. Also realizing my usage of the singular God as I spoke. "Ye may be right there, lad." Taking my slip up in stride, hinting at a great many religous views. I took the time to check my notifications as well as my new equipment as we walked towards the entrance Tad indicated, not that it was hard to miss. It was basically a black hole, somewhat stark against the gray concrete walls found everywhere else.
New Skill: Contos Spellcraft - Beginner 4 (57%) Practitioners of old utilized a miriad of techniques as a magical focus. William Contos is one of many who endeavored towards the goal of increased magical power, birthed from his efforts, Contos Spellcraft. The method of illustrating magical attacks in a battle was percieved as a tactical folly, if not for the unique twists many mages spun on the technique. Not every symbol or drawing was the same yet even the same symbols never produced the same effect from two different mages. Before any progress could be made the Split War forced many Battle Mages into falling back into old and reliable methods of focus. Then, the magic was lost to time. Effects: +54% in magical amplification when using Contos Spellcraft
The power I felt was off the charts an approximate 50% increase in magical power didn''t seem like it would account for that, but the technique did allow me to condense almost my whole mana pool into my right hand and forearm. Come to think of it, I don''t recall getting a headache from that particular drain. From the looks of it the Skill actually had many more mysteries tied to it as well, the Split War was mentioned in actual book that I read. The Skillbook itself only contained techniques and ways one could get started, aside from that there was nothing too advanced, only the basics, but the basics allowed some very, very interesting building blocks to begin with.
New Skill: Healing - Beginner 5 (99%) Not all methods are known, but there are multiple ways to alleviate wounds. Many magics lend themselves to the art of Healing, though some are more suited than others, with enough control many arcane practices can have a positive effect on the body. The arcane, however, is not always as reliable as the mundane. Basic first aid and the like are generally just as effective and much easier to learn, one not as mystically inclined has the potential to become a Healer just as easily as an Archmage. The art of Healing is not so easily tied to a single practice, methods known and unknown, no matter their origin, when directed and focused to healing the body, mind and soul, without a doubt, qualify as Healing. Effective: +5% effectiveness of desired effect, should it succeed
This no doubt came from using Contos Spellcraft to heal, the very first thing I did with it actually, aside from the few seconds I had messing around drawing in the air before JST''s condition knocked him off his feet. So far we didn''t need anything to heal us, with JST''s insane endurance, Jones'' general slipperiness, and my mindful positioning and battle awaress, nothing really needed an instant save-the-day heal. We''ve only been able to close the level gap with teamwork, if it were any one of us alone out here most of these enemies would be too much for us to handle, we''ve all gone all out in our builds. A combination of teamwork tempered by years of battle, singuluar lopsided strengths, strategy, problem solving and a huge dose of luck were the only things that let us power through.
Contos Practitioner Robes (Rare) Robes traditionally worn by those seeking power through the strange technique that is Contos Spellcraft. Loose sleeves and light material facilitate easy movement for drawings to be constructed in three dimensions. The robes are artfully dashed in stripes of color amid the white cloth. Lines of dark color surround the upper body while lighter, brighter colors are found as the eyes wander down. Enchanted through the technique themselves, they offer a measurable amount of magical defense. +45% magical resistance Effects: +10% experience gain in Contos Spellcraft
Contos Picture Staff (Rare) Specifically designed to channel the altered elements to the tip of the staff, this allows the wielder to draw through the staff. In addition the staff is enchanted by the very same technique it aims to facilitate. The staff is made of smooth twisted woods, of varying colors, four shades of brown intertwine to form the staff, each shifting slightly to a more coloful shade. A brownish red, a earthier brown, a leafy green, an autumn orange, all come into view as the perspective shifts. Damage: 18-22 Effects: +20% magical amplification when using Contos Spellcraft +20% magical amplification to all magic channeled through the staff
I found the effects both welcoming and suspected, some type of facilitation using the skill fit in perfectly with my assumptions. The thing I didn''t suspect was the enchantments, not only did it confirm the possibility of enchanting items with the technique, it also gave each a boost I was happy to have. The robes I expected to have some kind of resistance, after all it was magic, but 45% resistance seem kind of much, until I realized I got no defense in return from mundane attacks. The magical amplification on the Contos Picture Staff was almost too good to be true, the last effect means that if I use Contos Spellcraft, I gain 40% amplification. Since I didn''t really find myself holding anything in the fights anyways, as long as i''m holding the staff i''ll be indefinitely stronger. For now I left the Demon Familiar Stone in my bag, nothing good ever comes from demons. I noticed Jones holding his grass dagger, I believe it was called Whist Grass or something along those lines. In his other hand was the very first Sand Dagger I made for him, strangely that came with a sense of pride over my work. The other one was strapped to his hip. That drew me to eyeing his armor, which I realized covered his setules - his spider hairs - almost completely. I brought the issue up with him. "Oh, my hairs can actually poke through in certain areas, the most useful for me anyways. Forearms, shoulders, calfs, shins, knees, elbows, feet and hands. I took the description seriously, enchanted coregath hide is almost impossible to come by. That said, if someone skilled enough to hunt down a Coregath, powerful enough to skin it, then audacious enough to enchant it why wouldn''t they have some enchantments on this to give some leeway for races with extra appendages?" That was about a good an answer as I could get , and with only a little effort on my part I could see he was telling the truth. Now pondering all our rewards, I reminded myself to ask JST about his "Access to the Glade" reward. I filled Jones in on my previous theory as we ventured further down the hallway. Tad wasn''t entirely lying, it was once a dark hallway, but thick electrical cords, extension cords and LED lights ran across the floor and ceiling, purging every shadow that once called the place home, some hung around, a result of smashed LED''s and ripped cords. There were deep, quill-like grooves all around the tunnel and the resulting fine rubble on the floor, though the culprit was easy to guess. From what Tad said, the walk was neither short nor long, the only thing stopping most from entering further were the safeguards put in place to prevent just that. In retrospect I should''ve queried him as to what exactly those entailed to be prepared for any that might actually pop up, or any they missed. "There''s still isn''t any reason for you to believe this place belongs to Gyru, okay well maybe with his name written everywhere there is, i''ll give you that. Maybe it''s a shrine and Big Bob was the guardian? There''s nothing else that hints that this place is actually a ''zoo'' as you said. In the same vein, nothing really points us to believe that Gyru actually does maitenence on the Uncharted. He might just leave the place to work by itself, if that''s true then there''d be no reason for this place to even exist, meaning there''d be no monsters down here. That mean we shouldn''t stop Alwatl from doing whatever she''s doing though." To say Jones was skeptical was an understatement. "Look, I''ve been over this before. What was our quest? Do you remember it? No? Then i''ll give you the exact wording, ''An intelligent species of Geckos that are found deep within the Uncharted. Their intelligence threatens the balance of the Uncharted and you have been tasked with putting an end to them.'' now, let''s dissect that. The part of their intelligence threatening the balance of the Uncharted really catches the eye, don''t you think? Remember when Gyru took notice of me? That was around the time my Rock Tree Boa was decimating Geckans left and right, the very same intelligent species that threatened the balance. In addition, Gyru took my Rock Tree Boa, no idea where it is now but i''m betting it''s somewhere down there. Our quest coincides with keeping the balance of the Uncharted, i''m sure Gyru had some kind of reason for his interest in me and that was probably it." I paused. "I guess we''ll find out when we get there." He had the stoic focus about his face that he met most things with. "If you were a God, one that had to deal with powerful beasts in a remote part of the world, a remote part of the world removed from all intelligent species, for beasts to be bred only through instinct, genetics, and the constant struggle for survival, what do you do with the anamolies? When one singular beast wipes the foodchain, threatening the balance of an ecosystem you so carefully cultivated? Personally, I''d think it''d be a waste to just kill it, so I''d just store it for later. Now, do me a favor and stack centuries upon centuries of this. Sooner or later you''re gonna need to start doing something with all the outliers, the ones killing everything and upsetting the balance, and the truly spectacular specimens you can''t bear to go extinct." "That''s assuming Gyru doesn''t just kill them outright." "If there''s anything we know about gods Jones, it''s that not everything they do makes sense, they have their peculiarities and quirks as much we do. I''m betting Gyru doesn''t watch the whole of the Uncharted because he has to, i''m betting it''s something more of a passion for him." "Your logic is circular, it ends with another conditional. For all we know Gyru actually has to watch the Uncharted, it might actually be a job, not a hobby." He countered. "You better hope it''s a hobby." "Why''s that?" The room expanded into a large cavernous hallway. "Because if it isn''t I have no idea what the fuck we''re walking into." ~LoneJones POV~ I relaxed my grip on my daggers, staying loose was important. Without JST here, I''d be the only early warning between stopping something from taking out Cobb. Right now though, there was nothing disturbing the air. Except for Cobb getting ready for whatever awaits us, his wind magic controlled enough to only disturb the air slightly. Alwatl could be anywhere, if her magic is anything like Princess Awta then i''m in for another headache. I''ve been through enough mental strain for a month. Fortunately, I''ve got 20% magical resistance from my new equipment and a new dagger to boot. Though how that would affect magic affecting the mind is anyone''s guess. I took the time to take in my surroundings, increased perception allowed me to see things others weren''t exactly privy to. Nothing but an empty cavern and weird drawings. On our right, scrawled across the walls were strange glyphs and patterns, something I''d be leaving to Cobb. In the exact same vein, across the room and to our left there were the very same markings. I gave one of our many signals for temporary safety, two almost,but not quite, simulataneous snaps using my fingers. The signals we used were born less from necessity and more from not really wanting to talk to each other. If Cobb awknowledged the signal he didn''t show it, which means more than likely he did. "Anything?" I asked. Normally he would''ve said something by now. "Well the only lead we have are these markings." He straightened out and glanced around, the room was filled with them. "Which is a problem because we should have another one." "Another one?" Then it hit me like a boomerang. "There should be an empty cell somewhere." He said. "There should be an empty cell somewhere." I repeated moments after, knowing the truth in the words. I sent an illusion of myself down the hallway and made him as obvious as I could. We were only at the very first set of markings, at this point though I don''t think it mattered the hallway looked identical all the way down. My older brother watched my Fake Jones jog down the hall. "And yet, there isn''t an empty cell or a Geckan Queen." He eyed the end of the hallway, it was visible even to him, then hunched over and inspected the markings yet again. I turned back around, I had a plethora of other senses besides feeling for the air currents and it was entirely possible Alwatl was concealing herself somehow. "Maybe if I- " My brother''s mumbling abrupty stopped, at the same time there was such a huge displacement of air that I was forced to turn around on instinct alone. "What just- " I froze. "Oh shit, shit, shit, shit." Cobb was panicking to himself, calmly. Somehow he made it work. The wall that Cobb stood in front of only moments before had completely and entirely dissappeared. It wasn''t the change that happened past the stone floor, the fact that it changed to a dark lush grass, nor was it the overload of aromas that flooded the nose, neither was it the unfamiliar sounds of animals so lost and extinct to Twoen they could probably be considered aliens, no, it was the fact I was staring at one of them that I froze in place. The fact that it was staring right back didn''t help at all, its size didn''t help either, its easy gait did nothing to thaw me. What really kept me frozen was that it was apparently a pack hunter, it was also the biggest one, once its focus turned the rest of the gigantic beings turned their head in the slow moving, powerful way that only absurdly enormous entities can pull off. My frozen state wasn''t something due to fear. It was something done of absolute necessity, I had gone invisible bringing Cobb under the veil as well. Although it wasn''t technically being invisible, at least the way I percieved being invisible to be it was close enough. I was frozen because, despite all traces of me dissappearing, it had still caught sight of me, only the one but still, they all locked eyes with me. I pulled a magical muscle and formed some words in front of Cobb. "No sounds." He nodded, that was the best I was gonna get. A perk of being under the veil with him was that I could see him fiddling with the markings on the portion of the wall that decided to exist. Right now though, it wasn''t even a wall, just a slab of rock, there were no illusions that it could hold anything as dangerous as the beasts behind it back. When I made the illusion of myself I linked myself to it, giving me control to direct it, just in case Alwatl actually showed up. He was actually a decoy designed to draw Alwatl out. I was patting myself on the back because now I could call him back and sacrafice the poor guy to ancient beings of the past. I was oddly proud when I saw myself running by my invisible spot, drawing ancient stares, without a fear in the world. This was odd for a handful of reasons, first; that wasn''t me, second; I wasn''t in any danger and third; the giant behemoth''s head''s swiveled to follow him but didn''t so much as move. Their heads moved much like an owl, observant, huge eyes followed the illusions movement yet no action was made. One bent down, leveling with my clone probably trying to get a closer look, or sniff him or something. Then something truly frightening happened, a giant blinding white bolt of lightning took a portion of my vision away from me, something not even possible when looking up at the sky. Wait, sky? True enough the sky was perfecty clear past the rock hall, it would''ve been perfectly normal too if we weren''t leagues underground. I''d have to assume this whole thing is a habitat, even the trees are larger, the grass darker and richer. The thoughts pertaining to the soil drew my eyes to the striking point of the lightning bolt and back into the present. In the spot where a fake me was just a little bit before, now held nothing but scorched earth and a deep, deep crater. Then their heads swiveled back to my exact location. They''re magic! Of course they can sense something here. But the type of awareness to make eye contact with me... Almost as if they rehearsed the whole thing they started walking towards me. Examine Enemy would do me no good here, I was almost postive I was dead. Then abrupty the giant, stone, cavernous wall decided it wanted to exist again, and there was nothing to ever indicate anything existed behind that wall either. "Got it." Cobb said wiping his forehead. "These aren''t only magical runes, they''re based on a system of technicality. It''s language, function and practicality rolled into one. Without anything to go off though I had to make some guesses, basically what i''m saying is now I know ''open'' and ''close'' sorry about that." He grinned the grin of a man in possession of another near death experience, and another great story under his belt. "Don''t... mess with those." I sat my butt down, emotionally drained. "Seriously." "Point taken, noted and filed. I learned my lesson. At the same time I learned how to open these cells and more importantly close them so not all is lost." A flash of movement on the edges of my perception caught my attention. I snapped my head, moving in a fashion I found eerily familiar even as I used it. Immediately I was locked onto a pair of royal, reptilian eyes. The Queen. "That''s not good." Cobb said before I could chase her down. "Why''s that? We found her, now all we have to do is chase her down." "Because," He strung the word out. "If she didn''t find those worth freeing." He jerked a thumb backwards to the cell we just sealed. "Then what the fuck is she trying to free?" He finished. My eyes went wide. Chapter 30 - Babysitting ~JST POV~ "I''m saying go play babysitter with the Great Turgill. Only God knows where the luck you get comes from." Cobb said rubbing his forehead. He was probably regretting it already.
God Quest: An Actual Babysitter Pat, God of Boredom and Entertainment is bored and in need of entertainment. He has tasked you with riding the ancient entity, for fun of couse. Rewards: + Areally cool hat
I laughed loudly, this was the type of stuff I played for. Pat''s shaping up to probably be one of the only gods I enjoy. A god who''s just trying to have fun? Sign me up as your paladin, earthly incarnate, represenative of the order of boredom and enterainment, heck possess me even, that might be fun. The only stabbing regret I have is not coming up with the idea of riding Baby Bob myself. I had the skill for it and everything. My laugh waned as regret took over, which then was replaced by anticipation and excitement. "What''s so funny?" Jones squinted. "Oh nothing, just that, this might actually be more fun than actually fighting the thing." I took a moment to look at the notification again, smiled and ran towards the newly dubbed Baby Bob. A sad sandy green memory of a shockingly handsome, well-dressed and short lived friend flickered into my mind. That fucking hat will be mine. I''ll look better than Jeff ever did, that green-eyed bastard. I grinned, we all had our ways to honor the dead. Even if mine was to show them up. When I arrived it seemed almost like a sparring session, Jack and Gaius were sweating profusely, a sight I''m still not sure should be possible. Somehow though Cobb''s sandy buddies seemed to actually sweat. Although they seemed battered and tired none seemed in any real danger, only pushed to their limits. Rubble littered the ground, the concrete floor utterly destroyed in some places, behind a pile of the stuff George was set up taking potshots when needed. It did look like they weren''t in any fear for their lives, they probably realized the strange behavior as well, Bob was only matching their strength. When they got tired and weak Bob slowed down and went easier. If anything they were good distractions, who knows what would''ve happened if Baby Bob got out into the Uncharted. Actual predators might warrant enough power for Bob to kill them on accident and something as big as Bob would attract a lot of attention. For now though I needed to get everyone away from my ride. "Guys get out of the way. The babysitter''s here." I declared. "Baby?" Gaius retreated, a puzzled look on his grizzled face. "This ain''t my first rodeo." I said immediately responding while also picturing myself in a cowboy hat. "What does he mean?" The spartan asked Jack. In response Jack stepped backward, keeping an eye on the beast he sheathed his katana, nodded to me and walked to George. His usual grace slightly stiff as though he was working through cramps. Gaius followed him with a backwards glance to me, not even trying to hide the fatigue in his muscles. I approached Bob slowly. He craned his head in what could only be the cute tilt of a puzzled baby. Without Cobb and Jones here, there was probably no way we could contain Baby Bob. They just need to take care of the Queen while I take care of the baby long enough for them to find his crib. Now, how do I go about distracting an ancient baby? Twenty minutes later, after a very cautious apporoach, coupled with a language barrier, the problem of differing sizes, as well as the slow understanding of a juvenile mind had me arm wrestling the quill-less pinky of a Baby Giant Turgill. I didn''t have the senses that Jones had but even I could hear Tad yelling at George. "-the man absolutely knockered? What fool would even dare!" He sounded more in awe than in actual protest. In fact, loud snippets of conversations along the same lines filtered through my hearing the past twenty minutes. The rest nodded in what I took to be agreement. They weren''t as incensed as Tad, seeing as they had actually fought Baby Bob they might''ve realized im in less danger than it seems, there''s also the fact that I''ve already been thrown across the room twice already. There were dents to prove it after all. Very embarassing dents. Meanwhile I had just lost the fourth arm wrestle, this time I looked at Baby Bob and smiled, something I hoped he recognized. To my surprise, some obscure third removed cousin of the expression alighted onto his face. It wasn''t creepy, just strange and, after associating the face with a smile it had the same effect on me as anyone else''s did. Near the tenth or so match, or so I thought - I lost count - I decided to try a bit harder. I pointed down to his pinky which attracted his gaze then I began. I adapted the optimal grip in a normal arm wrestle to that of his pinky, which basically consisted of my forearm lying against the last crease of his finger. If I unfurled his pinky, I won, If he curled it all the way encasing my arm, he won. There was no way to know if he understood the rules, but I was still intent on winning, not only for bragging rights against a giant primordial beast but also to gain some trust, and most importantly have fun. I counted to three, which Baby Bob had realized the purpose of previously, and we began. Just his pinky was enough to take me down completely, when I was using about 40% of my strength. I upped it to 50% to meet the increasing push Baby Bob used to curl his pinky. At 65% percent Bob looked at me puzzled, at 75% he was smiling. This kept on going, him slowly ramping up the power, while I constantly met him full throttle. The result was a stalemate. It had been forty-five minutes since I first interacted with Baby Bob, sometime during that everyone else had moved closer, accepting the fact there was no current danger, but refraining from helping Cobb and Jones on the off-chance something changed and Bob needed to be contained. Of course, these lazy fuckers might just want to watch me beat some ancient ass. "What''s so different now?" Gaius chimed in, realizing the lengthy match. The spartan was lounging around with the rest, his sword lying beside him. I was at 80% of my strength when I realized they had moved closer again, near enough that I could hear the group clearly. "Man''s bonkers, a loon n'' only a loon would chase this thrill." Tad said, although his eyes sparkled in the same way they did when staring at George''s sniper. He was maybe fifteen meters away, the closest one, leaning forward, yet hesitant to come any closer. I smiled hitting 90%. Jack smiled a small smile as well. "I believe JST is simply having his fun." He was cross legged, back straight observing the match five meters behind Tad. George caught me staring at them while everyone else''s focus was on my arm. "Crazy ass bastard." George spat, shaking his head with a knowing smile, unconcerned and checking his rifle and equipment. At 100% I showed my teeth in what might have been a smile truly belonging to a loon, whatever that was. Baby Bob''s pinky was trembling and there was a look of consternation on his face, he tried to ramp up the power again but it seemed his pinky was at its limit. Then, with a trembling effort his pinky began to push me back as it moved closer and closer to his palm. It was almost sad to think all the power in my arm is weaker than the all the power in a baby''s little finger. I pouted up at his face but somehow the action of curling his pinky took up all of his focus. I might''ve thought he had some kind of mind power with how hard he was staring. Even at 100% my arm was pushed back. I guess ancient pinkies of ancient beings are stronger than even the strongest of present day. Two more seconds and I would lose. Me, Derjar, losing to a baby. No fucking thanks. Oh well. I hit 110% activating Overdrive. His pinky began to unfurl but his grip was better now. More strength was needed. I called upon 120%. It would''ve been enough from the beginning to take him down but then it wouldn''t be fun at all. Somewhere deep down I was sure Pat would agree. Some last reserve in that giant finger of his pulled my arm towards his palm, it was a fast burst and his little finger blasted towards his palm. Immediately my eyes went wide and I activated Hyperfocus, slowing the match down, and watching his pinky rushing towards his victory condition. I spared a Hyperfocused second to be proud of the baby. I unfurled his pinky in one go using 130% of my strength, taking advantage of Overdrive as well as the effects of Combat Savant. Bob let go of the strength behind his pinky and it smashed into the concrete with a resounding shockwave sending rock chunks flying, the kinetic forces we were putting in to play were no joke. I rolled over, suddenly feeling the after effects of Overdrive. I lied exhausted while Baby Bob tilted his head at me and made a soft noise at the back of his throat that belied his towering frame, he leaned over me nudging my side. I held up my hand and waved him away. Thinking I broke some limits with Overdrive I decided to check my whole status as well as the blinking notifications I''ve put off for so long.
Class: Gladiator Name: JST Title: The Strong One, Spider Blessed
HP: 872/872 Lvl: 45 Effects: Race Druman: +10 STR, +20 END, The Strong One: +50 STR Gladiator:+10 STR per level, +10 END per level Spider Blessed:+Relations with Spiders increased, +Can communicate with Spiders Malvolio''s Mark:+Reputation with libraries across Twoen increased. +May influence future interactions.
MP: 105/105
SP: 95/790
STR: 460 CHR: 10
END: 300
INT: 10
WIS: 10
LUK: 10 Stat Points:
Hard Scales (Race Skill) - Advanced 10 (88%) Hyperfocus - Advanced 4 (32%) Combat Savant - Advanced 7 (5%) Breathing - Advanced 8 (27%) Overdrive - Advanced 4 (10%) Warrior Bond - Advanced 1 (10%)Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Monster Riding - Intermediate 9 (12%) Ultimate Obliviousness - Intermediate 10 (10%) Poison Resistance - Advanced 9 (56%)
The last time I checked my status was at level 27, that meant I had 90 Stat Points to assign, all of which went into STR. I leaned on that exponential increase, the more I have of one stat the higher my effective STR would be. The multiplier on Combat Savant never affected the HP and SP I gain per level through the STR and END increase, it did effect my actual strength and durability though.
Hard Scales (Race Skill) - Advanced 10 (88%) The Druman are known to excel in combat, much of their culture deals with combat and thus it is no surpise to find that they have adapted a form of natural armor. Effects: +15% damage reduction
I wonder what happens when I max out a skill? Basically this skill just levels based on how much I get hit. Even though I can dodge most attacks, sometimes it''s easier to abuse my durability than to move out of the way. It''s probably my highest skill since i''ve been doing just that this whole time.
Hyperfocus - Advanced 4 (32%) Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily. Effects: +Perception of time slowed by 34% +28% increase in muscle reaction +20% speed when Hyperfocused
The speed increase and muscle reaction were both effects I learned I would get from Jones and Cobb but I never quantified. Here, I could see exactly what my bonuses were. The speed I moved when in Hyperfocus was just beginning to be noticeable to me and now I can see why.
Combat Savant - Advanced 7 (5%) Various techniques and masteries you''ve acquired have combined into this skill. You have shown advanced mastery in unarmed combat, the martial arts, sword technique, hammer technique, and shield usage. Instead of granting individual skills they have been combined into this skill. In addition you have not shown any interest or reach for magic or stealth leading one to believe you thrive in combat. Effects: +54% effectiveness in battle +2.7x multiplier on STR and END
I paused swiping as I came across Combat Savant. The 54% effectiveness in battle is something easily noticeable, the system doesn''t do something so simple as to make enemies weaker around you and thus make you feel better, no, it makes you better. I work better in battle, my mind works faster, moves and patterns I would never have connected in that short time, I move faster, hit harder, react quicker, everything to do with battle becomes more effective. It might seem like a cheat but without the actual skills and technique this skill would actually be useless for most people. The first effect doesn''t actually give me anything, everything is me. If I kick someone, it''s harder. A backhanded parry, into a low sweep and headbutt becomes more fluid. A duck and roll to the left becomes quicker. If you didn''t have the capability to see those things in the first place increasing the effectiveness of a simple punch doesn''t do much. Meaning this skill doesn''t help you become a better fighter, well, it does in the sense that you normal hits become better, but no, this skill works with what you have. So when you''ve spent your life sparring across a variety of worlds, learning different techniques and methods of combat 54% becomes a big deal.
Breathing - Advanced 8 (27%) Superior respiration techniques lead to more efficient muscle movement and energy usage and consumption. Effects: +56% reduction in stamina usage
Of course none of that matters if you can''t last.
Overdrive - Advanced 4 (10%) Caught in a whirlwind of emotions you have pushed your body to past maximum performance. Effects: +34% to all stats +Equal demerits for equal duration.
I was right, Overdrive did increase and it seemed like I had more in the bank.
Warrior Bond - Advanced 1 (10%) Forged in battle the Warrior Bond is a connection between allies, teamates and comrades, unspoken yet everpresent. Effects: +100% increase in intuition of teamate planning or manuevers +1% of your two strongest Stats are shared between party members
Sparing a glance for Warrior Bond I noticed that the first effect hit 100% which seemed kind of broken, being able to know exactly what Cobb and Jones were planning. Then I realized it was only a percentage increase of my intuition, meaning that my normal knack for spotting my brother''s plans was basically doubled, which then seemed way more reasonable. The second effect is what caught my eye since nothing came during the Intermediate Tier. 1% of my strongest stats were about 4 STR and END but if this applies after Combat Savant then that means Jones and Cobb get about 12 STR and END split between them, then of couse the effect is still increasing with the skill level, eventually it looks like it''ll hit 10%. That''ll be about, what? 50 STR and END tripled, so 150 split between both of them. Damn, they''d get 75 of both STR and END from me when that skill gets maxed. At that rate Cobb could actually go melee to some extent. Normally that''d be impossible with the level of enemies we''re facing but if he had the necessary STR then he wouldn''t need to just use magic. On top of that, Jones will just be more deadly and last longer. Fuck, when did I become the support?
Monster Riding - Intermediate 9 (12%) You happen to be one of the crazy bastards insane enough to mount a monster, and to some extent, control it. Monster Riders are few but only because they make it look so fun that everyone else rushes the process and gets themselves killed. Have fun! Effects: +29% ease when riding monsters. +45% of mount speed.
I shook my head at the possibilites, and focused on Monster Riding. Despite all the other combat and battle oriented skills this is definitely my favorite one, mostly just because i''m pretty sure no one else has it, but then again i''ve underestimated the stupidity of players before, after all I did it myself. Then again, there''s not many fuckers who are as stupid as me, so there''s that. Of course, it might also be because unlike the rest of repetoire this skill doesn''t assist in combat or defense, it assists in fun. I fondly remembered my time headbutting gorillas off the Geckan Tree Lair riding a flying snake. Wait, did that count as combat? I was in a battle... No, that was just good fun, no drugs or alcohol just flying snake mounts and gorillas. I frowned remembering that I had to put down my mount after, even after assuring my brothers he was on our side. I could be flying the fucker right now, instead I had to blast his brains across a perfectly good tree lair. "Fucking traitor." I muttered. I drew Baby Bob''s attention. "Sorry Bob, that''s a bad word, don''t say that."
Ultimate Obliviousness - Intermediate 10 (10%) For some reason events surrounding you that would stagger others mean literally nothing to you. You don''t even care, at all. Effects: +20% resistance to negative physical effects +20% resistance to negative mental effects
I don''t even know how I got this one, honestly. I remember just being myself in the fog Jones conjured and then being awarded the skill. Strange system decision but I was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Poison Resistance - Advanced 9 (56%) Through exposure to various poisons your body has built a natural resistance. Poisonous effects will have less effect on you. It is said food eccentrics train this skill so that one day they can taste the Forbid Fruits, extremely poisonous and unimaginably tasty. A select few poisons disregard this skill. Effects: +87% resistance to poisons
It was my last skill so I read through it all just in case something changed. By the time I read the last line I couldn''t help but glare at Baby Bob. "Aww, how could I get mad at you." I looked at Baby Bob who was smiling. "Why does he speak to it like a child?" Gaius questioned. "Ow''s the loon so calm? The monster be showing teeth!" Tad face betrayed his thrillseeking nature. It was clear the man was some degree of adrenaline junkie. I looked over irritated. "You know I can hear you fuckers? Stop calling me a loon what the fuck even is that?" "Crazy, illogical, stupid, rash, silly, foolish. All n'' more. N'' yer a huge one." Tad said. "Because it is a child." Jack answered Gaius. Gaius paused and stared at Bob with new eyes, he was a slow dude. Ironic, given his speed in combat. "Then stop looking at me like a kid who just met his hero. You wanna play with the big boys? Then walk on over here. And stop calling me a fucking loon." I snapped annoyed. Tad got redfaced but slowly got up. I was actually expecting more control from him, he looked to be in his late 20s, plenty of time to master your emotions. The guy''s got some pride to protect. He walked over to me and in a moment of speech with no accent I barely caught, Tad muttered "Father will kill me." "Well, now who''s the loon fucker?" I lounged like a french model. "Check this out Bob. The guy''s scared of you! Wait, bad word again, don''t say that." "N'' what be a fucker?" Tad asked. "Nothing you need to know. Right Gaius?" Only when his knowing smile dropped did I remember the other two that I educated at the time on the finer points of cussery. It was funny watching Bob interact with Tad. The way Baby Bob moved around Tad was especially careful and in that I realized the care and control he was using to avoid any lasting injuries. I sat back and took in the scene, slightly surprised I didn''t notice it before. Maybe because at the levels of combat we were at earlier the thought never crossed my mind that Bob could be holding back. Using his name so much had me chuckling at how "Bob" paints the picture of a middle aged, balding man instead of a powerful ancient baby. Even so, the amount of speed and power in Baby Bob''s casual movements were a fraction of what they were earlier, he was going through great lengths to reduce the risk of injury. That little insight along with the harmless sparring, sparked my curiousity. I couldn''t help but wonder at the intricacies of his species, it seemed like he sparred for the betterment of his partner rather than for any competing factor, even our arm wrestling earlier was always him matching me. My eyes, casually watching his movements, drifting across his body, widened. All of our previous combat I replayed, Baby Bob''s movements, his huge frame was the only reason I didn''t catch on earlier. He was using some kind of technique, the movement were all so similar, so efficient. I looked at him more intently, my training in different styles of combat allowed me some insight, he seemed to be moving much more smoothly than he should. I noticed the gentl reposition of his tail to maintain balance as his leg sweeped back to allow his arm to swing by. His swinging arm planted his fist and used the momentum to swing the rest of his body onto his butt.There was a control and discipline there that rivaled his care and attention to sparring. The Great Turgill was a martial species I realized. Unbidden, images of Great Turgills sparring across a primordial landscape played in my mind. They weaved between thick trees, using the enviroment in their battle unconsciously, a result of their sparring. The first one, slightly larger, charged the second, smaller one. The smaller turgill dodged using her smaller frame and agility to avoid and reposition. The bigger and older turgill grabbed the nearest tree and spun around it, redirecting his charge and plowing into the smaller turgill, the younger one flew into a nearby tree but got up unharmed. He taught the younger one the same move and they went through it multiple times. Time passed and the care apparent in Baby Bob showed in their species as whole as I watched the older turgill spar with the younger one. Eventually, I realized they were family, they fought bigger beasts together and while they were weaker and got tired faster they always won before it even mattered. Their superior defense and poison coupled with efficient movement and conservation of energy had them standing tall above the bruised bodies of primordial reptiles, ancient furred creatures, and in one case a gigantic worm. In the end a viscious predator came upon them, it seemed to be heavily resistant to their poison but not completely immune. Together, they were its match but the younger turgill was crippled early leaving the larger of the two alone to combat the threat. The enemy was all claw, teeth and instinct, pure offense. The older turgill had many small victories, his quills puncturing the hide of the enemy many times, but before the poison could take effect the larger turgill ran out of stamina. The large predator was raging, the pain of the poison flaring up across his body, one too many quills had punctured him and he approached the Great Turgill having forgotten of the smaller one in its rage. As the large predator stalked closer the lone turgill could do nothing but watch as claws and teeth descended. To the side, hidden in thick foliage lost to time, a young turgill watched the simultaneous death of her father as well as his killer. The predator''s body slumped to the ground. The small turgill didn''t seem to realize what happened. That she would never taste revenge. That her father was killed and avenged in the same moment, with not a word of parting to her, save except for the action of saving her life. That the itch she may have would never be satisfied, that she had been left with the death of her father on a day like many others, only for it accomplish nothing but spare her life. Maybe, the emotions were simply too complex or the turgill had finally shut down in face of the trauma. Was she too young to understand or did she go into shock? It became clear to me it was the former when a godly figure materialized to the side of her, beckoning her towards him. It was apparent in the slight, innocent tilt of her head that she gave him, which could be nothing but the puzzled curiousity of a baby. "Fuck!" I yelled as I was released from the trance, swiping away the vibrant blue that assaulted my eyeballs. I needed to move, todosomething. The need stemmed from something more personal but I refused to acknowledge it. I moved towards the ancient baby, noting that no time at all seemed to pass. "Wh-What are ye doing?" Tad said, startled at my approach towards Baby Bob. "Fuck does it look like? I''m gonna ride her." I said climbing, sighing as soon as I finished. "That''s a bad word don''t say that. Also, sorry for naming you wrong. Bob doesn''t work for a girl, does it?" Somewhere deep down I felt the need to curse the God of Naming, first it was Jennifur, now this. Somewhere deeper I felt Pat laughing and Jennifur shaking his head. Chapter 31 - The Tunnel ~Cobb POV~ I raised a blob of water inside of which contained a flickering flame, on the tip of my staff. Channeling magic through the staff was brain dead easy once I held it in my hands. I thought it would take a while to understand it completely. Turns out it''s as simple as finding out what a glove does once it''s placed firmly in your hands. It''s pretty obvious. The runes - if you could call them that - were the same as they were at the entrance. They were language, programming, functionality, and meaning rolled into one practical magical analogue. Of them I could only decipher ''open'' and ''close'' simply because I had managed to press them on accident. "There''s nothing." I sighed. "They''re all for the cells, like keypads. And all the same." "What I''d do for a directory, like Malvolio''s place." Jones remarked. "Yeah, but the books then were randomzied so it didn''t really matter." I brought the ball of water down. The muted ball of light wasn''t helping us here, all the marking were exactly the same. Even running my finger across one I confirmed they felt the same too. I was basically looking for any differences. I was fairly confident they were exactly the same so I didn''t bother with any further tests. Jones would probably question my sanity once I started the sniffing the wall. "I''m surprised you even figured out how to open and close these things." Jones replied. Me too. What he didn''t know was that we just got extremely lucky. I have no idea how capable I looked like from behind but I was performing the magical equivalent of pressing every button on the elevator. "Eh, it was nothing." I said, feeling slightly guilty. "Trial and error." I said, deciding to add some truth. After that there were no other leads. Even creating earthen steps to study the higher markings gave no insight. So we followed the Queen deeper, having no idea what it was she was up to. Thirty minutes of walking down the same tunnel. The markings on the walls began to change, but not the change I was hoping for. Instead of being drawn on, now they were carved into the rock. A sign of older cells maybe? Jones walked ahead of me, setules twitching with alertness. I myself had resolved to stop being an idiot and focused on my Hunted Sense. True, some things were limiting when it came to magic, but the second you were placed in a situation where your magic applied. The world was you playground. And it applied right now. We were underground, and though Jones was hyper alert, I had the feeling the sheer awareness I felt through the earth itself was more than he could feel through the air. Earth Magic was the highest before the skills combined into Elemental Magic after all. Despite both our vigils the tunnel was devoid of any royal reptile reptiles. Instead there was something tunneling through the floor. And additionally, there was another tunneling from the ceiling. And they were large, enough to fill a fourth of width of the tunnel I was standing in. "Jones!" I called up ahead. The ground started vibrating ominously, and though Jones couldn''t feel it so did the ceiling."Giant earth worms!" I could feel the shape. Now, that by itself doesn''t really describe an enemy in any detail at all. A normal person would simply picture a pink, tube-shaped regular earth worm enlarged by the adjective provided. In times of stress, and consequently, with no time to describe an approaching enemy, the best way to proceed are to provide simple keywords that prep your team by implanting a general idea of the enemy. Giant earth worms to me and my brothers mean something entirely different. Already, I could confidently say that Jones was changing that image in his head, cycling through the possibilites, rows of teeth, spiked plating, acid-spitting, anything we had met before. Imagine our surprise when two pink, tube-shaped enlarged earthworms bursted from the ceiling and floor at nearly the same instant. I stayed clear of the cells to the sides, having no idea what massive kinetic force might do to them. I jumped off to the side, rolling and coming up with staff in hand. Not even needing to Hyperfocus with the early warning of my Earth Magic.
Contos Picture Staff (Rare) Specifically designed to channel the altered elements to the tip of the staff, this allows the wielder to draw through the staff. In addition the staff is enchanted by the very same technique it aims to facilitate. The staff is made of smooth twisted woods, of varying colors, four shades of brown intertwine to form the staff, each shifting slightly to a more coloful shade. A brownish red, a earthier brown, a leafy green, an autumn orange, all come into view as the perspective shifts. Damage: 18-22 Effects: +20% magical amplification when using Contos Spellcraft +20% magical amplification to all magic channeled through the staff
As improbable as it sounds, there had been almost no times i''ve ever had reason to use a magical staff for anything other than magic. But, in my attempts to utilize the most of every skill, born from my stupid habit to forget about Hunted Sense, I pondered each previously.
Mixed Magical Arts - Beginner 10 (0%) Wedding the movements and technique of various martial arts with the nature and ferocity of magic itself births a dangerous practice. The tax on both the mind and body require someone of immense skill. Effects: +When in use magic is amplified by 30%
Earlier in the library, Mixed Magical Arts had popped out at me. It was so unique in the added boost that came from implementing martial prowess into something that was anything but physical. It was about the same time we were rewarded all the items that I checked my notifications and found the new skill. It was why now, surrounded my two writhing masses of pink flesh that the Contos Picture Staff might as well have been a bo staff. I spun it around me and settled into a classic ready stance. Without any of the outward flair, I focused my mind and slowed the whipping bodies with Hyperfocus. One of the heads twirled around looking to eat Jones. He jumped and the other worm whipped around to eat him mid air. Jones twisted, catching the space of air between the moving bodies perfectly, dissappearing in the writhing pink. One of the tails, whipped out at me. I ducked, spinning my staff over my back, tracing red circles with Contos Spellcraft, the round shapes formed thrice in under a second. The second earthworm''s body jerked closer, probably something to do with Jones. I stepped back, out from under the red circles, and smashed them over hand with my staff. My staff caught in a harmless magical fire, and wave of red was sent searing into one of the earthworm''s body. That blackened section marked the first earthworm, moving so fast it left a long line of ash alongside it. There was high-pitched keening and I felt bad for Jones'' enhanced hearing. I lit balls of green fire, holding them under balls of sickly green water. My staff drew lines of alternating colors between each, forming something I felt more, than planned for. One by one my magic flew into the first earthworm. A ball of fire blackening a section, the body moving so fast another healthy segment was brought under the wrath of the superheated ball of water that followed. I twirled and dodged, barely, just barely dodging each worm, only with the help of Hyperfocus was it even remotely possible, and even then it almost wasn''t. Earth Magic let me sense any movement from behind me, Hyperfocus let me react, and a combination of my other magics let me counter and dodge. They were like trains that didn''t need to follow the tracks. Everytime the head flew by, missing me, that part of the tunnel would be occupied by its long body for the next twenty seconds, that was how long they were. But there was only a few seconds to react before the head came around again. It was this way that the worm forced me to keep moving, each pass it did gave me a target as well as another restriction of my movement. Through the bodies, or parts of them, I could see how Jones'' was dealing with his. Illusions were leading the head around in such a way that Jones'' could easily maneuver between the writhing body. His whist grass dagger was cutting easily from the blood I glimpsed. I felt a strange pride that my brother was using magic to such effect. Already, my mana and more importantly, my stamina, was fading. The amount of mana I was exhausting was immense. The power I was dishing out was magnitudes more than I should''ve been able to with the mana I had. Amplified as it was by so many effects. 30% from Mixed Magical Arts, 40% anytime I used Contos Spellcraft, and the bonuses to each magic that came from the Elemental Magic skill. The battle was unlike any I had attempted so far in Twoen. The strategy was simple and there was large cushion for error. The only problem was the scale, the earthworm was huge, and durable. I''d die of a headache born from mana loss before we could kill it.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Cobb!" A voice rang out. "I can get both heads to you! Is it enough!" He yelled in askance. Enough? With the way I had been drawing in the air, using the Contos Picture Staff to channel the mana used for Contos Spellcraft, it looked like someone had traced the path of an LED hulahoop in a long-exposure photo. I could choose if the passing of my staff broke the spell and gathered the power, or if it simply passed through and continued to draw. Enough? Please. "It''s more than enough, Jones." My voice was at normal level, not wasting any energy. "Just make sure you''re behind me." It was the most power I had gathered with Contos Spellcraft in the battle so far. Luckily, one of the heads hadn''t come for me in a while and I could gather a stronger attack since my position didn''t have to move. It was the most concentrated gathering of magical potential I hadn''t felt since the last game I truly invested in. "Heads up!" Jones yelled at me. But, the first earthworm''s body was in the way. And suddenly, the body cleared, reaching its end. Jones was running, clearly running out of breath. It terms of sheer speed the worms were faster, they were pushing into each other, rubbing against the floor and jabbing down. Curiously, it looked like one of them was fixated on Jones'' dagger, odd that I even noticed but whatever. They were trailing just behind Jones. He had led them further down the tunnel before turning around and running at me. Because even as he approached the lingering mass of pink flesh surrounding me dissapeared as it moved to follow the head''s path down the tunnel. It was a clear shot but Jones was still in the way. I paused, then smiled as I read the clear words that floated above his head. Sure, Illusion Magic was great for distractions and tricking people, but as I told Jones beforehand its usefulness doesn''t always have to come from deception. Magic is unpredictable like that. For above Jones'' head the words read ''clone''. I took a few steps back. Spun the staff. Jogged forward and ripped through all the lines of magic I had traced in the air, they were nothing specific, just the raw power of each element. My staff crackled with quad-colored lights, the four different woods that made up the staff seemed to soak in the power. I never played baseball but I imagine the swing I let loose was something of a homerun. It even felt like I hit something at the point where I released the magic. A wave of force, enough to knock me back blasted down the tunnel. Clone Jones dispersed, the heads of the worms pausing, looking ahead, noticing me and rushing forward to eat me. Instead they ate a magical storm. Fire, heat, was the first thing I felt. It exploded outwards in a rather typical display of power. Waves of fire. Typical, yes, but after the first five seconds I realized it wasn''t stopping. The second aspect of the magical storm was the hurricane of wind that pushed against the worms. I felt no form to it, it was just wind, plain and simple. And yet the power of it was ripping flesh off the worms, chunks of pink, gone. Then the water. A veritable flood of water just seemed to gush out of the point where I released my magic. It drowned the whole tunnel, pushing what I was pretty sure were corpses, down the tunnel. Where was the...? Then the tunnel turned into sharp spikes, near instantly. My heart skipped a beat. Spikes had pierced the bodies of the worms, impaling them into the air. They came from the ceiling, the floor, the walls. And then the spikes fell, as if detached, but only the ones that came from the sides, from the walls. My head rotated, each and every cell, every single one that had been downwind from the magical storm had been opened. Their walls dissapeared, that much I could make out through the spikes. By stupid, crazy, extremely improbable luck, the spikes had also formed a type of wall. I felt relieved. Until I heard the first roar. I had forgotten exactly what those cells held. Specimens enough to put their time in imbalance, monsters large and dangerous, beasts untamed. The ground shook. A voice said from behind me. "Oh god." ~LoneJones~ I could do this. I could do this. I jumped between two of the gigantic worm heads just barely slipping through the only spot that they didn''t take up. In that moment when the heads were rushing past I conjured a clone of myself, slashed at the nearby body and ducked away out of sight. Their rushing bodies had a way of concealing their prey, which was probably only helpful if they could find ways to distract the worms long enough to hide. I could do it indefinitely. It was hard. Almost mind numbing the amount of things I had to keep track of. Was this what Cobaj experienced all the time? I leaped over a segment of body, trailing blood as I went. With Hyperfocus and my spatial awareness, I could do it. Just barely. Slash at the body, leave a clone, repeat. Lead them away, only one clone ever visible. Soon, it became easier as I lead the clones in such a way that a path would be left for me. I had to stall for time. Every now and then, when I had a few measly seconds of respite, I''d catch a glimpse of emerald green. Green, but surrounded by four other colors. Whatever it was it looked powerful. The worms were doing their best to use their time between attacks, trying for me before speeding down the tunnel, trying for Cobb, then turning around for me again. Dodging was easy, distracting them was hard. Both of them, exhausting. If i knew anything about magic, it gave you a gigantic headache. And my emerald green brother looked to be using a lot of it. This would be one of those times we''d need each other. "Cobb! I can get both heads to you!" I yelled. One of those heads shot for me, and I flipped over the body. "Is it enough!" Making sure to keep my voice loud. Only with my hearing was I able to pick up his answer. Taking his advice, I grudgingly made my around as best as I could. I had to manipulate the clones in such a way that their attention and paths would bring them away from Cobb, so he''d have a clear shot, and straight down the middle, so it''d be a good one. Forty seconds. The amount of time it takes to heat up a cheeseburger. But it was everything in combat. And an eternity in Hyperfocus. Cobb was still blocked by a segment of the worm''s body but I had my clone yell a warning.I had gotten the timing perfect. Those forty seconds paid off, because rushing down the tunnel was a clone of myself, running straight for one lone figure. My brother. His robe was white and striped with colors, his reward for the library, but it was the color green that stuck out. The color of his skin, his favorite color. The array of magics reflected of his skin, almost see through. Like glass. But there was an almost feral grin on his face, and an uncanny sparkle in his jet-black eyes. Like the night stars. I didn''t think even he knew that he was smiling. He hesitated, showing a measure of control I was surprised at but probably shouldn''t have been. But reading the words I placed above my clone, he released. I got a single peek. I wasn''t behind him. I was above him. I had crawled up the wall but I was still wasn''t entirely behind him. So with a jerky progress, since I hadn''t climbed horizontally before, or upside down even, I made my way behind him. There was an almost impereceptible blast of force that I almost missed. And then, chaos. Magical armageddon. The room exploded in a blast of air so powerful I was pressed to the ceiling, despite having been behind the release. If I had been relying on my sense of air pressure alone I would''ve threw up. The heat decimated the worms. I think they died right then. But my brother was watching the whole scene with languid eyes, as if it was nothing to him. When the next blast of power happened, the hurricane, I was almost ripped from the ceiling. I was already down and behind Cobb when the tsunami occured. Still he looked on like nothing happened as the bodies of the worms were dragged away. How was it possible? We were the same level and yet he was capable of this. JST ripped a whole freaking tree from the ground. And me? What was I doing? Throwing clones around and distracting worms. I sighed, walking to my unfazed brother. Then thetunnel erupted into sudden spikes, piercing the bodies of the worms before they could be carried off. Cobb jumped slightly. Not completely unfazed. An enormous amount of air was displaced. Spikes that came from the sides, the ones that erupted from the walls, fell to the ground. Heart racing, I followed their points to their base. The cells had opened. There was a roar that shook the ground. Looking to let my brother know I was here as well as remark on the situation I said the first thing that came to mind. "Oh god." "Fuck." He turned to me, realizing exactly what this meant. "You don''t think that was just a little overkill." I raised up my hand pinching the air. He glared at me, before rushing off. He raced over to the nearest slab of rock in order to close the first cell. Inside was water. A pool that filled the entire cell, which was pretty big. But Cobb wasted no time. The spikes parted as he ran through them and a single tap had the whole wall back in place. Right as the water started churning. I doubt he noticed. I ran to the opposite side, having seen what I needed to. I dodged through the spikes, leaping through and twisting about them, not suffering a single cut, not having the luxury to part them like he did before I came across the cell that held one of Gyru''s untamed beasts. It was a field of tall, furry grass and it was chittering. Something was chittering in there. I had seen exactly what Cobb had pressed. It was a squarish symbol, rounded at the edges, concave and raised slightly from the rest of the symbols. Staring at the grass, facing that chittering, my heart pounded at the unknown. I couldn''t think about it too much, using all my speed I dashed forward for the stone panel. Where I was a second ago, was nothing but air. Something emerged from the ominous grass, leaping quickly to intercept me. Fast. Faster than me. Everything slowed down as I activated Hyperfocus, still running. I was watching a beady eyed beast, my size, but every feature it had was sharp, deadly. Except its chest. And it was heading right for me. A missle. I changed tactics right as another leaped from the grass, veering off course. How many were there? I ran forward, jumping to meet the first. There was no time for indecision. I drop kicked the first right as the third and fourth figures shot out of the grass. Entering the enclosure for half a second, feet pressed into the first''s chestplate, I kicked off, sending it towards the second chittering. I rocketed backwards, landing near the stone panel, coming up into a roll and swiftly pressing the button. And suddenly that section of the tunnel was walled off as well. I took a deep breath. That had been close, there was no telling how strong those were, what the difference was in our levels. Any escaping there could have been terrible. Then my eyes were drawn down the tunnel, that was only the first. There was too much. Too many cells to close. Something would get free before we could get there, and in that chaos the Geckan Queen could easily complete whatever she was up to. No. I can do this. The words rang out in my head. Bringing peace and tranquility to my mind. I had to focus. It was possible. Yes, it was possible. "Cobb!" I yelled, hoping my voice would reach him through the spikes, he had already moved to the next. "Clear the way for me!" Without even a response, spikes retracted, flattened and sunk back into the walls. It was tight, but it was done across my whole side. Every stone panel was cleared and accessible, but so was the path for anything trying to get out. The ground rumbled, thumped really. And I thought for sure, something escaped. That something wild and vicious had left its cell. Or something that was enough of a problem that it prevented us from closing all the other ones. It was much, much worse. "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehawww!" It screamed. Chapter 32 - End of the Tunnel ~JST POV~ Ah, how to describe the refined, elegant and sophisticated nature of an unexpected, destructive, violent rodeo? Fucking awesome, that''s how. I don''t what my brothers were up to, but I blatantly began destroying the sea of stone spikes I found on my arrival. It was blocking the way. giant turgills, unsurprisingly, don''t really care about spikes at all. "Woooooh!" I screamed. "What the heck is that?" I said right after. It got some getting used to but I think I mastered my tongue. It wasn''t good to cuss around babies. A gigantic four armed monkey, straight out of a funky alien zoo, swung into the air on a trajectory straight for me, coming out of what looked to be another world. I shrugged, might as well meet the bastard in mid air. But just as I was gathering my legs under me another stone spike speared through its chest from ceiling, formed barbed hooks on its end and slammed back upwards. Belatedly, I sat back down, somewhat annoyed. Very annoyed actually. Damn Cobb. Meanwhile chunks of rock were flying everywhere. Bobbi, my renamed friend, was the best mount ever. Not even a single bump in this ride. Some lesser being might have thought it was the best ride ever, but someone of a higher class, a cowboy like myself, would not stand for such lunacy. "Bobbi! Put a little more oomph in your step!" What followed was a pause, some frantic yelling that sounded like "What the fuck JST?" and a subsequent spike of violent thrashing. Watch your damn language Cobb can''t you see i''m riding a fucking baby? Bobbi had just trampled some pink looking penis things. What were my brothers up to? What the fuck? "Bobbi close your eyes!" Something poked my Arena bubble from behind, moving at an incredible speed. I ducked the ball of water and shot a glare behind me. The accuracy by itself and nature of the attack gave the shooter away. The words "Do you see the queen?" were floating above the wreckage behind me. The absolutely satisfying destruction behind me distracted me before I saw them. I couldn''t see my brothers at all, but it was obvious from the green tint of the water that just thrown and the evident illusion that it was them. Trusting them to see me instead I sent them the middle finger. Then I thought better of it, this was our Challenge Start quest, so I gave them a thumbs down after checking ahead. The way was still covered by spikes, they shot in from every which way, sometimes there were breaks but that still meant that riding atop a Great Turgill, my view was blocked. The only reptiles I saw were a pair of large lizards with extremely expressive faces and only then it was through a slit in some of the spikes. I sighed, Cobb was right. Gyru apparently kept a fucking zoo. The pair of lizards seemed exceptionally unhostile so I instead threw the rock I plucked out of the air at the stealthing beast approaching Bobbi''s flank which had somehow found a way to stick vertically to a spike. With a yelp a weird looking frog-panther hopped back into its enclosure, bouncing off the rounded sides of a handful of spikes. Whatever impact these guys had in their respective times didn''t do with extreme deadliness. All the monsters here looked unique, probably able to break something in a balanced ecosystem, but none of them looked especially dangerous. All immediate threats gone I centered my focus forward, to more important matters. "Yeeeeeeeeeehawwwww!" If my Arena range was larger i''m sure I would''ve felt a pair of satisfying facepalms. I grinned madly, like a loon one might say, holding on to the cowboy hat I got from Pat.
A Really Cool Hat (Rare) A super cool hat created by none other than Pat, God of Boredom and Entertainment. An indecipherable enchantment rests upon the hat that serves no other purpose than transforming the hat into the most cool style at any given moment. Defense: 2 Durability: 30/30 Effects: +5 CHA
Heh, Pat giving hats. Now that was entertainment right there. In that moment I never felt more like a cowboy, not that I ever was one, but whatever. The hat was enough. And goddamn did I look good. It was unarguably, really cool. I took the moment to check the rest of my equipment. I still had a bunch of shit in my dimensional bag. Some drugs in the form of Popyoin Flowers and Popyoin Seeds. A mossy stone that was apparently my access to the glade and an Endless Apple. In the lull, I sat my ass down and peeked into my bag like a kid on Christmas. I didn''t want to take any of it out since I might drop them.
Demonstone Sword (Exotic) A blade tempered and forged with the crystalized blood of a demon. A demon''s crystalized blood not only has the potential for supreme sharpness but also carries the magical effect of inflicting pain threefold. Damage: 80-92 Durability: 102/103 Effects: +Pain inflicted by this sword is tripled.
The sword I already had out. I had left the charge sword and armor behind since they sucked ass. So right now I had the sword and the armor I got from the library on me. They were less bulky, the prototype charge stuff that the ''humans'' made was so annoying to handle. I didn''t even need to put that disguise on in the first place since we just resorted to beating the shit out of everyone. Ugh, why do I listen to Cobb sometimes? I checked the coregath armor next.
Coregath Heavy Leather Set (Rare) Leather armor created by a master of the craft. A Coregath has one of the toughest hides on the south contintent both physically and magically. Treated Coregath hide is hard to come by, simply from their near invulnerable nature. The scant few timeswhen a Coregath actually manages to die to somone their hides are often ruined and unusable. Armor crafted from such a beast is extremely rare. Defense: 102 Durability: 237/237 Effects: +20% magical resistance.
Pretty pissed that I didn''t get an enchanted version like Jones did but I guess I was already a walking tank so I didn''t really need it. Especially with Combat Savant and the multipled END stat. Still, would''ve been nice for my heavy set to get that random greater reward upgrade at the end of the dungeon. Oh well. I moved to next item. I looked at the sack of Popyoin Flowers I had.
Popyoin Flower (Exotic) A magical drug. Popyoin Flowers flood whoever eats them with immeasurable pleasure. Some speculate the flowers open your mind to understandings beyond you level. The more your body digests them the more reliant your mana becomes on the flowers. If addicted, casting magic will be impossible without them. Effects: +Mana reliance on Popyoin Flowers +While under the influence magic is amplified by 20% +INT and WIS increased by 40
Hm. Does that mean it was better to give these to Cobb or keep them away from him? It would be a damn good prank... Eh. It wouldn''t be worth it in the end. Without access to his magic our capablitlies addressing large groups of enemies would go down the shitter. Needless to say, that idea went into my mental trash bin. I skipped looking over the Popyoin Seeds since they were basically the same thing. The next thing I took out was that mossy oval stone.
Key to the Glade (Mythic) A mosstone used to access the Glade. Pour mana through the stone to transport yourself and your party to the Glade.
Interesting, interesting. All I could think of was the taste of the Popyoin Flowers. If I could get my hands on some more food like that I could get an immunity to magical drugs and just fucking eat everything in the Glade. Damn, that''s a fucking great idea. I marked the plan in my head. One day, one day i''m taking my brothers on that surprise trip. I rummaged through my pack again. Maybe i''m an idiot. But i was actually confused for a second when I took out the Endless Apple. I had taken a bite out of it earlier and it was completely in one piece. No, no i''m definitely a fuckingidiot. The damn name told me what it fucking was.
Endless Apple (Mythic) The perfect apple. This apple never ends.
Huh. Pretty basic. This can only mean one thing. I truly am stupid. Jones was right. I sighed, moving to the next item. The bag itself, which, by the way, was still a gigantic shark head mounted on my back.
Customizable Dimensional Bag (Mythic) (Soul Bound) Dimensional Bags link to another dimension and allow one to carry more items within a smaller space. Weight is distributed to the carrier and some dimensional bags reduce the load. This bag is customizable and changes size and shape according the master''s preference. Effects: +Pocket dimension storage +Weight reduced by 45% NOTE: Soul Bound items can be summoned to the user from anywhere.
Item Rarity went:Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Exotic, Mythic, Legendary. Which pissed me off. Basically, all the good shit I had was stuff I could eat, and then the bag where I put that stuff. I guess the Key to the Glade was good, but we''ll have to see where that takes us when the time comes. If it is possible to develop magical drug immunity then that was my most prized posession. If not then everything I had was annoying in the fact that all my valuable are edible. I took a breath and looked on the bright side. At least the apple was tasty and lasted forever. And that 45% weight reduction was fucking nice. Yeah, sure, to Cobb that meant nothing. Basically, a hundred pounds would almost be nothing in terms of the amount of loot a player usually kept, or would want to. It would still be a pain for Cobb to carry around that extra forty-five pounds. And I did hear Jones complaining about the same thing, well, Cobb didn''t complain but he was fucking whining. My levels of Strength made those numbers negligible. I could shove a boulder in my pack if it fit and just whip it out when there was big enough bug to squash. In addition, I could summon all my shit to me from anywhere. As long as it''s in the bag All in all, I''d say I was pretty imbalanced in terms of equipment and general stuff I had on me. Looking down on Bobbi''s flanks I saw the same spectacle that began the second we broke down most of the spikes. Animals and beasts just throwing themselves at Bobbi, and consequently getting poked by her quills. Credit where it''s due, these animals must be some other form of nightmare because it didn''t look like any of them died from the poison. In fact, I could see a few stirring from way back. Just as I was watching a drousy animal get up a green dot darts out from the peripheral spikes and knocks the beast out again, dragging it to one of the enclosures and... reforming a whole wall? I turned my attention forward, at the sea of spikes, best leave my brothers to their business. "What the heck!" I yelled, minding my language in the company of a baby, slicing something that just broke through my wall and barely saving myself. I tried to quickly glance back but the next one was already coming. This time, prepared, I sliced the thing clean through but another shot into my ribs from one of the higher spikes. Bobbi knocked that particular spike down and as it was falling I caught sight of the pests, rats. Fat fucking rats. Then the things shot off the falling spike as one, they were as big as cannonballs and moving like them too. The spike shattered as it was forcefully slammed into a clutter of rocks. A cluster of dark balls launched right for me. Time slowed as I Hyperfocused. The first was met with an overhand slice, the Demonstone Sword making short work of them. I brought the sword around and sliced another two in a downward arc. My sword had just completed its motion as another rat, hissing and clawing met my fist. With the forces at play I expected a blood cloud, but the damn thing latched onto my hand and started gnawing at my scales. I tried to pry the thing off but there more crawling up Bobbie. Way more. I ignored it, leaving it gnawing on me. "Don''t worry girl. I''ll kill these damn fleas. Oh shit, don''t say that, that''s a bad word. Shit. Fuck." I shut up. The Coregath Heavy Leather Set wasn''t particularly heavy to me but I, like anyone else, could recognize good gear. Along with the Demonstone Sword from Malvolio''s Library I was pretty well equipped. The sword was a dull crimson red, the hilt was jagged, uncomfortable grip and felt more like it was gripping me. The blade was nearly the length of my hips to my head but extremely dense. In the same manner the armor covered almost my whole body even the joints of the gray leather were enforced. I eyed the rats that were leaping and scurrying between Bobbi''s quills, even noting the ones up and ahead on one of the overhead spikes. Durable, large bursts of power, and there''s fucking a lot of them. Fucking perfect. The first one tried to bite my leg but I brought my sword down to impale it into the ground in a flash of red, just barely turning said impalement into a quick flick as I realized I was riding an ancient baby and stabbing her in the back was not conducive to good babysitting. That one was the fastest by far, because a dozen more arrived in the next second. I kept punching them with the hand that still had a stubborn rat attached to it, their squeaking and chittering didn''t indicate any pain though. The only thing that was actually killing them was the Demonstone Sword. The upside was that I wasn''t taking any real damage. Until they started the artillery. By the dozen, they were using Bobbi''s quills as catapults, slamming into my stomach and legs. It was bruising, the fat rats were actually managing to do damage to my health bar. Each one was a decent sliver of my health. I still had some of that buff from Cobb, an extra half health bar. But they came by the dozen and I was getting chunked. My sword couldn''t be everywhere at once despite the ease at which I wielded it. And there was no way in hell I was leaving Bobbi''s back. It made for some interesting strokes of the weapon, an upward arc turned into an awkward jerk as I tried to catch extra rats on the blade. An perfectly executed stab altered its course searching for more bodies while simulataneously positioning itself so that more rats would catch themselves across the edge. I started to dodge, rats flying past me into the growing wreckage behind us. And when the numbers got down enough I was able to slice through a good chunk of their numbers. Having time, I took a moment to slice the rat from my hand, they quite literally had nothing going for them in terms of attack. Their only saving grace is their explosive bursts of power and mass index. It was the only fucking reason they hurt like cannonballs. I starting frowning, the numbers abated for a whiie but there''s still more coming? I caught a rat on the flat of my blade, completely stopping its motion, and with a quick motion cut the rat in half in mid air, it''s halves falling to Bobbi''s back. My attention was split between those pieces, incoming rat projectiles, and the sudden realization of how all the rats seemed to be extremely off balance despite the jerky ride but managable ride. No, it was my Monster Riding skill. No wonder it felt so smooth. Damn it, was there a way to turn that off? A rare lull had me reaching into my dimensional backpack, which was still a shark head and apparently locked that way forever, and pulling out Riptide. There were too many flying bastards for just one sword. Too soon my attention was drawn to the halves of the rat that I chopped. Without looking and relying on my Arena I flipped my sword around as the next incoming batch of rats shot towards me, this time one catching me in the ribs. With the flat of my blades I hit them off to the side. My suspicion was confirmed unfortunately. The two halves at my feet had formed two seperate rats, slicing them in half only multiplied the damn things. Fuck. Two swift kicks had those two halves flying as well as the rat that hit my ribcage. This was annoying, but also like baseball so I was somewhat mollfied. Huh. With a mischevious grin I sprinted through the rats, taking bruises and squealing bodies to the legs and shoulders, heading for what would be Bobbi''s upper back. I took a stance, awaiting the rats, a batter''s stance. What do I do when I can''t defeat an enemy? When there was just no winning? Or, alternatively, when they were extremely annoying? The answer was simple, I brought the flats of my blades slamming into the rat, sending the bastard flying behind us. Far, far behind us. I send it to my brothers. I probably looked awesome in that moment, holding a damn nice sword, cowboy hat on my head, and what could only have been a decaptitated shark head on my back. God i''m awesome. Hope you''re watching Pat. This is probably the best entertainment you''ll ever get. ~Cobb POV~ Great. Flying rats. Just what I needed. Well, if JST was sending them here they''ve got to be a problem or just plain annoying enough to send our way. Not really curious enough to find out what surprise my brother had for usI threw up a wall of fire. The wall of flame erupted from the ground and cuved like a reverse wave, trying to lick the ceiling. Good thing I did too because just then a dozen or so rats came squealing through the air, screeching in apparent terror. They passed through the screen of fire and landed in a heap of charred carcasses, their screams abruptly stopped. But goddamn there were a lot of them, I noted as I moved another unconcious beast into what I assumed was its cage. It was guesswork but judging from just the looks of the creatures and the nearby enclosures it was rather easy guesswork. "How''re you doing over there?" I asked Jones, across the hall. "Good as I can be, given JST''s shenanigans." He said, activating another wall as I moved those bodies into their habitat as well. "Honestly, riding the turgill?" "Can''t take him anywhere." I smirked. "Well, at least it got all this done." Jones gestured to the mass of unconcious bodies that lie ahead. "So that''s a plus." More rats came, it was fucking raining rats. Jesus. I could see them trying to futiley swivel in the air. "Jesus that''s a lot of rats." The pile had gone up, drastically so. And despite the changing distance I didn''t have to move the screen of fire once. JST was shooting everything right into the sweet spot. He''s probably assigning himself points and whatnot right about now. I facepalmed. Despite that, some rats were hit off course by other flying bodies and bounced onto the floor, scurrying away into the remaining spikes before I got a chance to deal with them. I could clearly sense them, some moved towards other unconcious beasts and a handful ran towards Baby Bob. Still the rats weren''t worth the concentration to track them through the earth. I needed to get everyone into their cells, and Jones only had the strength to move one type of beast so far, and it was an awkward process. Thus my attention was split between knocking out anything coming back to its senses up ahead and flinging beasts back into their cells on both sides of the hall.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Watch us get a Rat Slayer title or something." Jones said. I snorted. "So what? JST gets Rat Batter?" Jones laughed. "Or Shark Slayer with that backpack of his." "I bet he didn''t even realize that it decides how the pack looks forever." I said, shaking my head. "Probably not." Shortly after I came across a four-legged monkey, very similar to the one I impaled to the ceiling earlier, but it was the first monster I saw that was naturally on fire. The beast had a wreath of flames across its wrists and ankles. A small blob drew my attention, a charred rat corpse was attached to one of its hands, apparently trying to get a nibble on a beast too hot for it to handle. Looking around I saw the only habitat that fit this particular beast. In short, it was a volcano jungle. And I flipped the body into the habitat, looked around for anymore, then pressed the rune that closed the wall with a jet of pressurized air. "Sir!" A voice yelled. And suddenly I was aware of the approaching crowd. It was George. The commando look tired, the samurai and spartan behind him looked the same too. It did seem pretty hard fighting off a Giant Turgill even though it was a baby. That is, until JST brainwashed the thing. "This is what happens when my brother babysits." I gestured behind me, flipping another body into a cell. "That man could be a gladiator." Gaius responded, holding his sword and shield close. Well it was his class so Gaius was pretty spot on. George reconned the area, taking note of the bodies surrounding the place. His eyes lingered amusingly on the pile of burnt rats. "Busy?" He chuckled, his light tone in stark contrast to his searching eyes and raised weapon. His rifle was level, scouring the surrounding rubble for anything suspect. "You could say that." It helped to use my staff to gesture with my spells even though I didn''t need it. There was a decent amount of mana discount and I was already feeling a slight piercing in my head. Mana sickness was a bitch. To think that JST only ever felt fatigue in his arms and legs, lucky bastard. With a knock on the ground I popped out blank, cookie-cutter human shapes out of the ground. They stood at the ready and not really knowing what I was doing, I weaved water between the bodies. With a strange inspiration I anchored the flow of magic and animated about ten of the bodies, just about depleting my mana and knocking myself out. Jesus that hurt. Hold the staff Cobb, hold the staff. Breathe... I can''t afford to pass out right now. I just need mana. Anything to get my mana pool up. Maybe if I... The pain abated, for now. Keeping calm, truly being calm, was almost impossible with a fucking headache. For me it just made me annoyed, the pain was an afterthought while the annoyance was at the forefront messing with my concentration and fucking everything up. But Meditation kicked in and my mana returned to me, balls of the elements swirled around me, erratic, yet entrancing. Not enough to suck from my mana pool, but enough to distract me from the throbbing pain and get myself calmed down. My mana started regenerating and slowly but surely my headache was fading. The amount of Wisdom I had probably helped a stupid amount. 18% and rising. "What are these my liege?" Gaius asked, inspecting one of the things curiously. "Constructs, follow them. Move the bodies." It hurt to talk. They worked, they had a good skeleton but I didn''t pour that much magic into their creation at all. I did however implant the knowledge to close the cells and how to pick up a limp body. It was a pain but I thought of some rough comparisons to draw between habitat and the appearance of any given creature. I''m pretty confident that they can handle the matching. A rat scurried quickly towards me practically squeaking death. A katana sliced it in half. I burned the remains. Jack''s blade was already in its sheathe by the time I decided to look at him with my eyes instead of my magic. He stood there stoically, opting to stay beside me. George glanced back, hauling some type of creepy looking humanoid, and nodded to Jack. The samurai tilted his head ever so slightly in lieu of response. Interesting. The two had become close or at least in some type of working relationship. I guess it wasn''t a surprise though. Those two guys had been fighting beside each other for the better part of two days. Hell, they killed a demon lord together. My brothers and I didn''t get to experience that one as soon as these guys did. Those thoughts on camaraderiemade me steal a glance towards Gaius. My constructs were already closing the cells up ahead, still far from JST, but making more progress than I could''ve with the mana at my disposal. I peered into the habitat nearest to me, the one that I was already in the process of closing and pulled some sand from it. The siphoned sand swirled onto the floor beneath me. It wasn''t long at all since they died. Lucius and Marcus. In seconds I had their still forms standing in front of me, much the same to the lifeless constructs I gave life to only moments previously. But these... these were the brothers of a friend of mine, they were important. And like a crafter, I remembered exactly what made them who they were in the first place. And although it wasn''t much, it was something, solid and concrete. I waited though, something about using my hands to shape the faces, the rugged jaws, the defined eyebrows, the slight differences, made it more personal. I tried to remember exactly what they were, using the time to prepare that knowledge and lose myself in the craft. Tried to recreate exactly what I was thinking of the very first time I made them. It was better this way too I felt, and as an added addition Meditation activated despite me still working towards my goal. Lucius was a weathered man, as was his brothers in arms. But he had a glint of optimism in his sandy eyes and quirk in his eyebrow that spoke of fun. I''m pretty sure I remembered him having the most fun using the cuss words that JST taught them. I''ll give him points for tact though, he stopped screaming ''bitch'' after the first few times. A jokester that knew when to stop was always appreciated. But I guess I was being biased, it was wierd to think of them as my children, but practical jokes would''ve been annoying from anyone else. Watching Lucius... basically fuck around with whatever JST corrupted him with was just as fun to watch as it seemed he was having in the same moment. Gaius was their leader, at least that was the impression I got. I didn''t give myself a say in their personality or their dynamic, I felt it was easier to just watch and observe the magic as it unfolded. Personally, I''d say it''s working out. It was really interesting just to see a personality develop with whatever skills I gave them. And so my attention was brought to Marcus. I never really interacted with him, I didn''t even interact with Lucius but at least with him there were moments I caught glimpses of his character. Honestly, I had no idea what was expected of me since I created them. But as someone accustomed to watching fights, you catch a few things. In the fight against the qetzls it was extremely apparent. Marcus was the one who supported the other two. His spear was aimed to discourage and protect, going against its very nature to advance and attack. And yet Marcus did it... gracefully I''d argue. It was a vauge impression, and I had no idea what I was drawing on, but I knew that Marcus was the realist, the grounded one. Pragmatic in the way that George was. Maybe even more so. They''d probably need that given the amounts of optimism from Gaius and playfulness from Lucius. And it''d probably help whenever i''d need to talk down a particular rodeo clown. "Marcus. Lucius." I breathed softly. Green lights emerged from me, some tracing the wood of my staff, others flowing down my arms, but all moving towards the two still figures. They tickled at the figures, finding purchase at seemingly random areas, the arms, the necks, the thigh, random until you realized it was everywhere. "My spartans. I''ll need a guard for whatever comes next." I intoned. "And I don''t fucking trust JST." There were times when my brother was serious. Today was not one of those days. The impromptu rodeo gave it away. The commotion brought another man''s attention. Slow footsteps approached, noticable only through my connection to the ground. The vibrations I felt through my feet as much as I magic. They were heavy. Those of a large man. A warrior. A spartan. "That''s... them." He rumbled, whether from his deep voice or emotion, it was unreadable. "It''s them." He whispered, and my question was thus answered. The man broke into silent tears. Unbidden, additional sand swirled onto them like wisps. They formed into solid armor. A shield. Another. A spear, two. Until finally the only thing remaining to be filled in was the light in their eyes. They were decked in a leather curiass, the same as Gaius as wore, their signature helmet and leather braces. Their shields were the same, curiously scuffed and scarred, as if they had seen battle before. They looked like statues you''d find at a museum, their weapons and armor as still as the figures that donned them. Until the figures were still no more. The men''s first reaction was to nod to me. But I knew what they wanted. I nodded back and walked forward. There was still work to do and JST was still fucking plowing ahead, almost past all the spikes I inadvertantly created. For a giant baby the great turgill was rolling right through like no problem. Jack followed me, his silence comforting, and bearing witness to the voices I could hear fading behind me. "Brother, stand up." I recognized it as Lucius. "Don''t be a bitch." I could practically feel the grin. My hand was sliding down my face and kneading my forehead before I knew it. My constructs had already closed up the ones up to and behind JST. Jones himself was almost done and beyond that there weren''t any breached enclosures. The only thing left to do was run ahead and see what lies at the end of the zoo. ~LoneJones POV~ Somehow he had conjured some type of stone golems to help me move the bodies. Yeah, it helped but wasn''t he supposed to be low on mana? I''ve got still got a splitting headache from all the clones I made. What the heck? One of those golems threw the last body in the last enclosure. They didn''t seem strong but my eyes were drawn to the flowing water that weaved between the joints. I pressed the rune that closed the wall and with huge displacement of air my job was done. I would''ve attacked the golems or would''ve been initially wary but they were marked with a stripe of green on their shoulders. God, it was so much easier when everything was already unconcious. That close call with those creepy, beady-eyed, hunched over creatures had me scared for anything similar escaping. The game was clearly something else, some of these creatures were truly fascinating. Taking a break I watched as a golem walked by one of the dead ones. It looked like a kangaroo but its arms were longer and it had colorful sacs around its chest. I really didn''t envy that thing coming at me during a fight. Humans you could predict. Animals you could not. Something was wrong though. These animals were too small to be enough for myself to consider on par with... Baby Bob. Was this the smaller animals then? If so, what lay ahead? "Jones." Someone said. The breezy voice belonged to a stoic man. It was Jack. Cobb''s animation. The dude had taken a liking to watching my back. It had been so during the trek to Malvolio''s Library, the time up until the clash with the qetzls and then in the library itself when I wasn''t off on reconnaisance. I felt a little insulted really. Was it because I was the youngest? None of that showed on my face though I simply nodded back to the man, straightening up. George followed shortly after, kicking some loose rock as he approached. "It''s a massacre here." He remarked. "Yeah, well tell that to Cobb. He''s the one who set all these things free." George rose an eyebrow. "Don''t listen to him George. It''s the guy riding the giant fucking porcupine gorilla that you gotta watch out for." My brother said as he passed us, although he was completely guilty. Behind him I recognized a few surprisingly familiar faces. Lucius and Marcus. He managed to bring them back? "Right... Sir." He was taking it surprisingly well. Someone as pragmatic as a commando I felt would''ve struggled more with the reality of everything. "The giant porcupine... gorilla." Well, maybe he was still trying to cope. What should''ve taken about fifteen minutes just to wade through only took us about five once Cobb cleared all the debris. The stone spikes though broken still lied strewn about but with an effort Cobb cleared a straight shot through everything. There was a rush of air that brushed against my setules. I trilled a low bird call. It was the signal for staying alert. There it was again. And again. My spider hairs weren''t all-seeing they failed in effectiveness the farther I was from something. Even then it was hard to pinpoint certain movement unless the air was very still or they were very close. In here, deep between all these broken spikes it was hard to sense anything concrete. I flipped both daggers out of their sheathes, the sand one and the grass one. Whatever was moving was quite large and from down here between all the broken stone it was hard to tell what it was. It was a good thing Cobb brought back the spartans. I feel like we''ll need them. "Hurry!" Cobb yelled, full sprinting ahead. "It''s JST!" Immediately I was sprinting as well, clones forming up on the sides. My headache returned with a vengance. 15% on my blue bar. I pushed ahead, my brother was in trouble. But dang mana sickness was rough. One clone took its spot beside Cobb and the other was to my left, their movements stemming more from the nature of the person they were copying than of any command of mine. George and Jack got the flanks while the spartans took up the vanguard, just in front of Cobb. I was inbetween them all as we broke past the stone forest of spikes. It was where I''d be best. It looked to be an intersection of sorts. Halls just like the one we came from branched in other directions. But there was a huge structure smack dab in the middle. Those runes... a cell? They were the same type of runes that covered the walls behind us. My head swiveled to Cobb. We had noticed the same thing. And worryingly the Geckan Queen was fiddling with something in front of what would probably be the section of the thing that dissapeared and opened. A gecko humanoid so close to those that we''ve seen but so different too. She was a royal purple as is shouting her bloodline and her long limbs and fingers were working fast, tapping and fiddling with whatever runes were up there. Instantly a swirling vortex of green fire snaked towards her but it was dispelled, flames and wind dispersing. Out of the emerald fire stood two more geckans. The taller one, nearly seven feet was robed and it was enough for me to decide my target. A flurry of spells exchanged between my brother and the gecko and I went invisible, intent to take out the mage. A ringing drew my attention mid run. JST was up ahead, clashing with a bulkier, larger geckan. The burst of power that radiated from their blows pulsed across the halls. My eyes widened and then Hyperfocused in the next instant. Twisting in place, just barely, I was able to block the knife that went for my throat. Another stabbed downward toward my torso. I twisted out of the way. Even invisible it saw me and I was knocked to the ground. My dagger blocked another strike but there was power in this one and it drew a line across my cheek. The attack was relentless even slowed as it was due to my Hyperfocus. But my oldest brother was stupid powerful and the waves of pulsating air that resonated from his strikes gave me stark images of what I was facing. It was geckan, unsurprisingly. But somehow it was staying invisible despite attacking me. And it was short. The shortest I''ve ever seen. Probably just under six feet. The spartans were already engaging two other warriors that appeared from nowhere. George was raised up on a platform, his gun was deadly, but the warriors had rather large shields and natural defense that lessened the blows whenever it found them. The mage was however focusing more on defense as George laid down cover fire. Jack was trading blows with another smaller Geckan, somehow tracking the sneaky reptile. It wasn''t invisible but it looked faster than what I was dealing with I ducked another strike. I''d been running and turning around to trade blows whenever a blast of magic or a clash of swords was powerful enough to give me an accurate picture. Another trading of blows in JST''s fight sent waves of air my way. I was able to focus on the assassin for a split second, twisting between its legs and punching it in the gut, dodging two knives in the process.
Examine Enemy: Weaknesses: +Low constitution +Invisibility maintained through constant concentration Strengths: +Extreme stealth techniques +High damage +Incredibly determined +Sustained invisibility
I spared the screen a single glance. Constant concentration... It was the same with my clones, at least when I controlled them directly. I needed to damage the assassin enough that his concentration breaks and he reveals himself. A blast of molten rock flies across the battlefield. At its apex a jet of air blasts it forward and I have a lock on the geckan for an instant. I dart in scoring two cuts with my Glade Blade of Whist Grass. Backing off slowly, I hoped that the addiction kicks in and his mind becomes muddled. My eyes search for the assassin, my hairs strain, sensing for anything. It had dissapeared again. Then the blast of air from the propelled molten rock reached me and my opponent was above me. Descending. Fast. My mind went into overdrive as I dived right, nearing Jack. A dagger sank into my left calf and I clenched my teeth turning around. I spun on my good leg, flipping my body up into the air and planting my foot into its face. I flared Fear and tried my best to concentrate the effects on my single opponent. With all the movement around us I was able to track my opponents moving body easily. It hesitated. Fear worked for that half second. He was pink. A pink so dark it could''ve been purple. His invisibility stopped. In that moment I had enough time to throw a dagger. Eyeing the two cuts across his forearm I threw the grass blade. The opponents eyes widened slightly but they regained their focus too late. The grass dagger sank into its shoulder despite the attempt to dodge. Jack was fighting the fast Geckan, keeping it at bay with precise strikes of his katana. Their battle reached me, the quick gecko tried putting me between himself and Jack. I sacraficed a moments focus to swivel on my foot, dancing around Jack''s opponent and getting behind him. In the next moment I had the reptile crippled with cut tendons at the back of its ankles. And when I turned to my own battle. I had already won. The geckan was more red than it was pink. It had seized the whist grass dagger and was stabbing itself. Repeatedly. I watched, wary. The addiction had settled in. It would die. That was for sure. But it was savoring every cut as much as it could. "It''s addicted. It''ll kill itself soon." I replied to Jack''s silent gaze. We were both breathing hard. He only nodded before darting off towards one of the warriors that broke from the spartans. It was approaching George. He was raised up high, taking potshots where he could but geckan''s could climb and there were a lot of broken spikes that he could use to get himself to the commando''s position. The geckan warrior got to him before Jack did. I was about to rush over but George simply pulled out his pistol and knife, setting aside his rifle. The man danced, meeting the geckan head on upon one the base of one of the larger spikes. I forgot he was more than just his gun. He was a commando. The only problem he''s having in this situation is fighting monsters rather than humans and their overwhelming strength and endurance. But watching him counter and dodge the reptile warrior I realized he was extremely effective against any humanoids. He stalled long enough for Jack to arrive. They didn''t need me from the looks of it. My gaze was drawn back down. I watched the pink geckan die, ran over and plucked my dagger from its stomach, the wound that finally killed it. There was still a role I needed to play. Cobb was trading blows with the mage. I could see him now. Twirling his staff in something akin to bo staff fighting but the look on his face said it all. He was nearly out of mana. His golems came at one point I realized. But they lie motionless between both mages. I hid myself again. One of the clones I took direct control of and sent to the mage''s opposite flank, drawing his attention. That particular clone had been doing similar distractions the whole battle. But this time I''d be on the other side. Invisible I cut an arc through the battlefield heading straight for the source of half the magical mayhem. A fireball was blocked by a pillar of earth. A wave of water was dispersed by an earthen wedge. Gusts of wind were diverted by Cobb anchoring himself to the ground. He wouldn''t last long. The robed reptile had some type of danger sense I realized. The skill I got from the Nightmare title gave any danger sense effects on me an added 100% amplification. It basically explained the mages explosive reaction. I was sent flying backwards, still invisible. But it wasn''t directed. My clone was destroyed as well. The mage still had no idea where I was. I landed with a crash. Something broke, a bone or two. I could deal with a cut, the stab wound in my calf, and anything superficial. The crack was evidence enough though. I broke a bone. I tried moving my leg... Christ! That stung. Ouch. There was no way I was gonna move like this. It was all I could do to stay invisible. As it was I was too close to the mage to reveal myself and too far to do anything. I grit my teeth. Useless. Again. Not yet. Not. Yet. I just hoped he was paying attention. I banged on the ground. Nothing. I banged again. Still nothing. 20% mana, more than I had before but draining fast. I could feel the faint throb in my head already from the prolonged illusion I was keeping up to hide myself. But there was no avoiding it. I flashed some words above my location. I was behind the mage so there wasn''t any way for him to see them. And the rest of the geckans were busy fighting everyone. And the Queen... Oh god the queen! I forgot! I swiveled my head around. She was there! Still fiddling. It was a stone panel. I could see it now. The mage. I had to take care of the mage. If I could do that Cobb would have magical dominance on the field and we''d be good. It looks like he finally got my message. Rocks clamped down and encased my left leg, scraping roughly against my stab wound. It set the break though, tightening and jerking my leg with a snap. I grit my teeth through it. During this time the other mage had focused his entire pool into a large fireball, glowing blue. Quickly, I limped forward. My stone cast sounded against the stone floor but the swirling ball of fire drowned out all the sound. This was my opportunity. He would have no shields up. Nothing to protect him. He must''ve thought that Cobb had finally run out once he stopped to fix my leg. Almost there. Almost. The geckan raised his arms. And then, abruptly, he lowered them to his gushing neck. My dagger had found his throat just in time. The other went into his lower back just to make sure he was dead. The fireball he was conjuring above fell straight down. It dispersed before any damage could come of it likely from Cobb''s intervention. I killed him. And looking around the fights around me were ending the same way. JST was knocking his larger opponent around. Gaius, Marcus and Lucius had just about killed their opponent. While George and Jack were about to do the same. All that''s left is the- A slow, grating and heavy sound reverberated. The cell... was opening. "Hahahahahaha! The Uncharted will return to its former glory! Rejoice ants! The dawn of a new age is among us! The peak of what evolution has to offer! In my hands! The Geckans will forever be known as those who ushered forward a new age! Rejoice!" Arms raised, the Queen''s voice was laced with power. A geckan carcass flew, flailing past her, missing her head by inches. "Who dares!" The Queen was furious, losing some of her regal posture and becoming less the picture of regality and more haughty aristocrat. Actually, no, that was probably the reaction that most people would have to a random dead body used as a projectile. "Damn it." Someone muttered. "A little more to the left." "At least let her talk." Cobb said, looking weary. "Eh." My oldest brother shrugged. "We better get ready." Cobb grimaced, not happy with the constant drain on his mana. "Gaius, Lucius, Marcus! Up front! Jack, the flank, take care of anything that gets through the vanguard. George, remember the library? I''m sending you up. Take out that .50 cal." "Alright. I''m ready as I''ll ever be, sir." The gruff man took a visible breath and was pushed skywards on a conjured sniper''s nest. The spartans slammed their weapons to their shields, "Hah!" and ran up front. Jack walked up behind them without a word. "I''ll run support and take out anything small." It was the best place for me after all. But the entrance to the cell was still opening, groaning with the effort. And it was not a small door. Whatever came through, my best bet would be to distract, cripple or maim. "Maybe poke an eye or something." I added. "Ok that''s great and all. Honestly, fantasic plan. But have any of you seen Bobbi?" He seemed genuinely confused. "How hard is it to lose a giant spiked behemoth?" "Bobbi?" Cobb asked. "It was a girl so..." He trailed off. "I had to change the name." I laughed mockingly. My finger pointed at him. "It''s the same thing with Jennifur!" This guy, somehow, finds it hard to check for the gender. Just watching him there rubbing his head tickled my funny bone. The fact he''s always so confident in his naming sense and the he completely messes it up. Gold. I slapped my knee, laughing. "Alright. Alright!" He shouted. "Seriously, where''d she go?" I took a deep, shaky breath. "I didn''t see her." Still, I was remembering the confidence when he named ''Bob'' and stifled a laugh. "Me neither." Cobb replied. "Would''ve been good for this next part too." "Ugh. Fuck you both." He eloquently replied. "Forget it I''ll find her later. I''m still on babysitting duty, what are her parents gonna think?" JST''s expression oddly fell right then. It was only a moment but Cobb interrupted before I could think on it further. "On your feet everyone!" Cobb yelled abruptly. With a clang the groaning stone door suddenly jerked completely open. It was a jungle. But my senses were going crazy, there was a lot of movement in there. Multiple small enemies or a single large opponent? My eyes saw nothing. There were no differences from the jungle outside, it looked almost completely the same. My legs tensed, ready to move if anything happened. My daggers wouldn''t do anything at this range. 48% on my health bar. 14% on my mana. 34% on my stamina. With a splinted leg my mobility would be down. It would be tough. It wasn''t ideal but it was what I had. I''d have to make it work. "Steady..." Cobb called. I could see Gaius setting his stance. Lucius was smirking gently and Marcus was frowning hard. Jack was faced forward and on the other side so I couldn''t make out his face. His stance spoke volumes though, his hand was on the katana''s grip and his knees were bent ever so slightly. JST was in front of the spartans in a position that was a transition between defense and offense. He had both Riptide and that new demon sword he got from the library. Blue and red. They were held resting low. Cobb''s weight was on his staff, but it was sturdy thing. Gnarled wood somehow twisted upon itself to form perfect fourths of the staff, they were all shades of brown. Smugly, I thought my whist grass blade was probably better. But I quickly regained focus on more important matters, it wasn''t the best time to get distracted. In his motions there were no signs of physical exhaustion but I could worriedly see the mental effect on his movements. And despite that his eyes were solid black with focus. I chuckled. His mouth was set in a grim line but he had that look about him. Always when pushed against a wall. Always in these moments did it appear. It was on both of them. I knew it without even needing to look at JST. There would be a twinkle in Cobb''s eyes. Almost a fire, it would burn with the desire to overcome. Despite his craziness the older brother was always easiest to read in these moments. On par with Cobb''s twinkle, he would have the biggest grin on his face. Myself? I had no idea the face I made. There was never anytime to do anything but focus on the fight ahead. They were powerhouses. I needed all my concentration to make sure they were the most effective they could be. If that meant assassinating a target, distracting a mage, cripping the frontline, or just causing chaos. I would do it. No one else could do it better than me. With a deafening roar something stepped from the trees.