It was the weekend, and I had made plans to meet Stonegorge at a local tavern for some drinks. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have put myself in such a social situation, but with the addition of the Void Resilience skill, I felt a bit more human and socially inclined to finally accept Stonegorge's offer.
The Iron Anvil was nestled a few blocks away from the Sturdy Boulder, its timeworn wooden facade imbued with a sense of history and adventure. Stepping across the threshold, the warm glow of flickering torches and the sweet scent of roasted meats and ale enveloped me like a welcoming embrace. The low murmur of chatter, punctuated by the occasional hearty laugh, filled the bustling tavern.
In the dimly-lit room, patrons of various races mingled in animated conversations or competed in lively table games, their eyes twinkling with the thrill of rivalry. Bards strummed their lutes and sang ballads of heroism and love, their lilting melodies weaving a tapestry of emotion that seemed to enchant the very air itself.
As I scanned the room, my gaze fell upon Stonegorge, the stout dwarf with a fiery-red beard that reached his waist. He was seated at a sturdy oak table, nursing a frothy tankard of ale while fidgeting with his hands and looking around the room I assume looking for me.
With a determined stride, I navigated the crowded room, weaving my way past drunken revelers and lively games of chance. As I approached Stonegorge, he caught sight of me and greeted me with a broad, toothy grin. Gesturing to an empty chair beside him, he bellowed, "Ah, my friend! Come, join me! There's a seat for you here, and enough ale to quench the thirst of a dragon!"
As I took my seat next to Stonegorge, I felt a genuine joy at venturing out for the evening with someone I would call a friend. Calling over a barmaid with a well-worn apron, I requested some dinner and an ale, jokingly adding, "And make sure you put it on Stonegorge's tab."
The barmaid laughed softly, shaking her head as she replied, "Sadly, I fear we'd never be paid if I did that." She playfully shot a glance at Stonegorge, who feigned offense but couldn't hide the amusement in his eyes.
While enjoying our ale and mrsl, Stonegorge and I reminisced about the days we'd spent chopping wood together, sharing stories of our battles with Ents that had continued proving a simple but reliable foe. We turned these skirmishes into lighthearted games, reveling in the adrenaline rush that came with skirting danger.
"You know," Stonegorge mused, his words slightly slurred from the ale, "I never would've guessed we'd be so evenly matched in strength. But then again," he winked, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "there's always been something special about you, my friend."
I was well aware of what Stonegorge was hinting at: I was an adventurer, a rarity in this world. But he kept my secret, never revealing my true nature to others. Realizing he might have said too much, Stonegorge blamed the alcohol and suggested we call it a night, as it was growing late and the booze was starting to affect him.
In a rare moment of sincerity, Stonegorge looked me in the eye and said, "Thank you for joining me tonight. It means a lot." I clinked my nearly empty tankard against his as the dwarf stood to leave.
The mood shifted slightly as I noticed Stonegorge make his way out of the tavern. Stumbling and swaying, he bumped into a few people along his drunken path. Most of the patrons seemed familiar with him and excused his inebriated state with good-natured laughter or a shake of their heads.
However, as Stonegorge continued his tipsy dance towards the exit, he collided with a man and his group who didn't share the same amiable attitude. Their expressions darkened, and they appeared deeply displeased with Stonegorge's antics. The man, a tall figure with a menacing aura, shot a piercing glare at the dwarf, and his companions seemed equally agitated.
As I kept a watchful eye on the unfolding situation, I noticed the man's lips moving, and my instincts allowed me to read them. The words that escaped his mouth were filled with racial animosity, a derogatory slur aimed at Stonegorge and his dwarven heritage.
Unfazed and perhaps oblivious to the full weight of the insult, Stonegorge mustered a witty retort as he continued his unsteady journey towards the exit. "Well, your mother has had more dwarves in her then an untouched iron mine!" he quipped, a sly grin playing on his lips.
The man's face reddened with anger, but Stonegorge had already made his way out the door, likely unaware of the potential danger he had just sidestepped.
I watched intently as the leader of the group leaned in, whispering something to his companions. After a brief exchange, three of the men nodded in agreement and promptly followed Stonegorge outside. The scene unfolding before me stirred up an uneasy feeling deep in my gut, and I couldn't shake the sense that something nefarious was afoot.
For a moment, my mind wandered back to a time before my illness when I had worked in law enforcement. Instinct and experience had honed my ability to identify situations that were about to escalate, and I had learned to trust my intuition. This particular moment felt all too familiar, and I knew I couldn't stand idly by while Stonegorge, in his vulnerable state, faced potential harm.
With determination, I rose from my seat and made my way through the tavern, pushing past the remaining patrons as I hurried toward the exit. My heart raced with anticipation, and I braced myself to intervene if that was needed.
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As I moved closer to the exit, and closer to possible conflict, my adrenaline surged, an intensity that surpassed even the thrill of our battles with the Ents. The thought of someone I considered a friend being in danger ignited a primal rage within me, a fury that threatened to overwhelm my senses.
But just as the rage reached its peak, a faint inkling of the Void washed over me, granting me a sense of calmness that seemed to temper the storm of emotions brewing inside. This newfound tranquility didn't dampen my determination to ensure Stonegorge's safety; if anything, it sharpened my focus and resolve.
Once outside, I discreetly trailed the three suspicious men, my senses heightened and my body poised for action. I observed Stonegorge, still unsteady on his feet, veer into an alley a few blocks down the road. The men exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of malicious intent and cunning, before following him into the shadows.
I quickened my pace, my heart pounding with each step, as I prepared to confront whatever danger awaited my friend in that dark, narrow passageway.
As I approached the alley, the chilling sounds of fists and feet striking flesh reached my ears, punctuated by the guttural grunts of Stonegorge and the pitiful whimpers that accompanied each devastating blow. The three men attacking him seemed to revel in their cruelty, their laughter a sinister soundtrack to the brutal scene unfolding before me.
As I entered the alley, I saw Stonegorge crumpled on the ground, his once-fiery spirit now smothered under a relentless barrage of kicks. The attackers hurled hateful words at him, their voices dripping with venom as they spat out one vile insult after another.
In that instant, time seemed to slow down, as if the very universe had paused to bear witness to the injustice taking place. The adrenaline coursing through my veins seemed to synchronize with my heightened awareness, and every detail of the scene burned itself into my memory: the glint of malice in the attackers' eyes, the anguish etched on Stonegorge's battered face, and the overwhelming desire to put an end to this senseless violence.
As the coldness of the Void washed over me once more, the dimly lit alley seemed to become fully illuminated in my perception. Reveling in the embrace of the frigid darkness, I knew that no shadow would hinder my sight as I allowed the inkling of the black Void to flow through me. Unbeknownst to me, this newfound clarity and control were the result of a single drop of Void now circulating within my mana core, subtly enhancing my abilities and transforming the way I experienced the world around me.
As the three attackers caught sight of me, time snapped back to its usual pace. One of them sneered and made a crude comment about the dwarf's human lover showing up. They began to approach me, their eyes filled with contempt and malice.
I observed Stonegorge, still unmoving and seemingly lifeless on the ground, but with a glimmer of hope as I saw his chest rise and fall, signifying that he was still alive.
Undaunted by the odds against me, I matched their approach and strode towards them, my fists clenched and my resolve unshaken. The attackers briefly stuttered and seemed to hesitate until they remembered it was me that was walking towards a three-on-one fight.
As I closed in on striking range, I imbued both my fists with the energy of the Void, channeling it into a skill known as Void Strike. The attackers were caught off guard by the sudden burst of energy, their faces contorting in surprise and fear as they realized the danger they were now in.
As I unleashed my Void Strike upon the first attacker, I felt the jaw bones not only break but also be consumed by the Void energy of my strike. It was as if the darkness within me had devoured not just his physical being, but also the very essence that made up that portion of his body.
Despite the others stumbling back in fear, I continued my assault, repeatedly striking all three men with powerful blows. As my mana reserves dwindled and my fists flew without the Void energy, I continued to pummel them without hesitation or restraint.
System prompts appeared in my mind, signaling the acquisition of combat XP, but I ignored them, the void itself seeming to push the notifications out of my vision allowing me to focus on consuming and destroying every shred of these men.
The sound of fists and bones colliding echoed through the alley, with each blow I delivered fueled by uncontainable fury. Suddenly, a kick caught me off guard, and I found myself flying through the air, only to slam into an adjacent wall. Painfully, I realized that I had lost a quarter of my total HP in that single blow.
Struggling to regain my bearings, a faint, almost after-image of my assailant appeared, moving towards me. Before any reaction was possible, a sharp blow landed on my face, sending me crashing to the ground. This realization hit hard - for the first time in this fight, I suffered debuffs, making it difficult to get back up.
Attempting to stand, I noticed the assailant walking over to where Stonegorge lay. Panic surged through me as I realized my friend was in danger. But before reaching Stonegorge, the assailant delivered an incredible kick, sending my friend flying towards me. Stonegorge's body collided with mine, and I frantically tried to remove his heavy form.
Lifting Stonegorge, I noticed something wrong - his chest wasn't rising anymore. The assailant's laughter rang out as I struggled with Stonegorge's limp form. In that moment, I realized there was still enough mana to cast a Void Strike. Filled with renewed determination, my hands became imbued with the power of the Void, ready to unleash it upon my assailant.
Noticing my actions, the assailant stopped and inquired about my allegiance to any house or guild. Gasping for breath, I managed to reply that I was just a simple lumberjack, with no particular allegiance.
Despite my injuries, the increased regeneration and high constitution worked to heal me during this brief exchange.
I mentally prepared myself to strike at the last possible moment. My heart raced, adrenaline pumping through my veins, as I anticipated the critical moment to unleash the power of the Void Strike.
The assailant drew closer, his footsteps echoing menacingly through the alley. Just as I was about to strike, the man seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving me bewildered. A chilling whisper reached my ears, "That is enough playing." Before I could react, a crushing blow landed on the back of my head.
As pain shot through my skull, a system notification flashed before my eyes, informing me that I was losing consciousness. I also saw an icon informing me I received the final experience I needed to reach level 5 as my vision began to blur, and a countdown appeared in the corner of my sight: 3... 2... 1... Desperately, I tried to cling to consciousness, but my efforts were in vain as darkness enveloped me, and my world went black.