You have unlocked the Ranger Skill NATURAL CAMOUFLAGE.

NEW SKILL

NATURAL CAMOUFLAGE

PASSIVE ABILITY

RANGER CLASS

“You can now blend in with any natural environment, this effect can be increased by wearing clothing of colours complimentary to your surroundings. Rapid Movement can reduce the effectiveness of this ability.”

Your mana has increased by 10 points.

MANA 24/30

SPELL UNLOCKED

ENCHANT VEHICLE

SPELL

ARTIFICER

“You can now use your mana to enchant any vehicle. The effect of this enchantment is both random and permanent. Good Luck.”

Marcus did a double take at that last entry before looking over at his beloved Jeep Gladiator. Enchanting his Katana Machete had been a boon, but would he be so lucky with the truck? He decided there was only one way to find out, he marched over to the silver and put his hand on the fender. Taking a deep breath he cast the spell, “Enchant Vehicle.”

This caused his mana to drop by 20 points.

MANA 4/30

You have enchanted Jeep Gladiator, thanks to your recent defeat of the Forest Elemental Enchant Vehicle is Ultra effective. Jeep Gladiator has gained the trait Rolling Armour, this ability increases the overall toughness of the vehicle. Jeep Gladiator has gained the trait Self Propelled, Jeep Gladiator will no longer require external forces for locomotion.

“Oh, hell yeah! Good boy Goliath,” Speaking of which, “Peyton! Where are you?”

“Right here!” Came the muffled reply around what was clearly one of the Forest Guardian’s severed fingers.

“Keep forgetting I can talk to dogs now… Wonder what other abilities I have?”

Of course the help prompts were right there waiting for him.

Marcus Rogers

Human

Ranger/Artificer Split Class

Standard Power Rating

PASSIVE ABILITIES

Canine Affinity

Natural Camouflage

Night Sight

SPELLS

Heal Minor Wounds

Enchant Weapon

Enchant Vehicle

“What’s Night Sight?”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

NIGHT SIGHT

PASSIVE ABILITY

RANGER CLASS

“You have the ability to see in pure darkness as long as the sky is above you, and in low light in interior situations. As you no longer dilate your pupils you can longer be blinded by sudden shifts in lighting.”

“Interesting, Peyton, what say we get the hell out of here?”

“Don't gotta tell me twice.” The dog immediately leapt into the Jeep and over to the passenger seat.

Marcus climbed into the Jeep and pulled the door shut, the engine was still running from his fight with the tree and sounded as it always did but something had changed. The fuel gauge was now an infinity sign. Marcus double checked the map, shifted the Jeep into drive and they headed for their original destination.

Engine humming as the big tires tore through snow Marcus marvelled at his new powers, He could talk to dogs, heal injuries, enchant weapons… Speaking of which. Marcus pulled his M17 pistol from the center console, “Enchant Weapon.”

You have enchanted Sig Sauer M17 pistol, Sig Sauer M17 pistol has gained the ability Elemental Bullet. For a small Mana cost you can attach one of four elemental energies to the next bullet fired. Available energies are:

Fire

Water

Lightning

Void

“What’s Void energy?”

Guess you’ll have to wait to find out.

Marcus noticed his help popups had been developing a bit of sass after the defeat of the Forest Guardian.

“Is there a person running this interface?”

Not a person, I am a Cognitive Interface and Neural Database, or CIND for short. I was created to help keep you from dying, try not to make me a failure.

Great, a database with attitude, just what Marcus needed. He looked over at Peyton, the dog happily lounging across the passenger seat. “What’s your deal?”

“I was sent to guide you, keep you out of trouble.” The dog didn’t exactly speak like Dug, but Marcus was under the impression she wasn’t a thrilling conversationalist.

Marcus returned to eyes to the road, once again wishing he had music to listen to. Magic propulsion was cool and all but some tunes would be amazing at the moment. With only the sound of the tires, engine, and a breathing dog Marcus quickly descended into the depths of his own mind.

He was alone in an alternate dimension or earth or whatever. He assumed his family and reality were still fine without him. He wondered what they would think of his disappearance and if his reality’s Goliath and gear had come with him or if these were duplicates. He jumped to thinking about his abilities and why that seemed to be the only difference to his home.

He had no level, no stats, no skill points, and his abilities seemed to be linked to things he did before coming to this alternate realm or activated by things he did. Absently he went to haul on his vape only to be met with a blinking red light.

“Was time to quit anyways.” He groaned as he tossed the useless piece of plastic into the trash can.

As the Jeep’s aggressive tires chewed through the snow that was somehow alien yet familiar Marcus was glad he had chosen the rugged vehicle. He also realized how much of a difference cleaned highways made when it came to travel time. It should only have been about three hours to Lloydminister but it was going to take closer to eight on the desolate snow covered roads in front of him.

The sun had set and Marcus decided he’d had enough driving for one day. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten and he needed to rest. He pulled the Jeep off the road and into a driveway, leaving the magically powered engine running to keep warm. He did shut off the lights before getting out to scout the area, no sense in advertising.

After exiting the Gladiator he discovered sure enough he could see in the dark clear as day. “Well, that will make things easier.”

Putting his sword on his belt he carried his M17 in his right hand, the four magical symbols glowing along the side of the slide. He could see an abandoned run down barn but no evidence of a home or vehicles on the property. A cool wind blew through the trees bringing with it the sounds of ghosts and the strange smells of a strange world.

Marcus approached the rotten barn cautiously, having seen enough horror movies to know better than to just waltz in. He paused near the largest opening and held his breath trying to hear inside, the only sound coming from the haunting wind and rustling trees. He peeked around and in through the gaping hole but there was another wall only a few feet away obstructing his vision.

“Fuck.” He growled, taking a step through the portal.

It was at this moment as the whole world went black he remembered the catch to his Night Sight ability.

As long as the sky is above you.

Marcus immediately took a step back out of the barn and the world lit up again. “That’s annoying, but I guess Rangers are meant to be outside.”

Marcus had thought he’d said that purely to himself. The rage filled shriek from inside the barn informed him otherwise. He also found he could now hear something moving around inside the barn. That something sounded both large and pissed off.

Marcus began backing even further away from the barn. “I hate this place.”