I took the opportunity to test several things while we rested. First, I wanted to see how to activate the skills without having to utter the names verbally. I had clearly controlled the new skill without a verbal command while I was in the soul realm, but I doubted that being in the soul realm was the requirement. Also, if we could control the interface functions with our intent, shouldn’t that be the same for the skills?

I brought up the interface and began scouring it for any information. I was able to find a settings menu. It allowed me to set measurement bars for my health, essence, and even level-up progression. These bars would be permanently displayed in my vision if I turned them on, but I could choose where in my vision to display them. It also allowed for other minor alterations, such as turning off the notifications for each time we obtained experience and defeated a monster. But there was no mention of skills.

I attempted clicking through each skill individually, but that only gave me the same information I received when I first got the skills. I then attempted several commands; skill status, skill definition, skill explanation, skill information, etc. Nothing worked, it seemed I would get nothing more from the UI about skills, just an explanation of what they did.

Eventually, I moved on to testing. I closed my eyes and tried imagining the skill activate, calling out the skill name internally, willing it to happen. Nothing seemed to be working, everything I tried elicited a minor response from my essence, but not enough it seemed to activate a skill. I attempted several combinations of each until I was exhausted.

“Maybe the answer really is activating it in the soul realm or at least the answer can hopefully be found there,” I mumbled to myself. Closing my eyes, I took a meditation stance and began searching for that feeling of power in my chest. The one that would guide me into the soul realm. After a time I found the hum of power and connected to it. Opening my eyes in the soul realm, I took a deep breath and an epiphany came to me. “Maybe what I need to do is just learn to move my essence first? Maybe once I can control it freely activating the skills will come naturally?”

I disconnected again from my soul realm but kept my eyes closed in the real world. I dug around again for that feeling of the essence within me. Once I found it I began trying to push it around in my body. It was very stiff and difficult at first but after a time I discovered that how I envisioned the essence actually made a difference. At first, I envisioned it as a liquid, like blood, flowing through my veins.

At some point after struggling to move it for what felt like hours, I realized, or remembered, that my essence was represented by lightning in my soul realm. ‘Maybe that will make a difference?’ I wondered and began envisioning it as lightning flowing seamlessly throughout my body jumping from surface to surface. After that, it was much easier to move the essence around and not only that. I attempted to once again activate a skill while willing the essence to move. It still took a fair bit of concentration but did work.

I informed the others of my findings after they had woken up. After waking up from my own nap they informed me that they hadn’t had any problem with moving their mana around. It was a little tough at first but after they moved it around a little it became easier. They were also able to activate their skills now without a verbal command.

***

“We’ll have to be more cautious moving forward,” Etu suggested, his brow furrowed in concern. “These creatures are much stronger than the Coqui we encountered before. And even though you may feel more powerful Achak, I have a higher survivability. So I’ll be taking the brunt of their attacks as the tank.”

“Plus, my barriers can only withstand one hit from them before shattering,” Neytiri chimed in, her voice tinged with worry. “With more survivability, Etu can withstand more attacks before he needs healing. Your essence should be reserved for offense during the fight since you hit the hardest.”

“Fine with me, but that doesn’t mean any of us should be taking direct hits if possible. We should take a moment to find some weapons. Maybe some sharp rocks for cutting or stabbing, and a flat one to use as a shield,” I suggested, examining the surroundings for any suitable rocks.

“I agree,” Etu nodded, his eyes scanning the area. “Even if they're not exact shapes we’ll figure out a way to make them work.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

***

“I’ve noticed you both have good clean footwork. Do either of you have any formal martial arts training?” I asked while we worked on making stone weapons.

Etu answered first, “I did boxing for a couple of years while I was younger.”

Then Neytiri added, “I practice kali knife fighting. What about you? You seem like a natural at melee combat.”

“Yeah, I’ve been fascinated with martial arts since I was young. Technically I take MMA lessons at a gym, which really only incorporates jiujitsu and boxing. But I have been mimicking all kinds of martial arts since I was a kid, and as you have noticed, have a natural talent for fighting, making me much more versatile than I should be.”

Etu asked, “Hey do you guys think that it’s coincidental we all have some kind of martial arts training?”

I nodded, “I think so. These days, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t know at least a little martial arts. What sets us apart is our fighting spirit, I think.”

Neytiri and Etu both nodded, quietly contemplating our conversation.

***

The three of us stood at the entrance of the cave, prepared for the fight ahead. Etu held a large flat stone, his chosen shield. Neytiri wielded two long rocks chiseled into knives, their handles wrapped in jean fabric. As for me, I preferred to rely on my fists.

We had all made our own weapons, using whatever rocks we could find. My jeans had been ruined in our previous fight, so we cut them into shorts and used the scraps for the handles of Neytiri’s knife rocks.

We knew our roles and what needed to be done. Etu would defend us with his shield, while my job was to cause damage. Neytiri, with her knives, would keep a safe distance and pick off any enemies that got past us while supporting us with her skills.

As we entered the cave, our formation shifted. Etu took the lead, his shield held firmly in front of him. I followed closely behind, ready to strike at any moment. And Neytiri stayed several feet behind us, her knives at the ready.

The monsters wasted no time in attacking as soon as they saw us. Unlike the Coqui we had faced before, these Hutias were smarter and used pack tactics. Two went for Etu, one for me, and the last one tried to flank us and get to Neytiri.

But we were prepared. As soon as I was within striking distance, I activated my skills. My Augment was accompanied by a surge of red lightning that coursed through my body, increasing my stats. While my Strike skill enveloped my fists in red lighting as I attacked.

I dodged the Hutia in front of me, quickly changing direction and attacking the one trying to flank us. I struck its ribs breaking several and leaving behind third-degree burns on its hide. I quickly followed up with a devastating kick to the head ensuring it was incapacitated properly for a short time.

Meanwhile, Etu held his shield with both hands, blocking and firing his Immolating Barrage at the two Hutias in front of him. This skill only required him to be facing the direction he intended to fire it towards making it easy to use while both hands were occupied. For every three hits he blocked, he took two. And every time he took a hit, he retaliated with his Barrage, causing the monsters to scream and scurry back in pain.

With a swift leap, I launched into a back scissor kick, my foot connecting with the head of the Hutia attempting to sneak up behind me. Its head slammed into the ground with a devastating crunch killing it on impact. Ignoring the defeated creature at my feet, I jumped over it and charged toward Etu and the other Hutias, my mind focused solely on ending the battle quickly.

As Etu’s barrier shattered under the force of the Hutia’s attack from the left, the monster on his right was hit by flaming arrows causing it to scurry back. Seizing my opportunity, I swiftly arrived and landed a devastating spinning kick and sidekick combination, crushing the backpedaling monster’s neck and breaking its spine.

In a split second, Etu turned left and slammed his shield into the other Hutia than slammed it down on its dazed head with a thunderous crack. With a sharp cry, I warned, “Behind me!” Etu turned and unleashed an attack on the incapacitated Hutia, finishing it off with a fireball.

It was clear that whatever happened to me in my soul realm made my skills stronger than before. Not only did my Strike hit harder, but also my Augment now added four points to each stat.

We crouched at the cave entrance afterward, our eyes fixed on the dark depths within. Five minutes later, eight Hutias emerged from the shadows, their movements slow and cautious. After defeating the last group we waited around to see if we could figure out where the monsters were coming from.

***

The new formation proved to be a successful tactic. Neytiri swiftly darted in, weakening the monsters significantly with her knives while Etu kept them at bay and I ran the field causing havoc while moving swiftly. Neytiri always shouted out what side she would attack from, while Etu made space for her to execute said attack. It was a smart tactic to keep from tripping each other up.

As the waves of monsters grew in number we made adjustments to our strategy. Despite the short five-minute breaks between each wave, we were able to retreat to the tunnels and recover before facing the next wave. There were six waves in total each doubled the monsters of the last. The last wave was the hardest requiring us to force them to attack us from only one side. We took a semicircle position in front of the entrance ensuring that only so many monsters could come at us together. The strategy would also allow us to retreat if need be.

By the end of the last wave, exhaustion engulfed us. Our clothes were torn and bloody, both Etu and my shirts were mere tatters by this point. Each Hutia gave five points of experience bringing us all to level four.